Making a Difference: Dan Beard Council / Boy Scouts of America

Madison’s Alan Henning, CFA and Mark Hogan, CWM® have been involved with Boy Scouts of America (BSA) / Dan Beard Council for many years, offering their respective time and expertise to one of the largest and oldest metro BSA councils in the country. Alan and Mark each have served in many roles, including board members, scoutmasters, and merit badge counselors.

Scouting in Ohio has a long history, beginning with Daniel Carter Beard, an American illustrator, author and youth leader. Beard founded the Sons of Daniel Boone in 1905 which later merged with BSA in 1910.  Beard became one of the first National Scout Commissioners of the Boy Scouts, subsequently serving for 30 years.

Today, the Dan Beard Council, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is an administrative body of the Boy Scouts of America for the Greater Cincinnati area. The Council has an average of 33,000 youth that it manages each year.  During the summer, over 5,000 youth participate in camp programs and another 20,000 enjoy the camps in various seasonal events and unit outings throughout the year.

Madison’s Alan Henning began his involvement as a Boy Scout and has been a leader in some capacity for the last 20 years, when his oldest son started in scouting. Alan is currently chair of the Council’s fundraising. They have successfully raised over $1.5 million for the Scouts over the last four years. The Council’s operations are funded by various sources, including the annual giving campaign, corporate sponsorships, the Scout’s popcorn sale, and the United Way.

Funding is used for camp operations, the Scout Achievement Center, professional and support staff, and the many Scouting events held throughout each year.  Along with the Board of Directors, the professional staff, and the volunteers, the Council membership is made up of the Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, Varsity Teams, Explorer Posts, and Learning for Life group. The mission of the Council is to “prepare more than 30,000 youth and adults in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.”

Mark Hogan became involved with the Scouts over 15 years ago when he enrolled his son in the program: “I wanted my son to have all the benefits that the Scouts offered, especially their outdoor activities. The Scouts offer a safe environment, where every boy can be himself. It was a proud moment for me as an assistant scoutmaster and parent when my son achieved his Eagle Scout rank.”

The Council’s Scout Achievement Center (SAC), a Scouting volunteer training facility and service center, opened its doors in July 2009. The building is certified silver level LEED, an example of the ecological teachings of the Scouting program and has been recognized nationally as the premier Scouting center. The Scout Shop is located within the SAC, where a selection of books, uniforms, camping equipment and more can be found for each unit’s unique needs.

Thanks to the generosity and support of the people and businesses of the Greater Cincinnati area, the Council has operated as good stewards and strong providers for the scouting programs in the area for over 100 years. If you are interested in learning more about the Boy Scouts of America / Dan Beard Council, please feel free to contact Alan Henning at [email protected] or Mark Hogan at [email protected].