Nashua Valley Council BSA Annual Report

Transcription

1 Nashua Valley Council BSA 2013 Annual Report

2 Looking Back on 2013 On behalf of the board of directors and the thousands of scouts of Nashua Valley Council, we offer our sincere thanks to the dedicated unit leaders, committed family members, supportive district and council volunteers, and visionary community leaders who work together to help our young men and women become contributing citizens; learn leadership, communication, and other critical, life skills; and develop habits promoting physical, mental, and moral fitness. Because of your support, our council is strong, our programs are thriving, and our Scouts are experiencing the real promise of Scouting was a year of challenges for the Boy Scouts of America and the Nashua Valley Council. Together we faced the challenges of our national membership policies. We are proud of the respectful dialog that took place in our council, and of our participation in ensuring that Scouting experiences are available to all youth. Fiscal realities forced us to suspend our Cub Scout Day Camp program for the year. While that was a difficult decision, it provided the opportunity for us to evaluate and redesign our camping programs to make more efficient use of limited resources, to streamline administrative overhead, and restructure our pricing model to better cover costs. As a result, we are pleased to be able to restart our Cub Scout Day Camp program at Camp Split Rock for the 2014 season. Despite these challenges, Nashua Valley Council enjoyed another very successful Boy Scout summer camp season, attracting new troops from all over New England. Webelos Woods, Merit Badge College and other programs remain strong. We continue to lead our region in market share and youth membership retention. 76 Scouts earned the rank of Eagle Scout this year. Collectively, Scouts from Nashua Valley Council reported more than 37,000 hours of community service in Thanks to renewed interest from our units, the popcorn sale experienced growth in Our Distinguished Citizen dinner and golf tournaments continue to attract strong support from our communities. In December we welcomed Matt Ghirarda as our new Senior District Executive for Wachusett District. Matt has been working tirelessly to get to know his district and strengthen the support structure for units in that district. As we look ahead to 2014, our focus is on strengthening our recruiting efforts, expanding our Friends of Scouting campaign, and recruiting more volunteers for key council and district positions to better support our units in the delivery of the Scouting program. NVC At a Glance Journey to Excellence Nashua Valley Council attained the Bronze level in the national Journey to Excellence performance recognition program, recognizing the council for delivering a successful Scouting program while providing a roadmap for contunous improvement. Membership The Nashua Valley Council serves 3,021 youth in north central Massachusetts. 1,424 adult volunteers provide guidance to Scouting programs at the local, district, and council levels. Program 1,463 Cub Scout ranks earned 655 Boy Scout ranks earned 76 new Eagle Scouts 112 Cub Scouts attended summer camp rograms 254 Webelos attended Webelos Woods 1,239 Boy Scouts attended Camp Wanocksett 23 Scouts attended Philmont Scout Ranch 30 Scouts attended Florida Sea Base 65 Scouts attended the 2013 National Scout Jamboree Property Improvements New field sports and program facilities at Camp Wanocksett. We thank you for being a part of our success, and look forward to your participation as together we continue to move our council forward. We are committed to making a difference in the lives of the youth in the communities in which we serve, and we are glad to have you on the team. James Ganley Frank Ardinger Gary Savignano Council President Council Commissioner Council Executive 2

3 Cub Scouting Cub Scouting is the program of the Boy Scouts of America for young boys between the ages of 6 and 11. Cub Scouts are formed into dens, usually centered around a neighborhood or school district, and are strongly supported by parents and family members. Cub Scouts explore their community and begin to participate in family and community life. Cub Scout dens begin to be exposed to the natural world through day hikes and overnight experiences. Cubs often do all this directly with a parent or guardian; the Cub Scout program reinforces family bonds and helps the Cub understand his role as a member of a family. Throughout the year, Cub Scouts participate in pack meetings, where they meet and work with other Cub Scout dens. Special pack meetings throughout the year may feature the Pinewood Derby, the traditional carved wooden model car race, and the Blue and Gold Banquet, celebrating the birth of Scouting. The highlight of the Cub Scout year is summer camp. Cub Scouts in the Nashua Valley Council spend a week at our day camp, Camp Split Rock, in Ashburnham where they participate in unique camp programs featuring swimming and boating, arts and crafts, BB and archery ranges, and more. Cub Scouting is about having fun, making new friends, gaining confidence, and achieving goals. Cub Scouts can work towards a large variety of scholastic, athletic, and skill-based recognitions. In the final year of Cub Scouting, called Webelos, they begin to interact with a Boy Scout troop; spend more time outdoors; and work towards the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting. Daniel Fuller Pack 193 Winchendon, MA Daniel, a first-year Webelos, is a big fan of go-see-its and pack meetings. One of his favorite outings is to his local library, where he not only got to feed his love of reading, but also learned a great deal about his town s history. He also cites an overnight snow-tubing trip to Pat s Peak in Henniker, NH, as a high point. Recently, Daniel has earned the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award and the Summertime Pack Award, as well as his Artist, Traveler and Aquanaut activity pins. What I like most is getting to be out in the fresh air and do all kinds of fun stuff. 3

