The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, February 18, 2004

Sorry for the delay in putting out the newsletter.  Yesterday was just too crazy.

Excellent meeting on Tuesday night.  As you are aware, we kicked off our competitive point system.  You'll see the results below.  It will take some time to iron out the bugs but we were off to a great start.  We had fantastic attendance and just about everyone was in class A or B uniform.  We do still need to work on behavior (particularly one patrol that shall remain nameless...at least until further down in the newsletter).  We weren't supposed to have any ties, but we do anyhow.  This week the Biohazards and Piffs tie for meeting winner.  Both patrols will be receiving edible recognition at the next meeting!

You may have noticed a few more improvements to our Scout Hut.  We have finally been able to replace the light bulb in front of the overhead door (after years of it flashing off and on).  Thanks to Garry White, Tom Heathman, and James Frediani for helping with that.  We also now have fire extinguishers at convenient locations around the building.  Two things about that: 1) Thanks to Don Gottshalk for getting them for us and 2) there will be extreme penalties for abuse of the fire extinguishers.  We're expecting smoke detectors to be installed shortly.  The next big facilities project is to repaint the main room.  Don Gottshalk and Thermon have graciously offered to supply the paint for this project.  It will really make the place look good.  Look for us to be doing that project this May.  We would also like to install a flagpole so that the scouts can do their required flag ceremonies.  If anyone happens to have one....

Great news from the 1954 Webelos II Den this week.  They've scheduled their cross-over for April 24th.  They will be crossing 6 boys into Troop 1954.  We're looking forward to having these new scouts and their families.  These boys will bring our active youth membership up to about 33.  That means that there's going to be high demand for both youth and adult organization and leadership.  It also means that we can offer a really exciting and various program for our families.

I also want to remind you that the Troop 1954 events calendar is now available on the web in a user friendly calendar like format.  You can check it our at our website at www.sanmarcos1954.org

Attendance
Acting SPL Daniel Kurtz, presiding, assisted by acting ASPL Zach Painton
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Ben Painton.  Coached by Dr. J
Nathan
Bryan
Flip
Ben
Mason
Nick
Justin		  
   
Crimson Fromage     Patrol Leader, Chris Jenkins. Coached by Mr. Painton
Sean
Tony
Chris
Johnny
Silas
Josh
Gus
Ben
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Zach Painton.  Coached by Ms. Patty
Corey
Daniel
Zach
Dane

 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo
Biohazards 4 4 4 4 16 16
Fromage 5 3 2 3 13 13
Piffs 4 3 4 5 16 16
Note: OK, well the first problem is that I have to separate attendance scoring and uniform scoring.  I'll come up with a better system for that.  The second is that I have to develop better guidelines for behavior and spirit.  We'll be fine tuning.


 

Announcements
 

1) John Knox Camp this weekend.  Please meet at the Scout Hut for a 5:30 departure on Friday afternoon.  Shopping should be arranged by the grubmaster and quartermaster of each patrol.  If you are unable to meet for the 5:30 departure, you are welcome to join us later.  To find the John Knox Ranch, take RR 12 from San Marcos. 10 miles outside of town RR12 turns right (north) to Wimberley. Keep going straight towards Blanco on RR32. 8 miles farther there is a John Knox Presbyterian Camp sign on the right. Turn right on Mail Route Rd just past this sign. Travel a mile and a half to the gate of John Knox Ranch and follow signs to our campsite.  Again, thanks very much to the Colliers for offering us the opportunity to camp at this really neat place.  You can check out what it's like on their website at www.johnknoxranch.org. 

2) Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet.  Will be from 6 to 9 on Saturday, March 6 at First Baptist.  It's a medieval theme party this year with a dinner that you purchase for $5 a head.  In addition to awards and the dessert auction, there will be skits and other far out stuff.  The Cubs need to know how many people are coming so, if you want to go, please email Eric Meyers by Sunday, Feb. 22 (that's this Sunday).  His email is eric@corridor.net.

3) Merit Badge University will be on Saturday Feb. 21.  Those going will be leaving from John Knox Ranch (or are on their own).

