Scouts honor Ed Verner at reception.
On June 12, Scouting America (previously known as The Boy Scouts of America), Greater Tampa Area Council, held its annual Soaring Eagle Reception at the Plant City History and Photo Archives. In Hillsborough County, there are 3,489 scouts of all levels. In Plant City, there are 96 scouts in five Scout Troops, three Cub Packs, and one Venturing crew. In the last 10 years, Plant City scouting has produced 51 Eagle Scouts (the organization’s highest achievement).
“Ed Verner is a wonderful example of what scouting exemplifies because he is a man of character, who always leads and inspires others,” Plant City Vice Mayor Jason Jones commented while emceeing the event.
Partway through the program, Mayor Nate Kilton took the podium to speak about the honoree. “We’ve heard a lot of words tonight—integrity, honor, respect, courage—those are all terms that exemplify Ed Verner, for sure,” he said, then he addressed Verner. “You have been a pioneer in Plant City in so many ways that you need to be respected for, and appreciated for, and this is part of what we are doing tonight. You were one of the first investors in downtown a long time ago, when people thought that you were crazy to do it. But it was a spark. It is so amazing what is happening, and you set the groundwork for that. The things that you have done with the buildings—it is so important to our identity, and who we are as a community….You have invested in so many ways in this community, and you never asked anything back for it…. I so thank you for your commitment to our community, and for doing it selflessly, and without recognition.”
One purpose of the reception was to raise awareness about what scouting does for youth and gain financial sponsorships for Scouting America. Verner gave the keynote address to the people who crowded the room.
According to Verner, his father was always impressed with the work the Boy Scouts did in helping boys become better men, and enthusiastically supported Verner being a Cub Scout. From 1997 to 2021, Verner’s father, then Verner, made steady, annual, supporting gifts to the Boy Scouts from the family foundation his father created. “Some who know me have asked why we stopped donating in 2022, and why would I allow a fundraiser award presentation to ensnare me out of my shell for such as this,” Verner said. “It’s the proverbial elephant in the room. I suspect that several of you here felt a gut punch when, during the summer of 2020, the leadership of Boy Scouts allowed the fraternal nature of boy scouting to end….the idea of having Girl Scouts as sororal, but Boy Scouts as coed seemed like a criminally stupid mistake. Our family foundation ceased donating in part to communicate with our feet and wallet. I don’t know numbers, but I would guess we were not alone and that likely there was a giant dip in support, activity, and donations to scouting.” The numbers do support this statement. According to Scouting of America’s annual reports, contributions fell by more than 50 percent in 2020 and fell by another 50 percent in 2021.
But…there is something unique about this dip, and I thought about it,” Verner continued. “Permit a sidebar as a metaphor. Now, me personally, I can’t understand how anyone would drink the horse-trough, water-swill that is Bud Light, before, during, or after their virtue signaling PR nightmarish behavior in 2023….Some who boycotted Bud Light eventually returned after a time because they like the product, but the bounce back for Bud was anemic. Why? It didn’t occur because there are literally hundreds of other brands of a near perfect clone product. Evidently it is not so difficult to create horse-trough, water-swill beer. For Bud Light, ultimately, the hype was all that differentiated the product, and their customers simply went elsewhere.”
“Not so with scouting,” Verner continued. “Scouting delivers a fantastic product, and there were no successors or clones for it. What did scouting do, after what I would call a misstep? They have adapted, they have overcome, they have worked to do good, and they have gone to work. They did their job, and there are no nationwide successors.”
Verner then directed comments to the scouts in the room. “I wish to give you a personal observation I stewed over as I thought about what in the world to say this evening. Why has scouting worked? Why should you do it? What is a fundamental thing about it? Here are their adjectives: ethical, moral, trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, reverent, strong, awake, and straight. These are worthwhile adjectives to attach to yourself….When you are young, many habits like these are rewarded with a ribbon, or ceremony, or perhaps a team jacket or a trophy. Applause helps. A spotlight and popular accolade give a thrill and make young minds want to do that again to get those things. Ultimately, learning how to be those things and to work hard at something that is good is its own reward….There is an intangible divine spark of energy, righteous pride, joy, and personal vitamin supplements to your soul that ultimately will far outweigh a roomful of pride wall-plaques, trophies, uniforms, ribbons, and such. Therefore, let me encourage you get your Eagle. Don’t stop.”