4 Boy Scouting Boy Scouting has been around for 104 years, and while today s Scouts are more likely to be seen in modern, high-tech, outdoor gear than the traditional campaign hat and red neckerchief, the mission has not changed. Scouts today still strive to be prepared and help others, now and in the future. Young men join Boy Scouting once they ve completed the 5th grade. Scouts are part of a Boy Scout troop. Boys elect their own leaders, who are responsible for helping Scouts work on advancement, plan and prepare for outdoor adventures, and grow as individuals and teams. Adult volunteers serve as Scoutmasters and assistants to guide and mentor these youth leaders. Troops usually meet weekly, and generally go camping or have some other activity once per month. Boy Scouts develop life skills, using outdoor adventure as the classroom. They also learn to develop relationships and build lifelong skills, and understand citizenship through acts of community service. All of these experiences help point the young man towards Scouting s highest award the Eagle Scout Award. Nashua Valley Council Boy Scouts enjoy a wide variety of rich opportunities o, some of which may lead to hobbies and careers. Yearround camping, and summer camp at Camp Wanocksett, allow Scouts to make new friends and engage in tests of friendly competition. Brian King Troop 33 Westminster, MA Brian, a new Eagle Scout, has been a Scout since he was 7. He served as the Senior Patrol Leader for Troop 33, and is active as a leader in the Order of the Arrow, Scouting s honor society. Brian enjoys camping and being outdoors, and he says he s learned quite a bit about how to be a leader, communicate ideas, and get things done. For my Eagle Scout project, I built a trail behind the local elementary school. Across the board, the people who use it and the kids and teachers from the school have loved it. It s great to have the chance to have a positive impact on our community. 4

5 Venturing Venturing is the youngest member in the family of Scouting programs. Designed for both young men and women of high school age, it is one of the most exciting. Venturers continue to develop leadership and communication skills, learn how to plan and organize, and understand how to interact socially and professionally. Increased opportunities for adventure are made available to Venturers, commensurate with their skill level and interests. Venturers are organized into a Venturing crew, which elects it s own youth leadership; adults serve as advisors. Crews usually have an activity or event once a month, and may meet once or twice during the month to plan and prepare for their activities. Crew activities may feature a high-adventure outdoor activity, such as mountain climbing or kayaking; an exploration of a career or hobby; or a significant community service project. Venturers have their own award programs, which include the Venturer not only needing to develop a new skill, but also then to teach that new skill to others. Venturers in the Nashua Valley Council take advantage of the camping opportunities available at Camp Split Rock and Camp Wanocksett, but often spend their weekends and summers on a grand adventure our crews have climbed Mt. Washington in winter; sailed both the coast of Maine and the Florida Keys; biked along canal paths in Maryland; kayaked the Boston Harbor Islands; and hiked the peaks of Philmont Scout Ranch. Maggie May Durand Crew 34 Shirley, MA Maggie has been involved with various forms of Scouting most of her life. Venturing has taken her on high-adventure outings such as hiking Mount Jefferson in New Hampshire s White Mountains, and let her serve her community with fellow crew members, as they recently did helping with a food drive for the local food pantry. Maggie says the leadership and social skills she s learned working with others through Venturing have shaped her career ambition to become a teacher. I ve gotten to teach younger kids outdoor skills like orienteering and compass work, which gets them outside more and helps them become more self-reliant. 5

