Redefining Impossible
Steve Fossett Center
for Scouting Dedication (10/22/11)
Redefining Impossible.
Good morning
Ladies and Gentleman:
Welcome. My name is
Lou Sandoval, and I currently serve the Chicago Area Council
as our Council
Commissioner. I am honored to be a part
of this great milestone for the City of Chicago. Who I am today: a business owner, a community leader and most importantly
an involved parent, is a result of the love and guidance my parents showed me,
coupled with the support that Scouting provided during my upbringing.
A support that reinforced the values learned at home and taught me the awareness that we live
in a limitless
society. Scouting taught me that if we work hard and put our minds to
it-there is no stopping you. It taught
me that a young Hispanic boy from the Southeast side of Chicago could
accomplish and redefine what is possible for him.
One doesn’t have to look too far to see the impossibilities
facing Chicago’s youth today. Just in
this morning’s headlines:
12 wounded in Friday afternoon, Saturday Morning Shootings:
-16 year old boy shot in the arm/abdomen
-17 year old girl shot in the leg
-16 year old boy shot in the arm and chest-20 year old shot in the left arm….
I can go on- but I believe
you get the point. These challenges may seem impossible to our youth.
These are challenges that transcend
socio-economic barriers. These are challenges
that occur in many neighborhoods around Chicago. It can be said that our American Society has
failed the youth of Chicago over the past two decades. I’d like to think that our youth still have a chance.
In a world that continually broadcasts the
impossible- Scouting shows youth what IS possible.
Steve Fossett lived that mission until that fateful day on
Sept 3, 2007. A holder of some 115 world
records, he defied the impossible. He
redefined possible. In his autobiography, he credits Scouting
as having given him that foundation. He
credits scouting as having given him the foundation that drove him to success
in business and his many other ventures in life.
Now I never had the pleasure of meeting Steve when he was
alive, but I’m sure we would have had much to talk about. As a lover of sailing and scouting- I am sure
we would have been able to converse for hours about business, the wind, the
sea, the Race to Mackinac (a passion of mine), adventure and about living a
life without
the impossible.
That IS what scouting teaches you. To redefine what IS possible. In a world that a times seems to work against
you, The youth of Chicago need this redefinition. The youth of Chicago need scouting.
Today we are gathered to honor the legacy of Steve Fossett in
the dedication of our new council Service center.
The much needed remodeling was accomplished through the
generosity of his widow, Ms. Peggy Fossett and the Fossett family. It stands as a monument to redefining what is possible on behalf of the youth of
Chicago- IN Steve’s name. This new
service center will facilitate delivery of the scouting message to all the neighborhoods
in our great city. It stands as a
reminder that the youth of Chicago can redefine what is possible, just like
Steve did.
On behalf of the 1000s of youth involved in the scouting
program and the 1000s of adult volunteers that support the scouting programs in
Chicago, I want to be among the first to say Thank You to Mrs. Fossett
her foundation and the Fossett family.
THANK YOU- for all
whom you have impacted with your generosity and THANK YOU to all whom we will impact on our mission to redefine the possibility of scouting for
the youth of our great City.
Thank YOU for Sharing Steve’s great legacy with us with the
hope that the youth of Chicago can redefine what is possible through scouting. The Steve Fossett Center for Scouting is located at 1218 W. Adams Chicago, IL 60607 or visit www.chicagobsa.org to find out how you can help.
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