LOCAL BOY SCOUT VOLUNTEER LEADERS HONORED

The Matinecock District of the Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America, held its annual District Awards and Recognitions Dinner to honor adult volunteers on Thursday May 26, 2016 at Huntington Elks Lodge.  The Matinecock District serves over 3,000 youth members in the Town of Huntington and in the Commack, Kings Park, and Hauppauge school districts in western Smithtown Township.

2016 MATINECOCK DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT RECIPENTS

Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the District Award of Merit for noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside of Scouting, or both. Those so recognized this year were Troop 34 (Huntington Station)’s Edie Pullizzotto (Troop Advancement Chair) and Michael Shef (Assistant Scoutmaster and Troop Adult Training Coordinator), and Stuart Weinberg (Assistant Scoutmaster and Troop Training Coordinator, Troop 125, Commack).

Edie Pulizzotto of Huntington has served scouting since 2010 in the positions of Cubmaster and Committee Chair for Cub Scout Pack 181 in Huntington, Troop Advancement Chair for Troop 34 (Huntington Station), Roundtable Assistant District Commissioner, Committee Chair of newly established Equestrian Venturing Crew 26 in Melville and as a member of the Matinecock District Committee.  Her volunteer scouting leader training courses include Leader Training in the Cub, Boy Scout and Venturing programs as well as Commissioner’s College.  In addition to her scouting commitments, she is active in Huntington School District’s PTA serving most recently as Secretary for SEPTA. She is a past building President and Council Vice President.  She has been a flutist in the Huntington Community Band for over 30 years.  She has also served as a mentor to the Huntington Robotics Team. She is also a past Coordinator for the St. Patrick’s Church (Huntington) Moms and Tots program. Ms. Pulizzotto and her husband Frank, who is also active in Scouting, are parents to CR a Star Scout in Troop 34 and Jessica, a founding member of Venturing Crew 26.

            Michael Shef of Melville has served scouting in a variety of positions since 2009.  He has served Cub Scout Pack 406 (South Huntington) as an Assistant Den Leader, Assistant Webelos Leader, Pack Committee Member and Pack Committee Chair. When he joined Boy Scout Troop 34 (Huntington Station) with his son, he took on the role of Committee Member later becoming Assistant Scoutmaster and the Troop’s Adult Training Coordinator.  At the Matinecock District level, he is the Vice Chairman of the District Committee and serves as a member of the District Training Team, the District Cub Leader Training Chair, and the Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner.  He serves on the Suffolk County Council (BSA)’s Shooting Sports Committee and has recently been elected to the Shinnecock Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.  He has participated in and taken more than 30 training courses including Youth Protection Training, Cub Leader Training (for Tigers, Cubs, and Webelos Scouts), Leave No Trace Awareness, Commissioner Training, Trek Safety, and Weather Hazards Training, and holds a Bachelor’s in Commissioner Science.  Michael has also taken and completed the BSA’s Wood Badge Training as a member of the Owl Patrol in Wood Badge Course #N2-386-14 in 2014.  In his spare time, he is an active member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of the Hibernians, and a Knight of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.  A Faculty member of the American Sommelier Association, he is also an NRA Range Safety Officer and certified instructor in Rifle and Shotgun. Mr. Shef and his wife Anne are parents to Star Scout Michael from Troop 34 and a daughter Stephanie.

            Stuart Weinberg  of East Northport has been involved with scouting since 2007 when  he joined Cub Scout Pack 403 with his son where he served as the Pack Treasurer, Assistant  Den Leader, Den Leader, Assistant Cubmaster.  He also served as Cubmaster of pack 125. He continued his service to the youth in the community when he joined Boy Scout Troop 125 (Commack) where he serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Webmaster, and Troop Training Coordinator.   On the Matinecock District, he was a member of the Cub Scout Roundtable Staff, and is now the Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner.  He is also part of the District Training Staff, District Webmaster, and a member of the District Committee. Completing more than 37 Training modules including a Bachelor’s in Commissioner Science.   Mr. Weinberg earned his Wood Badge Training Beads as a member of the Eagle Patrol of Wood Badge Training Course N2-404- 13. In his spare time, he is the Webmaster for Western Suffolk Advocacy for Gifted and Talented Education in New York State and a Soccer Dad for his sons team in the Commack Soccer League. Mr. Weinberg and his wife Dawn Betro are parents to Life Scout Matthew and Jason, a future soccer star.

The Matinecock District of the Suffolk County Council, Boy Scouts of America, held its annual District Awards and Recognitions Dinner to honor adult volunteers on Thursday May 26 at Huntington Elks Lodge.  The Matinecock District serves over 3,000 youth members in the Town of Huntington and in the Commack, Kings Park, and Hauppauge school districts in western Smithtown Township. Highlight of the evening was the presentation of the District Award of Merit for noteworthy service to youth in Scouting, outside of Scouting, or both. Those so recognized in 2016 with the  District Award of Merit Recipients of the Matinecock District, Boy Scouts of America, (left to right)  Troop 34 (Huntington Station)’s Michael Shef  and  Edie Pullizzotto and Troop 125 (Commack)’s Stuart Weinberg