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On My Honor An Update on Scouting in the Patriots’ Path Council, BSA
Volume 8-Issue 4 Fall 2009
Contact Us
Service Center 222 Columbia Turnpike Florham Park, NJ 07932
tel: 973-765-9322 fax: 973-765-9142
web site:
www.ppbsa.org
Our Vision
Our hard work on behalf of young people is recognized
as outstanding.
We are known for our values which are defined by the
Scout Oath and Law.
Community organizations join In partnership with Scouting
because we are known as major Contributors to the development of future citizens of good character.
Our youth members have become the leaders in their community and now join with the Scouting Alumni who continue to make a difference.
But most of all, kids, and their families, come to us for a great
time, and for adventures that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Serving over 20,000 youth in
Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Middlesex County, New Jersey.
Follow Us to the Patriots’ Path Council Jamboree
A National Quality Council 5 Consecutive Years
The Council Jamboree in celebration of the BSA Centennial will be held October 2—4, 2009
In celebration of the BSA 100th anniversary, a Council-wide Camporee is planned at the beautiful Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta, NJ. And just like any other important birthday party, we plan on fun and excitement. This Jamboree will feature different aspects of the Boy Scout adventure theme plus the opportunity to try different things and meet Scouts from other units. The main focus of this Jamboree is to have fun, learn something new, and be part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We expect somewhere between 3000 - 5000 Scouts to participate. In addi-tion, the Council needs 200-300 adult volunteers to work on the estimated 140 activities planned that include: Buckskin Games, Skill-O-Rama, Physi-cal Fitness, Conservation, Exhibits, Cooking/cookbook contests, and more. The cost is $25 per person for the weekend (does not include food). This event is also open to out-of-Council troops. For schedules, exhibits and other information, visit the Council 100th Anni-versary website http://join.ppbsa.org/anniversary/Jamboree.htm or contact Elsie Hemmings – 973-765-9322 x 224, [email protected]
On My Honor-Fall 2009
Message from Our Council President - Dan Taylor
Operation Scouting Cares Team Up with PPC Alumni
Many serving in our military are Scouting alumni. The Eagle Scout Alumni Association (ESAA) needs your help in searching for Scouts who are serving in the military. ESAA wants to help these Scouts stay connected to Scouting by sending letters, care packages, popcorn, and newsletters. If you know of any Scout who is currently serving in the military, please contact: Kim Vernon at [email protected].
Operation Scouting Cares is a collaboration with Operation Jersey Cares to send popcorn and personal items to soldiers overseas. In 2008, about 19,000 pounds of popcorn and personal items were sent to soldiers. You can help by buying military popcorn donation items and collecting personal care items. Download the Operation Scouting Cares handout at http://join.ppbsa.org/alumni/ScoutingCares-handout.pdf or contact Al Thomas 973-765-9322 x229 for dates, locations, and instructions on dropping off personal care items.
Popcorn Supports Scouting and Our Military
When you buy popcorn, you support our Scouts and our military. Our 2009 Popcorn sales campaign will begin on 9/12/09 and Scouts from our Council will be selling popcorn in their neighborhoods, local stores, places of worship, and other community locations. The funds raised from these sales support the Scout, his troop/pack, and the Council’s programs.
Trails End (our popcorn supplier) has quite a variety of flavor offerings, including gourmet-flavored (cheese, caramel, chocolate, nuts), lite, microwave, and popping kernels—All with 0 Trans Fat.
You can also support our Military while you support Scouting by donating popcorn to the men and women serving our armed forces around the country and the world. Whether ordering for yourself, friends, family, or our armed forces, you’re making a difference!
Our popcorn makes great snacks and great gifts, so get your orders in early for the upcoming holiday season! A brochure of selections and an order form can be accessed from the Trails End website www.trails-end.com . The sale starts September 12, 2009.
The summer camp experience, whether for a Boy Scout working on merit badges or advancement, a Cub Scout at day camp or Webelos Resident Camp or taking a canoe trek in the Adirondacks is always an exciting time. Memories are made that last a lifetime. This past summer was particularly rewarding for our Council. Camp attendance was up at all of our resident and day camps and the feedback we received tells us that we are offering excellent summer camp opportunities for all the youth we serve.
As we move into the fall season, our attentions turn back to the traditional troop, pack, den and patrol meetings providing the programs that develop citizens of good character and our future leaders. This coming year should be filled with excitement as we approach the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. In addition to the traditional troop, pack and crew programs, we hope that every unit will be involved in our special events, the Council Jamboree in October, Spirit of Scouting - Candle Lighting Ceremony next
February, Scout Shows next April, the National Adventure Base 100 in November 2010, and of course, the 2010 National Jamboree next July. Information on all of these events can be found on the Council website and will be distributed prior to each event.
To everyone that volunteers their time to support the Scouting program, whether as a Council volunteer, unit leader or camp staff, your work is certainly appreciated and in years to come, many of the Scouts that go through our programs will look back and remember you, and what you have done for them fondly. From a personal perspective, thank-you for everything you do for Scouting and the youth of the Patriots’ Path Council.
Dan Taylor
On My Honor-Fall 2009
Focus on Scouting Veterans: Richard Riano
Scouting veterans, not to be confused with military veterans, are those individuals who have demonstrated a long-standing commitment to Scouting through their deeds and work with our youth and Council. After many years of service, some of our Scouting veterans have retired from active Scouting work, but we still stay connected with these veterans, who will be a part of our Scouting family forever!
