Chief Scout Executive Interview

Members of the NOAC 2002 Communications Committee had a chance to speak with Roy L. Williams, the Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, and ask him a few brief questions.

Question: What is happening in the OA right now that excites you?
Answer: The Order’s focus on providing meaningful service to local Scout councils. The Order of the Arrow’s new strategic plan provides the direction on how the Order and its lodges can be a valuable and integral part of every local council operation.

Q: Who has greatly influenced your life in Scouting?
A: That’s an easy one. The wonderful volunteers and fellow professional Scouters I’ve worked with. I’ve also been blessed with a very supportive wife and family.

Q: Where do you see the Order in 10 years?
A: I see the Order of the Arrow as a strong example of servant leadership. Its service, training and activities will be models of quality leadership developments and programming that enriches and extends Scouting to America’s youth.

Q: What is your most memorable moment in Scouting?
A: There are too many to single out. Certainly, being selected Chief Scout Executive is one. After the interviews of the candidates the committee called my room, and I was told they had one more question. When I walked into the room they smiled and said, "Congratulations." I was completely unprepared. Frankly, I was in a state of shock.

Q: Did you have Scouting heroes? Who were they?
A: Scouting heroes. I’ve had many. Ben Love and Jere Ratcliffe – two Chief Scout Executives I have worked for. I admired them both. My Scoutmaster, Mr. Ralph Sawyer. Mr. Williard Vickery, former Scout Executive, Quapaw Council. Plus thousands of volunteers I’ve known.

Q: How can lodges improve their service to their council?
A: Lodge leaders need to be in constant communication with their council leadership. They need to become a resource that supports their local council’s annual and long-range plans. The Order’s new strategic plan encourages lodges to communicate with their councils and help them succeed.

Q: What question are you most frequently asked about the Order?
A: What can you tell me about the OA Scoutreach mentoring program? The OA Scoutreach mentoring program is a new partnership between Scoutreach and the Order of the Arrow. The program was developed to help extend Scouting to disadvantaged rural and urban youth, and it is beginning to have an impact in places like Atlanta, Georgia, Orlando, Florida, and Munster, Indiana to name a few.

Q: Which point o the Scout Law is the most important to you?
A: Trustworthy. If you are trustworthy in your efforts to be a Scout, then you always try your best to do your duty to your God, country, and others. You know, it’s easy to join Scouting, but not easy to be one. Picking just one point is difficult because they are all interconnected. I might add reverent because people of faith have much to draw from.

Q: When NOAC is over, what one thing do you want the participants to take back from their experience?
A: I would like to encourage every Arrowman to take back at least one new idea on how to improve Scouting in their unit, lodge or council, and then make every effort to carry out this new idea when they get back home. Every Arrowman can make a difference and leave a legacy of servant leadership.

Revised 7/30/02.