New Lenox Scoutmaster Receives Boy Scout Leadership Award

New Lenox resident Bill Schade recently received the 2015 Excellence in Leadership Award from the Rainbow Council of The Boy Scouts of America. The Award is granted to Unit Scouters at all levels of Scouting, who give service to the unit above and beyond their registered position. This includes helping at a moment’s notice, demonstrating and living the values of scouting, and serving as a role model inspiring the boys to be better at what they do and who they are.

Schade has served as Scoutmaster to Boy Scout Troop 44 in New Lenox for the past 10 years. During this time, the Troop has prospered in the number of active scouts and parents involved. Schade’s leadership style combines coaching and mentoring for the youth (and adults at times) by letting them learn from an experience while offering guiding advice at the right time. He sometimes refers to the process as “organized chaos,” but the tasks are always accomplished, lessons learned, and everyone goes home feeling good about what was done and themselves.

“The troop’s monthly Patrol Leader Council meetings are fun to observe with Bill’s style of letting the boys brainstorm new ideas and empowering them to learn about what it would take to accomplish the ideas and then following up,” said John Laitar, Troop 44 Committee Chair. “I believe this is not only preparing them to be better youth leaders currently, but better leaders in their future as well. Bill does not dominate Troop committee meetings, but when he gives his report, the other leaders listen to his thoughts and recommendation. His calm style is appreciated by all.”

Schade, who is a Facility Manager at Safety-Kleen, has guided over 20 boys to the Eagle rank during his time as Scoutmaster. He has worked with these boys on completing their requirements to advance in rank and provide guidance and motivation for many of them to continue to the Eagle Scout rank.

As a youth, Schade was a Boy Scout in Chicago and earned his Eagle Rank along with 6 palms. He spent many summers as a member of Camp Staff at Owasippe Scout Reservation and Camp Shin-Go-Beek. Schade was a Cubmaster at Pack 6 in New Lenox for several years when his son joined scouting in the Rainbow Council. When contacted by his District Executive, Schade stepped up to sit on a committee formed to help appropriate donated funds for Eagle Scout projects.

Scouting has a strong foundation in the Schade family. His son, Mark, is an Eagle Scout and daughter, Elizabeth, is a Senior Girl Scout. His wife, Mary, is a Girl Scout Leader.

To learn more about scouting, visit www.newlenoxtroop44.com.