Barr receives Penquis Award
Scouters throughout the Penquis District gathered in Corinna on April 11 for the annual meeting. It was a night to watch the new Summer Camp videos that have recently been produced by members of the Order of the Arrow.
Among the awards that were given out on this prestigious night was the District Award of Merit. Penquis District Chairman, Mike Henderson, gathered all of the previous recipients of the Award which was quite an impressive array of those who have dedicated countless hours to Scouting, especially in regards to the youth of the district, and to involvement in community and other organizations.
Henderson then made the announcement for Benjamin Barr, Jr. to please step front and center. Jean Howes, District Training Chair, then read the endorsement for the award, with much of the information having been provided by the Rev. Robert Landry, Deacon of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Millinocket.
The letter read in part:
Benjamin Barr has been very active in the Episcopal Church as a member of St. Andrew’s Parish. Ben has held and continues to hold a variety of essential positions in the Church as he is active in his faith and Parish life. Among the many positions that Ben has served in is having been Junior Warden for 10 years. He also serves at the Sunday worship service as a Lay Eucharistic Minister, as well as being in charge of the Lay Readers since the early 1980s.
Ben is involved in the Praise and Worship Ministry of the church. He also is a co-organizer for the annual Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Ben also edits and writes The Angler, the parish newsletter.
Since 1981 Ben has been involved with the local thespian organization, The Millinocket Players, as an actor and director for countless productions.
Barr also shares his musical talents with the community playing the Mountain Dulcimer at community and ecumenical events.
Ben has been an active trained Scouter for many years. In addition to his involvement at the district level, Ben has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster and Scoutmaster for Troops 56 of Medway and 57 of Millinocket. Barr began with the BSA as an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 125 in Forest City, North Carolina while earning a bachelor’s degree from Gardner-Webb College in 1979.
Ben has been involved with training other adult Scouters at the local and district level. Barr continues to take on new challenges as he has undertaken the role of editor for The Wangan, the Katahdin Area Council newsletter.
