Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation is an all volunteer board that directs the activities, fundraising, and giving of the foundation. The committee works in close partnership with the camp program administration. The foundation benefits from executive committee members with significant and diverse Scouting backgrounds.
Jovin Ciarletta is the current chairman of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. Jovin is an Eagle Scout from Troop 5, Haverhill.
Dan Ross is the vice-chair of LTSF. Additionally, he is a co-founder and original executive committee member of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. Dan is a former member of Troop 1, Haverhill. He served many years as the property and maintenance chairman for Lone Tree Scout Reservation. Dan is a recipient of the Vigil Honor and the District Award of Merit.
James Venetsanakos is the current Secretary and former vice-chair of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. He is an Eagle Scout from Troop 34, Lynn, and has been a member of the Order of the Arrow since 1991.
He is a Unit Commissioner in the Spirit of Adventure Council and the Northern Light District Scouts BSA Roundtable Commissioner, serves as an At-Large Member of the Northern Light District Committee, and sits on the District’s Activities Committee.
He is the former Training Chair and Chartered Organization Representative for Ship 1791 in the Spirit of Adventure Council.
He is currently an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troops 91 and 93 in Historic District of Daniel Webster Council and he is a Camp Master for Camp Norse and Camp Yawgoog in Narragansett Council.
He is a former Den Leader, Committee Member, and Assistant Cubmaster for Pack 50 Georgetown in the Spirit of Adventure Council.
James is a merit badge counselor, COPE and Climbing Instructor, and NRA Instructor in the Spirit of Adventure, Daniel Webster, Narragansett and Cape & Islands councils.
Jeff Conner is the current treasurer. Jeff is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1 in Haverhill, MA and the Associate Advisor for LTSF’s Venture Crew 345. Jeff is a member of the Eagle Scout class of 2013. Jeff is a brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow and served as staff at Lone Tree in its Cub Scout Camping years and on National Youth Leadership Training. Jeff also attended Lone Tree as a camper from 2004 -2007
Michael Bryant is a co-founder and first chairman of LTSF. He is currently the former chairman. Originally a scout from Troop 41 Merrimac, MA where he later served as Troop Committee Chair, Michael served 7 summers on the LTSR staff between 1986 and 1994 and served as a lodge chief of Passaquo Lodge 539. As a Scouter, he has served on the executive boards of Yankee Clipper and Spirit of Adventure Councils, and served as the lodge adviser of Nanepashemet Lodge, 158. He is a recipient of the Vigil Honor, OA Founders Award, and the Silver Beaver.
Matt Jezierski is the former treasurer and a co-founder of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. Matt is an Eagle Scout from Troop 33 in Hampstead, NH. He served 11 summers on the camp staff of Lone Tree Scout Reservation including one summer as camp director. Matt was a lodge chief of Passaquo Lodge, 539 and he is a recipient of the Vigil Honor and District Award of Merit. Matt is also a former Ranger for Wah-Tut-Ca. Matt served as cubmaster of Pack 24, Weare, NH and currently serves as assistant scoutmaster of Troop 24 Weare.
Donald Blaszka, Sr. is the immediate past chairman of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation and a board member at large. Don is an Eagle Scout and the proud father of three Eagle Scouts. Don served several years as scoutmaster of Troop 1, Haverhill, MA, one of the oldest continuously operating troops in Massachusetts. Don is a recipient of the District Award of Merit.
Harry Taylor, Jr. is a co-founder and was the first vice-chairman of LTSF. Harry is the second ever Eagle Scout from Troop 5, Haverhill, MA. Harry served as a lodge advisor Passaquo Lodge 539, Order of the Arrow. As a Scouter, Harry is likely best known for his 20 years of service as camp ranger at LTSR where all three of his daughters worked as well. He is a former Scoutmaster and long serving troop committee member of Troop 5 and is the former crew adviser of Crew 345 which two of his grandchildren belong to. Harry is a recipient of the Vigil Honor, District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver, Scouting’s distinguished service award.
