Local Boy Scout earns district leadership post
By Aaron Moore
Published in News on June 6, 2011 1:46 PM
David Joyner
When David Joyner first joined Scouting as a Tiger Cub, he wasn't thinking of being a leader or learning the Scout Law by heart. He just wanted to have fun.
But somewhere among all the camping and hiking, Joyner found himself stepping up from a quiet Tiger Cub to an outspoken Eagle Scout.
And now, 11 years later, he is the Order of the Arrow's section chief for central and eastern North Carolina.
"It was a little overwhelming," Joyner said, discussing how he was elected at Section 7B's conclave in April.
After getting a letter of approval from the local Scout executive, Joyner had to give two speeches in front of 1,500 fellow Arrowmen and answer questions about why he was the best choice to lead all their chapters.
Talking in front of all those people is something Joyner said he wouldn't have been able to do without the confidence Scouting has given him.
"I've never been able to speak in front of large groups," Joyner said. "Scouting has really helped me raise my confidence."
And that confidence is exactly what Joyner will need now that he is in charge of organizing all the Order chapters east of Winston-Salem.
Joyner will join other section chiefs at national Order functions, where he will represent eastern and central North Carolina at the national level.
He said his goals over the next year are to make the Order's programs stronger at the chapter level, increase attendance at the annual conclave and promote high adventure camping.
As part of the high adventure activities the Order does each year, Joyner said he wants to send fellow Arrowmen to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, where they can hike along hundreds of miles of rugged trails.
"I do it because it's fun," Joyner said, discussing how he has thrown almost all his free time into Scouting, whether camping or holding executive meetings.
"You really build these friendships with these people. You set goals for each other and help each other follow through."
Even though he enjoys camping and meetings with his fellow Arrowmen, Joyner said his favorite part of Order of the Arrow is the conclaves.
Conclave is a yearly meeting of all the lodges in Section 7B. Joyner said for him, it's a time of friendship, fellowship and friendly competition.
Some of those competitions include traditional Native American dances, which speak to the Order's dedication to preserving Native American culture.
Aside from all his involvement in Scouting and the Order, Joyner is also active in campus life at Southern Wayne High School, where he is a junior.
Joyner is on the soccer, cross country and tennis teams, and he is involved in the Student Government Association and Future Business Leaders of America.
Joyner said he doesn't know where he wants to go to college yet, but he is set on going to law school some day so he can become a public official.
"You can change things," he said. "You can really make an impact and put your plans into action."
But before he can be a public leader, Joyner will stick with leading Boy Scouts and Arrowmen.
"Scouting has really made me the person I am today," he said. "I joined it because of friends and it's helped me a lot."