Grand Island Boy Scout Troop #630

Boy Scout Troop #630 Webpage
2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2010

"Previous Boy Scout Troop 630 News"

Troop #630 meetings are held weekly at St. Stephen's Church
"Boy Scout Troop 630 Official Web Page"

(An interesting weekly newsletter that shares stories with Scouts and Scouters)
"Scouting Way"

Boy Scouts from Troop 630 - April 2010

Pictured are Connor Harrigan, Benjamin Shaw, Father Samuel Venne, John Sosnowski, Matthew Wellence, Emblems Coordinator Carol Hamm and Troop 630 Committee Chairman James Bates
Click photo for larger view
On Saturday, March 27, 2010, several Boy Scouts from Troop 630, sponsored by Saint Stephen’s Church, received the Ad Altare Dei Emblem at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral. These medals were presented at a special Mass for the 100th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. The purpose of the Ad Altare Dei program is to equip the Boy Scout to take his place in the world as a maturing Catholic and American. The requirements center on the Sacraments because it is through them that a person can become a maturing disciple of Christ. The Scouts are Connor Harrigan, Benjamin Shaw, John Sosnowski, and Matthew Wellence.

Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner - March 2010
Boy Scout Troop 630 will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner from Noon till 6 p.m. Sunday, March 21 to benefit the Scouts' Summer Camp Fund. The dinner will be held in the St. Stephen School Cafetorium, 2100 Baseline Rd, Grand Island NY 14072. Cost is adults/$6, seniors/$5, children 3-10/$4 and Children Under 3/Free and dinners will include Spaghetti and Meatballs, Salad, Bread & Butter, Drink and Dessert. Take Outs Available. Presale Tickets Available by calling Carolyn Konopski at 773-0101. Tickets will also be available at the door. Troop 630 is sponsor its by St Stephen’s Parish.

Boy Scout Sunday - Feb. 2010

Click photo for larger view
    Boy Scout Sunday was celebrated on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at Saint Stephen Roman Catholic Church. This year was a special celebration in honor of the 100th Anniversary of Boy Scouting on February 8, 2010. Four Cub Scouts received their Religious Emblem awards. Pictured are Parvuli Dei recipient Alexander Melisz, Light of Christ recipients Gabriel Wright and Vincent Ricotta, Parvuli Dei recipient Ryan Wellence, Religious Emblems Counselor Carol Hamm and Father Paul Nagaro.

Boy Scout Sunday Celebration - Feb. 2010
   Congratulations to the Boy Scouts of America on the 100th Anniversary of Scouting, to be celebrated on February 8, 2010. Boy Scout Sunday will be celebrated at Saint Stephen’s Church on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at the 9 AM Mass. All Cub and Boy Scout units on Grand Island are invited to participate. Please arrive at church at 8:30 AM in full uniform with your Unit Flag. We will then process down the aisle at the beginning of the Mass.
   Several Cub Scouts from Pack 630 will be honored for their participation in religious activities at Scout Sunday Mass. The Light of Christ emblem, a stepping stone award toward developing a personal relationship with Jesus, will be presented to Vincent Ricotta and Gabriel Wright.
   Alexander Melisz and Ryan Wellence will be receiving the Parvuli Dei emblem for advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge.
   Congratulations go out to these boys who have worked hard since September to receive these awards.

Local Scouts Win National Honors - August 2009

(left) Travis Zukic, Brandon Minicucci, Seth Kline and Chris Swagler
Click photo for large view
      The 'Order of the Arrow' (OA) is scouting's National Honor Society. It sets out to recognize those young and adult campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. The principles of the order are 'to be unselfish in service and devotion to the welfare of others.'
      The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) was held at Indiana University during the first week of August 2009. 7000 members of the Order of the Arrow were brought together for training, competition and great fun.
      Local scouts Travis Zukic, Brandon Minicucci, Seth Kline and Chris Swagler won National Honors in the Ceremonies Competition. Travis, Seth and Chris are scouts at St. Stephen's Church, Troop 630 on Grand Island. Brandon is a member of Christophoro Columbo Society Troop 861 in Niagara Falls. Scoutmaster Anton Zukic and Ceremonies Team Advisor Brian Mongielo accompanied the scouts to the conference.

