This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Medfield Troop 89 Scoutmaster Jim Hatch and four volunteers were recently honored with Spark plug awards by the Metacomet District. There are fifty scouting units in the Metacomet District, one Scoutmaster of the Year award, and seven Spark Plug awards. Scoutmaster Jim Hatch was awarded Scoutmaster of the Year, and four Medfield Troop 89 adult volunteers received a spark plug award.

Jim Hatch, an Eagle Scout, came to lead Troop 89 in 2015 after serving as Cub Scout Leader for Pack 200. He was recognized as Scoutmaster of the Year for providing consistent, thoughtful, and innovative leadership.

Throughout the pandemic, he has often adjusted plans and methods to continue to deliver the scouting program. Under his leadership, Troop 89 has continued to grow in number, programming offered (e.g., Den Chief, summer camp, merit badge university), and increased the fundraising revenue. He recruits volunteers in the troop and community. The scouts trust him to give them freedom and feedback. He finds the strengths in each scout and celebrates their achievements.

The Spark Plug award recognizes volunteers who have made a special contribution to their unit. They provide the Spark that ignites the energy of others for the betterment of scouting. The awards went to the following volunteers:

Sean Murphy serves as Troop 89 Quartermaster and Activity Chair, and in addition, he teaches the cooking and camping merit badges. As a Troop 89 Eagle Scout with a passion for the outdoors, Mr. Murphy's experience generates enthusiasm for the next generation of scouts.

Kimmie and Tim Gargano stepped forward to take on Troop 89's one and only fundraiser, the Christmas tree pick-up. Over 26 years, the fundraiser has become a treasured community service and is no small feat of organization. The Garganos effortlessly led the way and smashed all previous Troop 89 records. They are true team players and bring a cheerful spirit to everything they do.

Melissa Lowry stepped into the Communications and Good Turn Coordinator for Troop 89 last year. She creates internal and external communications campaigns to raise awareness about Troop 89. In addition, she partnered with the Garganos on the Tree Fundraiser, creating an online sign-up form and social media campaigns. Mrs. Lowry works with community organizations to coordinate service project opportunities. She works with local media to spread the word about the great work the scouts are doing. In addition, she is a merit badge counselor for the communications and archeology merit badges.

"A scouting program is only as good as its volunteers. At Troop 89, we are fortunate to have many wonderful volunteers and role models for our scouts." Karl Kemp, Troop 89 Committee Chair, said, "It is great to see them recognized."

Medfield Troop 89 is a member of the Metacomet district in the Mayflower Scouts BSA Council, chartered to the American Legion. Service. Community engagement and leadership development are integral parts of the Scouts BSA program. If you know a youth between the ages of 11 and 18, who may be interested in joining scouting, please have them contact Scoutmaster Hatch at jameshatch1998@gmail.com.

Patch Mayors are trusted local users who help moderate the Patch platform by promoting good local stories and flagging unwanted content. To learn more, click here.