President's Perspective, Ann Miller Rillo

This is a success story. But success did not come easily. This is about Forest Hunt and the bumpy road to an Eagle Scout award. Forest was in our R.E. program when he was a youngster. He is now in his final semester of High School. And he is an active Boy Scout.

In September, Forest approached the Board of Trustees with his proposal to do a "Good Deed" to earn an Eagle Scout award.

His original proposal was to construct a pergola just outside the middle doors between the Sanctuary and the Fellowship Hall. He presented detailed architectural plans including drawings to scale, materials to be used, dimensions of the pergola and a time frame for the construction process. Board members were delighted with the prospect of the pergola which would enhance our property and readily said "yes" to his plan.

Here the story darkens. Forest learned just how frustrating it can be to deal with bureaucracy. In order to be issued a building permit, Glendale City Hall had untold numbers of hoops to jump through.

And jump he did. I don't know how many hours on how many days he spent presenting his plan to how many clerks and officials at City Hall only to learn that the answer was NO. He would not be granted a building permit because the pergola would block the use of the entrance/exit of the middle doors creating a hazard.

Days and weeks had been eaten up with the red tape at City Hall. Forest was now in a real time crunch. His project must be completed by his 18th birthday, November 29th. He had to let the Board know that his project could not be done. This was sad news.

And now it seemed that, with so little time left before November 29th, he might not be able to complete his Eagle award.

To my delight, Forest called to discuss a new plan. A plan which did not hang on the hinges of City Hall rules and regulations—a book drive.

Forest and his fellow Scouts scoured their neighborhoods and were able to collect masses of books.

On Saturday, November 12th, just at the agreed time, 2:30, I opened the door to the Fellowship Hall and watched streams of Boy Scouts carrying boxes and boxes of books.

Forest quickly designated stations for various book categories which were to be donated to his High School, and a station for books to be donated to Goodwill.

He called his helpers together, explained the program, and they all pitched in.By 5:30, the books were boxed and packed into the waiting cars.

Throughout, Forest demonstrated good leadership. He had had an excellent work plan, a grasp of what needed to be done, and a plan to make it happen.

Congratulations, Forest!