6 Volunteers Great Scout programming doesn t just happen it requires a large team of people to deliver the promise of Scouting to young people. While the council maintains a modest professional staff to administer and support the Scouting program day-to-day, the vast majority of support comes from volunteers. The primary level of volunteering is just being a supportive parent or family member. All Scouts Cub Scouts through Venturers need family support and encouragement. Veteran Scouting families know how their young people have grown through Scouting, and how much fun their Scouts have had. We thank our Scout families for their support. To function properly, each Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, and Venturing crew needs leaders. The men and women who serve as our Cubmasters, Scoutmasters, Venturing Advisors, and committee members have answered the call to serve youth outside of their own household, carrying on a century-old tradition. There would be no Scouting without them. The council provides a support and training network for our troops, packs, and crews, and runs a variety of programs each year. Dedicated volunteers serve as trainers, help raise operating revenue, lend their talents to work projects, serve on boards and committees, and share their personal and professional interests with Scouts. Additionally, business and public service professionals in our communities lend their support to youth in their communities by supporting Scouting Silver Beaver Awards Established in 1931, the Silver Beaver Award is presented by the Boy Scouts of America, to council, district or unit volunteers for distinguished service to youth. It is the highest award that a local council may present to a volunteer. Of the thousands of volunteers who have served Nashua Valley and its predecessor councils since 1931, only 257 have received the Silver Beaver award. Nashua Valley Council is proud to recognize their contributions to Scouting. Kathleen Bourassa Shirley, MA Roderick Cashes Clinton, MA James Gareffi Clinton, MA 2013 Distinguished Citizen The Distinguished Citizen is chosen for his/her long standing commitment to our communities. Their efforts have helped improve the quality of life for thousands of people who are less fortunate. Their tireless leadership, energy and vitality have been a true inspiration to all who service within numerous charitable organizati ons. The Distinguished Citizen embodies in their daily life the values espoused by the Boy Scouts of America. James Adams Rollstone Bank & Trust Together, our families, unit leaders, district and council volunteers, and community supporters are the lifeblood of the Nashua Valley Council Silver Beaver Recipients Kathleen Bourass, Roderick Cashes, and James Gareffi 2013 Distinguished Citizen James Adams 6

7 Cub Scout Camp Cub Scouting is about fun. Cub Scout camping is no different, and comes in a variety of forms. Packs conduct their own family camping weekends, utilizing council-operated facilities, state, and private campgrounds. These outings serve to strengthen the bonds between Parents and boys as they explore the great outdoors together. Nashua Valley Council operates a Cub Scout Day Camp program at Camp Split Rock, in Ashburnham, in July and August. Under the supervision of our trained staff and volunteers, Cub Scouts learn important social skills, gain an appreciation for the natural world, and experience exciting activities including boating, swimming, archery, rock climbing, campfire building, and much more. To facilitate participation, the council offers bus service to day camp from most council communities. In September, the council runs Webelos Woods, a family camping program for boys on the verge of transitioning from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. This weekend-long overnight program is held at Camp Wanocksett, in Dublin, NH. The all-volunteer staff provides Webelos and parents with a program designed to prepare them for what they will encounter when they join Boy Scouting. Webelos Woods continues to be one of our most popular annual programs. 7

8 Boy Scout Camp The outdoor program provides the perfect laboratory to test and prove Scouting s lessons of self-preparedness, leadership, and teamwork against the backdrop of adventure. A typical troop s program will include at least one outdoor activity each month. Camp Wanocksett is the centerpiece of Nashua Valley Council s Boy Scout camping program. Nearly 1,200 Scouts, from across New England, attend summer camp at Camp Wanocksett. Hundreds more spend weekends at Camp Wanocksett with their troops. As one of the preeminent Scout summer camp programs in the country, Camp Wanocksett boasts a program of unparalleled quality that allows boys to earn merit badges and advance in rank; exposes them to physical and mental challenges; and encourages them to exercise their leadership skills in a safe environment. Camp Wanocksett also features a COPE course, to help teams of individuals gain self-confidence and learn to work together to solve challenges and overcome fears. Camp Split Rock and Camp Wanocksett are both staffed by a full-time ranger, and supported by an active and enthusiastic properties committee. Both camps feature established campsites, primitive camping sites, and cabin facilities for year-round use. Both camps are on lakes with waterfront footage for boating and swimming, and each is adjacent to mountain trails for hiking and climbing. 8

9 High Adventure In addition to local summer camp programs at Camp Split Rock and Camp Wanocksett, Scouts from Nashua Valley Council have attended all three of the National High Adventure bases; Philmont Scout Ranch, in New Mexico; Florida Sea Base; and Northern Tier, in Minnesota. Each base offers unique programs that test individual abilities and develop enhanced teamwork and leadership skills against the majestic backdrop of high adventure activities. Nashua Valley Council was also represented by two council contingent troops to the 2013 National Scout Jamboree, the first jamboree held at the new Summit Bechtel Family Scouting Reserve in West Virginia. Nearly 40,000 Scouts from the United States and several other nations gathered at the new state-of-the-art high adventure base for two weeks of fellowship, adventure, and inspiration. 9

