The Eagle

Black Swamp Area Council - June 2022

What does it mean to be an Eagle Scout? How does one become an Eagle Scout? Why does it require a project? These are common questions to someone who hasn’t achieved the rank of Eagle. We celebrate when a Scout is decorated with the Eagle Scout rank. We give gifts and have a party. But what happens before the party or where do Eagle Scouts soar as adults? Becoming an Eagle Scout is a high accomplishment helping prepare individuals for life. With only an approximated 6% of Scouts who join earning this honor, it tends to mean these individuals will soar to new heights!

Scouting Brings Life Into Focus

Scouting has helped shape a lifetime of serve, both locally and internationally, for Pandora optometrist

Boy Scouting has a positive impact on those who participate and so often becomes a foundation for preparing them for life.

In Scouting, the hands-on experiences and lessons become lasting opportunities for kids to learn. As the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training, Scouting helps young people be “Prepared. For Life.” 

Many may not realize that the Boy Scouts of America organization is part of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) which is comprised of 172 National Scout Organizations all over the world.

As the WOSM proudly states, Scouting provides young people with opportunities to participate in programs, events, activities, and projects that contribute to their growth as active citizens. Through these initiatives, young people become agents of positive change who inspire others to take action.

One never knows when a young child joins the ranks Scouting, what will become of them later in life. People take different paths and grow to become active members of their communities.

Here locally, we have one individual who continues to give back through selfless service because of what he first learned as a youth while a Boy Scout.

Dr. Darrell Groman earned his Eagle Scout rank in 1972 and continues to be a light of Scouting through his service and dedication to others not only in his community but to others internationally. A member of the Bluffton and Pandora communities, he has nearly 40 years of Scouting on his resume, that includes extensive involvement with International Scouting. 

In Scouting, once the rank of Eagle is obtained, a Scout’s experience is not over, but rather just beginning. Eagle Scouts are the shining example of Scouting and Eagle Scouts are challenged to continue serving others and giving back.

"I learned so much from Scouting,” Dr. Groman stated. “To help other people at all times. A Scout is trustworth, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind … cheerful … brave…” 

Dr. Groman, who is a Doctor of Optometry with an office in Pandora, took his Scouting adventures internationally first in 1983, when he visited Venezuela. He became involved with providing aid to international countries with providing eye care while on mission trips. 

"My life has been multi-faceted with my personal experiences with Jesus, Scouting, stamp collecting and being self-taught in geography, Optometry, Languages, History and having had many opportunities to travel overseas,” Dr. Groman stated. 


“Our neighbors are not only those who live beside us, but those also who live across the street, across town, across the railroad tracks, on the other side of the county and state, as well as those who live in far-away countries around the world,” Dr. Groman added. “When we help to serve the least of His brethren, we are serving Christ. Feed the hungry, visit those individuals who are in prison, clothe the naked and help the blind to see.”

He has worked on 12 overseas vision care missions to offer the best of the pre-sorted used eyeglasses from the VOSH-Ohio Eyeglasses Sorting Center, housed in the basement of the Pandora United Methodist Church. The group is nearing the milestone of donateing its 4 millionth pair of glasses since 1988, from inventories of thousands of eyeglasses packaged for dispensing to the underserved around the world.

"Have Retinoscope, Will Travel!”
- Dr. Groman is known for saying, which he has done all over the world

Dr. Groman’s international travels have also led to his family. Meeting his eventual wife Irina in the Ukraine, to the birth of their children Misha and Christian, who are also become Eagle Scouts like their father. 

Dr. Groman’s International Scouting adventures are fascinating and if you’d like to read more details about his Scouting experiences, CLICK HERE!

If you have an Eagle Scout you’d like to see featured,
please contact Jim Mason at  jim.mason@scouting.org


Scouting in the Black Swamp Area Council began in 1915 when the Scouting program was introduced to the youth people of Northwest and West Central Ohio. More than 5,000 individuals are participating in the local programs of Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Exploring with more than 1,100 serving as adult volunteers. For more information about finding Scouting near you, visit BeAScout.org