The Kennebec Valley District of the Scouting program selected a slate of officers for 2023 at its annual meeting Jan. 4.
Chuck Mahaleris of Augusta was elected district chairman, joining District Commissioner Eric Handley of Sidney and District Executive Michael Perry of Jay as the Key Three for the Scouting District. Joseph Poulin of Oakland and Charlie Matthews of Fairfield were elected vice chairmen, according to a news release from Mahaleris.
Kennebec Valley District, one of four such districts in Pine Tree Council, delivers the programs of Scouting to youth in Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln and Somerset counties. The District Committee members provide such services as membership development, fundraising, district activities, camping programs, leader training and the administration of youth advancement.
Mahaleris has been a registered member of Scouting for more than 40 years since first joining as a Cub Scout; he earned Eagle in 1985. He works as a staff assistant for Sen. Susan Collins and before that spent a decade as a professional Scout in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where he ran two different Scout camps.
Poulin is the president/owner of Alpine Consulting & Metal Works. He has been involved in local Scouting since 1990, starting as a Webelos and earning Eagle Scout rank in 1997.
He has been the assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 454 for 20-plus years and is the Pine Tree Council Training Chair. He has served as Day Camp Program director at both Camp Hinds and Bomazeen and is scheduled to be the 2023 WoodBadge Course director in September.
Matthews, who is retired, is a former district chairman and has more than 55 years of Scouting experience, including many years as the Scoutmaster of Troop 460 in Fairfield. He was a youth member of Troop 470 in Fairfield from 1953-1955, and from 1967-2019 he served as Scoutmaster of Fairfield Troop 460.
“I have enjoyed working with young people and see them go from a new Scout who wasn’t sure of himself to become a leader with confidence in himself,” said Matthews.
Handley works for Aubuchon Hardware as its POS manager, managing a team that installs and supports the IT equipment and training for all Aubuchon stores. He joined Scouting at age 7 in 1974 as a Wolf Cub Scout and climbed to Life Scout before his family moved in 1982.
He became active again in 2006 when his son became a Tiger Cub with Pack 401 Sidney. He is also serving as the Scoutmaster of Troop 401 in Sidney.
This is the beginning of his second year as district commissioner. In this role, he oversees the unit commissioner staff who provide direct support to the packs, troops, venture crews and explorer posts of the district. The district commissioner also oversees the delivery of the monthly Roundtable Scout Leader programs.
Those interested in joining Scouting can contact Perry at 207-517-4378 or michael.perry218@scouting.org to find the nearest Scouting program to them. Scouting is open to boys and girls from kindergarten to age 18.
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