On Thursday evening February 16^th the Georgia-Carolina Council held their annual Distinguished Citizens Dinner at the Georgia-Carolina Nature and Adventure Center in Evans. The 2023 honoree was Randy Hatcher, CEO of MAU Workforce Solutions. The capacity crowd had the opportunity to learn more about the Boy Scouts program in the CSRA from Scout executive Dan Rogers. He highlighted the new programs at the Nature and Adventure Center and the multiple partnerships being developed with local business and professionals to provide career awareness Merit Badge Programs to the Scouts. He also noted the day camp programs offered which provide jobs to many young people during the summer months, and that membership in Scouting grew by over 6% in 2022 with 18% of membership now being female.  

The audience then enjoyed an entertaining and insightful presentation from Terry Fossum, an Eagle Scout, author, actor and business man who represented the Boy Scouts on the survival reality show, Kicking and Screaming, and won. His message of the positive impact Scouting has had in his life, and the power of the Scouting program to help young people not only today, but as they become adults, was powerful.  

Randy was selected as the 2023 Distinguished Citizen for his decades of dedicated service to our community. Eagle Scout, former Council President and Longtime friend Doug Cates provided a wonderful tribute to Randy before he came forward to accept the award and challenge the crowd to keep Scouting in their philanthropic plans.  

Event chair Jeremy Wilson was pleased to announce to the crowd that the event exceeded the $100,000 goal to support local Scouting programs.   

Previous recipients of the Distinguished Citizen award include Perry Smith, Anne Boardman, Rick and Robin Allen, and Judge Carl Brown.  

For more information on the Georgia-Carolina Council please visit https://www.gacacouncil.org