Pasadena, California - 6 May 2004 - Merwyn C. Gill, Chairman of the Board of M.C. Gill Corporation, announced making a major gift to fund development of a Composites Merit Badge for the Boy Scouts of America.

"Working to create a Composites Merit Badge would show thousands of youth what Composites are all about, introduce them to these materials and perhaps even interest them in a career in this growing field. There are Merit Badges for many other fields, so it only makes sense to work toward developing one that encourages them to learn about Composites." The announcement was made at Pasadena's Ritz-Carlton Hotel during an event honoring last year's group of 227 Eagle Scouts, including designating them the M.C. Gill Eagle Scout Class of 2003.

The San Gabriel Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America - the fastest growing council in the United States - is working with M.C. Gill to create the requirements, pamphlet and related materials for the badge. The first phase in this process is meetings with a group of active Scout Leaders, Merit Badge counselors and composites industry experts to outline a development plan. Once the requirements and materials are created they will be tested during the Summer Program at Cherry Valley Boy Scout Camp on Catalina Island. This is the most popular Scout camp in the Western United States, making it an ideal environment for participation.

Once the requirements and materials have been refined they will be revised and retested in a variety of venues, including a demonstration at the 2005 National Jamboree.

"Once we are certain that it's completely ready to go, we will formally submit the Composites Merit Badge for consideration to the National Boy Scout organization for review," said Bob Booker, Scout Council Executive Director. "After they have had a chance to consider it, we hope that it can become a part of the national program. Learning about Composites will be a positive addition to the program and Scouting appreciates this involvement and support."

Merit Badges have been part of the Boy Scout tradition since Baden-Powell first created the program nearly 100 years ago. First called "Badges of Honor" in British Lieut. General Baden-Powell's popular 1908 book Scouting for Boys, Merit Badges have grown in number and become legendary. Over time some Merit Badges have been discontinued and replaced by others with more contemporary content. These often reflect innovations and changes in technology. Orville Wright himself was an advisor to the Aviation Merit Badge. Merit Badges such as Rabbit Raising and requirements to learn Morse Code have been replaced by badges such as atomic energy, environmental science and computers.

For Additional Information or to provide input or support to the project to create a Composites Merit Badge - contact:

George Sorensen - Marketing Communications Manager
M.C. Gill Corporation
Phone: 626 443-4022
Fax: 626 350-5880
Email: info@mcgillcorp.com
www.mcgillcorp.com

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