Scouts Receive Religious Awards - April 2009

(left) Emblems Coordinator Sandy Gworek, Andrew Donohue, Christopher Swagler and Emblems Coordinator Carol Hamm
Click photo for large view
      The Buffalo Diocesan Catholic Committee on Scouting and Bishop Edward Kmiec presented two young men with their Religious Awards on April 4, 2009 at St. Joseph Cathedral. Life Scout Christopher Swagler received the Ad Altare Dei Emblem at Saint Joseph’s Cathedral. Christopher is a member of Troop 630, sponsored by Saint Stephen’s Church. The purpose of the Ad Altare Dei program is to equip the Boy Scout to take his place in the world as a maturing Catholic and American. The requirements center on the Sacraments because it is through them that a person can become a maturing disciple of Christ.
      Venturing Scout Andrew Donohue received the Bishop’s Scouting award. Andrew is a member of Venturing Crew 2001 sponsored by Kenmore Lions Club. The Bishop’s Scouting Award is presented to scouts who complete all four Religious Emblem programs. The four programs are: Light of Christ, Parvuli Dei, Ad Altare Dei; and Pope Pius XII.

Boy Scout Spaghetti Dinner - 2009
Boy Scout Troop 630, sponsored by St. Stephen's Church, will host a spaghetti dinner from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, March 22 in St Stephen School cafeteria.
Cost:
• Adults $6
• Children (3-10) $4
• Seniors $5
• Under 3 Free
Dinner includes spaghetti, meatballs, salad, bread, butter, drink & dessert and take out orders will bee available. All presale tickets (must be purchased by March 18) go directly to the scouts' own scout account for this year's Order of Arrow National Conference and will also help defray the costs of attending the 100th year National Jamboree in Virginia next year. Contact scouts of Troop 630, including Life Scout Christopher Swagler, 773-8056 and also Bernice Schoener at 773-6065.

Boy Scout Sunday Celebration - 2009
   Boy Scout Sunday will be celebrated at Saint Stephen’s Church on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at the 9 A.M. Mass. All Cub and Boy Scout units on Grand Island are invited to participate and are asked to arrive at church at 8:30 a.m. in full uniform with your Unit Flag. We will then process down the aisle at the beginning of the Mass.
   Several Cub Scouts from Pack 630 will be honored for their participation in religious activities at Scout Sunday Mass. The Light of Christ emblem, a stepping stone award toward developing a personal relationship with Jesus, will be presented to Joshua Kam, Jacob Konopski and Patrick Stouter.
   Nicholas Kam, Derek Konopski, and Stephen Stouter will be receiving the Parvuli Dei emblem for advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge.
    Congratulations go out to these boys who have worked hard since September to receive these awards.

German Scout Visits Troop 630 - Nov. 2008

Click for large view
      Sophie DeMonte, a German Scout, recently visited with St. Stephen's Boy Scout Troop 630. The scouts from Troop 630 hosted Sophie on her recent visit to the United States. The United States is only one of two countries that do not have co-ed Scouting. In most countries the members are just called scouts whether they are female or male. Sophie impressed the scouts with her abilities to tie many knots and lashings. The boys in return taught her how to transport an injured person with the use of three smaller logs. Then they had races. Sophie brought German chocolate for the Scouts. The Troop presented Sophie with a Scout uniform shirt and a Troop 630 scarf. The evening was a wonderful opportunity for all involved to learn about each other. Sophie's Troop web site in Germany is http://www.pfadfinder-harrislee.de/.

Eagle Scout Recognized With Proclamation - 2008

(left) Town Board members Sue Argy and Gary Roesch, Supervisor Peter McMahon, Eagle Scout Scott Chown with parents, Ann and Ted Chown and Board Members Dick Crawford and Mary Cooke
Mary Stewart Photo - Click for large view
By Joelle Logue
      Monday, July 21, 2008 . . .Scott Matthew Chown, accompanied by his proud parents, received a proclamation of congratulations from the Town Board Monday for attaining the highest and most prestigious rank in the Boy Scouts, Eagle Scout.
      A member of Boy Scout Troop 630, sponsored by St. Stephen Church, Chown led 27 troop members in organizing the storage garage of Compass House, a home for runaway and troubled teens. He arranged for the donation of a PODS unit, built two shelving units, and cleaned and reorganized donated supplies. A total of 230 man hours was used for the project.