10 2013 Eagle Scouts Kurt Allaway Eric Dennis Ryan Kennedy Samuel Pitzi Connor Summers Troop 12 Leominster Troop 1 Harvard Troop 1 Princeton Troop 1 Acton Austin Alzapiedi Connor Dufour Benjamin Kessler Bradley Pothier Benjamin Tessler Troop 189 Sterling Troop 41 Fitchburg Troop 477 Leominster Troop 11 Leomnster Troop 1 Littleton Salvatore Amico Joseph Dwyer Thomas Kiley Mark Puglia Isaac Tessler Troop 477 Leominster Troop 3 Groton Troop 1 Littleton David Aukstikalnis Jacob Elie Brian King Greg Rachman Aron Thiim Troop 39 Phillipston Troop 1 Princeton Troop 33 Westminster Troop 284 Acton Troop 284 Acton Aaron Biondi Jared Gall Cameron Landers Joshua Richard Christian Thiim Troop 1 Harvard Troop 7 Shirley Troop 3 Ayer Troop 284 Acton Michael Bufton II Bryan Gallagher Gerald Lane Matthew Robbertz Greg Thumith Troop 10 Clinton Troop 1 Littleton Troop 41 Fitchburg Troop 32 Acton Troop 1 Littleton Tyler Charland Cody Graves Paul Lapinski Daniel Roper Nicholas Tollefson Troop 12 Hubbardston Troop 4 Gardner Troop 1 Acton Troop 3 Groton Troop 1 Bolton Mathew Chiang Ryan Hamerla Adam Lizotte Thomas Russell Nicholas Valiton Troop 284 Acton Troop 11 Leomnster Troop 1 Acton Troop 477 Leominster Aaron Chidester Forrest Hangen Evan Mammone Nicholas Savignano Forrest Welty Troop 5 Littleton Troop 5 Littleton Troop 189 Sterling Crew 1924 Lancaster Troop 27 Ashby Joseph Christmas Aaron Hendershot Bennett Marston Peter Scott Everett Wilgress-Pipe Troop 1 Boxborough Troop 1 Bolton Troop 11 Leomnster Michael Conoby Daniel Horrigan Shawn McGrath Andrew Sheperd Timothy Wilson Troop 1 Acton Troop 7 Shirley Dana Cram Jeffrey Hoyt Dennis Murphy Justin Silkey Calvin Wong Troop 18 Ashburnham Troop 12 Hubbardston Troop 6 Gardner Declan Crooks Chris Huber Robert Neff Daniel Silva Troop 32 Acton Troop 3 Groton John Cumnock-Francois Eric Iacaboni Joshua Nichols Ian Smith Troop 3 Groton Troop 189 Sterling Troop 20 Littleton Troop 3 Ayer Theodore Dancause Kevin Immerman Cory Page Noah Smith Troop 18 Ashburnham Troop 32 Acton Troop 6 Gardner Troop 18 Ashburnham Daniel Denette Andrew Keir Ethan Pailes Travis Spinelli Troop 6 Gardner Troop 1728 Lunenburg Troop 1 Acton Troop 12 Leominster 10

11 Council Governance Executive Committee Revenue President Jim Ganley Database Publishing Systems Vice-Presidents James Adams Rollstone Bank & Trust Commissioner Frank Ardinger John O Malley MA Dept. of Correction Treasurer Robert LaBonte Mt. Wachusett Comm. College Chris Pera Pera Land Surveying District Chairs William Hodges Boutwell Owens Sean Walker Fitchburg Public Schools Peter Souders Citizens Bank Investments Board of Directors Terry Bass EMC Thomas Marks Horizon Wire & Cable David Bosselait Bank of America Merril Lynch Calvin Moore G. V. Moore Lumber Kimberly Bourassa Venturing Offi cer s President Branden Morris Masy Systems Matthew Ciampaglia Raytheon Harry Pape Windmill International Sandra Clyde Donelan s Supermarket Jamie Pitney Santander Bank, N.A. Professional Staff Christopher Cole Order of the Arrow Lodge Chief Brenda Rich R. W. Rich & Son Executive Director Gary Savignano Accounting Specialist Carolyn Tobin Andrew Collins Groton Dunstable Schools Dana Robinson Pete s Tire Barns District Executive (Massasoit) Nick Thornton Receptionist Madeline Boudreau Michael Dembowski Workers Credit Union Gary Shepard David E. Ross Associates District Executive (Wachusett) Matthew Ghirarda Camp Split Rock Ranger Andrew Stanley Rodney Fagan Ramrod Scientific Stephen Wayne F. W. Webb Office Manager Paula Iacoboni Camp Wanocksett Ranger John Mayo Michael Gerry NC MA Workforce Board Craig Williams Baker Commodities Registrar Scott Rosengren Eric Iacoboni IC Federal Credit Union Ira Wolf Juniper Networks 11

12 In June 2013, nearly 500 Scouts from all over New England attended the Order of the Arrow Section Conclave, hosted by the Grand Monadnock Lodge, Order of the Arrow. The Grand Monadnock Lodge is the Nashua Valley Council s chapter of the Order of the Arrow, Scouting s national honor society. Hosted at Camp Wanocksett, conclave participants enjoyed a weekend of training, development, recreation, competition, and inspiration including this impressive fireworks display. Boy Scouts of america Nashua Valley Council 1980 Lunenburg Road Lancaster, MA (978)