The 2019 BSA Leadership Dinner Kick Off Luncheon took place today at the Yahnundasis Country Club and began the 49-day countdown until the Leatherstocking Council’s annual celebration of leadership in our community. BSA Community Leadership Awards and the Eagle Scout Community Service Project of the Year will be awarded at the Delta Hotel by Marriott in downtown Utica, NY on October 9, 2019.
Mohawk Valley Community College President Randall VanWagoner will receive the 2019 BSA Community Leadership Award for Public Service and Larry Bull, President and CEO of Bull Brothers, Inc. and Co-founder of Fastrac Markets will receive the 2019 BSA Community Leadership Award for Business. Each was greeted today by BSA Leadership Dinner organizing committee members as well as Alicia Dicks, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties, Inc, who will deliver our keynote address at the Leadership Dinner.
Sam Berardino of The Sound Path Group at Morgan Stanley, our 2019 Leadership Dinner Co-Chairman, welcomed everyone and gave a nice overview of the event and a meaningful description of the Community Leadership Award – and the significance both have for the Scouting families in our community.
BSA Leatherstocking Scout Executive/CEO Ray Eschenbach congratulated our honorees and provided everyone with a Scouting update, including the close of a very successful summer camping season.
BSA Leatherstocking Council Executive Board President Matt Dziedzic highlighted the Council’s achievements. Notably, he recognized Dr. Frank Dubeck, Chairman of the Leatherstocking Council’s 2019 Friends of Scouting Campaign for being recognized last week in Dallas for its 4th place rank over 256 other BSA councils in the world for its overall percentage increase in fundraising over last year. The 5th place finish was the BSA council in Okinawa, Japan!