Boy Scouts honored at first Recognition Dinner

Date: 2/17/2009

The first annual Recognition Dinner of the Western Massachusetts Council of the Boy Scouts of America was conducted on Feb. 8 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The event recognized key volunteers from the council's four-county Western Massachusetts territory with scouting's highest adult awards.

In addition to several District Awards of Merit and two Western Massachusetts Council President's Awards, the National Silver Beaver Award was presented to six local volunteers for service to youth of an exceptional nature.

The Silver Beaver recipients include:

Bruce Blanchard of Deerfield for longstanding service to scouting as a volunteer trainer and course director, Scoutmaster and Commissioner,

James Burke of Wilbraham for exceptional service to scouting as Youth Leadership Training course director, Scoutmaster and Jamboree leader.

Donna Carnevale of Becket for noteworthy service to scouting as a new Scouting group organizer, Commissioner and Cubmaster.

Heriberto Colon of Chicopee for groundbreaking service to scouting as founding member and Chairman of Impacto Latino, Council Vice President of Scoutreach and Scoutmaster.

Ken Lynch of Wilbrahamfor noteworthy service to scouting as a volunteer trainer, chairman of events and activities and troop leader.

Steven Valenti of Dalton for exceptional service to scouting as Executive Board member, Council Vice President of Marketing and troop leader.

The Western Massachusetts Council supports 250 scouting groups in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties. Last year, the council served 2,400 volunteers and more than 7,500 youth.