New Scout chief starts work
By Bonnie Edwards
Published in News on March 1, 2006 1:56 PM
The new executive for the Tuscarora Council of the Boy Scouts of America started work today at the Boy Scouts office on Walnut Street.
Harold Keller, 44, said his first goal is to familiarize himself with the area.
"Learning is my first thing. I want to learn the community. I want to learn the people," he said.
Keller previously worked for the Chickasaw Scout Council in Memphis, Tenn.
News-Argus/Kaye Nesbit
New Scout Excecutive Harold Keller shares his daughter's "good luck, but I miss you" card as he begins his first day on the job.
He said everyone he has met so far in Wayne County has been "absolutely accommodating and a delight. It seems like a very close-knit and warm community."
Keller grew up in New Orleans and worked for the Boy Scouts there for 10 years before going to Chickasaw. He started out in Scouting as a district executive in 1985, the year after Bill Lappin became the council executive at Tuscarora.
Keller replaces Lappin, who announced in December that he had taken a new job as director of the 12-county Occoneechee Council's capital campaign and endowment fund.
The Tuscarora Council contains three districts that include Scouting organizations in four counties.
Tuscarora President Jim Daniels said he is excited about Keller coming to work for the council.
"I think we found a very good one," Daniels said.
Keller has experience in recruiting and developing board members and leaders, Daniels said, and has a strong background in securing substantial operating and capital gifts and planning and executing profitable and well-attended special events. He also knows how to recruit volunteers and keep them motivated, Daniels said.
Keller was the finance and marketing director for the Chickasaw Council. During his tenure, he increased total direct support for his council by $250,000 in one year and more than tripled net revenues from special events the same year.
Before that, he was a district director for the council. During that time, membership and support grew consistently, Daniels said.
Keller holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Louisiana State University and as a Scout was a member of the Order of the Arrow. He and his wife, Kim, have two children, ages 6 and 2.