The Patriots’ Path Council, Boy Scouts of America, will be honoring local citizens at the inaugural New Providence Good Scout Award Dinner to be held on the evening of Thursday, October 25, 2012.  This year’s honorees are Mr. Michael “Mickey” Allocco, Mr. Kevin Carroll, Dr. Mitch Erickson, and Mrs. Rose Mary Murphy.  The event recognizes these four outstanding citizens for their community service, as evidenced by their leadership and interests within the New Providence community, and for their embodiment of the values of the century old Scout Oath and Law in their personal and professional lives.

Michael “Mickey” Allocco is the President of the New Providence Fire Department (1986-present), Volunteer Fireman for 60 years, Trustee of Senior Affordable Housing, VP of Trustees at Senior Citizens Center, past member of Parent Faculty Guild and Bingo Committee at Our Lady of Peace Church and School, and past VP of New Providence High School Booster Club. 

Kevin Carroll, teacher and coach in Madison Borough Public Schools, serves as a Director on the New Providence PAL Board, a member of New Providence Athletic Foundation, public liaison to Borough Council’s Fields Committee, and past Chair of the Recreation Commission.  Professionally, he has been recognized as Coach of the Year 12 times, and was inducted in the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association’s Hall of Fame in 2004. 

Mitch Erickson, Senior Executive with the Federal Department of Home Land Security, is the Boy Scout Commissioner for Watchung Mountain District, Unit Commissioner since 2005, Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 63 since 1999, active participant to Sabattis (6 times) and Philmont (2 times) and an Eagle Scout (1966).  He has published two books, holds one patent, authored over 150 technical publications, and received the R&D-100 Award and a Federal Laboratory Council Award for Excellence in Technology Transfer. 

Rose Mary Murphy, a Cardio-Pulmonary Technician at Summit Medical Group, is current Director of Our Lady of Peach Church’s (OLP) Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Eucharistic Ministers, active member in U.S. Women’s Health Initiative for 20 years, retired Director of OLP’s Religious Education, former committee member of the Teacher-to-Teacher Jewish-Catholic Council, former Boy Scout Den Leader, and former Girl Scout Troop Leader. 

The Borough of New Providence has a very active Scouting program for over 250 youth in three Cub Scout packs (for boys ages 7 to 11 years) and three Boy Scout troops (for boys ages 11-18), sponsored by New Providence Presbyterian Church for Troop 63, St. Andrews Episcopal Church for Troop 1, Development Learning Center (Jointure) for Troop 330, Our Lady of Peace for Pack 99, Salt Brook Elementary School for Pack 263 and Alan W. Roberts Elementary School for Pack 363.  New Providence is a part of the Watchung Mountain District of the Patriots Path Council, Boy Scouts of America.  In this district, some 3,000 youth are served by over 70 Scouting units in communities like ours throughout Union, Morris and Somerset Counties. 

In addition to the Good Scout Award, each honoree will receive a State of New Jersey Joint Legislative Resolution from Senator Thomas Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick and Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz; and an American Flag flown over the U.S. Capitol Building, with a citation by the Architect of the Capitol, from Congressman Leonard Lance. 

For more information on Scouting in New Providence, attending the event, and sponsoring the program journal, contact Grant Van Eck, District Executive, at 973-765-9322 ext. 250 and/or grant.vaneck@scouting.org.