It is with mixed emotions (happy for her, sad for us) that I announce that Christine “Chris” Friswold will retire from the Lake Erie Council and the Boy Scouts of America effective December 31, 2020, after 14 years of service.
Chris joined the Greater Cleveland Council in February of 2006 and has been a dedicated member of our program department ever since. During her time here, Chris has been actively involved in helping thousands of units secure weekend and long-term camping reservations, assisted in council award achievements, worked with staff and volunteer teams on events and recorded scores of service hours for unit good turns and service projects. She has also helped to correctly input and document trainings and advancements for Scouts and Scouters. Most notably, Chris has been the rock of our Eagle Scout process and has helped coordinate the Eagle Scout board of review for a countless number of young men and now five young women (so far). She has also been crucial in overseeing the accurate submission and processing of their completed Eagle Scout applications, the final step in achieving the highest rank in the BSA.
Please join us in congratulating Chris and Don (who retired last month from the supply division) on this new and exciting chapter! They will both be missed, but we trust that we will still see them at camp and at Scouting activities.
We are also pleased to share the great news that Phil Kuestner has been selected by the Great Trail Council in Akron, OH to be their Program Director effective January 1, 2021.
Phil began his career as a District Executive of the Arapahoe District in the Denver Area Council in September of 2006. After completing his successful service there, he would go on to the Michigan Crossroads Council for three years and then later the Greater Western Reserve Council where he was hired as a District Director. When Scouting recalibrated in Northeast Ohio, Phil became part of our Lake Erie Council family and has been a great asset to the Scouts BSA division. In addition to his work in his service area, Phil has coached new team members and has been instrumental in working with key volunteers to organize the annual chartering process.
In his new role as Program Director, Phil will be tasked with delivering excellent leadership to the council program committee. Together, they can provide brand-positive events and activities to the Great Trail Council.
Please join us in congratulating Phil in this new chapter of his Scouting adventure! While he will be missed, we are excited to have him as a neighbor and his son, Robert, as a future LEC Scout!
