Update, 3:48 p.m. April 19: Read the latest here.

I was sickened to read about last night’s deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in the city of West, just 90 minutes south of the BSA’s National Office in Texas.

West, a tight-knit community of 2,700, is part of the Longhorn Council, and Longhorn Scout Executive John Coyle told me this morning that his council’s volunteers and professionals are prepared to mobilize and help when and where they’re needed.

“If we can help any portion of the community, we will,” Coyle said. “Right now they need professionals.”

In other words, it’s too early to do anything without interfering with first responders who are still searching for survivors. Coyle did say the council has a troop and pack in West, but he hasn’t yet been able to get in contact with those unit leaders.

“Our district executive was trying to get in touch with some of the leaders down there, but he just couldn’t get through last night. When we can find out what is needed to help our units, we will take action,” he said. “I do know that right now the community is looking for financial support and blood donors.”

So if you live in North Texas, please get to a blood donation center as soon as you can. As for donations of supplies or cash, I’ll post again about that when I get details.

More to come.  Continue reading »

Updated | 1:40 p.m.

I just got off the phone with Chuck Eaton, Scout Executive at Boston Minuteman Council, about yesterday’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon.

He said that Council Commissioner Bruce Showstack and his wife, Bonnie, the council’s venturing committee chair, were among the volunteers at yesterday’s race.

Thankfully, Chuck told me that Bruce, Bonnie, and the dozen-or-so Scout volunteers at the race were all safe and accounted for after the explosions that left three people dead and injured more than 170.

Chuck said the Showstacks are one of those “classic Boy Scout families,” volunteering wherever possible. And not just in Scouting.

At the Boston Marathon, Bruce manages the volunteer contingent two blocks from the finish line. Chuck said he could see Bruce on TV during the race, one of the yellow-clad volunteers working in the background.

After the blasts, Chuck wasn’t able to get in touch with Bruce but did hear back from Bonnie, who was “still shaken” but had news that the Scouts and Scouters volunteering at the race were OK.

I’ve reached out to the Showstacks for details of their experience and will update you if and when I hear back from them. Keep checking my blog for updates. (UPDATE: Read my follow-up post to this report, including Bruce and Bonnie’s firsthand account.)

Chuck said he’s been hearing from Scouting friends across the country who were concerned about the Boston council headquarters. Fortunately, Chuck said, the council’s offices are in a Boston suburb, about eight miles from the marathon’s finish line.

But despite their physical distance from the race, everyone in the council — volunteers and professionals — have some link to the marathon.  Continue reading »