• Photo 1:  Doug Ellis, scouting coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, takes son Kevin, 13, and Matthew 11, to the Washington, D.C. mall.
• Photo 2:  A Venture Crew related to United Methodist Church in Lansdale, Pa., provides 100 Scouts an opportunity to scuba dive during a council jamboree.

LANSDALE, Pa.––Doug Ellis, lay leader of Christ United Methodist Church in Lansdale, has been named scouting coordinator for Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference.

The National Office of Scouting Ministry recently named Eastern Pennsylvania as a pilot conference for the development of scouting ministry specialists who will help local churches understand the value of chartering Scout troops or hosting other youth-serving organizations. The specialists will also provide information about the God and Country Programs of Religious Activities with Youth (PRAY), training opportunities, resources for Scout Sunday and various awards for young people and adults. 
 
Ellis is especially well qualified to serve as the conference scouting coordinator as he is one of the first persons to be named a scouting ministry specialist. He hopes scores of men and women will also volunteer to occupy this volunteer position and he plans to develop district directors of scouting from these persons. “No one can run an annual conference by themselves,” said Ellis. “My goal is to provide support to any church that is willing to give time and support, then build from there.”

Ellis told UM Men magazine that too many churches simply provide space for Scout troops and they fail to understand that “inviting a youth to join the church’s scouting program opens the door for the whole family to join the church.” 

The Indiana native serves as scouting coordinator for United Methodist Men, the charter organization representation for a Cub Scout Pack, and committee chair for a Boy Scout troop. He also received the Wood Badge Award following completion of Scouting's premier training course. In addition he is a recipient of the Cross and Flame award presented by the General Commission on United Methodist Men, a Nashville-based agency that includes the National Office of Scouting Ministry.

Last year, he started a Venture Crew focused on scuba diving. Through the courtesy of Indian Valley Scuba, his crew recently provided a 30,000 gallon diving pool at a council jamboree where over 100 Scouts tried scuba diving for the first time.

In an effort to reach young people, Ellis joined the twitter crowd where he provides information with other Scouting Ministry Specialists (http://twitter.com/UMM_Scouter) 

A graduate of Indiana University-Bloomington (B.S. in business/accounting) and Murray State University (MBA), Ellis now serves as technical director for IBM Cognos Brand, a position he has held for eight years.

If you are interested in scouting in Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, you may reach Ellis by e-mail at dsellis@comcast.net.