2014 Banking Industry "Good Scout" Award Luncheon, Wednesday, October 8,2014 for the Greater New York Councils, Boy Scouts of America

1. BANKING “GOOD SCOUT” AWARD LUNCHEON ACCEPTANCE SPEECH
JACK KOPINSKY, CEO and PRESIDENT, STERLING BANK
OCTOBER 8, 2014
Thanks David,
Very humbled by the recognition and on behalf of Sterling Bancorp and myself, I want to thank
you and the Greater New York Councils for this award.
The Boy Scouts were an important part of my life growing up in a small town north of
Pittsburgh.
We are all a product of how we were raised. I had terrific parents who instilled great values in
me and provided the opportunity to get involved in activities like Scouting, to support and
develop an ethical, moral and achievement oriented foundation. Scouting represented on of
my first opportunities to understand how hard work and drive turned into a reward and
recognition as I moved through the ranks to become a life ranked Scout and a member of the
Order of the Arrow.
In preparing for this event, I went back to research and remember the Scout Oath and Scout
Law. Maybe like many of you, when we were young, we memorized these paragraphs at the
time by never really thought about the meaning. In reviewing the Scout Oath and Law a couple
of days of ago, I realized how much the words applied to how I view the world and hopefully
what characteristics I have demonstrated throughout my life.
Let me read you the Oath and Law and how it relates to us today and into the future:
Scout Oath:
 On my honor I will do my best – “Achieve and deliver”
 To do my duty to God and my country and obey the Scout law – “Be faithful, patriotic,
and live a righteous life”
 To help other people at all times – “Live a life of service”
 To keep myself physically strong, mentally aware, and morally straight – “Be healthy,
focused and moral”
 A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful,
thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
The Boy Scouts is a great American institution and organization. In New York city alone, there
are more than 45,000 members. Please consider an annual gift to support our children and
their development into great citizens of our wonderful country.
Thank you.