Two local Scouters, Kelly Pillsbury of Benton and Joseph Poulin of Oakland, from the Kennebec Valley District of Pine Tree Council, in January received The Silver Beaver, the highest award a local council can bestow upon a volunteer Scout leader.
Kennebec Valley District delivers Scouting in Kennebec, Lincoln, Knox, Somerset, and Franklin counties, according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district chairman for the Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.
Poulin has been active in Scouting since 1990, when he was a Webelos Cub Scout, and then crossed into Oakland Troop 454. He earned his Eagle Scout award in 1997. Since 2002 he has served as a volunteer leader in Scouting at the local, district and council levels. He serves as the vice chair of Kennebec Valley District, training chair for Pine Tree Council and a member of the Pine Tree Council Executive Board. Additionally, he has served as program director for Day Camp and Fun Pack Weekends.
Pillsbury, a former district chair for Kennebec Valley District, serves on the District Committee and as a committee member for Troop 479 based in China. Both have received the District Award of Merit, the highest award a local Scouting District can bestow upon a volunteer. Pillsbury is a past Exalted Ruler of Waterville Elks Lodge No. 905, during which time she formed the “Antler Lodge” to bring the Elks program to youth. She joined Scouting in 1995 as a Tiger Cub parent.
The awards were presented by Pine Tree Council Vice Chair Scott Valcourt on Jan. 18 at Camp Hinds in Raymond.