For new head of Boy Scouts, mentoring is key

[fgoodwin]

For new head of Boy Scouts, mentoring is key

 

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-05-23-cronk-interview_x.htm

 

Updated 5/23/2006 10:04 PM ET

 

The Boy Scouts of America will soon be under new management. Rick Cronk, retired president of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and a lifelong Scout, takes over as president of the 96-year-old organization on Friday. USA TODAY's Vicky Markovitz spoke with Cronk, 63, on what the future holds for Scouts in America.

 

Q: How is membership?

 

A: We've got about 4.6 million kids in Scouting. Basically the same number of kids as it has been for the past 10 or 15 years. We ought to be serving 10 million kids ... but we're working on that.

 

Q: What kind of things are you doing?

 

A: We work really hard at reaching out to inner-city kids and, in an ever-growing sense, to the Hispanic community. ... We do a pretty good job, but we need to do a perfect job.

 

We're spending a lot of research money and time talking to kids of different backgrounds and their parents to figure out what gets those kids excited ... and what parents want. The people in the program already enjoy it. It's a matter of introducing ourselves to these constituents.

 

Q: What are the biggest issues for today's youth?

 

A: The world is much more confusing and it moves very fast. For boys in Scouting, the male mentor is often not there. That is the value of having good role models.

 

Q: How does Boy Scouts of America try to help kids?

 

A: In Cub Scouting, they don't know they are learning a message. In Boy Scouting, it is much more direct. In a Scout meeting or troop meeting, the Scoutmaster ends the 1-hour meeting with the Scoutmaster's minute ... talking directly on one aspect of the Scout Law (such as being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, etc.), or on respecting people of different backgrounds. If you hear these one-minute presentations 40 or 50 times a year, you start to say, "There must be something here." It becomes part of their value system and part of their soul.

 

(The Good Turn for America initiative) is focused on these kids actively participating in community projects. ... (It) was founded 100 years ago and is still a big part of what Scouting is today.

 

Q: The BSA has been criticized for not allowing gays and atheists to participate. Do you agree with these policies?

 

A: You have to distinguish between members and leadership standards. Scouting has its own values, and you teach and train kids to be courteous of kids who have different values. We don't expect everyone to agree with BSA, but we are proud of what we do.

 

When it comes to standards we use as identifying leadership and mentors, we don't quiz anybody. But if somebody and these are virtually always adult leaders in Scouting avows publicly a gay lifestyle, we say to that leader, "It violates our standards, and we prefer you offer your services to some other organization."

 

When people use the word "membership" you think of kids, and Scouting asking kids if they believe in God. ... We don't ask those questions.

 

Q: Hypothetically, if a boy were in the Scouts, and he came out about being gay, would he still be allowed to participate?

 

A: That's a situation that I don't know has ever happened. I think if a Scout were to say to a Scoutmaster, "I think I am gay," I think the Scoutmaster would say, because he cares about the Scout, "I think you ought to talk to your parents about that; you ought to talk to a minister if you go to church; you need someone to help you through it." These are kids that are 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. As you get older, maybe (you start thinking about these things), but we're talking about an event that may not have ever happened. It's an intoxicating subject to talk about, but it's not relevant to a large extent.

 

Q: On March 9, the California Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the BSA, and other non-profits that don't comply with government anti-discrimination laws, may be refused subsidies. Do you think other cities or states will adopt the same policy?

 

A: I hope not. They shouldn't. ... If they do, we'll be just fine. I don't mean to be arrogant about it, but (they) are not going to change a program that is 100 years old. There are so many organizations that understand the challenges kids face today and support the BSA.

 

Q: How is the BSA working to prevent sexual abuse within the Scouts?

 

A: We do obvious things with not having adult leaders one-on-one with a Scout. Some of the more recent things are criminal background checks. They are not perfect, but it's one step. There is also online training. If you live in the remotest part of the country, you can go online and be trained.

 

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THE CRONK FILE

 

Name: William "Rick" Cronk

 

Title: President-elect, Boy Scouts of America

 

Born: Oct. 4, 1942

 

Home: Lafayette, Calif.

 

Education: Bachelor of science degree, Haas Business School, University of California-Berkeley, 1965

 

Boy Scout background: Started as a Cub Scout and advanced to Star, the third-highest rank; served as BSA district chairman, BSA area president; Finance and Investment Committee member; and chairman of World Scout Organization. Won Silver Buffalo Award for services to youth. His three sons are Eagle Scouts, the highest rank.

 

Past job: Recently retired as president of Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream. Cronk and a friend bought the company in 1977 when its worth was $6 million. It is now valued at more than $1.5 billion.

 

Other activities: Advisory board for EdVoice, which works to improve California's public schools; Development Committee for Hoover Institute Board of Overseers, which handles affairs for public policy research center.