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PHOTO: Some of the 2023 Kennebec Valley District BSA officials are, clockwise from top right, Chuck Mahaleris, district chair; Eric Handley, district commissioner; Charlie Mathews, vice chair; Joe Poulin, vice chair. (Submitted photos)
WATERVILLE – Kennebec Valley District of the Scouting program named its 2023 at its annual meeting Jan. 4, as well as announced new programs in Rangeley and Winthrop.
Chuck Mahaleris, of Augusta, was elected district chair, joining District Commissioner Eric Handley, of Sidney, and District Executive Michael Perry, of Jay, as the district’s Key Three. Joseph Poulin, of Oakland, and Charlie Matthews, of Fairfield, are vice chairs.
Kennebec Valley District is one of four in Pine Tree Council, and oversees programs in Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln and Somerset counties. District Committee members provide membership development, fundraising, district activities, camping programs, leader training and youth advancement administration.
New this year is a Rangeley Law Enforcement Explorer Post, in partnership with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.
In Winthrop, a new Cub Scout pack has started with the help of American Legion Post 40.
The officers and the slate of members at large were introduced for approval by a nominating committee of Scout leaders from all five counties under the leadership of Rick Denico, of Vassalboro. Denico is a member of the Pine Tree Council Executive Board and former district chair.
“The COVID pandemic and the national lawsuit were hard on Scouting,” Mahaleris said. “But things are starting to change.”
Mahaleris has been a registered member of Scouting for more than 40 years, joining as a Cub Scout and attaining Eagle in 1985. He is a staff assistant for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, R- Maine, and previously was a professional Scout in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, where he ran Scout camps.
Poulin is president/owner of Alpine Consulting & Metal Works LLC. He has been involved in local Scouting since 1990, and earned Eagle rank in 1997. He has been assistant scoutmaster of Troop 454 for more than 20 years and is Pine Tree Council training chair. He has been day camp program director at Camps Hinds and Bomazeen and is 2023 WoodBadge course director.
Matthews, retired, is a former district chair, with more than 55 years of Scouting experience beginning as a member of Troop 470 in Fairfield in 1953. He was scoutmaster of Troop 460 from 1967 through 2019.
Handley is a POS manager at Aubuchon Hardware. He joined Scouting in 1974, and is scoutmaster of Troop 401 in Sidney Pack 401, and in his second year as district commissioner, overseeing the unit commissioner staff, which provides direct support to district packs, troops, venture crews and explorer posts.
Programs planned this year in the district include the Klondike and Pinewood derbies, Merit Badge College, a camporee planned for the spring at the Skowhegan Drive-In, summer programs at Camp Hinds and Bomazeen, and more.
“Youth have fun in Scouting programs and while that is happening they are developing character, learning to become better citizens, and training to be tomorrow’s leaders, while working on their personal fitness,” Mahaleris said. “All of this is only possible because of the great work of our Scouting volunteers.”
Scouting is open to boys and girls from kindergarten to age 18. For more information on becoming involved, call Perry at 207-517-4378 or Michael.Perry218@scouting.org.