Boy Scout Troop #630 Spaghetti Dinner - 2008
St. Stephen's Boy Scout Troop #630 will hold its annual spaghetti dinner from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, 2008 in St. Stephen School cafeteria. Dinner includes bread/butter, salad, drink and dessert and take out is available. The costs are as follows:
Adult $6
Child (3-10) $4
Seniors $5
Child under 3 Free

St. Stephen’s Cub Scouts Receive Awards - 2008

Click photo for larger view
Boy Scout Sunday was celebrated on February 3, 2008 at Saint Stephen's Church. Seven Cub Scouts received their religious emblem awards. Pictured are "Parvuli Dei" emblem recipients Kamerer Olin, Connor Harrigan, Steven Gullo, Geoffrey Webb; "Light of Christ" Emblem recipients Jacob and Vincent DiJoseph; "Parvuli Dei" emblem recipient Virgil Castner; Religious Emblems Counselors Sandra Gworek and Carol Hamm; and Fathers Paul Nagaro and Sam Venne.

Boy Scout Sunday Celebration - 2008
   Boy Scout Sunday will be celebrated at Saint Stephen’s Church on Sunday, February 3, 2008 at the 9 a.m. Mass. All Cub and Boy Scout units on Grand Island are invited to participate. Those attending are asked to arrive at church at 8:30 a.m. in full uniform with your Unit Flag. Participants will then process down the aisle at the beginning of the Mass.
   Several Cub Scouts from Packs 251 (Elma) and 630 (Grand Island) will be honored at Scout Sunday Mass for their participation in religious activities. The Light of Christ emblem, a stepping stone award toward developing a personal relationship with Jesus, will be presented to Jacob DiJoseph and Vincent DiJoseph.
    Virgil Castner, Steven Gullo, Connor Harrigan, Kam Olin, and Geoffrey Webb will be receiving the Parvuli Dei emblem for advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge.
   Congratulations go out to these boys who have worked hard since September to receive these awards.

Boy Scout Troop #630 Spaghetti Dinner - 2007
    St. Stephen's Boy Scout Troop #630 will hold a home cooked spaghetti dinner from noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday, March 25th in St. Stephen School cafeteria. Those who are interested in attending and who would like to purchase tickets are asked to call Christopher (773-8056) or email him at bswagler@verizon.net. The costs are as follows:
Adult $5.50
Child (4-10) $3.50
Seniors $4.50
Child under 4 Free
   Take out orders will be available. Dinners include spaghetti with home made sauce, salad, bread, drink and dessert served.
   Those attending will also find a basket raffle with many donations provided by local Grand Island merchants. This event serves as the major fund raiser for the scouts to help supplement their monthly camping trips, summer camp and high adventure outings.

Boy Scout Sunday Celebration - 2007
   Boy Scout Sunday will be celebrated at Saint Stephen’s Church on Sunday, February 4, 2007 at the 9 a.m. Mass. All Cub and Boy Scout units on Grand Island are invited to participate and are asked to arrive at church at 8:30 a.m. in full uniform with the troop's Unit Flag. Scouts will then process down the aisle at the beginning of the Mass.
   Several Cub Scouts from Pack 630 will be honored during the Scout Sunday Mass for their participation in religious activities. The Light of Christ emblem, a stepping stone award toward developing a personal relationship with Jesus, will be presented to John-Paul Bobak, Nicholas Kam, Stephen Stouter, Andrew Szolnoky, and Geoffrey Webb.
   Elliott Michki will be receiving the Parvuli Dei emblem for advancement in religious and spiritual knowledge. Thomas Major from Pack 510 will be receiving the Parvuli Dei emblem at his home parish of Saint Charles Borremeo in Niagara Falls.
   Congratulations go out to these boys who have worked hard since September to receive these awards.

If you are a member of this organization, we need your help. GIECOM.Net has partnered with the Connections program to help Grand Island as a community "Get it Together." Please visit our website G-I-Together.ORG and fill out our SURVEY. Every group on Grand Island will have its own FREE web page showing: meeting times and location, contact persons, your Mission Statement and a listing of events. We will also be linking your news events that appear in the local media and on IsledeGrande.Com, Grand Island's E-News Source, to your page, maintaining an archived journal of pictures and news. This is the perfect opportunity for your group to connect with potential new members and the community.