The Potvin Legacy
Troop 160 BSA was chartered by the Holy Family Catholic Church in Lewiston, ME from its organization in 1969 until the onset of the Diocese of Portland reorganization in 2005.
In 1994, a longtime parishioner of the Holy Family Church, named Mr. Potvin, passed away. As part of his will, Mr. Potvin left a large sum of money to benefit the Boy Scouts of the Holy Family Church. Although nobody from the troop knew Mr. Potvin personally, it was felt that at some point in his life, he was so impressed by the troop’s mission that he decided to leave a large portion of his estate to help insure that scouting remained an important part of his parish’s ministry. In 1995, a fund was established to benefit the troop under the supervision of a board of directors that was made up of troop leadership and alumni. The money was invested and the interest earned was used to assist in funding the troop’s program, as well as helping scouts to pay for summer camp.
In 2010, Troop 160’s leadership was faced with the realization that if their declining membership trends continued, the troop would be forced to disband within the next couple of years. At that time, the general membership of the troop decided to support the establishment of Troop 160 Memorial Scout Camp and to pledge most of its treasury to the new organization. It was felt that by doing so, the “Spirit of Troop 160” would be given an opportunity to live on.
In 2012, Troop 160’s youth membership fell to below 5 scouts and the troop was required to disband. At that time, the troop’s physical assets and the remainder of its treasury were transferred to the MSC to continue supporting scouts.
When Mr. Potvin decided to create a legacy by supporting the boy scouts of his parish, he could have never imagined the impact that his contribution would make. Through the Memorial Scout Camp, his generosity would not only extend further than the boundaries of his parish and hometown, it would reach scouts from across the United States and Canada.
In 1994, a longtime parishioner of the Holy Family Church, named Mr. Potvin, passed away. As part of his will, Mr. Potvin left a large sum of money to benefit the Boy Scouts of the Holy Family Church. Although nobody from the troop knew Mr. Potvin personally, it was felt that at some point in his life, he was so impressed by the troop’s mission that he decided to leave a large portion of his estate to help insure that scouting remained an important part of his parish’s ministry. In 1995, a fund was established to benefit the troop under the supervision of a board of directors that was made up of troop leadership and alumni. The money was invested and the interest earned was used to assist in funding the troop’s program, as well as helping scouts to pay for summer camp.
In 2010, Troop 160’s leadership was faced with the realization that if their declining membership trends continued, the troop would be forced to disband within the next couple of years. At that time, the general membership of the troop decided to support the establishment of Troop 160 Memorial Scout Camp and to pledge most of its treasury to the new organization. It was felt that by doing so, the “Spirit of Troop 160” would be given an opportunity to live on.
In 2012, Troop 160’s youth membership fell to below 5 scouts and the troop was required to disband. At that time, the troop’s physical assets and the remainder of its treasury were transferred to the MSC to continue supporting scouts.
When Mr. Potvin decided to create a legacy by supporting the boy scouts of his parish, he could have never imagined the impact that his contribution would make. Through the Memorial Scout Camp, his generosity would not only extend further than the boundaries of his parish and hometown, it would reach scouts from across the United States and Canada.
