Stepping Into the Role of Council President
I am honored and excited to step into the role of Council President. A tremendous thank you to my predecessor Steve Hammond who did an outstanding job as Council President over the past 3 years. It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Steve and so many other great past Presidents and I hope that I can do as good of a job as they have done in this role. It is particularly exciting to be Council President during the 75th anniversary of Camp Shenandoah. I first went to that camp in 1983 as a little Cub Scout and back then, for me as a Cub Scout, Camp Shenandoah was the most magical place I’d ever been. I still have that same level of excitement every time I go through the camp gate and I look forward to celebrating 75 years of our amazing Camp during 2025.
Our council experienced membership growth and strong financial performance during 2024. Many other councils around the country were not so fortunate. I look forward to building upon the success and momentum of last year as we begin the journey ahead. In 2025, we need more Scouts and we need more volunteers. We need a successful Friends of Scouting campaign with 100% of our units participating and we need effective Special Events that raise the funds necessary to deliver a quality Scouting experience for our youth. We need another robust summer camp and we need continued high quality programs and activities. With your help, I am confident that the Virginia Headwaters Council will deliver the promise of Scouting to our youth, our units, and our adult volunteers.
I look forward to working with the council officers, our Executive Board, and Council Commissioner Matt Phillippi and Scout Executive Sue Hart on the business of Scouting in the Virginia Headwaters Council. We will strive for excellence in 2025 and I cannot wait for the journey ahead!
Yours in Scouting,
Mike White
Mike White
Council President at Virginia Headwaters Council
From the Council President
Happy Holidays to our Virginia Headwaters Scouting Family. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have plenty to be thankful for. Although the bluster of the Christmas season is hurried upon us, the humility and reverence of Thanksgiving is refreshing. I find Thanksgiving a good time for reflection on the past year and re-affirming your priorities and valued things in life. As many of you learned in Wood Badge, you have to make room for the “big rocks” in your life; family, faith, duty; etc. I like to think Scouting is one of my big rocks. I hope you feel the same.
November started with a day-long Virginia Headwaters Council Executive Board retreat. The Board focuses on the “business side” of Scouting so our Districts and units can focus on program and our Scouts can focus on having fun. Our Board retreat was an exceptional meeting with an impressive collection of brilliant minds and dedicated servants. It is simply amazing the depth of talent we have in our Council. In a time, when many Scout Councils are struggling, and lack effective leadership, I can assure you that is not a problem with your Council. The immediate focus of the Board is too continue to increase membership and strengthen the Council finances. Along those lines, units need to sign-up for the Annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation. Please consider generous donations to FOS. Invest in the program we all believe in and love.
As Christmas approaches, don’t forget that the Scouts in Monticello District are selling Christmas trees. And this year an exciting first, Troop 84 of Mountain Valley District is also selling trees in the Stuarts Draft area. Tree sales support our individual Scouts and our Camp. So, please go out, buy a tree or two and support our Scouts.
I hope you all have very Merry Christmas! Don’t get caught up in the hype, and make room for your “big rocks”.
