I was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer. Neither popular nor highly accomplished in school, I excelled in Scouting, where adult leaders encouraged and supported me in discovering my own strenghts and developing them. I later served as a Scoutmaster and entered the professsional service of the BSA as a District Scout Executive. I learned organization and leadership skills that have proved invaluably important to me in later life. I served two tours of duty in Vietnam in the Air Force, leaving after four years to complete my Bachelor's degree. I have been a successful business entrepreneur and in mid-life completed an advanced degree to become an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. I have served the church in local, regional and national settings, and currently serve as Pastor of a church in Connecticut, and as Minister for Stewardship and Development at another church nearby.

Oh, by the way - I'm gay - and I grieve that the current national leadership of the BSA refuses to support all boys who are growing into discovery of who they are and help them to become strong men of good character. This kind of bigotry should have no place in the education of our youth.