The Osceola County Boy Scouts held their annual Golden Eagle Dinner on Tuesday, an event aimed at honoring local community leaders who have demonstrated exceptional service to the the community and to the scouting program. This year’s event featured honoree and guest speaker Don Fisher, County Manager of Osceola County.
The fundraising dinner, which was emceed by Master of Ceremonies, Former Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell, who kept the “spirit” of the evening a tad on the humorous side. The event took place at Osceola Heritage Park, where community leaders, local business owners, elected officials, and scouts and their families. were treated to a delicious meal and an evening of celebration.
The highlight of the evening was the keynote speech delivered by Don Fisher. As the County Manager of Osceola County, Fisher has a wealth of experience in local government and community service. In his speech, he emphasized the importance of always being of good character, honest, trustworthy, and most importantly, when you make a mistake, be honest and own up to it with the people you work with.
“What I really want to do is, I want to thank the people in this room. You’re always the ones that get asked to come to these events, to show up, to donate, to buy these tables, chairs, and sponsorships, and I’m looking at each one of you tonight. I’m going to remember that you’re here, because you’re always the same ones, and I just thank you for what you do for Osceola County,” County Manager Fisher said to the dinner’s attendees.
“When you’re a leader you’re in the spotlight, and you’re often subject to being criticized. My message to the scouts, to the leaders, and the leaders of the future, what I reply upon, and one of my favorite speeches is the “man in the arena,” Theodore Roosevelt’s 1910 speech that he gave in Paris,” County Manager Don Fisher shared with the audience.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat,” Fisher said. “So ignore the critics scouts, be a doer, and accomplish great things!”
The event was a great success, with attendees expressing their gratitude for the opportunity to come together and celebrate the achievements of local leaders. The Boy Scouts of America has a long and proud history in Osceola County, and events like the Golden Eagle Dinner help to ensure that the organization continues to thrive and grow for many years to come.
The Osceola County Boy Scouts Golden Eagle Dinner was a wonderful evening of celebration and recognition. Don Fisher’s speech was a powerful reminder of the critical role that scouting plays in shaping young minds and fostering a sense of community and civic responsibility. The event served as a testament to the strength and resilience of the scouting program in Osceola County, and it is sure to inspire continued support and investment in this important organization.
