Green Zone Concil Outfits Iraqi Scouts

Encourage character-building and leadership in Iraq's next generation

US Military and State Department personnel, in cooperation with the "Green Zone Council", are asking your help to re-energize involvement and opportunities for Boy & Girls Scouts in Iraq. Iraq was one of the first founders of Scouting in the Arab Region but lost international backing in the 90's when Sadaam Hussein changed the organizational goals and mission. However, the "Green Zone Council" a group which includes state department and military personnel in collaboration with local leaders, is working to foster the rebirth of Scouting in Iraq as a way to teach, coach and mentor youth in values and skills that will set them up for success in life. With so much riding on the leadership of the next generation of Iraqis, this is an important way to build up the country's youth to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Iraqi Scouts

What does your donation buy? $500 purchases 100 Pinewood Derby Car Kits $100 purchases 10 Acrylic Paint Sets $25 purchases one kit of miscellaneous art supplies including construction paper, markers, craft glue, craft sticks, colored pencils, sharpener, and scissors *all pricing includes estimated shipping Make a donation to this project To donate please call 800-691-2209 or send a check to: Spirit of America, File 50315, Los Angeles, CA 90074-0315 Please put "Scouts" and your email address on your check. (If no project is specified the donation will be designated for our unrestricted fund.) To make a secure online donation enter the amount below:

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May 2008--New Request from 1LT Greg Hembree

We are pleased to bring you a new request from First Lieutenant Greg Hembree who recently began serving a tour of duty in Central Iraq. 1LT Hembree, who is an Adult Scouter with Pack 236 part of the Crossroads of America Council www.crossroadsbsa.org, has been involved with Scouts for many years serving as a Pack Committee Chairman, an Assistant Cub Master and has children actively involved in scouting. He has seen first hand what a wonderful community of friendship and guidance Scouting offers.

_{1TL Greg Hembree, US Pack Leader & Iraqi Scout Advocate}


Upon arriving in Iraq, 1LT Hembree was "drawn in" by the efforts of the Green Zone Council to provide assistance and support to Iraqi Scouts. Since basic Scout needs such as camping equipment and uniforms have already been received for the local scouts, 1LT Hembree suggests Arts & Craft supplies, particularly Pinewood Derby Kits, would be a good next step in our ongoing contribution to Iraqi Scouts.

With your continued sponsorship of this project, Spirit of America will not only purchase tangible goods such as Pinewood Derby kits along with traditional arts and craft items such as glue, string contruction paper, etc. but we will also serve as a shipping partner as needed with a generous effort by the Boys Scouts of America's Crossroads of America, to supply 1,000 Pinewood Derby kits.



Original Request from Lt Col Schatzel

Though we often think of scouting as a traditionally American organization, it is actually a worldwide group with national councils in over 155 countries. Iraqi Scouting was established in the 1920s, only a decade later than the Boy Scouts of America, and enjoyed international recognition until Sadaam's reign. Scouting is internationally known as one of the foremost youth programs for character development and leadership training. The World Organization of Scouts vision is to "create a better world" by "educating young people to play a constructive role in society". Poster for Iraqi Girl Scout CookiesRecognizing the value of such a concept to Iraq, a group of State Department and Military personnel, including US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Jim Wilmott and Lieutenant Colonel John Schatzel, formed the GZC or Green Zone Council to provide support to a renewal of Iraqi Scouting.

LtCol Schatzel reports that "[t]he Iraqi Scouts need so much, it is hard to begin. However, we think it might be best to start along two paths: training and equipping. The GZC provided a listing of items to outfit 100 scouts divided into "patrols" of 9 scouts each. SoA has pledged to provide enough for 200 scouts.

The Green Zone Council has remained a vital entity through several troop rotations and they continue to support the growth of Scouting in Iraq. Spirit of America will use your generous contributions to this project to provide supplies for these boys and girls scouts through the Green Zone Council. Any amount is appreciated and can make a difference for these children.Iraqi Scouts convene for training

Use of funds

We are a 501c3 nonprofit and your donation is tax deductible. 100% of all project donations (excluding credit card processing fees) will be used for direct project expenses (i.e., purchase and shipping of the needed goods and services). We do not deduct fees or expenses for organization overhead. Those expenses are funded separately. Donation Policy Your donation will be earmarked for this project. Donations in excess of those needed by this project will be used to support other Spirit of America projects.