Ellie Morrison | |
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![]() Ellie Morrison in 2019 | |
Born | Eleanor Smith September 5, 1948 Waco, Texas, US |
Education | Southern Methodist University, B.A. |
Known for | Scouting |
Spouse(s) | Edwin 'Eddie' Morrison [1] |
Children | two |
Awards | Silver Buffalo |
Eleanor Smith Morrison (born September 5, 1948) was elected the 11th National Commissioner of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in 2018. She is the first woman to serve in the role since the group was incorporated in 1910. [2] Morrison is a longtime volunteer and philanthropist in her community of Waco, Texas. As National Commissioner, she was one of the top three leaders with the BSA and has been a key advocate for women as Scouts BSA began admitting girls into their program. [3]
Morrison is the daughter of Goodhue Wilson Smith and Ida Lu Smith (née Spurgin). [4] She has three siblings, Goodhue, Hilliard, and Deborah. [4] She graduated from the Southern Methodist University (SMU), where she was a member of the Pi Beta Phi sorority. [5]
After graduating from SMU, Morrison worked as an elementary school teacher. She married noted pathologist Dr. Edwin B. Morrison. [1] and stopped teaching to raise a family. After raising her family, she turned her attention to community and civic organizations. She and her husband have worked together in all of their Scouting careers. [6]
Morrison has worked at all levels of Scouting, first serving as a cub scout leader in her son's pack, and as an assistant scoutmaster in Waco Troop 308. [7]
On the national level, she has chaired the New Unit Task Force, where she helped create the New Member Coordinator position. She also chaired the team that created the Commissioner Award of Excellence for Unit Service, and was a member of the committee that designed the Wood Badge for the 21st Century. [8]
As the BSA's national commissioner, she was also a member of the executive board of its National Council. [9] She continues her work as a local unit commissioner from Troop 308. [1] [8]
Outside of her work in Scouting, Morrison serves on a number of local boards, including United Way of Waco-McLennan County, Baylor Research, Oakwood Cemetery, and McLennan County Community College Foundation, [10] and the First United Methodist Church in Waco. [11] She works with Food for Families in the Waco area. [12]
Morrison has been awarded with the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, and Silver Buffalo by the Boy Scouts of America. [13]
Scouting in Texas has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live. Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, so that they may play constructive roles in society.
Eagle Scout is the highest achievement or rank attainable in the Scouts BSA program of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). Since its inception in 1911, only four percent of Scouts have earned this rank after a lengthy review process. The Eagle Scout rank has been earned by over 2.5 million youth.
Advancement and recognition in the Boy Scouts of America is a tradition dating from the inception of the Scouting movement. A fundamental purpose of advancement is the self-confidence a young man or woman acquires from his participation in Scouting. Advancement is one of the methods used in the "Aims of Scouting"– character development, citizenship training and personal fitness.
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The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) was inspired by and modeled on the Boy Scout Association, established by Baden-Powell in Britain in 1908. In the early 1900s, several youth organizations were active, and many became part of the BSA.
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The Silver World Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on an international basis. Recipients must be a citizen of a country with a Scouting program that is a member of the World Scout Conference. Registered members of the BSA are not eligible for this award.
Ellsworth Hunt "Gus" Augustus was an American businessman from Cleveland, Ohio who served as the tenth National president of the Boy Scouts of America. He lived in Waite Hill, Ohio with his wife, Elizabeth Good "Betty" Augustus until his death in May 1964.
The Boy Scouts of America is an organization run by volunteers, however the day-to-day administration is performed by a staff of professional Scouters. The organization has professional staffing at every level—district, council, regional and national. The Chief Scout Executive is the top professional Scouter.
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In the Boy Scouts of America, a Scout leader refers to the trained leaders of a Scout unit. Adult leaders are generally referred to as "Scouters," and the youth leaders are referred to by their position within a unit. All Scouting units above the Cub Scout pack, units serving adolescent Scouts, leadership of the unit comprises both adult leaders (Scouters) and youth leaders (Scouts). This is a key part of the Aims and Methods of Scouting. In order to learn leadership, the youth must actually serve in leadership roles.
Texas Beta Chapter