James E. West Program

 James E. West Fellowship Award 

James E. West was appointed to the position of Chief Scout Executive in 1910 by the founding leadership of Scouting in America . Mr. West worked with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Daniel Carter Beard, Ernest T. Seton, and many interested community leaders to give direction to the infant program of Boy Scouts of America. On January 2, 1911, West and others formed the National Council, BSA.  Under his leadership over the next 33 years, Scouting grew and matured into the program we recognize and enjoy today.

The James West Fellowship Award is presented to individuals based on a contribution of $1,000 or more to the local Pacific Skyline Council's Endowment Fund.  Only registered Scouters or youth members receive and wear the square knot.

The money may be given by a group of Scouters or individual Scouter to honor - an Eagle Scout, a Silver Beaver recipient, the Council President, a District Chairman, Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman, other volunteers or as a memorial.  The award can also be given to an individual who makes a contribution on his/her own behalf.

This award is not intended to diminish or replace your annual gift to the Council’s Fair Share Campaign.  Your generous gift will help:

  • Enable more boys and girls to join Scouting and Venturing programs.
  • Improve service to districts and units.
  • Enhance camping and program activities.
  • Expand outreach programs to at-risk youth.
  • Increase communications and publications.


    Local Levels of Membership 
     Fellow $1,000 
     Grand Teton Member $2,500 
     Pike's Peak Member $5,000 
     Mt. Whitney Member $10,000 
     Mt. McKinley Member $15,000 

Beginning with 2010, James E. West Fellowship Donor names are posted on the Council’s online Wall of Honor.  Donors’ names are set in bold type to distinguish them from the other donors to the Endowment Campaign. Previous year's donors can be viewed by clicking here. We hope that earlier James E. West Donors will join the Celebration of our Centennial Anniversary -- and again -- consider making a James E. West contribution to endow Scouting’s next 100 years. Their names will also be added to the online Wall of Honor. To view the current list of Endowment Donors, click here.

Recognition for the award includes: an attractive 8x10 inch personalized certificate, a distinctive lapel pin, an embroidered knot for uniform wear, acknowledgment at Annual Heritage Society Fellowship Event, acknowledgment in the Council’s Annual Report and online on the Wall of Honor.

1910 Society and Founders Circle 

In addition to the James West Fellowship Awards, major donors have two additional honors they can receive: the 1910 Society and the Founders Circle. Members of these two groups wear a device on their James E. West knot. 

1910 Society

To qualify as a member of the 1910 Society, an individual, donor, company, or organization must contribute $25,000 or more to the local council endowment fund. Recognition will be given for gifts of cash, stock, bonds, lead trusts, or other assets that could be readily converted to cash. The gift to endowment may be in the form of a pledge, but the pledge must be paid within five years of the pledge date.

The 1910 Society was named for the year in which the early, visionary leaders of Scouting founded the Boy Scouts of America. Those who have made endowment gifts to further the Scouting movement are, themselves, modern-day visionaries.

There are four levels of recognition in the 1910 Society:

  • Ernest Thompson Seton , nationally known artist and naturalist, author of the first official American Scout handbook and many other books important to Scouting; Seton level membership: $25,000 minimum gift.
  • Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor, National Scout Commissioner, and author of many well- known books and stories for youth; Beard level membership: $100,000 minimum gift.
  • Theodore Roosevelt , first Chief Scout Citizen, first vice president of the BSA, and President of the United States ; Roosevelt level membership: $500,000 minimum gift.
  • Waite Phillips , one of the BSA's first benefactors, and donor to the BSA of almost 130,000 acres of land in New Mexico and what is now Philmont Scout Ranch; Phillips level membership: $1,000,000 and up.

Founders Circle

The  Founders Circle  recognizes deferred gifts designated for the local council's endowment fund. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of $100,000 made through one or more of the following:

  • Bequest in a will or codicil.
  • Charitable trusts, such as uni-trusts, annuity trusts, and lead trusts.
  • BSA Gifts Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund gifts.
  • Life insurance / retirement plan designation.
  • Other deferred gifts approved by the Pacific Skyline Council.

Similar to the 1910 Society, there are four levels of membership in the   Founders Circle:

  • Bronze $100,000 minimum gift commitment
  • Silver $250,000 minimum gift commitment
  • Gold $500,000 minimum gift commitment
  • Platinum $1,000,000 minimum gift commitment

For More Information

Donors wishing to make a gift to The James E. West Fellowship, The 1910 Society or The Founders Circle should call the Pacific Skyline Council’s Scout Executive, Kent Downing or the Director of Development, Jill Schwab at the Council’s Foster City Headquarters – (650) 341-5633.

To learn more, click here to see Living and Giving the current version on one of our most popular donor-oriented publications. It covers many different types of planned gifts and giving opportunities for gifts both large and small. If you would like a hard copy of this publication, please send an email with your name and address to Jill.Schwab@Scouting.org.

 

 

 

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