Figure 1.--Here I am a long way from Montana, my little Swiss village in the Alps where I grew and began Scouting. I was a young Camp director in 1965, after just having joined the professional services of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). I was directing one of the New York City Boy Scouts Camps. At any given time, we usualy had about 600 kids in the Camp.

Once I left my boarding-school I went to Basel Switzerland to pursue my studies in Business administration. There the long arm of Scouting found me and I became a Cub master to a local Cub scout Pack. Once I ended my studies I went to England, became involved in Scouting over there, especially in the International Scout club. This Scout club was made up of Scouters from around the world and from England. We had regular meetings and reunions and offered our services at the reception of the Baden Powell House in London and at Gilwell Park, the international Training Center near London. Upon my arrival in the United States I became Scoutmaster of a Scout troop in the center of New York City. Le me tell you that from Montana to New York was quite atransition. We took a lot of advantage of the great trails around New York and became a well know troop with great expertise in survival living. After a few years I was invited to join the professional services of the Boy Scouts of America, where I moved up the ranks until I retired 27 years later, to assume the position of Director of the World Scout Foundation, in Geneva, Switzerland. This way I ended my Scouting experience in the Country I started it. It was a life-long, very positive experience and also helped my two children in becoming young people, with a very international outlook and positive attitudes, reflecting the principles of Scouting.

University Studies in Basel

After I left my boarding-school I went to Basel Switzerland to pursue my studies in Business administration. There the long arm of Scouting found me and I became a Cub master to a local Cub Scout Pack.

Scouting in England

Once I ended my studies I went to England, became involved in Scouting over there, especially in the International Scout club. This Scout club was made up of Scouters from around the world and from England. We had regular meetings and reunions and offered our services at the reception of the Baden Powell House in London and at Gilwell Park, the international Training Center near London.

Scouting in America

Upon my arrival in the United States I became Scoutmaster of a Scout troop in the center of New York City. Let me tell you that from Montana, ny little Swiss village in the Alps, to New York City was quite a transition. We took a lot of advantage of the great trails around New York and became a well know troop with great expertise in survival living. After a few years I was invited to join the professional services of the Boy Scouts of America, where I moved up the ranks.

Retirement

I retired 27 years later, to assume the position of Director of the World Scout Foundation, in Geneva, Switzerland. This way I ended my Scouting experience in the Country I started it. It was a life-long, very positive experience and also helped my two children in becoming young people, with a very international outlook and positive attitudes, reflecting the best principles of Scouting. I recently found a a photograph of H.M the King of Sweden who was and still is the honorary president of the World Scout Foundation and for that matter very active. Here he is visiting a benefactor to the Foundation who was very ill. Behind him it is me and then the late president of the Foundation, Ed Joullian from Oklahoma City, who also used to be the president of the Boy Scouts of America. This picture, depicts my last few years in service of scouting and rounds out my report very well.

Sources

Voute, Tom. E-mail message, May 24, 2006.