The Silver Beaver Award is the council-level distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America. The Silver Beaver is an award given to those who implement the Scouting program and perform community service through hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication, and many years of service. It is given to those who do not seek it.
We are extremely proud of our 2019 Silver Beaver Award recipients. They are shining examples of Scouting service in our Council!
Gary Bernklow – Silver Beaver
Gary has been involved in Scouting for 45 years, joining Pack 39 Stow as a Cub Scout and earning both the “heavy shoulder” and the Arrow of Light. He crossed over to Troop 1 Stow and served as a patrol leader, senior patrol leader, and junior assistant Scoutmaster and earning his Eagle rank in 1984. He was also active with the Order of the Arrow during his time as a Scout, serving on the Taunkacoo executive board as a vice-chief and becoming a Vigil Honor Member of the lodge in 1983.
He was a staff member at Camp Resolute for several years and attended National Camp School. Gary is a Lifetime Member of the Camp Resolute Alumni Association and served as the chair to the Resolute 100th Anniversary Camporee in the fall of 2019.
Gary has served as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 1 since 1984 and has organized and led several high adventure trips for the troop to Maine, New York, Vermont, Montana (4 times), Wyoming, New Mexico, California, and is currently in the planning stages for a trip to Colorado for the summer of 2020. As a troop leader Gary has coached 69 Scouts to the rank of Eagle, including his son Connor in 2018.
During his tenure as an assistant Scoutmaster, Gary also served the town of Stow as Chair of the Finance Committee, as a selectman, and as financial officer of the Elementary School Building Committee which reconstructed the Center School.
In 2010, he formed Troop One Stow Alumni, incorporated, as a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, often referred to as TOSA, Inc. TOSA is organized exclusively for the charitable and educational purposes of supporting Troop 1 Stow by serving as its chartering organization, assuring the safety of Troop 1 members, providing financial and other support to Troop 1 Stow, and educating and training the members of Troop 1 Stow according to the guidelines and policies of the Boy Scouts of America. The organization was established to ensure the Scouting program continues in the Town of Stow and engages young adults to continue in the Scouting program. Gary serves as TOSA’s CEO.
Gary is Director Product Management at MedAptus, a medical software IT company headquartered in Boston. Gary has been with MedAptus since 2007.
Gary has been married to his wife Lori since 1993. They have two children: Connor, Eagle Scout, 19 years old and currently enrolled at the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, and Abigail 21 years of age, attending Framingham State University and studying early childhood education.
Ronald Ehnes – Silver Beaver
Ronald has been involved with the Scouting Program since September 1953 as a Cub Scout in Pack 209 Manhattan. He was a youth member and adult leader with units in the Greater New York Council until being stationed at Clark Air Base in the Philippine Islands. He served as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 362 there and helped coordinate and participated in the re-enactment of the Battan Death March. He helped start a summer camp program with the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. He was also active while serving at Phan Rang Air Base in the Republic of South Vietnam where he assisted in restoring and maintaining a Catholic Orphanage.
When Ron returned from the far east, he re-engaged with Explorer Post 237 in Manhattan. He left the post in 1971. Upon being separated from the Air Force Ron was appointed to the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Brooklyn, N.Y. & Delaware which made it difficult for him to participate in Scouting due to travel, overtime and warrant investigations. In December 2002 Ron and his family were invited to an Eagle Court of Honor, and his two sons were so impressed with the ceremony and Scouts that the family joined Troop 51 in January 2003.
Over his distinguished Scouting career, has received many awards – Eagle Scout Class of 1964, Vigil Honor, Scouters Key, Scouters Training Award, Scoutmaster’s Award of Merit, Unit Leader Award of Merit, and the District Award of Merit. He attended Wood Badge while stationed in the Philippines through the Far East Council. In June 2019, Ron was presented with the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award which recognizes notable Eagle Scouts who have either performed distinguished service at the local, state, or regional level or who were known nationally.
Ron is employed with the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department at the Plymouth County Correctional Facility where he has worked since April 1987. He is assigned as an Accreditation Specialist with duties as Fire Safety, Safety and Environmental Officer. Ron is a member of the National Sheriff’s Association and the National Corrections Employee’s Association.
In May 1993 he received the Supervisor of the Year Award and in June 1994 he received the Father of the Year Award from radio station WCOD.
