His assistant, Mike Trond, will succeed him
By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
The reins have changed and there is a new leader for Boy Scout Troop 193. Longtime Scoutmaster Jim Kelly has retired, and named Assistant Scoutmaster Mike Trond to succeed him.
"It’s time. The troop needs to grow and evolve," said Mr. Kelly. "I think there are things that this troop can do more of and we need to shake things up a bit."
Mr. Kelly said he would staying on as an assistant Scoutmaster, with primary duties on troop administration and paperwork.
"I will also keep the boys on track with advancing," he said. "I am still on the Pack Committee and will work to bring more members in that area."
Mr. Kelly has been Scoutmaster since November of 2002. He started with Pack 193 in fall of 1992 as the assistant Cubmaster.
Mr. Trond and Mr. Kelly have been sharing decisions for many years.
"As an Eagle Scout and with his dedication, it seemed that it would be natural for him to step up," said Mr. Kelly. "My advice to anyone who wants to help Scouts grow is to make sure they are having fun. If it’s not fun, they won’t want to be here."
Two days prior to becoming Scoutmaster, Mr. Trond was honored by the Raritan Valley District Patriots Path Council with the John Denninger Award in recognition of service by Scouts in the district who because of concentrated work in a comparatively restricted are might not receive due recognition or other honors from the National Council.
"It is nice when the district is reaching out to the volunteers, especially when it is unbeknownst to them that something is coming. It was cool," said Mr. Trond. He received an invitation to the breakfast saying he won an award but didn’t know the reason.
Mr. Trond has been in Scouting for more than 20 years; he was an Eagle Scout in 1975. He said he was one of the last Cub Scouts to achieve the rank of Lion, which is now the rank of Webelos. He has been an assistant Scoutmaster for seven years and has attended every camping trip that Troop 193 has gone on, even after his son left for the Navy. His son Matthew went through the Cubs Scouts with his mother and then Mr. Trond stepped up for the Boy Scouts.
"It was just my turn to step and give back from all the things that Scouting gave me as a young boy and as a father of a Scout," he said. "Mr. Kelly is still around and will act as my mentor. It’s a lot different being the one in the forefront as opposed to being the backbone of the behind the scenes. It is going to take a little transition period but I am looking forward to it. There are a lot of really good young leaders behind me right now and some really good boy leadership. Of all times to step in, this is really good."

