Page 144 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2023

FINAL SAY
DR. CHUCK
WOOD
REALTOR®,
Amy Wood Properties
As I write this, the holiday season is in full swing, and I, as I’m sure you do too, fill this time of year by taking part in traditions in my family and community. Aside from all of the twinkling lights, I am particularly reminded this year of another tradition, one that my father instilled in me back when I joined his dental practice: community involvement.
Volunteering in community organizations has been a consistent part of my adult life. When I was a dentist, I was fortunate to serve in leadership roles in multiple dental associations. Follow- ing my retirement from dentistry and my entry into real estate with Amy Wood Properties LLC, I continued my involvement, working with organizations like the Pass Christian division of the Coast Chamber and the Gulf Regional Planning Commission.
My service with the Boy Scouts of America is one that crossed both of my careers. I began as a Den Leader in my son’s Cub Scout Pack, and later served as Scoutmaster for Boy Scout Troop 381. I am glad to continue to be a part of Scouting by serving the Pine Burr Area Council as Council Commissioner.
In each of these roles, I have found having firsthand involve- ment to be very rewarding. I am often asked “why should I support the Boy Scouts?” Scouting now serves over 3,000 boys and girls in South Mississippi. The program provides countless opportunities to these young people, activities which many would not have access to without the program. An important part of the Scouting program is getting the participants out of the house and into the woods. These camping trips provide many valuable life lessons to the Scouts, beyond simply learning how to start
a fire. Watching the growth in self-confidence of young Scouts during summer camp was one of my most rewarding times as a unit leader.
But Scouting is not just about camping, or selling popcorn, or merit badges – it’s about instilling a certain kind of character,
a way of life in our young people. Scouting’s goal is to prepare them to make moral and ethical choices over their lifetime, living by the Scout Oath and Law. I think we would all be better off if
we strived to live by the principles of the Scout Law: Trust- worthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.
So as we start out 2023, I want to encourage everyone to
look for opportunities to give back and enrich our community. Regardless of the means through which we each pursue it, I believe involvement in one’s community should be a part of
all our lives. I know that I have gained so much through my service, and am appreciative of all those who donate their time and effort to our community.
If you are interested in learning more about the Boy Scouts of America in South Mississippi for you or your child, I encourage you to contact me or Scout Executive Zach Ross at 601.596.5087 or Zachary.Ross@scouting.org.
144 | January 2023
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