Sea Scout Ship 5 recently hosted a volunteer appreciation event at its charter organization, the Gloucester Elks Lodge No. 892 on Atlantic Road.
The Dec. 29 event was hosted by Ship 5 to thank and recognize volunteers and organizations it has worked with over the past year for their efforts.
This includes the Gloucester Elks, Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 46, Massachusetts Oyster Project Upweller volunteers from Gloucester and Manchester-by-the-Sea, the Gloucester Harbormaster’s Office, and the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, among others.
“Volunteers are priceless,” Mayor Greg Verga said as he highlighted the many volunteer efforts around Gloucester, according to an announcement from Ship 5 Skipper Lynn Colletti.
State Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, reinforced that sentiment, delivering citations to Steve Parkes, the man responsible for organizing and collecting the many permits required to install the popular oyster upweller on the renovated pier of Maritime Gloucester; Sarah Valencik of Gloucester, for organizing volunteers, maintaining the upweller, and building the program to include oyster shell collections from restaurants; and Sea Scout Nicolette Stamos of Stow, who has been maintaining the upweller and spreading oyster awareness for the past eight years.
Also recognized was Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 46, which operates out of Gloucester Harbor. Sea Scout Ship 5 and Flotilla 46 work together on various projects in and around Cape Ann.
In addition to Verga and Tarr, speakers included incoming Flotilla Commanding Officer Floyd Grace and outgoing FCO Tom Clarke; Gloucester Assistant Harbormaster Dave Moceri; Valencik; and Todd Tierney of the Gloucester Elks. Gloucester Harbormaster Chris Lucido was also in attendance.
Boy Scouts of America, The Spirit of Adventure Council Director of Field Services — COO Jonathan Pleva was on hand to deliver awards to outstanding members of Ship 5.
Gavin Natti of Gloucester was awarded the Distinguished Council Leadership medal award.
Colletti was awarded the Award of Merit patch.
Valencik, the past president of the Mass. Oyster Project, has managed volunteers of the Gloucester upweller since 2017, growing the program to include Manchester-by-the-Sea and others.
Since stepping down in 2023, Louise Gindrod and Esther Howard have stepped up and performed as volunteer leads for both Gloucester and Manchester-by-the-Sea.
In addition, Moceri has been associated with the Sea Scouts since 2015. Ship 5 worked with him on man overboard drills and there is hope to expand the relationship.
Ship 5 takes part in many community conservation, environmental and maritime projects. You can learn more about Ship 5 on Facebook at seascoutshipno.5.