When we think of adult volunteers in the Scouting movement, we tend to focus on the Leaders, the people who plan and execute the programming, the people who are directly involved with the youths. A successful Scouting Group, however, depends heavily on an even larger number of volunteers working behind the scenes. They can fill roles all the way from assisting at  Bottle Drive up to serving in an Executive capacity. Each Group has a Group Committee supporting it at this executive level. In addition, volunteers are required at the District, Regional and Provincial levels.

While many of these “behind the scenes” volunteers tend to stay for only one or a few years, South Okanagan District has been blessed with a few individuals who have truly stood out for their longterm dedication. One of these people is June Cuming.

June started as a Cubmaster with a Penticton Cub Pack in 1953, but quickly took on the responsibility of District Cubmaster in the District, offering support to other Leaders in Penticton, Summerland and Naramata. She then joined the South Okanagan District Council in 1958, taking on the demanding role of District Secretary from 1960 to 1964.

She moved up to the Regional level in 1964, where she contributed as Regional Secretary on the Interior Region Council until 1972. Then she served from 1973 to 1976 on the B.C./Yukon Provincial Council.

In 1976 June moved back to the local level where she served on the South Okanagan District Service Team until 1979.

In all, June Cuming gave 25 years of service to youth in our area and elsewhere.