Chief scout executive visits local scouts

Life Scout Dustin Dresel of Troop 160 recently introduced Robert "Bob" Mazzuca, chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America, headquartered in Irving, at a recent meeting in Odessa.

Buffalo Trail Council President James Riggen shared a new strategic plan for scouts in the Permian Basin.

This new aggressive plan calls for: doubling scouting membership by 2012; adding 250 new volunteers at all levels by 2010; increasing our camp attendance to more than 5,000 during the summer months; increasing endowments to more than $5 million.
A native of San Juan Bautista, Calif., and a graduate of California Polytechnic State University, Mazzuca is a long-time supporter of the scouting movement and has served the BSA as a professional for 37 years. He assumed his current position in September 2007.

As a youth, Mazzuca earned the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest in scouting. For Mazzuca, this was not only a youth achievement but also a valuable lesson in service, leadership, citizenship and character development he has used throughout his years in higher education, business and community service.

He began his scouting career in Modesto, Calif., as a district executive and exploring executive. He has served in many capacities since his career began. Just prior to his appointment of chief scout executive in 2006 he became assistant chief scout executive.
The scout oath teaches a dedication to duty, God, country, others and self. The Scout Law describes how to live a life of honor by being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

As chief scout executive, Mazzuca directs the administration of the organization, which includes approximately 1,100 National Council employees, 5,800 local council employees and almost 1.2 million adult volunteers who serve more than 4.5 million youth across the nation.

Mazzuca congratulated the council on its achievements paying special attention to their 2007 successes. He noted the 22 percent growth in membership, one of the highest in the country.

He also noted the four national awards just recently announced; two for quality programs and two for marketing excellence. He also noted the council efforts in reaching out to the Hispanic community.