One such individual is Richard “Dick” Riano, a 40+ year veteran Scouter. Richard Riano was born in New York City. In 1948, at age 13, he joined Troop 130 at Christ Church in the Bronx, N.Y., where he grew up. He went to summer camp at Camp Alpine in northern New Jersey, where he enjoyed the hiking, camping, and camaraderie of the boys and just having all-around fun. Riano obtained the rank of First Class and at age 18, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving in Korea 1954-1958. It was during this time that his commitment to Scouting was truly unshakeable, as he remained a registered BSA member and when home on leave,
attended troop meetings. Upon completing his military service, he returned to Scouting, where he held the positions of Assistant Scoutmaster and Explorer Post Advisor in Troop and Post 130. Richard then took time off to attend college on a GI Bill at NY Institute of Technology then Montclair State College, where he studied electronics. He married and moved to West Caldwell, NJ to work for the Aerospace division of the Singer Corporation and raise a family, a daughter Karen and a son Steven.
When his son, Steven (now an Eagle Scout, class of 1985) joined the Cubs Scouts in 1975, Richard “re-upped” as a Cubmaster and then Webelos Leader in Pack 1 Caldwell, NJ. When his son went into Scouting in Troop 2 - Caldwell, he sat on the Troop Commit-tee as Advancement Chairman and signed up as a Unit Commissioner in the Cannonball District of Essex Council, NJ. From then until 1999, Richard served in Essex Council as a Unit Commissioner, District Commissioner, District Training Chairman, Council Training Chairman and Assistant Council Commissioner. Richard also served on the summer camp staff of the Cannonball Dis-trict’s Big Event from 1986—1988. After moving to Morris County N.J. in 1990, he also served the Patriots’ Path Council (originally Morris-Sussex Council) as a Unit Commissioner, Assistant District Commissioner and later in 2003, as Assistant Scoutmaster in Troop 74 Montville Township, with his grandson, Sean Lindert.
Richard became an OA Vigil member of Meechgalanne Lodge 178 in 1985, he also served Allamakewink 54 and Woapalanne 43 in various adviser positions. He obtained his Wood Badge Beads in 1984 and has served on the Staff of two Wood Badge Courses.
Richard believes in the importance of Scout Leader training. “If you go through the training, you will deliver a good program.” He is a graduate of the Philmont Training Center, and has served on the Philmont Faculty (both dealing with Commissioner Ser-vice). He is the recipient of a Doctorate Degree from the BSA College of Commissioner Science.
Richard now lives in retirement with his wife, Margaret in Wilmington, NC. His Eagle Scout son, SSgt. Steven Riano, is serving his country in the Army Military Police in Korea. Of Richard’s 2 grandsons, Sean Lindert is awaiting his Eagle Award ceremony, and his brother Kevin has obtained the rank of Life Scout. In his “spare” time, Richard enjoys the theater, concerts, movies, dining out with his lovely wife, and morning walks with his two Shih Tzus, Mandy and Mimi. In 2004, Richard joined the Masonboro District of the Cape Fear Council of North Carolina and took on the challenge of District Commissioner. Five years later, he continues as a member of the District Committee, and the CR of a Venture Crew started at American Legion Post 10.
Joining American Legion Post 10 Wilmington, Richard served as the Post’s Judge Advocate (2007) and was recently appointed to the American Legion’s North Carolina State Boy Scout Committee.
Being fortunate to attend every National Jamboree since 1985 as a visitor, next year Richard will be on the staff of the 100th Anniversary Jamboree 2010.
Richard feels that Scouting teaches leadership skills and values that are not always taught at school. The “words to live by” that have guided him throughout his Scouting life are “honor” and “duty”. “Those words are very important to me. I’m hooked on the words of the Scout Oath, they are all meaningful.”
Richard Riano
Upcoming Events September 12, 2009 Operation Scouting Cares Rockaway Town Square Mall—Rockaway, NJ Bridgewater Commons Mall—Bridgewater, NJ Jersey Gardens Mall— Elizabeth, NJ September 12—14 & October 10—12, 2009 Woodbadge NE VII-17 Training Winnebago Scout Reservation —Rockaway, NJ Camp Lewis —Rockaway, NJ September 15, 2009 16th Annual Golf Classic 11:00 am Registration Morris County Golf Club Convent Station, NJ. October 2 - 4, 2009 PPC Centennial Jamboree Sussex County Fairgrounds Augusta, NJ. October 16 - 18, 2009 Order of Arrow Ordeal Mt. Allamuchy Scout Camp Byram Township, NJ October 24, 2009 University of Scouting Randolph Middle School Randolph, NJ. January 8, 2010 Eagle Scout Recogition Dinner Skylands at Randolph Randolph, NJ. February 8, 2010 Spirit of Scouting Candle Lighting Ceremony 8:00 pm Locations Council-wide April 24, 2010 Scout Expo 2010 Sussex County Fairgrounds — Augusta, NJ. Morristown Armory—Morristown, NJ. Garden State Exhibit Center—Somerset, NJ May 12, 2010 BSA 100th Anniversary Celebration Gala Ellis Island Immigration Museum Ellis Island
Alumni News
Congratulations to John-Paul Couce recipi-ent of a 2009 NESA Schol-arship. John will attend Cornell University to major in Government.
For more information about Scouting scholar-ships, visit the Council website at www.ppbsa.org. Congratulations to Rich Mager— Water-front Director at Camp Winnebago, celebrating his 50th Anniversary as a camp staffer.
Save postage and printing costs. Send us your email address. On My Honor is avail-able via our web site http://www.ppbsa.org.
See more alumni and Council news. Visit the Alumni Relations page or access the Pathfinder E-newsletter on the Council website http://www.ppbsa.org.
Do you have news items to share? Send them to Kim Vernon, Alumni Rela-tions at [email protected].