ALUMNI
Every now and then we come across a story that has great impact on us. When we do, I think it is important to share it with others. I recently received an email from one of our Alumni leaders entitled “bragging about my son.” I could hardly wait to find out what the brag was about so I explored the story and then asked to share it here with you on our CFUSA website.

Josh Dowlut is an Alumni member of Camp Fire USA Potomac Area Council—Now Patuxent Area Council. He's 26, and he already has his own mortgage company: Federal Fidelity Mortgage, with its office in Baltimore , and its web site at federalfidelity.com.

Josh's mom and dad, Alice Beard and Bob Dowlut, have been involved with Camp Fire for many years as has his sister Sabrina. Alice was a leader, created the Camp Fire History Website, and has been a Camp Fire supporter for years. Bob is my outdoor guy. For years he kept watch over Camp Takahano as he walked the Appalachian trail and reported back to us about its condition, problems and other important factors.
Josh joined Camp Fire in kindergarten and stayed involved even as he started into high school. His mom says, "His first experience as a salesman was when he was in third grade and sold Camp Fire candy door-to-door in the neighborhood. I'm proud that he has incorporated two of Camp Fire 's most important messages into his heart and soul: Give service, and be trustworthy ever in all that you do."




His most vivid memories of Camp Fire are the science center sleepovers, I always thought it was really neat to sleepover in a huge public museum, and have the whole place to ourselves. Also the Jamboree of 91, it was amazing how many people came out, there must have been 400-500.

I asked Josh to write a few words about how he thinks Camp Fire prepared him for life. His response: the most positive thing I took from Camp Fire was the simple principle of leaving things better than you found them. This general concept can be applied to so many different things in every day life. Cleaning your own table at McDonalds, and picking up the trash around your section of the neighborhood are the obvious ones. Not so obvious is a conscious effort to contribute to society, instead of siphoning off of it. The volunteer work which is the foundation of Camp Fire is a great example of this. It’s making a difference in your community.
I worked for a company that did not care about improving itself, or the lives of its clients. They definitely had the siphon mentality. My desire to make things better was a big factor that led me to found Federal Fidelity.


It is always great to see the young people we touch become the Caring Confident adults and leaders that Camp Fire works to hard to develop. Josh is a great tribute to that legacy.

By the way, If you need a mortgage company or know anyone who does and you use Josh’s company and mention Camp Fire USA, Josh told me in an email that he would donate 10% of the proceeds of the settlement to our programs.