DaytonDailyNews.com

Springfield, Ohio — Trying to continue bolstering its financial status in difficult economic times, Tecumseh Council Boy Scouts has set a $198,000 goal for its annual Friends of Scouting campaign, down just $7,000 from the 2008 campaign.

"The Tecumseh Council is making good progress toward becoming financially stable," said Jim Nolan, Scout Executive and CEO. "If we can achieve our 2009 goal and our golf outing chaired by Senator (Mike) DeWine does well, the council will continue the major progress made in 2008."

The council covers Clark, Champaign, Logan, Greene and Clinton counties and operates Camp Birch between Clifton and Yellow Springs.

Nolan said that the council reduced the deficit at the camp from $95,000 in 2007 to $20,000 last year.

"Our goal is to break even this year," he said. "We are marketing Camp Birch to outside groups as well as doing a better job of increasing our summer camp attendance."

Dan Harkins of Harkins & Associates, Attorneys at Law, will chair the Clark County campaign, which has a goal of $37,500.

Eric Haubert of Indian Lake, a senior financial adviser for Wachovia Securities, will lead the Champaign and Logan counties campaigns, seeking $8,000 and $10,000, respectively.

Both Harkins and Haubert are Eagle Scouts.

Greene and Clinton — the other counties in the council — are seeking $65,000 and $12,500.

"I am pleased to work with the executive board in supporting an outstanding organization which benefits our local community," said Harkins.

"Despite the challenging economic environment," he said, "people recognize the need and benefit in providing quality Scouting programs which will develop our next generation of leaders."

In addition to the county targets, the executive board is trying to raise $65,000. It already had raised 75 percent of the total by the Feb. 1 kickoff date, the council announced. The campaign runs until June 3.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0368 or tstafford@coxohio.com.