Meet the Team: Aaron Christian

For our third #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Aaron Christian, Mayflower Council Membership & Unit Service Executive.

Aaron, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My favorite aspect of Scouting is its impact on its participants. I am a product of Scouting, and so are just about everyone I grew up with in my life. All of us are not the same people we would be having not participated in the program. Our troop’s Eagle Scout ceremony has a phrase that, to me, sums up what Scouting is. It says: Scouting is a ‘movement that helps a Scout become master of their own powers, helps them get along with others and helps them find a worthy use for their talents.’ Working for the Mayflower Council and in my volunteer service, I see that growth in many Scouts.

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“My journey to the Mayflower Council started in 2014 when I interacted with my troop’s district executive. Being the gung-ho Scout I was, I thought that was the coolest job ever. Flash forward to 2021 as I began to wrap up college and look for a career; this whole Scout thing came up again, and I decided to consider it. Luckily, when I graduated six months later, that opening was still there, and I jumped at the opportunity. I can proudly ‘report’ to my 14-year-old self that this is indeed one of the coolest jobs ever.”

What is your Scouting background?

“I started Scouting at nine when I joined Pack 41 Abington as a Webelos Scout. I crossed over into Troop 41 a couple of years later. I proudly served the troop as den chief, assistant patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, senior patrol leader (for three terms, too!), and junior assistant Scoutmaster. I earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2016.

“After aging out of the Boy Scouts [now called Scouts BSA], I founded Crew 41 Abington and served as crew president for the entire duration I participated. In 2020, I earned the Venturing Summit Award and the Council Venturing Leadership Award. I was also a founding youth member of Sea Scout Ship 323 in Weymouth.

“From October 2019 to October 2020, I served on the Tantamous Lodge Executive Committee as the Japeechen chapter chief and vice chief of chapter operations. I was awarded the vigil honor in 2021.

“Today, while I serve in my role with the professional service of Scouting America, I also happily serve as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 41 Abington, assistant Cubmaster with Pack 41 Abington, and skipper of Ship 323 Weymouth. It was my pleasure serving as an assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 41 to attend Florida Sea Base in the Summer of 2023. As I say to those who ask about that experience, it was the smelliest, dirtiest, grossest, most disgusting thing I’ve ever done, and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.”

Aaron’s Personal Favorites

Favorite

color Blue

drink Good Old H2O!”

treat Hornstra Farms chocolate frappe

hobby Singing barbershop music/playing guitar

food Ceasar salad with chicken

Animal Dogs

Place The mountains (specifically the White Mountains)

Music Classic Rock/alternative

Council Duties

  • Aaron is the team captain for the Community Partnerships Team;
  • Builds meaningful relationships in communities to form new units;
  • Develops and implements stewardship plans  with chartered organizations to maintain strong relationships;
  • Provides support to the Council’s Roundtable program;
  • Serves as the Tantamous Lodge professional staff adviser.

Feel free to contact Aaron if he can help enhance your Scouting experience.




Cranberry Harbors District Oct. 2024 Roundtable

Slide set from our Oct. 9 Roundtable, along with the food allergy safety minute, unit money-earing form, and membership renewal steps to ease implementation; are posted at the links below. Thanks for participating. Our next roundtable will be held on Wed. Nov. at the Furnace Brook Middle School in Marshfield, and will be broadcast over the council zoom platform (you must register in advance to participate virtually, see the council calendar for the registration link). All are encouraged to attend in person, as the benefits of in person interaction are difficult to duplicate virtually.
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Meet the Team: Felicia Vaytsman

For our second #meettheteammonday on Mayflower Council’s social media, we sat down with Felicia Vaytsman, Mayflower Council Membership & Community Partnerships Executive.

Felicia, what is your favorite aspect of Scouting?

“My absolute favorite thing? That it’s a FAMILY program! That we’re all in this together, as a family! My son and daughter both enjoy the program, the outings, and the events that Mayflower offers our community. I love hiking with them and doing things we may not otherwise do. When we go camping, it’s such a fun experience, and it fills my kid’s ‘nature bucket,’ which, for them, is a deep bucket and really, truly, brings such good energy to their souls. When they get to walk the field at Fenway or Polar Park donning their uniform with ‘Den Leader Mom,’ it gives them such pride to do those special things and wear their important uniform.”

What brought you to the Mayflower Council?