Donald Blaszka, Jr. is a co-founder, first secretary and former chairman of LTSF. Don is an Eagle Scout from Troop 1, Haverhill, a former LTSR staff member and he served as lodge chief of Passaquo Lodge 539. As a Scouter, Don has served as pack committee chairman of Pack 33 Hampstead and currently serves as the scoutmaster of Troop 33 Hampstead. Don is a recipient of the Vigil Honor.
Dick Preble is a co-founder and an original executive committee member of LTSF. He has been camping at Lone Tree since its founding in 1946. There are few whose contributions have had as much impact on Lone Tree as Dick Preble’s. Dick is an Eagle Scout from Troop 26, West Newbury, MA where he also served as scoutmaster for 30 years. Dick served 20 years as the camping chairman of Lone Tree and Yankee Clipper Councils, at times serving as the leader of three camp operations. He served many years on the Lone Tree and Yankee Clipper Council Executive Boards. Dick is a recipient of the Vigil Honor and the Silver Beaver.
George Dionne, Jr. is a co-founder and an original executive committee member of LTSF. George is an Eagle Scout from Troop 5, Haverhill and served four summers on the LTSR summer camp staff between 1982 and 1991. He was a lodge officer of Passaquo Lodge 539, Order of the Arrow. As a Scouter George has served as scoutmaster of Troop 5, Haverhill, chapter adviser of Passaquo Chapter, and various other district volunteer positions. George is a recipient of the Vigil Honor, the District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver.
Keith Miller is a co-founder and an original executive committee member of LTSF. Keith serves as the historical curator for the foundation and was the original secretary/treasurer at the time of LTSF’s incorporation. He is an Eagle Scout from the former Troop 95 of Atkinson, where he later served as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Keith is a co-founder and former Scoutmaster of Troop 9 Atkinson which produced many Eagle Scouts and Youth Vigil Honor recipients during his tenure as Scoutmaster. Keith served as Camp Service Adviser for Nanepashemet Lodge 158. He was inducted into the Order of the Arrow as a youth member of Passaquo Lodge 539. Keith is a recipient of the Vigil Honor and the District Award of Merit.
Dick Sanders is an executive Committee member of LTSF. Dick originally joined Scouting as a cub Rutland VT, in 1941. As a Scouter Dick has served in many volunteer positions including LTSR staff member, Scoutmaster of Troop 95 Atkinson, District Commissioner, Council Training Chairman, and many others. Dick is a recipient of the Vigil Honor, District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver.
It is with profound sadness we announce the passing of Mr. Sanders on October 7, 2023. He will be missed. His obituary is here: https://www.brooksidechapelfh.com/obituary/richard-sanders
Lindsey Taylor Dionne is an executive committee member for the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. She has served 9 summers on the LTSR staff including one as camp director. She is an active supporter of the Crew and mother to two of its members.
Marty Kadel joined the executive committee of LTSF after concluding a distinguished career as a professional Scouter. Marty was a scout in Troop 4, Amesbury MA and served 12 summers on the camp staff of LTSR including 6 summers as camp director. Marty served several years as staff adviser of Passaquo Lodge 539 in the early 1980’s. He began his career as a scouting professional in 1981 as a district executive for the Whittier District (now part of Northern Light). He went on to serve as a scout executive and then join the national staff of the BSA. Marty is a recipient of the Vigil Honor and is a James E. West Fellow.
Michelle Merritt has been a board member of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation since 2013. She served as the National Venturing President from 2017-2018. During her time as a youth in Venturing, she earned the Silver Award and Summit Award. Michelle loved her time on Lone Tree staff as a CIT, sports staff, and lifeguard from 2013-2015. She also worked at New England Base Camp and T.L Storer and was awarded the Craig Ryder Award from The Key Foundation where she continues to also serve on their committees.
Jacob Cook is an Executive Committee member of the Lone Tree Spirit Foundation. He was a member of Troop 5 Haverhill, MA and earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 1998 at age 14. Jacob is a recipient of the Vigil Honor.