Ron serves as a role model for the Scouts, BSA religious awards program by helping Scouts of his and different faiths to achieve their own individual religious awards. He is an active member of St. Bonaventure Parish and has attended the Generation of Faith Program with his family and assists with the Religious Education Programs when asked.
Ron provides each Scout with a sense of dignity and incentive to perform on an outstanding level. He is a merit Badge Counselor within the Troop and at M.B.U. since 2003. As an Eagle Scout, he has assisted over fifty Scouts to achieve their Eagle rank by working closely with them on advice, paperwork and guidance. Ron believes in strong youth leadership especially through the patrol method and attending National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT). In September 2011 he assisted in the organization and training of newly appointed Youth Leaders which was a great success.
Ron and his wife Karen have been married for 34 years and their two son’s Michael and Justin who are both Eagle Scouts.
Peter Lane – Silver Beaver
Pete Lane was a Boy Scout growing up in western Massachusetts and attended Camp Eagle. He attended the Boy Scout Jamboree in Colorado Springs in 1960.
As a Philmont Contingent Coordinator he sits on the Council High Adventure Committee. He has led 3 Philmont and 1 Sea Base Council contingents. Pete is a Philmont Ambassador and has worked many hours promoting Philmont.
He has also attended Philmont Training Center several times and has been involved for many years as a commissioner at various levels and attends commissioner college each year, again this year as an instructor.
For more than 10 years Pete has volunteered every Tuesday at Nobscot or Camp Resolute assisting the ranger working on the needs of the camps (painting, repairing, cabins and buildings). Pete also lends a hand in the camps when we have large groups that volunteer during days of caring.
Pete is a Leave No Trace Master running training class for both Scouts and adults as well as members of the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC). He has been regularly involved as an Outdoor Ethics advocate for the council as well as attending 2 National Outdoor Ethics conferences. Pete has worked tirelessly on promoting Leave No Trace and Outdoor Ethics to Scouts.
Pete has been a volunteer with the Appalachian Mountain Club for more than 10 years. He is an active bike and hike leader. He is also a North Country volunteer and an AMC Alpine Steward since approx. 2003. He currently is a member of the Franconia Notch Task Group. This past year he was awarded one of the AMCs highest club wide awards for volunteer leadership.
As a member of the Catamount Trail Association Pete leads back country ski trips and is on the Board of Directors and the Trail Committee. While regularly in Vermont, Pete volunteers with the Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports Association; an organization promoting outdoors for youth and adults with disabilities.
Pete has been running the Scout Orienteering Camporee (Scout O) serving approx. 400 Scout and Scouters at Nobscot for many years. He also served as the President and then Chairman of the Board of the New England Orienteering Club.
Pete is also member of the Appalachian Trail Association, Pete was involved with organizing two ATC Biennial Conferences, one in Vermont and one in New Hampshire.
Pete is an avid long-distance hiker and cyclist. He has hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Colorado Trail, Long Trail and John Muir Trail in California. He cycled across the country with his daughter in 2004.
He is an active member of the Marlboro Congregational Church Men’s Fellowship, serving monthly meals to senior citizens and doing repair work around the church.
Pete is a Civil Engineer in having worked in Boston, Pennsylvania, Washington DC, Baltimore, Omaha NE. He returned to Boston in 1988. He has a BS from University of Vermont and MS from Drexel University.
Pete has been married to his wife Laura for 48 years this month. Laura has been active in Girl Scouting. They have three children, Jennifer, Amy, and Carleton. Both girls earned Girl Scouting’s Gold Award, and Carleton is an Eagle Scout.
Mandy Lyons – Silver Beaver
Mandy Lyons has served Scouts, BSA for 28 years, concurrent with her decades of volunteering as a Brownie, Junior, Cadet and Senior Troop leader for Girls Scouts of the USA. She has served as a unit supervisor, are programs representative and area representative to the Council committee for GSUSA as well. She was assigned to the safety committee for Hancock Elementary School, Brockton to keep children safe from strangers, drugs, and absenteeism. She has served two Jewish parent’s organizations, especially chairing the school’s largest fundraiser for pre-school children.
All of her community and Scouting involvement was accomplished while working as a teacher – this goes far beyond the usual professional commitment. She has semi-retired from teaching the last seven years to assist her children with the oversight of the grandchildren.
