Los Banos Rotary Club History
Scout Executive Urges Increased interest in Youth

Addressing members of the Los Banos Rotary Club Tuesday noon, Bud Lee, of Gustine, Boy Scout Executive for the West Side Area of the Yosemite Council, cited the increasing need for parental help and guidance in preparing the youth of today for their adult life of tomorrow. He also urged that adults generally support and assist in directing and supporting youth organizations, the extent of lack of which will have a definite effect upon the world in which we live tomorrow.

Citing the Boy and Girl Scouts as worthy mediums through which the youth of today prepares himself for later life, Lee urged increasing support of all such youth organizations and cited the need for more adult citizens to take an active part in the support and guidance of such programs.

Commenting on his recent attendance at a valley-wide youth workshop this week in Stockton, Lee said the most impressive fact brought out there was the almost unbelievable increase in California's juvenile population. Quoting figures presented by Governor Knight, Lee said there were 75,000 babies born in California in 1933; 175,000 new arrivals in 1943; and 268,000 babies born in this state in 1953—one every 105 seconds. The student enrollment in our schools has shown a like increase—one million in 1940; two million in 1952; an estimated three million in 1960; and an unbelievable four million California school students in 1965.

This, Lee emphasized, clearly indicates that much work lies ahead if the adult population is to prepare and properly provide for youth activity and training programs in the next few years.

As to what such programs should provide, Lee pointed to a recent survey conducted by trained personnel of the University of Michigan among boys from 14 to 16 years of age. The survey which covered widely separated portions of the country, showed that the young boy of today accepts as matter of fact the country's military training program; that he is interested in his future niche in life, and seeks vocational guidance; and that he is tremendously interested in the country of which he is a part. Whereas at the turn of the century the boy began his adult work life in his late teens, today his adult work life doesn't start until he is 22 to 24 years of age. Almost 40 per cent of the boys interviewed indicated preference for the professional fields—doctors, lawyers, etc. One out of seven were interested in farming: only one out of ten was interested in machinery.

Concluding, Lee commended the local Rotary Club for the interest and work it is doing in Scouting and other youth activities, and particularly the members who are actively participating in the Rotary sponsored Scout Troop No. 85.
The speaker was introduced by Frank Orr, co-chairman of the club's Boy Scout committee.

R. M. Miano, superintendent of the local elementary schools and a past president of the regular president, Frank Merrick, out of the chair to share birthday honors with seven other members of the club, who hail November as their birth month: Stanley Kaber, Jos. J. Silva, Ernest Petrocelli, Gilbert Elliott, Al Fittje, Wm. Raznoff, and the club's first president, Dr. Geo B. Pimentel.

November 25, 1955

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