YORK DISTRICT COMMITTEE

The York District Committee meets the second Thursday of every month at the Saco City Hall, 300 Main Street, Saco, ME at 7:00pm.

The York District Committee is a collection of active volunteer Scouters who work together to organized, support, and enrich Scouting programs in York County. They are responsible for the successful coordination of the Scouting membership, finance, and program functions in its communities.

The following is a listing of the District Committee Chairs. If you click their title, you will be taken to a job description for that committee. We are looking for additional committee members. If you are interested please let Frank Gilcreast know.

District Committee Chairs

District Chairman Wallace Nutting -

District Vice Chairman Clinton Staples -

District Commissioner Ernest Wiswell -

District Executive Frank Gilcreast - e-mail Frank

Activities & Civic Service Chairperson Ed Guptil -

Advancement Chairperson Dave Sinclair -

Camping Chairperson -

Finance Chairperson

Membership Chairperson Liz Jagger -

Public Relations -

District Training Chair George Fecteau - e-mail George

Cub Scout Leader Training - Scott Valcourt - e-mail Scott

Webelos Leader Outdoor Training - Scott Valcourt - e-mail Scott

Boy Scout Leader Training - Megan Segalla - e-mail Megan

Order of the Arrow Adviser Phil Taschereau -

District Chairman: Wallace Nutting

Serve on the Council Executive Board as District Representative,
Recruit Committee Chairs and committee members to carry out the district plans and functions.
Work with the District Commissioner and District Executive to coordinate and achieve goals for the district, and ensure the success of the scouting units.
Recognize individuals, committees, and chartered organizations for their Scouting accomplishments.
Preside at monthly District Committee meetings.
Support Local and National Scouting policies, procedures, and practices.
Help to secure support for Scouting from top community leaders throughout the district.

District Commissioner: Ernest Wiswell

The Commissioner Staff is a collection of experienced volunteer Scouters who work with unit leaders, committees, and chartered organization representatives to help them run a quality Scouting program for their youth. The District Commissioner assigns Unit Commissioners to individual units. The purpose is to provide guidance and resources to unit leaders and committees for organizing quality programs, and to address specific needs or issues as they arise.

Involve unit adults in training and roundtables.

Coach the Chartered Organization Representatives.

Guide roundtable commissioners to ensure that monthly roundtables are well attended, and provide practical and exciting unit program ideas.

Work with the District Chairman and District Executive to help meet district goals.

Promote the use of the Quality Unit program for Packs and Troops as a standard of good unit operation; and set objectives to increase the number of Quality units.

Assistant District Commissioner - Lenny Niman
Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner - Jody Hart
Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner - Wm. David Wade

District Executive: Frank Gilcreast

Provide professional coaching and guidance to unit volunteers.
Provide suggestions and answers to unit leaders with questions about the Boy Scouts of America program.
Maintain regular contact with the heads of Chartered Organizations.
Provide behind-the-scenes administrative skill.
Give inspiration and encouragement to unit and district level volunteers.
Arrange for the council's office services such as mailings, meeting notices, and support materials
Recruit District Level volunteers to form the District Committee.
Assist District level volunteers in planning and carrying out District events such as training courses and activities.

Activities & Civic Service Chairperson: Ed Guptil
The Activities Committee's goal is to help plan and coordinate programs that will be challenging, thought provoking, good spirited, and FUN.

York District Annual Programs

Pal and Me	Cub Scouts
Acton Fair Parade	All Scouts and Scouters
Fall Camporee	Boy Scouts/Webelos
Scouting for Food	All Scouts and Scouters
Klondike Derby	Boy Scouts/Webelos
Anniversary Week	Boy Scouts/Webelos
Recognition Dinner	All Scouts and Scouters
Pinewood Derby	Cub Scouts
Spring Camporee	Boy Scouts

Any Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Civic unit that would like to sponsor an event, please call anyone on the committee. It will involve a little work, but you will have LOTS OF FUN doing it.

The Committee coordinates and works closely with the Unit Sponsors of each event. Each Sponsor will have the full support, resources, and experience of the Committee to help them.

Advancement Chairperson: Dave Sinclair

Assist pack, troops, and teams in resolving advancement questions and issues, and help unit leaders establish and maintain proper advancement procedures in their units.
Provide guidelines and instructions to unit leaders and committees for conducting Boards of Review and Courts of Honor.
Provide Merit Badge counselor list.
Review and approve service project plans submitted by Eagle Scout candidates.
Arrange and conduct Troop Boards of Review for Eagle Scout candidates.
Review and process "Recommendation for Lifesaving or Meritorious Action" award.
Recognize adults in the district for exemplary service to youth and community through the presentation of District and Council awards, such as the District Award of Merit.
Promote non-rank related advancement including the religious awards for Cub and Boy Scouts, and other recognition awards for Scouts.

