Scouting Bio for our Newsletter Editor Tom Lemme

Tom joined Scouting in 1970 with Troop 170 in the Bronx.  He would go on to earn 38 Merit Badges and achieve the Rank of Life.

 In 1973 he was inducted into Ranachqua Lodge of the Order of the Arrow.  From 1973 to 1975 he held a number of positions within the Lodge.  In 1974 he sealed his vows in Brotherhood.  In 1975 he served as Chief of Ranachqua Lodge.  In 1990 he became active in  Shu Shu Gah Lodge.  He served as a Chapter Adviser in 1992, Ritual Team Advisor in 1993 and as a Chapter Advisor again in 1994.  He received the Vigil Honor from Shu Shu Gah Lodge in 1992 and the Founders Award in 1993.  Tom servers as Shu Shu Gah Associate Advisor from 1993 - 2002.  He attended NOAC in ’92 and ’94.  He also served as NOAC 2000 Contingent Leader and Shu Shu Ga Lodge Vigil Honor Nominating Committee Adviser. 

Tom’s first year at TMR was 1971 as a Camp Aquehonga Provisional.  Tom would go on to camp at Camp Davis Lake, Camp Ranachqua and Camp Hayden.  Tom joined the TMR staff in 1975 on the Camp Ranachqua waterfront.  He would go on to become the Assistant Waterfront Director at that Camp, and then in 1977 at Camp Kunatah.  In 1978 he became the Waterfront Director at Camp Keowa.  In 1981and 1982 he served as the Camp Kernochan Program Director.  He has been volunteering at camp since.  Tom was also active on the TMR Alumni Committee and the GNYC Camp Inspection Team.

 Tom has served as Scoutmaster of Troop 170 in the Bronx from 1984 to 2003.  He is also an Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 237 in Brooklyn.  Tom’s Scouter training and recognition includes Scout Leader Basic Training (1977), Woodbadge Training (1978 NEIII-43), National Camp School- Aquatics (1978), Completed Woodbadge Ticket (1980), and received the Scouters Training Award (1981).  National Camp School for Aquatics & Program (1978,1981), Scoutmasters Key (1988), National Leadership Seminar Order of the Arrow (1996), National Lodge Adult Training Seminar (NLATS) in 2002.  In the fall of 2000 he  served on the staff for Woodbadge (NEIII-148) for which he recruited more then ten Scouters to take the course.  He received the Scoutmaster award of Merit (1992), and the Bronze Pelican from the Archdiocese Committee on Scouting (1995).  In 2005, Tom received the coveted St. George Award from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting where it was presented to him at a ceremony at St. Patrick's Cathedral.  This is the last award Tom wishes to receive from the Scouts, it was the only award he ever really wanted to get because he liked the way the medal looks.  Tom is the Editor of the "Red Dot Trails" newsletter of the Friends of Ten Mile River. Tom received the Silver Beaver Honor from the Bronx Council in 2001. 

In 2002 Tom became the Bronx Council Vice-President for Program.  He became the Bronx Camping Chairman in 2000 which put Tom on the Bronx Executive Board.  He served as the Camp Promotions Chairman of that sub-committee of the GNYC Camping Committee.  In 2004 Tom stepped out of the role of Bronx Vice President for Program, and into the job as the new Bronx Council Commissioner which he held for 2 years.  Tom was made the 2^nd recipient of FOTMR's annual honoree award. 

Because of his service as Commissioner, in 2006, Tom made his first New Years Resolution in 20 years.  He will not do anything for Scouts that does not involve working directly with the youth.

In 2006, Tom was appointed by Governor George Pataki to the New York State Department of Health Board of Professional Medical Conduct.  This is the governing body that disciplines doctors in the state of New York.  He continues to serve in this position with distinction.