Meet Scott Paddack our District Director

Q: How long have you worked for the Mason-Dixon Council?

Scott: 12 years

 

Q: What is your favorite part about your job as a Professional Scouter?

Scott: Working with the kids.

Q: What is your Scouting background?

Scott: I was a Cub Scout earned my Arrow of Light, crossed over to troop 10.  Was active there ad's troop 4 & 99 through high school

Q: What is your fondest Scouting memories?

Scott: Being a den leader, assistant Scoutmaster, Wood Badge and national jamboree staff on QBSA radio.

Q: What all are you involved in, in the community?

Scott: Citizenship Chairman in the Antietam Exchange, Youth Group Leader at Trinity Lutheran Church, 32 degree Mason, Parent Guild at  Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, Coordinator for my church at REACH.  I help out were I can.

 

Q: Do you have any hobbies or interest outside of Scouting?

Scott: I like wood working and carving, graphics and art.

Q: Anything message you would like to send out the Scouters in our Council?

Scott: Scouting works because we all work hard together.

What Scoutng Means to Me

We asked Christian Rejonis, an Eagle Scout and Vigil Honor member of the Order of the Arrow, who is currently serving as the Lodge Chief, youth leader, for the Order of the Arrow Guneukitschik Lodge 317 an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 103 to tell us what Scouting means to him. Here is his answer to our question: 

"I was asked to write about what Scouting meant to me. When I was thinking about this, I decided to sum it up in one word. This was no easy task for me because I could go on and on about what the Scouting program means to me. In the end the word I chose to use was “opportunity”. Now you may ask why I chose the word opportunity, the reason is what Scouting gave to me and so many young people like me. It gave me the opportunity to travel and experience different things. I also must give Scouting credit for opening the doors for my future career and in my opinion most importantly giving me the opportunity to give back.

Scouting gave me the opportunity to experience things and go places I would have never had the chance to go any other way. I have been lucky enough to go places such as Florida Sea Base in the Florida Keys, the 2010 National Scout Jamboree at Ft. A.P. Hill Virgina, the National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) at both Indiana State University and Michigan State University and many others.  Each of these gave me a different unique experience. Sea Base was about adventure.  I have been there two times. The first time, I participated in the Outer Island Adventure which is like playing survivor on an island.  The second time was an amazing experience SCUBA diving in the Florida Keys. The Jamboree was an amazing experience.  I was on Order of the Arrow staff for this event and got to see many things from set up to tear down for the Jamboree. NOAC is an experience unlike any other. At NOAC, I was learning and having a great time with other young men in the OA who are passionate about this program, just as I am. The cool thing about all these experiences is I got to meet people from all over the country at them. I can truly say I was blessed to meet some life long friends at these events.

I think the most unique way Scouting helped me is by giving me the opportunity for future careers.  This may seem odd to many but the merit badge program opened my eyes to what I wanted to do with my life. You see, the way this happened is, I was taking the Lifesaving merit badge at Camp Sinoquipe. I learned that I really enjoyed it. I then expanded on this by taking BSA Lifeguarding, which lead to my High School job as a lifeguard at the local YMCA. From this point I learned that I still wanted to learn more and took my first EMT class. Now I am currently working as an EMT, and am a paramedic student, which is what I plan to do for the rest of my life.

Scouting has given me the opportunity to give back. Now, I said this is the most important one of all, and I believe it. In Scouting, once you achieve the highest rank of Eagle you should give back to the program. I am currently lucky enough to be the Lodge Chief of you Order of the Arrow Lodge. This is a role where I get to be a youth leader and help guide others in making decisions. I am also an Assistant Scoutmaster where I get to support youth in the choices they are making in their Scouting paths. I have been very fortunate with all I have gotten to do in the Scouting program, perhaps more fortunate then most. The way I see it is if I give back and am able to help give one youth an opportunity I was given, and then they give it to another youth the program will continue to build.

I can’t express how much the Scouting program has given me. I truly don’t know where I would be today if I never got involved in the Boy Scouts of America. This is just the tip of the iceberg but it can give you just an idea of how deeply I believe in this program, a program that has given me so much.

Yours in Scouting,

Christian Rejonis"

Scouting means a lot to Christian and many others in the Scouting program. We want hear what it means to you. Leave us your thoughts in the comment section below.

Meet Our Scout Executive

Each month we will be sitting down with a different member of the Professional Staff and key volunteers in the Council who help make the program run. This month we sit down with our Scout Executive Mark Barbernitz.  

Q: How long have you worked for the Mason-Dixon Council?

Mark: Four and half years.

Q: What other Councils did you work at before coming to the Mason-Dixon Council?

Mark: Pennsylvania Dutch Council as Assistant Scout Executive, Heart of Ohio Council as Field Director, Senior District Executive and District Executive in Great Trails Council in Ohio. 

Q: What is your favorite part about your job as Scout Executive?

Mark: Working with the volunteers is one of my favorite parts and we have some great volunteers in this Council. As well as growing the Scouting program.

Q: What is unique about this Council compared to the other Councils you have worked at?

Mark: Well what is the same is the passion of the volunteers who give a lot of time and effort to the program. Our great Camp, Sinqouipe is truly incredible and is the highlight of the Council in my opinion.

Q: What is your Scouting history?

Mark: Joined Scouting on my 8^th birthday and was in the program as a youth till my 18^th birthday, then volunteered as a leader since my 18^th birthday. My father was a professional Scouter and my grandfather was a Scoutmaster, so I am a third generation Scouter. My grandfather’s picture is on the wall of leaders in the dining hall at camp and includes a quote “He who cast a long shadow.” That shadow is referring to my father and me both be a part of the Scouting program and becoming professional Scouters. 

Q: What is your fondest Scouting memories?

Mark: Well as an adult it was at Sea Base in 2003 with my son and seeing him change from a boy to a confident young man on that trip. As a youth it would be when I was Assist. Senior Patrol Leader of my Troop when I was twelve and filling in for the SPL on a camp out. It was my first true leadership role leading my peers. 

Q: Do you have any hobbies or interest outside of Scouting?

Mark: I like to volunteer for my church and for the Red Cross and at a homeless shelter.

Q: Anything message you would like to send out the Scouters in our Council?

Mark: Yes, we really appreciate what each volunteer does in our Council with only us only having 3 professional. Volunteers truly do some incredible things with their time and for that we are very grateful.  

Next time you are in the office make sure you stop by and say hello to our Scout Executive Mark Barbernitz.