MARCH 16, 2021

[NO. 670 – 20TH YEAR OF HELPING SCOUTS, SCOUTERS, & PARENTS]

To reach the Eagle rank, a Scout will have learned dozens of new skills and completed hundreds of specific requirements through the seven ranks and no less than 21 merit badges. Although the Scout’s Eagle Scout Service Project is just one of these hundreds, it’s often the one most well-known. This is because this project is the combination and culmination of the most critical skills learned through Scouting: Service to others, creativity, planning ahead, and leadership, to mention the most often cited.

Matthew Reger, who lives in the extreme northwestern county of Washoe, Nevada, is an Eagle Scout who successfully completed one of the most unusual—and highly needed—service projects I’ve ever come to know.

Lee Murray, of the Sierra Nevada District, Nevada Area Council, wrote to me about this. Here’s what he said:

“I thought I’d share this with you and your readers. For one of my Scouting roles, I have the pleasure of coordinating and scheduling my district’s Eagle Scout boards of review. As we know, all candidates for this highly valued rank are amazing. But occasionally we run across a young man or young woman who is extraordinary. Matthew Reger is one. For his service project, Matthew took a very sensitive and personal subject and developed a completely unique service project that initially didn’t fit neatly into any prior template for what an Eagle Service Project should look like. For those who needed to give it a green light, it took some real out-of-the-box thinking—which is exactly what Matthew has done to create it. Approval came forth, and Matthew and his team successfully completed it. It became the centerpiece of our conversation with him at his review. (That’s also when I learned that my own 14-year-old son is one of those who had a role in influencing Matthew to carry out this particular project.) Yours in Scouting, Lee.”

What was Matthew’s service project aimed at? TEEN SUICIDE. Here’s an excerpt from a speech to the teachers at his high school, that he’d delivered to promote his suicide prevention plan and its components:

“I’m here to…give you resources to help prevent (teen) suicide in Washoe County. I was inspired to do this in honor of (teen’s name) and (teen’s name), two boys who committed suicide in 2019. They were both 14 years old. One was a Scout with me and the other was a boy I had known through my mom’s business.

“Washoe County’s (teen) suicide rate is more than double the national average.

“When someone commits suicide, they leave behind family and friends…who then struggle. I know how hard it can be to recover after the loss of a loved one because my dad died in a helicopter crash…when I was just seven.

“(I have kits) for you and this presentation and some helpful handouts are on a USB flash drive in the kits.”

Lee has told me that one file is Matthew’s presentation to groups and the second is the Awareness Kit he and his team developed. I’ve tried to attach them to this issue, but no luck! But I’m sure Lee wouldn’t mind sending them to you: leemurrayaia@yahoo.com

Please put these to use – The life you may save could be…

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!
Happy Scouting!
Andy
I personally answer every message I receive. There’s no “writing staff”—just me. When writing, please include your name & council. If you’d rather be anonymous—if published—just tell me and I’ll honor that. Although these columns are copyrighted, you have my okay to quote or reproduce any column or part, so long as it’s attributed: “Ask Andy” by Andy McCommish.

[No. 670– 3/16/2021 – Copyright © 2021 Andy McCommish]