380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page I Prepare the Way A Tribute to the Youth and Volunteers of the Pine Tree Council Celebrating the opening of the Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Scout Service Center Pine Tree Council Boy Scouts of America Serving 10 counties in central and southern Maine 380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page II Over 45 years ago, the William U. Niss Scout Service Center opened for business. Since that time, the Pine Tree Council has grown and expanded. As always our first priority has been the youth and program-related facilities of the council. Now, thanks to the great leadership of our Prepare the Way Campaign and the support of our board, staff, and volunteers, we are able to open the Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Scout Service Center. The dream of a new facility and the improvements that are ongoing at our camp properties will prepare the way as we approach the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. This booklet has been prepared to commemorate and celebrate the many aspects of Scouting in the Pine Tree Council. It is hoped that this publication will help document this historical occasion and preserve some of the proud history of this council. More important, it is hoped that the youth of today will recognize that, out of love and concern, many people have worked and sacrificed through the years to enable them to participate in the great programs of Scouting. Hopefully, this book will serve as a reminder to future volunteer leaders, professionals and Scouts of their responsibility to pass on the traditions and values of Scouting to the next generation. Today over 4,000 adult volunteers provide leadership and mentoring to Cub Scout Packs, Boy Scout Troops, Venturing Crews, Learning for Life Groups, and Explorer Posts in the Pine Tree Council. Their dedication of time and resources has enabled the Boy Scouts of America to remain the foremost program for character development and values-based leadership training in the country. While the positive impact of the Scouting program on our youth members is widely known, our volunteers are the heart of Scouting; their commitment makes it possible for us to deliver outdoor adventure and service-oriented programs to the families of Maine. On behalf of our youth, adults and families, we would like to thank you for your support of Scouting, and we welcome you to our new Service Center, and to Scouting in the 21st century. Sincerely, Bill Coffin Paul Spellman J.T. Dabbs, III Council Commissioner Council President Scout Executive 380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page 1 2005 Officers and Board Members Honorable John R. McKernan, Jr.. Chairman of the Board J. Paul Spellman . Council President William Coffin . Council Commissioner Peter B. Ventre . Council Treasurer Charles Hahn. Assistant Treasurer Alan Atkins . Legal Counsel John T. Leonard. Council Vice President J.T. Dabbs, III. Scout Executive Andrew Beahm . Vice President Marketing Roxane Cole . Vice President Learning for Life/Exploring T. Michael King . Vice President District Operations John F. Marr. Vice President Scoutreach Paul J. McKenney . Vice President Venturing John Messer. Vice President Program Jennifer Mogavero . Vice President Planned Giving Burton Russell. Vice President Membership James W. Weaver . Vice President Properties Gregory Amoroso . Board Member John Doughty . Board Member Thomas B. Dunham . Board Member Raymond Emery . Board Member Vincent E. Furey, Jr.. Board Member Janet L. Hansen. Board Member Erland Hedblom . Board Member Peter G. Moore . Board Member Larry Ritter . Board Member David Tassoni. Board Member Peter Verrill . Board Member William Vogt . Board Member Richard Wagner . Board Member David Weeks . Board Member Leland Weeks. Board Member/International Representative Paul Froman . OA Lodge Chief/Youth Member Michael Celeste . Casco Bay District Chairman Richard Fortuna. Downeast District Chairman Charles Matthews . Kennebec Valley District Chairman U.S. Retired General Wallace Nutting . York District Chairman Trustees Ival R. Cianchette Leon A. Gorman William U. Niss James O. Pringle C. Warren Ring William J. Ryan Roland L. Sutton Widgery Thomas, Jr. 1 380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page 2 The Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Scout Service Center For over four decades, nearly 20 years longer that its projected useful life, The William U. Niss Service Center, a 4,400-square-foot Scout Service Center at 125 Auburn Street in Portland, has served as the Pine Tree Council’s administrative office, communications center, conference facility and Scout Shop. Due to increased Scout membership and related administrative needs, space constraints have been getting tighter each year, and the facility was no longer able to handle the increased operational workload. Over a two-year period, hundreds of Scouting volunteers across the state evaluated the existing