Lodge assumes sponsorship and provides meeting and storage space for Troop 850
By: Jake Uitti
MONTGOMERY To learn ethical principles and develop strong character traits, young people need good examples to emulate.
That is why Princeton Elks Lodge 2129 of Blawenburg has recently chosen to sponsor Boy Scout Troop 850 of Montgomery Township, as well as provide them with meeting and storage facilities.
The Princeton Elks Club, which is located on Route 518, is a community-based organization that provides services to handicapped children, local schools, the elderly and war veterans, said Allen Seitz, public relations and community affairs officer for the Princeton Elks Club.
"Each Boy Scout troop needs a sponsor," said Lou Vaccaro, Elks Lodge Charter Representative for Troop 850, as well as for Township Cub Scout Pack 850. "I think Scouting is great for young adults."
The Elks lodge, Mr. Vaccaro continued, will aid the troop with fundraising and other activities.
Since the sponsorship, which began in November, Troop 850 has been holding its meetings in the Elks lodge nearly every Monday.
At their meetings, the Scouts "rededicate themselves to their task of making ethical choices and learning values that befit good citizens," Mr. Seitz said.
"The Boy Scouts use the Elks’ facilities for meetings, training programs and for storage of their materials," he said.
Troop 850, Montgomery’s newest Boy Scout troop, came to fruition as a result of the dissolution of crosstown Troop 75, Mr. Seitz added.
The Elks Club had been sponsoring Cub Scout Pack 850 for the past year, and when Boy Scout Troop 850 split, the club took up its cause, as well.
"It seemed a perfect fit to further extend (our) support of the Scouting program," Mr. Seitz said
The Boy Scout troop, composed of 25 scouts, is led by Senior Patrol Leader Andrew Pottorf and Eric Bachrach and Drew Drbal, assistant senior patrol leaders.
Libby Drbal, the unit committee chair for Troop 850, who heads the business end of the troop, as well as the day-to-day administration. with the help of other parents, lauded the Elks for its sponsorship.