Mandy has been a supporter of Fr Bacon’s District, Council, and Camp Squanto Chaplaincy, and in her own quiet way demonstrates the principles of “Duty to God” and “Reverence”. In her home and family life, Mandy places great importance on both the religious and cultural traditions of Judaism.
She has staffed sessions Scoutmaster Fundamentals, Cub Scout leader training, Akela, PowWow’s, Baloo, IOLS as well roundtable staff. She has served on staff for three Wood Badge courses and on Junior Leader Training staff. Mandy has also served as an event chair for three Klondike Derbies.
She is the recipient the Scouter’s Key, Scouter’s Training Award, the District Award of Merit. Mandy is a brotherhood member of the Order Of The Arrow.
Mandy and her husband Steve have been married for 42 years and have 3 grown children. She was a leader in each of their Scouting units. Her son is an Eagle Scout and is presently a den leader in his son and daughter’s pack. She is still active in Troop 42 in Easton and currently helps out with her oldest granddaughter’s Brownie Troop. In her spare time, she finds time to crochet hats and scarfs which are donated to one of the Brockton Elementary schools to be distributed to children in need.
Mandy is a cancer survivor, but has never faltered in her dedication to helping youth in these worthy organizations.
Debra Scollins – Silver Beaver
Debra is the mother of 5 children (3 BOYS AND 2 GIRLS) ranging in ages 23-30. Her husband, Dennis, signed up the two oldest boys for Cub Scouts in 1997 and the rest is history….
In 1998, Debra volunteered to be the Marshfield Pack 79 Treasurer for 2 years and then volunteered to be the Committee Chair for 2 more years. Pinewood Derbies, Museum of Science campouts, belt loops, den meetings, monthly pack meetings, and outdoor adventures all behind them, the boys grew older, earned Arrow of Light, and joined Boy Scout Troop 212. Debra signed up to be on the Troop 212 Committee and then became the Committee Chair for the next 5 years. She registered as a Merit Badge Counselor, as well. There were many fun outdoor campouts (summer camp at Squanto was simply the highlight), community service projects, and parades. Her youngest son, decided to join Boy Scouts, too (with a little recruiting from Ross Troiano), so Debra continued as Committee Chair for Troop 212 for the next 5 years. Once again, the Scouts had even more fun canoeing, white water rafting, attending Mass Jam, and skiing. Debra’s favorite thing to do in Scouting is teach Communications, Citizenship in the Community, and Family Life at Merit Badge University (MBU). All three sons are Eagle Scouts.
Debra became a Unit Commissioner in 2011, an Assistant District Commissioner in 2013 and currently serves as a District Commissioner. She has been recognized for her contribution to scouting with the Scouter’s Key, Scouter’s Training Award, Arrowhead Honor, District Award of Merit, the Commissioner’s Key, and in 2019 received the Distinguished Commissioner Service Award. She is a 20-year Veteran of the BSA and a Master of Commissioner Science.
Debra earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Management Science from Bridgewater State College. She currently works as an administrator for the Committee for Public Counsel Services in Brockton and has been with this agency for 20 years.
Her favorite training program was Wood Badge. She and fellow Commissioner, Stephen Trimble, completed course N1-225-13-1, sponsored by the Cape and Islands Council. Her ticket revolved around her work as an Assistant District Commissioner.
Ross started a Venture Crew in January 2015 and Debra volunteered to serve the first year as an Associate Crew Advisor and then Committee Chair for this unit for the next 2 years. In 2018, Debra volunteered to work with the District Advancement Committee and served as the Eagle Chair for 6 months, until her nomination to be the District Commissioner. Through her leadership as a Commissioner, Debra has amassed the largest roundtable staff in Cranberry Harbor’s history and attracts as many as 72 attendees to monthly roundtables. Her Unit Commissioner Staff continues to grow.
Aside from Scouting, Debra has an interest biking (Falmouth Shining Sea Bike Trail), kayaking (Marshfield North River), crocheting, traveling (US and abroad), and in local politics. Her husband Dennis is a lifetime member of the Marshfield Democratic Town Committee and Debra has helped him during the time he served as their treasurer. Debra served as a delegate at the MA Democratic State Convention in June 2014 and worked on a campaign to help elect Deb Goldberg, as State Treasurer. Debra also worked as a campaign manager for her husband, Dennis, during his 4 elections to the Marshfield School Committee. Debra and Dennis currently serve on the Hospitality Committee of the Assumption Church in Green Harbor.