Camping Chairperson:

Encourage short-term camping experiences for all Scout units.
Promote Cub Scout Fun Pack Weekends, Cub Scout Day Camp, Webelos Camp, and Cub Scout Family Camping.
Promote Boy Scout Summer Camp, Winter Camp , and Local and National High Adventure experiences, such as "OKPIK" High Adventure Winter Camp.
Promote the Order of the Arrow as an honorary camping society for the service to Scouts and units.
Guide units to comply with the National camp standards and policies including local and national tour permits.
Encourage units to earn the Cub Scout Summertime Pack Award, and Boy Scout Troop National Camping Award.

Finance Chairperson: VACANT

The Finance Committee is responsible for raising funds to build, improve and operate camps, to maintain a professional staff, and to provide training and other services to units throughout the District.

The District meets its financial goals principally through three annual fundraising programs:

District enrollment - Contributions are raised from district committee members, commissioner staff, and others who are demonstrating their support by serving Scouting.
Family enrollment - Parents of Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts and Explorers are encouraged to contribute. This is entirely voluntary and not a condition for membership in Scouting.
Community enrollment - All prospects who are not enrolled in the district or family programs, such as business and community leaders, former youth and adult members and previous contributors.

Ensure implementation of council finance policies.
Serve as council finance committee member, if stated in council bylaws.
Recruit and train committee on tasks provided by council finance committee.
Ensure the acquisition of funds for the council budget.
Maintain cooperative relations with the United Way.
Support Friends of Scouting (FOS) plan and campaign.
Develop prospects for FOS.
Encourage unit participation in Family FOS campaign.
Support council "project selling" (gift in kind) program.
Support council "trust fund" promotion.
Achieve district's share of council finance campaign.
Support district activities that involve income and expenses, assuring proper policy and adult control.

Membership Chairperson: Liz Jagger

Organize new Packs, Troops, Teams, and Venturing Crews.
Recruit and train organizers for units (new and reorganized).
Cultivate interest of potential chartered organizations and community groups.
Work with District Commissioner and District Training staff to provide new units with personnel.

District Training Chairman - George Fecteau
Cub Scout Training Chair - Scott Valcourt
Boy Scout Training Chair - Megan Segalla
Webelos Leader Outdoor Training (WLOT) - Scott Valcourt
Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientaton (BALOO) - Scott Valcourt

Advise unit leaders on training needs and opportunities.

Hold Basic Leader Training as needed to meet the requirements of the District.
Encourage advanced adult leader training such as Wood Badge for Scout Leaders.
Support Council-wide training events such as PowWow for Cub Scout Leaders; Snowbirds and Greenwood Rangers for Boy Scout Leaders.
Promote Regional and National training events such as Akela Calls and Philmont Training courses for all Scout Leaders.
Support youth leader training such as Den Chief and Junior Leader Training.
Administer the training knot award program for all adult Scouting leaders.

Marketing/ Public Relations: VACANT

Advise units on how to publicize and promote their activities in the local news media.
Publicize Scouting and District Scouting events in the local news media.
Coordinate with Council in promoting a positive image of Scouting.

Order of the Arrow Adviser: Phil Taschereau

The Order of the Arrow is known as Scouting's National Honor Society, honoring Scouts for their dedication to the ideals of the Oath and Law.

The Order of the Arrow Lodge for Pine Tree Council is Madockawanda Lodge. Formed in 1944 at Camp Hinds, Madockawanda is divided up into 5 chapters, corresponding to the districts. Membership averages 450 members.

To be a member of the OA, a Scout must be elected by the members of his unit during elections that occur each year during February, March, and April. After being elected, a Scout becomes a candidate for membership. He is inducted at an Ordeal Weekend, which is held three times annually in Madockawanda Lodge. After ten months as an Ordeal member, Scouts can seal their membership with the Brotherhood. Brotherhood membership is considered full membership in the Order. Some members are honored with the Vigil Honor, the highest honor of membership in the Order. Each Lodge elects youth officers, who serve one year terms to lead the Lodge. Adults serve as Advisers.

The Order of the Arrow prides itself on its dedication to cheerful service. Madockawanda Lodge has completed many hours of service and many notable projects in our Council camps.

Madockawanda Lodge holds several activities each year, and attends a gathering of all Lodges in Northern New England (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts) every year called a Section Conclave. These events provide some of the best leadership training available. We encourage all Scouters to learn more about the Order.