The formative skills and opportunities shared and the adventures experienced have cultivated a relatable commitment to service in OA members and alumni. As the OA’s circle has widened, this deep understanding of others’ needs and perspectives is important. Therefore, many OA alumni are exemplars of leadership inside and outside of that ring.
Matthew Rosendahl ’07 represents the values of the Scout Oath and Law through his actions and character. An Eagle Scout, Vigil Honor member and Founder’s Award recipient, Matthew currently serves as an attorney at Kelly Guzzo PLC, working on consumer rights litigation and class actions in Richmond, VA.
Thanks to Matthew’s involvement in Scouting, the leaders he encountered helped influence his decision to pursue litigation as a career, even from a young age.
“I’ve wanted to be a lawyer for as long as I can remember. I was a pretty nerdy kid, and I enjoyed politics, so becoming a lawyer felt like a natural career for that pursuit,” Matthew said.
“Scouting and the OA also reassured me that being a lawyer was a good path, as many of my adult mentors in Scouting were also lawyers,” he added.
Along with shaping his future career path, Matthew said the social skills he built through Scouting and the OA have paid off tremendously in his current profession.
“The confidence I gained through the OA has helped me a lot in my career as an attorney, where I feel much more comfortable speaking in a courtroom and relating to others’ experiences because of my time in Scouting,” Matthew said.
But he did not just gain social skills through Scouting. Matthew also developed a framework he still follows today — an ethos, as he calls it — that he lives by daily.
“To me, Scouting and the OA boil down to servant leadership. It is important for us as Scouts and Scouting alumni to be leaders in our career fields and personal endeavors, but we should not forget that with that leadership comes a responsibility to help others and to use our positions to set an example of how people should treat others,” Matthew said.
“Although I am by no means perfect, I often have moments when I feel I’m losing sight of the brotherhood, cheerfulness and service that defined my Scouting career, and I take a moment to reset, refocus and realign my values with those that were imparted to me during my Scouting career,” he added.
Before learning so much about himself through the program, Matthew was inducted into the OA as a 14-year-old and quickly became involved at various levels.
“I quickly became involved as an Elangomat in my lodge and at the chapter level as chapter chief. From there, I served on my lodge’s executive committee and eventually became lodge chief in 2012,” Matthew said.
He credits his time as lodge chief as the best year of his Scouting journey, largely because of the hands-on experience he gained leading a lodge of more than 1,000 members. He enjoyed planning and organizing training, events, and induction weekends, while also working with his section as head of the conclave delegation.
Through his term and all his involvement, one thing remained constant: the people he encountered.
“The friends I made through the OA are still my closest friends today, and the adult mentors I had have now become friends as well,” Matthew said.
His time in Scouting as a youth was not without challenges. Matthew said one of the biggest setbacks of his life occurred while he was in the OA.
“I lost an election for a position I really wanted by one vote. At the time, I took it personally, as a sign of personal failure. But I soon learned that through our perceived failures we often gain the most perspective,” Matthew remarked.
One of Matthew’s biggest goals, which has remained constant from his time in Scouting into his professional career, is to use his position for the greater good.
“I credit the OA in particular with giving me a strong ethos of service above self. The principles of servant leadership motivated me to change from my initial career in corporate law to my current practice focused on helping consumers fight against predatory and unfair financial and credit practices,” Matthew said.
“My time in the OA reinforced the idea that I should use my privileges to help others as much as I can to make our society a fairer one.”
Throughout his years of service, Matthew said he has looked to several role models, including one widely known historical figure.
“Winston Churchill has always been a role model for his leadership during difficult times. I also credit several of the leaders in my troop and lodge for shaping me into who I am today, including my Scoutmaster, Carl Stump, and lodge adviser Kevin Reedy,” Matthew said.
Why does Matthew believe Scouting is so important for the current generation?
“We live in polarized times, and times when AI and technology are rapidly transforming the workforce, as well as young people’s work ethic and social skills. So much socializing these days is online, but that deprives young people of the opportunities Scouting offers to have hands-on leadership experiences at an early age,” Matthew said.
“Scouting is needed now more than ever,” he added.
One lasting hope Matthew has for the program is continued growth beyond its current membership.
“I am glad to see Scouting open its doors to more people, and I hope it continues to do so, because the more young people who get to experience the personal growth that Scouting provides, the better we will all be as a country.”
Matthew Rosendahl lives in Richmond, VA with his husband, Riki, and their two dogs, Elle and Emet. He remains active in Scouting and continues to serve both of the Scouting organizations and his local community.