resources and future needs of the Pine Tree Council and developed a strategic plan to meet those needs. As part of this process, the volunteer committee determined that the Pine Tree Council had finally outgrown its existing Service Center. In 1997, the Pine Tree Council was fortunate to receive a gift of a two-acre parcel of land, adjacent to the Exit 7A Maine Turnpike interchange at Johnson Road in Portland. Market research was conducted on the site, and it was determined that this was an ideal site for a new Scout Service Center. The site would provide more direct access to the center from all the Districts and easier access for our adult volunteers and for customers visiting our Scout Shop. Tom Dunham, a dedicated volunteer and board member, worked extensively to help complete the permitting process for the new piece of land. At that juncture, it was apparent that the project needed some strong leadership to move forward. The right person for the job was Peter Vigue, President of Cianbro. Peter was excited about the project from the very beginning. Peter was excited about involving not only Cianbro, but also other companies around the state of Maine. Peter noted that Chuck had made such a strong and positive impact throughout the communities of Maine that other companies would be excited about helping out. The project of building the Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Service Center truly turned out to be a team effort. The first piece to be completed was a land survey by Deluca Hoffman, with a substantial reduction in price. SMRT, an architectural firm from Portland, created the building design, which has come to be recognized as “that gorgeous log-cabin-looking building by the airport. SMRT also provided substantial cost reductions to help with the budget. 2 380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page 3 The Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Service Center (continued) Cianbro agreed to lead the charge for the project, donating their services as the Construction Manager. The teamwork and positive response from individuals and businesses was contagious and truly amazing. The total cost for the project was reduced by almost half with the support that was received. Literally hundreds of donors and vendors contributed to help make this project a reality. The final product is a tribute to Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette that expands our capabilities to offer more services for our Scout leaders and families. The new service center is a fully handicapped-accessible facility with several resources for the units, youths and volunteers. The following features will help the Pine Tree Council better serve the youth of our communities, and the leaders of the future. Scout Shop with expanded inventory and resources Training room with audio-visual tools Volunteer resource room with audio-visuals available for checkout Library and museum displaying the history and legacy of Scouting in Maine Expanded volunteer resources, materials and computer access Expanded training opportunities Conference rooms for volunteer use Great room for meetings, ceremonies, etc. Office is ADA-compliant and built to meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program (LEED) The Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette Scout Service Center will, for many years to come, stand as a tribute to what the principles and ideals of Scouting are all about. 3 380_BSTribute6x9v5.qxd 5/27/05 2:52 PM Page 4 Paying Tribute Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette (May 18, 1930–January 18, 2000) The new Scout Service Center will be named for former Council President, the late Alton E. “Chuck” Cianchette, a longtime Scouting supporter. Chuck Cianchette, along with brothers Carl, Bud and Ken, founded the construction company Cianbro 50-plus years ago, with a can-do attitude. Chuck believed in himself, his brothers, the company and all of the employees. That can-do spirit, coupled with the Cianchette brothers’ philosophy—treat people with dignity and respect, your word is your bond and give back from which you take—lives on at Cianbro to this day. Chuck was the youngest of seven siblings. From the time he was a young man, Chuck had an incredible work ethic. When he was seven years old, his fathers and brothers were haying, and Chuck got behind the wheel of a flatbed truck and drove it around the field as they loaded on the hay. At about the same age, he took over the family Maine Sunday Telegram route that stretched from one end of Pittsfield to the other. With the extra sections, the bundles were too heavy to carry and too bulky for a bicycle. His mother turned two newspaper sacks into saddle bags, and every Sunday morning Chuck and the family donkey headed out. After graduating from MCI in 1948, he went to work for his brother Carl fulltime. By 1954, after a stint in the U.S. Army, he was running projects and had become a partner with Carl, Ken and Bud in what had become Cianchette Brothers, Inc.