Pine Tree Council of Boy Scouts of America Announces 'Prepare the Way' Campaign

In an effort to enhance the local Boy Scout Council's efforts to serve Maine youths, the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America announced today it has embarked upon a $4 million capital campaign entitled "Prepare the Way Campaign."

The campaign was announced Wednesday morning at a press conference with local business and Boy Scout officials, and was attended by community and business leaders in Portland. The effort will raise needed dollars for scouting and a new 21,000-square-foot Scout Service Center to be built in Portland, a rendering for which was on display.



Peoples Heritage Bank, a subsidiary of Banknorth Group, Inc., through the Banknorth Charitable Foundation, set the pace of the campaign with a lead gift of $250,000. The campaign has already raised more than $2 million dollars towards the $4 million goal.

The Boy Scouts of America recently observed 94 years of service in February. Millions of youths and families have been involved in Scouting since it was first founded in 1910.

"The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America has not changed since its earliest days," said William J. Ryan, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Banknorth Group, and Chairman of the Prepare the Way Campaign. "That stability and clarity of mission is one reason Scouting is as successful as it is today. Scouting focuses on mentoring youth, service to the community, and helping young people to make better decisions throughout their lives. Those attributes have never been more important than they are today."

Bill Ryan is serving as the chairman of the $4 million campaign, and former Maine Governor John R. "Jock" McKernan, Jr. is serving as the honorary chairman. The campaign is a collaborative effort involving leadership from Banknorth, the Pine Tree Council Executive Board, and community leaders throughout the state.

The new facility, to be located near the airport on land adjacent to Exit 7A of the Maine Turnpike Interchange at Johnson Road in Portland, will include a library, a tribute room, a visitor's center, a training room, a scout shop, an audio visual center, computers, administrative offices, a lookout so that scouts can watch plans take off and land, and resource areas for each of the 10 districts.

In addition, the campaign will raise funds for a Cub Adventure Camp that will feature family camping facilities, theme areas such as a Native American Village (archery area), a Pirate Ship (boating pier), a Light House (swimming area), and a Western Fort (shooting sports area), cabin camping and tent camping at Camp Hinds. The funds will also help renovate the Rotary Training Center, expand the Dining Hall, improve and add on to camping sites, develop an Ecology Conservation Center and renovate field sports areas.

Besides Ryan, speakers at the press conference were Paul Froman, an Eagle Scout from Readfield, Maine; Peter Vigue, President/Chief Executive Officer of CIANBRO Corp; Janet Hansen, AIA and principal of SMRT; and J.T. Dabbs, Executive Director of the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts.

The new Scout Service Center will honor the leadership and vision of the late Alton E. "Chuck" Cianchette, long-time scouting supporter and former president of the board.

"The new Chuck Cianchette Scout Service Center will be great tribute to the memory of a great Mainer, and a great Scout," said Ryan.

"In addition to Banknorth, CIANBRO Corporation has provided incredible leadership and support towards our capital campaign effort and will serve as general contractors on the project," said J. T. Dabbs, Executive Director of the Pine Tree Council. The architect for the upcoming service center is SMRT of Portland.

"In 1997 the Pine Tree Council was fortunate to receive the gift of a two-acre parcel of land adjacent to the Exit 7A Maine Turnpike interchange at Johnson Road in Portland. This location will provide more direct access to the center from all points in the council and our adult volunteers and/or customers visiting our Scout Shop," added Dabbs.

The Pine Tree Council serves more than 18,000 youths through its Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Venturing, Learning for Life and Exploring programs in Central and Southern Maine. The Pine Tree Council serves 10 counties of Maine, including Androscoggin, Cumberland, Franklin, Kennebec, Knox, Lincoln, Oxford, Sagadahoc, Somerset and York. The Council is also made up of five geographic regions called districts, which are named Abnaki, Casco Bay, Downeast, Kennebec Valley and York.

Other press conference attendees who will play a role in the capital campaign were Peter Verrill, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Banknorth Group, Inc.; Mike McNamara, President of Peoples Heritage Bank; David Ott, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Banking Officer, Banknorth Group; Rick Dempsey, Director of Marketing, Banknorth Group; Vince E. Furey Jr., Chief Executive Officer, Medical Network, Inc.; Paul Spellman- President/Chief Operating Officer, Federal Distributors; Norm Albert, Executive Vice President Regional Commercial Lending Division, Peoples Heritage Bank; Bill Thornton, President, Acadia Insurance; and Roxane A. Cole, Principal, Ram Harnden Commercial Real Estate Services.

"This effort will provide needed improvements to our camping facilities, will establish a permanent Cub Scout Camping Facility, enhance our long-term endowment efforts, and provide a new Scout Service Center for youth, volunteers, and families," said Bill Thornton, the council's president.

For more information about the Boy Scouts of America, please call (207) 797-5252 to reach either J. T. Dabbs, III at extension 20 or Jason Agren at extension 21. Also, visit the group online at www.pinetreebsa.org

Banknorth Group, Inc. (NYSE: BNK) is one of the country's 35 largest commercial banking companies with $26 billion in assets. Banknorth, N.A., a Banknorth Group subsidiary, is the parent company of Peoples Heritage Bank, with the leading market share in Maine, and other banking divisions in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont and upstate New York. For more information about Banknorth, visit the company online at www.banknorth.com

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