Paying Tribute to Youth Groups: Scout's Honor

The topic was Scouting, past and present, and the iconic representatives of Scouting in Albany were the Osborn family. (No, not that Osbourne family!)

This was Adam, Kristina and Dorena, who were among the panelists at the ’s s, as their children — one Girl Scout, one Cub, and one future Scout, no doubt —watched.

The Historical Society's storytelling events feature longtime Albany residents and give them a chance to share their stories of life years ago. The July 31 event aimed to allow "past, current and future members of ... youth organizations to remember good times and also to learn about these groups and the influences they had on Albany."

Joining the Osborns on the panel were leaders, parents and former members of Boy, Girl, Cub and Sea Scouts, as well as Camp Fire Girls and Venture Crew. The audience, likewise, was made up of leaders and members from across many decades, who filled the City Hall Council Chamber to share memories.

But what stood out more than stories, as the afternoon progressed, were emotions; panelists and audience members gave testimony about how much the experience of their pack, troop, or group had meant to them — or to their children, or even to their whole families. This sentiment was echoed in various ways throughout the afternoon.

Former Scout Master Eldon Wolf recalled how, out of his troop of 44 boys, many didn’t have fathers at home, and how he and other leaders became role models and father figures for some of their Scouts.

“I wouldn’t be where I am today if not for you,” Wolf was told by one of his former Scouts, who saw him years later.

Backpacking and snow camping, cookie-selling and knot-tying — all were mentioned, but overall it was the small and simple, the core values and everyday skills, that speakers were moved to honor: “I remember teaching so many little kids how to cut a carrot, how to light a match,” former Girl Scout leader Beth Pun reminisced.

As the microphone made its way across the panel, panelists were often able to spot former Scouts or leaders in the audience. “I see my den mother Marge!” said Adam Osborn, a former Albany Cub Scout and now a Pack 3 parent.

MC Jack Rosano, himself a former Sea and Boy Scout, kept the microphone moving along the panel; before he could open the floor for discussion, though, an impromptu performance of the Camp Fire Girl song brought audience members and panelists to their feet.  

During the discussion period, , former Albany mayor, stood to describe how, faced with raising three boys alone, she put them in Boy Scouts; two of the three became Eagle Scouts, and Okawachi said she “thanks the community for helping me raise my boys.”

Former Albany Camp Fire Girl Jamie Eldon (nee Elliot) came to the front and took the mic to stress how pivotal the program had been to her: “It was the only thing I did recreationally, besides going to church,” she said. Projects she did to "earn beads" ended up "pulling my family together.”

She added that Camp Fire leaders, like panelist Joyce Valli, were required to sign on for 10 years, an admirable commitment. (Valli actually served two 10-year stints!)

Another former Camp Fire Girl, Laura Larson, later described how her 13 years in the program had not only earned her a WoHeLo medallion (Camp Fire’s equivalence of an Eagle Scout), but also taught her the importance of community service — something she now passes along to the middle school students in her classroom.

After the crowd dispersed to chat and explore the memorabilia in the lobby, Dorena Osborn, sitting with daughter Isabella, reflected on her years in the Sea Scouts. “When I first joined, I was afraid to swim,” she said. In the Scouts she learned to pilot and crew big boats, even climbing high into the rigging; she still sails to this day. “It just shows how learning even one skill can change a lot!”

Everybody makes mistakes ... ! If there's something in this article you think should be corrected, or if something else is amiss, call editor Emilie Raguso at 510-459-8325 or email her at emilier@patch.com.