Steve Fini - For Youth Service to Mow-A-Toc Lodge

Steve lived just blocks away from the Redwood Area Council office. It was only natural that his playground became the Scout Office, where he seemingly ran the place. Yes, as a youth, an Eagle Scout and Lodge Chief, Steve truly did run the Lodge and more, while serving multiple years as Lodge Chief! The only surprise was he did not take the next step and become a Scouting professional.

He was integral in organizing the lodge in everything from Lodge meetings, Camporees, Ordeals, Ceremonies, to making sure the Summer Camp was staffed and always to be a part of Section W-3B Conclaves. Steve had been instrumental in not only landing (back then a lodge bid and was selected to host a conclave) the last Area 12C Conclave held at College of the Redwoods to being a key player in the new W-3B conclaves thereafter.

Not only did Steve excel at leading events in his lodge and council, but at section level he truly blossomed on a larger stage. He always made sure that his lodge was not just a participant in section politics, but a leader. Steve saw to it that no matter how distant the conclave, Mow-A-Toc lodge always had a large contingent present.

At the 1975 conclave held in Coalinga, CA, just an 8-10 hour drive away, Steve was elected Section Vice Chief. Part of the platform was to get the conclave back to a Scout Camp. The resulting theme of "Back to the Stix in '76" and location at Camp Bristol Hood was due in no small part to his efforts. The conclave itself was a huge success with outstanding attendance.

1977 saw Steve out of Section office, but not as a player in the section or keeping things humming along in his lodge. He actively recruited other youth to assume leadership of his lodge, as well as volunteered leadership of many events. Steve roared back in 1978 as Section Chief with a cabinet of officers he promoted for election perhaps more than his own campaign. He had learned “surround yourself with good people and good things were bound to happen”. Conclave was once again a huge success.

Turning 21 in 1979 Steve could no longer run for youth leadership positions...but that didn't really slow him down. He went on to serve a long tenure in the 1980's as Lodge Adviser, while serving on the Council Executive Board and continued to serve in various capacities in the Section into the 2000's. Truly Steve learned his lesson as a Servant Leader during his youth and it carried into his adult life to this day. He is still sought out for advice and counsel regarding the OA and Scouting by his peers. To this day, Scouters speak in reverence of the Steve Fini era of Mow-A-Toc Lodge as the Golden Years, perhaps the zenith of Scouting on the North Coast of California.