Charlene Miseli was recently named the development executive for Boy Scouts of America, Pacific Harbors Council. Her position will include building community relationships and ensuring that quality programs are available today and for the next generation of scouts. "I am excited to be here in the PNW, and I am excited every morning as I walk into Pacific Harbors Council. I will spend this year building relationships across the local area and sharing my enthusiasm and excitement about youth development," said Miseli.

It can often be difficult for military spouses to find employment when moving to a new duty station.  Miseli credits the combination of education and experience in her hiring. She graduated from the University of Central Florida in May with a Masters of Nonprofit Management (MNM) and has over two decades of experience as a volunteer in the Army community. In 2013, she was awarded the Installation Volunteer of the Year for Fort Hood. "My volunteer roles and the increasing responsibility drove the decision to return to school to pursue my MNM.  During a Nonprofit Leadership Alliance conference in Denver in January 2017, an encounter with Professional Scouters from the BSA National Office ultimately led to my position with Pacific Harbors Council," she said.

The Pacific Harbors Council is a service area developed by the BSA to better serve the Scouting families of the South Sound. The Pacific Harbors Council has two offices, one in Tacoma and one in Tumwater. The council reaches as far north as Federal Way and serves the Coastal Waters area and Timberline (south of Olympia). There are seven districts in this council with 16 staff members supporting almost 13,000 youth and adults. Pacific Harbors Council also owns and maintains Camp Thunderbird, consisting of 200 beautiful acres on the shores of Summit Lake, located near Olympia. "Pacific Harbors Council is a volunteer-led organization, and our volunteers have created a solid strategic plan for our organization that will continue to have an impact for communities in our local area," said Miseli.

The Scouting program is very inclusive. "The BSA is a large tent that welcomes and serves many different populations.  We do have age restrictions! The BSA serves boys between the ages of 5-21 years old and girls, yes girls, starting at age 14 until 21 years old in our Sea Scout, Venturing, and Explorer programs, and these girls are not just participating, they are leaders for many of these units.  We accept youth from all faiths and believe that a scout must be reverent," she said.

"Fall is a great time for families to join this year-round program that promotes leadership, character-development and physical fitness. The adage goes that there is no Scouting without "outing" and these outdoor experiences are perfect here in the Pacific Northwest," she said. Go to beascout.org to learn more about Scouting.

"BSA has delivered a quality program in this region for more than one hundred years. Countless community leaders, business leaders, and military leaders cite scouts as a foundation in their lives," Miseli shared.  For those wishing to help support Scouting's mission, visit the website at pacificharbors.org to join the Summit Club to help the BSA deliver Scouting to even more youth.