“In very early 2024, my kids were interested in the WooSox sleepover. As I was on the Mayflower Council website, I saw there was a job opening for a ‘Membership Executive.’ The role sounded a bit intimidating, especially since I had been a stay-at-home mom for five years by that point. However, so much of it sounded appealing and something I wanted to try! I was also very pleased by our Scouting experience thus far and found myself passionate about spreading the word about Scouting.”

What is your Scouting background?

“Scouting first piqued my interest when my son entered Kindergarten in the fall of 2021. We were at his school’s open house, and the Cub Scouts had an info table. I was talking with one of the moms who was a Den Leader. She explained the program, and it sounded really interesting and something I thought he and I would love. However, the Pandemic was still going on, and… I opted to wait a year.

“Then, a huge change in our lives came about. My husband’s job required him to relocate to Massachusetts from the Chicago area. We got here in June 2022, just as summer was beginning, and the first thing I did was research ‘Cub Scouts near me,’ and there, our journey began.

“I inquired about the program and also said, ‘I also might be interested in being a Den Leader.’ Which, if those words are ever uttered… It’s over, you’re hooked.

“So, I became his Tiger Den leader and loved it. My son was so excited about what they were learning and really proud that his mom was his Den Leader. That following year, my daughter was entering Kindergarten, and I asked my son if he would mind if I switched and led her Lion Den to encourage her Scouting career—he, of course, obliged.

“So now both of my children are in Scouting; I’ve completed Tiger Den and Lion Den leader, became the New Member Coordinator this year, and am the Lion Den leader for the 2nd time to support the newest Cub Scouts in our Pack.”

Felicias Personal Favorites

Favorite

color pink

drink Polar seltzer

treat DQ ice cream

hobby walking the neighborhood admiring the old homes and architecture

food all of it?

animal cat

place the beach

music 90s rap & alternative

Council Duties

  • Felicia helps foster relationships in communities to form new units where they are needed;
  • Works with charted organizations to ensure strong relationships;
  • Attends community events to promote Scouting across the board.

Feel free to contact Felicia if she can help foster your Scouting experience.




Employment Opportunities with Mayflower Council

DIVERSITY — OPPORTUNITY — COMMUNITY

Bring your varied life experiences, education, and perspective, and in return you will have an opportunity to combine those skills and experiences in a career that values and respects others.

Scouting … a Profession with a Purpose

Since 1910, Scouting America has helped build future leaders of this country by combining educational and outdoor adventure activities with lifelong values and fun. Scouting America has a major focus on the development of youth.

What Professional Scouters Do

Several thousand commissioned professional Scouters lead, guide, and facilitate the efforts of more than a million adult volunteers on whom Scouting depends on to carry out its mission. It is the job of the professional Scouter to inspire, recruit, train, and support Scouting America’s volunteers, in addition to working with community leaders and rallying public support for Scouting’s activities.

Responsibilities

The professional Scouter in an entry level management position assigned to a specific role within a local council. Your success will be dependent on your ability to promote, supervise, and work with local volunteers. If you have skills in human relations, public relations, marketing, fundraising, finance, accounting, business management, or sales, then you should consider taking the opportunity to become a professional in the Scouting America Mayflower Council.

Training and Development = Success

Scouting America realizes that in order for people to grow and be productive, they need opportunities to learn. The fact that more than 75 percent of Scouting America’s professionals receive training each year is a testimony to the commitment by local councils and the national organization. Training courses, with set periods of time to acquire specific information, are part of our overall plan of development.

Professional Scouters receive continuous instruction through formal as well as informal training. Scouting America fosters an environment of continuous learning to nurture collective creativity, which benefits both professionals and the organization. We share knowledge, ideas, and experience, creating both a workforce that is involved in decision making and an inclusive work environment that ensures the success of Scouting in the local community.

Scouting America is committed to the training and development of individuals because we fully recognize the benefits of mutual growth and development that will unleash the creativity and productivity of its greatest asset: its people!

Compensation and Benefits

We offer a number of practical benefits for professional staffers. In fact, Scouting America offers a benefits package considered to be among the best in the nonprofit sector. The package includes major medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage in addition to long-term disability, accident, and life insurance, and a matching savings plan for retirement. The starting salary is competitive for these entry level positions.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
  • Must have attained age 21
  • People-oriented, having the ability to work well with adult volunteers, community and business leaders, and representatives of other organizations
  • Able to work varied hours when necessary to achieve positive objectives
  • Believe in the BSA and subscribe to its principles and standards

Current Openings:

Interested?

Submit your cover letter and resume to Rick Riopelle.