4) Medical and Driver Information  We're working hard to get our records straight and bring our troop in line with BSA policy.  To do this we need driver information, medical release forms, and Class 1 and 2 Personal Health and Medical Record Forms.  Cece Fink has distributed these to all scout families (if you did not get yours at the meeting on Tuesday, you should receive it in the mail).  Please complete them and get them back to her as soon as possible.  The medical release, the driver information, and the Class 1 Personal Health Form will be required before any scout is permitted to attend Camporee.  The Class 2 is required if the scout intends on going to Summer Camp (and is a good idea for everyone).

5) Summer Camp  We're now scheduled for summer camp near Cloudcroft in New Mexico the week of July 4-10.  This is a great opportunity to be in a really cool place at a bargain rate.  We will be asking for commitments to attend camp very soon so please consider whether or not you and your scout will be able to join us.
 
Order of the Arrow Eligibility


We'd like to have as many scouts as possible stand for OA elections in two weeks.  The OA is described more fully in the upcoming events section below.  In order to stand for election, you must be First Class or above.  According to our records, the following scouts are currently eligible:

Lee Clendennen
Sean Fink
Chris Jenkins
Johnny Lozano
Ben Warms
Justin Williams
Corey Collier.

If you think you (or your son) should be on this list, please let me know as soon as possible.  There are several additional scouts who are very close to finishing requirements for First Class.  It's not too late for them to achieve this before the OA elections.

 
Upcoming Events

 

Order of the Arrow Elections, Tuesday March 2

We now have a fairly large group of First Class.  All scouts of that rank and above are eligible for election to OA (Order of the Arrow).  The OA is a honor camping society founded in 1915.  It's purposes are: 1) to recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives.  2) To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit.  3) To promote Scout camping.  3) To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others.  You can find more information on their Website at: http://www.oa-bsa.org/    Scouts are elected to OA membership by their peers.  All scouts vote on OA membership.  We will be having OA elections at our meeting on Tuesday March 2.  The OA team from Lockhart has graciously agreed to come in and run the elections.

Several scouts are very close to completing their 1st Class requirements.  Now's the time to finish those up so that you will be eligible for election to OA by March.

Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet, Saturday, March 6

Medieval Theme banquet.  Come watch the Cubs get their rewards, participate in the dinner and the infamous FOS dessert auction.

Twin Valley Camporee, March 26-28

Friday, March 26 - Sunday March 28 is the Twin Valley Camporee.  This year
sounds like a really good one.  It will be held at the Ruby Ranch outside of Buda (very convenient).  It will have a medieval theme with competition in catapults and jousting as well as the usual first aid and fire building. Each scout has been assigned to be a specialist in one or two of the Camporee activities.  They should bone up on those activities over the next month and a half.

April Camping, April 16-18

We'll be camping at Wolf Mountain and visiting Enchanted Rock.  More details as the date gets closer.

Saturday April 24th, Indoor Training for Scout Leaders and Parents

8:30 to 4:00 at the San Marcos Methodist Church.  This is the essential course for understanding how Scout Troops and meetings are supposed to work. The more parents who have this the better.  I really urge anyone who hasn't taken this course to do so.

Also Saturday, April 24th, Cross-over For Webelos II

Webelos II scouts will be crossing to Troop 1954 at a family campout and ceremony scheduled for John Knox Camp.

Saturday and Sunday May 15 and 16, Outdoor Training

This is the second half of the complete scout leader training course.  It will be held at Kiwanis Camp outside San Marcos.

Troop 1954 Summer Camp, July 3 - July 11

We will be doing summer camp at Camp Dale Resler in the mountains of New Mexico.  This trip will also include visits to White Sands National Monument and Carlsbad Caverns National Park.  It should be a great chance to get away from the summer heat of San Marcos and into the cool mountains of New Mexico.  It is also a fantastic chance for the scouts to make progress on advancement, have a great time, and bond more tightly as a group.  If you can possibly send your scout to summer camp, please do so.  The estimated cost for this program (including travel, all visits, and spending money), about $330 for youth and $220 for adults.