We’re coming to the close of a very special 100th year celebration of Boy Scouting in our nation. It’s been an exciting year. At the Atchafalaya Basin Welcome Center, the Evangeline Area Council scouts, their families and leaders joined together to plant more than 4,000 cypress trees in what will be dedicated by the state of Louisiana as the “Centennial Forest. “This was a perfect example of what “doing a good turn” is all about. The year has helped me to remember how important scouting and the spirit of scouting have been in influencing my understanding of service to others.

I was so fortunate to have many good leaders as I traveled through my Scouting years. I earned the rank of Eagle in 1992. Now I can serve the youth in Troop 17 and pass on the values and skills that became a part of my life.

I’m honored to be working with dedicated Boy Scout leaders here in New Iberia and in the Attackapas area. They truly make Boy Scouting something great to celebrate every day!

Tony Piontek

Assistant Scoutmaster

New Iberia