Brady Goodwin Final SPL Speech

2020 has no doubt been the craziest year to do anything as a large troop. When things took a wrong turn in the spring, 314 told the pandemic that it wouldn’t extinguish our scouting spirit. But the church telling us we couldn’t use the building as they were also not meeting.

So, we answered the call at first by working on merit badges over the phone and then started doing meetings through Zoom. Learning how to SPL isn’t something that just happens when you get elected. It’s something that takes a couple hits and misses over time. But, doing meetings over the computer was a whole other challenge in itself. We had to come up with interactive programs while not seeing each other in person. It was by far the hardest thing a new SPL could do by far I thought. Then came planning the district camporee, in two weeks.

While the adults did the program part of a week long program, the PLC took charge in getting the troop ready for the first outing we would have since the last winter camporee. While it was no feeble task, we got the troop ready and excited for this crazy, covid camporee. With multiple merit badges at the camporee and Boxwell Scout Reservation offering summer merit badge days, 314 was raking up on these opportunities.

After that, we finally got to start meeting normally and going on outings. The PLC met and laid out the plan for the rest of the year and were excited to go kayaking, hiking, camping, and getting more merit badge days from the council.

So, by no stretch of the imagination was this year easy, but we had an amazing time trying to navigate the ever-changing waters of the pandemic. And, I couldn’t have asked for a better PLC to help get the troop through this year.

I believe that Riley Bellomy and his 2021 PLC will do an amazing job with hopefully less challenges. And if you were worried that I might be leaving, don't. 314 will always be my home and my scouting family.

Thank you!

Brady Goodwin

2020 T314 SPL