About Us
Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) has provided a comprehensive youth development program for communities across America since 1910.
The Northern Lights Council is chartered by the National Council to administer Scouting programs within our assigned territory, which covers the entire state of North Dakota, 25 counties in northwest Minnesota, and 2 counties each in Montana and South Dakota. The council was incorporated in 1974 following a merger of four councils in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. In 2024, the Northern Lights Council absorbed territory in north central Minnesota from the Voyageurs Area Council.
Vision Statement
Scouting America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. In the future, Scouting will continue to:
- Offer young people responsible fun and adventure;
- Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law;
- Train young people in citizenship, service and leadership;
- Serve America’s communities and families with its quality, values-based program.
Scout Law: A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
The Northern Lights Council is proud to be a partner agency with these United Way affiliates:
Council Executive Board
The Northern Lights Council Executive Board is elected annually by the Council members at large and Chartered Organization Representatives. The Executive Board is the governing body of the council territory, empowered by the council body to act in its stead. It takes action to achieve the purposes of the local council. It establishes the council program, carries out resolutions, establishes and enforces policy and hires a Scout Executive, all according to guidelines of the Council Body.
Among its responsibilities are:
- Exercises all powers of the council body between meetings of the council. This does not include authority to change or amend the articles of incorporation.
- Approves the program and plans of various committees.
- Selects and employs a council Scout Executive when a vacancy occurs.
- Approves and administers a budget adequate to achieve the objectives of Scouting.
- Coordinates and supports the work of districts in various phases of Council Program and works to build strong district organizations.
- Raises the dollars necessary to carry out a full Scouting Program in the Council.
Executive Committee
| Position | Name, City |
|---|---|
| Council President | Tim Tello, Bismarck |
| Council Commissioner | Thomas Henderson, Fargo |
| Scout Executive/Secretary (non-voting member) | Brad Olson, Fargo |
| Council Vice President & President-Elect | Jim Blotsky, Fargo |
| Council Treasurer | John Huettl, Minot |
| Council Assistant Treasurer | Kevin Jordre, Fargo |
| Vice-President Administration | Brad Ballweber, Bismarck |
| Vice-President Development | Doug Restemayer, Fargo |
| Vice-President District Operations | Leland Tong, Williston |
| Vice-President Marketing | Steve Shark, Fargo |
| Vice-President Membership | Michael Briggs, Bismarck |
| Vice-President Program | David Johnson, Fargo |
| Vice-President Endowment | Tim Sayler, Detroit Lakes |
| Vice-President At Large | David Sprynczynatyk, Bismarck |
| Vice-President At Large | Shawn Johnston, Fargo |
| Council Legal Counsel | John Boulger, Fargo |
Executive Board Members
Brad Ballweber, Bismarck
Dave Beito, Thief River Falls *
Jeremy Berger, Dickinson *
Jim Blotsky, Fargo
John Boulger, Fargo
Michael Briggs, Bismarck
Cameron Carlson, Thief River Falls
Norman Clark, Fargo
Pat Darras, Bismarck
Al Dohrmann, Bismarck
Mike Dunn, Grand Forks *
Ryan Eagle, Fargo
Daniel El-Dweek, Watford City
Dick Espeland, Bismarck
Steve Gander, East Grand Forks
Thomas Henderson, Fargo
Kathryn Hinds, Moorhead
Jennifer Hoffarth, Grand Forks *
John Huettl, Minot
Jon Jensen, Bismarck
David Johnson, Fargo
Shawn Johnston, Glyndon
Kevin Jordre, Fargo
David Kent, Alexandria *
Julie Lawyer, Bismarck
Mike Lepine, Fargo
Ralph J. Llewellyn, Fargo
Mark Malmberg, Oakes
Larry Maslowski, Bismarck
Todd Medd, Fargo
Lisa Meier, Bismarck
Richard Olson, Minot
Nicholas Paulsen, Alexandria
Doug Restemayer, Moorhead
Dale Sandstrom, Bismarck
Tim Sayler, Detroit Lakes
Tamie Schmidt, Bismarck
Ron Schneider, Moorhead
Steve Shark, Fargo
Todd Simison, Detroit Lakes
Steve Smith, Fargo
David Sprynczynatyk, Bismarck
Tim Tello, Bismarck
Leland Tong, Williston
Christopher Van Gels, Minot
Joel Vettel, Fargo *
Barry Wilfahrt, Grand Forks
Eric Williamson, Grand Forks
Scott Zainhofsky, Bismarck *
* District Chairs are members of the Executive Board by position
