The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, March 24, 2004

Hello Folks,

Crazy times last night.  I think when we miss a week, the guys go bonkers the next.  What that means, I'm not sure.  Anyhow, thanks to all for their help.  I don't have complete listings of the Scouts and adults that have signed up for Summer Camp and Philmont but I'll be posting them soon.

Also, please remember that our next meeting will be at Miller Jr. High.  I'm not exactly sure where but will provide instructions in the meeting reminder.

We've been asked to help in a clean up project at the Guadeloupe Cemetery on Post Road on Saturday, April 3rd.  There's some additional information in the the upcoming events section and I'll have some more details at the next meeting.  I'd like to get a decent turn out and help these folks.  It will count toward service hours needed for advancement by all scouts.

The issue of financial aid for major scouting events (such as summer camps, Silver Pines, etc) has been raised a few times this spring.  Troop 1954 has a history of providing some financial aid to our families and I expect this to continue.  Over the next couple of months we will be developing written policies concerning such aid.  My general, off the top of my head ideas are that such aid should 1) be related to demonstrated financial need, 2) generally not exceed 50% of the cost of the event, 3) consider positively the degree to which the Scout has earned money for themselves (by participation in scouting fundraisers), and 4) involve a specific committment by the scout and family to take an active role in organizing and running future events.  If anyone has any imput on these issues, please let me know at r.warms@txstate.edu

The H.F. Piffs won this week's point contest.  That's two in a row.  On the one hand, great going guys.  On the other, behavior overall wasn't all that hot.  Up to this week, I haven't been letting the behavior points go negative...the worst a patrol can do is 0.  I think for the next few weeks we'll experiment with letting the coaches award negative behavior points and see what happens.

I also want to remind you that the Troop 1954 events calendar, this and all back newsletters,  and all sorts of other useful information is available on our website at www.sanmarcos1954.org

Attendance
SPL Lee Clendennen  presiding, assisted by ASPL Daniel Kurtz
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Ben Painton.  Coached by Dr. J
Alexey
Nathan
Bryan
Flip
Ben
Mason
Nick		  
   
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
Lee
Corey
Daniel
Zach

 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo
Biohazards 5 5 2 2 14 82
Fromage 5 4 0 2 11 72
Piffs 5 5 3 3 16 80
Note: As of next week, we will permit negative scores for behavior!
 

Behavior, subtract for each incident.

Fails to come to order when scout sign given -1
Fighting with each other -1 per incident
Bad language -1 per incident
Failure to treat others with respect -1
Asked repeatedly to do any task -1
Fails to clean up -1
Shows poor sportsmanship -1

Participation: Add for each, highest score is a five.

All members cooperate with game +1
Members make progress on meeting’s task +1
Members show enthusiasm for tasks +1
Members show good organization (listen to PL and Coach) +1
Members exemplify Scout Law +1

 


 

Announcements
 
1) We’ll be leaving for Camporee at 5:30 from the parking lot at the Scout hut.  Three Important Things To Remember:  1) There is no water at the site so please be sure to bring some.  Mr. Hicks has purchased a water container for each patrol, but people should bring their own too.  2) All Scouts should have a Class "A" uniform for the assemblies and campfires.  3) Patrol Quartermasters, be sure to bring the appropriate patrol equipment.

2) If you haven’t done it yet, please be sure to get your car information and medical release forms to Ms. Fink as soon as possible.

3) Next week we’ll be meeting at Miller Jr. High to work on solid fuel rockets with Mr. Childress. Look for more information about that in either the Wednesday Newsletter or the Meeting Reminder.

4) Troop elections will be held on April 6.  Information about those elections can be found in this newsletter as well as last Wednesday's newsletter and the newsletter for next week.  All Scouts, First Class and above need to hold leadership positions to advance.  If you are interested in a leadership position, make sure you get a look at the newsletter information.

5) Deposits for summer camp and Philmont were due last night.  If you have any questions about payments for either of these contact Ms. Fink for summer camp or Ms. Patty for Philmont.

6) Court of Honor  We'll be having our semi-annual Court of Honor at Thermon on April 13th.  We'd really like to make this a big event for the boys.  One way we'd like to do this is by having each family bring one dessert item so that we can have a big dessert buffet after the presentations.  There will also be a presentation by Friends of Scouting before the Court of Honor (but it's not connected with the dessert buffet...no auctions at courts of honor).
 
Troop Elections: Policies, Procedures, Offices, and Duties, Part II

To have a really great troop, we need really great youth leadership.  All Scouts First Class and above need leadership experience in order to advance.  As our troop grows, we will be placing increasing emphasis on youth leadership positions.  We will be giving our youth increased responsibilities and expecting them to treat these seriously. 

This week I'd like to discuss some of the major troop positions: SPL, ASPL, PL, and APL.  For each position, I've provided job descriptions, requirements, and the method by which these offices are filled.  Some of this codifies things we have done in the past.  Some of it is new.  No new policies apply to the term of office of any current boy leader (We have had no published policies in the past and none of this is  retroactive).

1) Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)

a) Job description: The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is the youth leader of the troop.  The SPL presides at all troop meetings, planning meetings, and courts of honor.  He has a vote at all planning meetings.  The SPL works closely with both the Scoutmaster and the other youth leaders to design and implement the scouting program, both for troop meetings and outdoor events.

notes: In most troops, the SPL is the most important youth leader.  He sets the example for other members.  Therefore it's imperative to have an SPL who can do his job seriously, energetically and with both enthusiasm and humor.  In order for other leaders and members to exert themselves, the SPL must over-exert himself.  If the SPL treats people poorly, other Scouts will treat each other poorly as well.  If the SPL fails to do his job enthusiastically, others will similarly fail.

b) Requirements: In order to be elected to SPL, a scout must have earned his First Class rank.  He must have participated in Junior Leader Training.  If he has not yet attended Silver Pines, he should be willing and able to attend during his term of office (these requirements may be waived by the Scoutmaster if, in his opinion, too few candidates meet them or if, in the case of Silver Pines, attendance poses unreasonable family or financial hardship).  While everyone misses an occasional meeting or outdoor event, in order to receive credit for leadership, the SPL must participate in the vast majority of troop meetings and events.  While no specific number of permissible absences is specified, the expectation is that an SPL will miss a maximum of three (3) regularly scheduled meetings during his six month tenure.  While no specific number of permissible absences is specified, the expectation is that the SPL will attend at least three quarters (3/4) of the camp-outs and other troop events during his six month tenure.

c) Method of election/appointment: All scouts vote for the SPL.  To have a valid election, at least 50% of the total active members of the troop must be present and the election must be held by secret ballot.  The SPL must be elected by simple majority of those present.  If more than two candidates run, and none achieves a simple majority, a run-off election must be held among the top two candidates.

2) Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL)

a) Job description: The ASPL assists the SPL in designing and implementing the scouting program, both for troop meetings and outdoor events.  He both attends and votes at all planning meetings.  Should the SPL be absent, he takes his place as acting SPL.

b) Requirements: The ASPL must have earned his First Class Rank.  He must have participated in Junior Leader Training  (these requirements may be waived by the Scoutmaster if, in his opinion, too few candidates meet them)  While everyone misses an occasional meeting or outdoor event, in order to receive credit for leadership, the ASPL must participate in the majority of troop meetings and events.  While no specific number of permissible absences is specified, the expectation is that an ASPL will be present at at least two thirds (2/3) of all meetings, campouts, and other events during his six month tenure.

c) Method of election/appointment:  The ASPL is appointed from the eligible Scouts by the newly elected SPL in consultation with the Scoutmaster.

3) Patrol Leader (PL)

a) Job description: The PL is responsible for supervising the activities of his patrol  He works with the Patrol Coach to maintain reasonable order in his patrol.  With the Patrol Coach, he monitors the progress of patrol members as they work toward advancement and merit badges.  He supervises all patrol activities or appoints others to do so.  He brings his patrol to order when it is necessary at meetings and events.  He represents his patrol at planning meetings and has a vote at such meetings.

b) Requirements: Scouts of any rank can be PL.  Patrol leaders should have participated in Junior Leader training and, if they have not, must take any available opportunity to do so during their tenure (requirement may be waived by the Scoutmaster if it poses undue hardship).  While everyone misses an occasional meeting or outdoor event, in order to receive credit for leadership, the PL must participate in the majority of troop meetings and events.  While no specific number of permissible absences is specified, the expectation is that an ASPL will be present at at least two thirds (2/3) of all meetings, campouts, and other events during his six month tenure.

c) Method of election/appointment:  The PL is elected by the members of his patrol.  For such an election to be valid, at least 50% of the active members of the patrol must be present.  The PL may be elected by plurality.

4) Assistant Patrol Leader (APL)

a) Job description: the APL assists the PL in all of his work.  He takes the place of the PL should that person be absent.  The APL may attend planning meetings but does not have a vote at such meetings (unless his PL is absent).

Important note: All patrols must have APLs, however, under BSA rules, serving as APL does not qualify as leadership and does not count for advancement.

b) Requirements: Scouts of any rank can be APL.  Assistant Patrol leaders should have participated in Junior Leader training and, if they have not, are encouraged to do so during their tenure.  While everyone misses an occasional meeting or outdoor event, in order fill the requirements of his job, the APL should participate and the vast majority of troop meetings and events.

c) Method of election/appointment: the APL is appointed by the PL, with the consultation of the Scoutmaster,  from among the members of his patrol.
 

Next week: scribe, historian, troop guide, den chief, librarian, and quartermaster.
Upcoming Events

 

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.

Service Project, Saturday April 3

Help with the ongoing clean-up of the Guadeloupe Cemetery on Post Road.  The Cemetery association would very much like our help.  Students from Texas State will be mapping the cemetery (and using some pretty fancy equipment I understand).  The Cemetery association would like to provide a hamburger lunch for all and so will need a count.

Troop Elections, Tuesday April 6

Court of Honor, Tuesday April 13

We'll be having our semi-annual Court of Honor at Thermon on April 13th.  We'd really like to make this a big event for the boys.  One way we'd like to do this is by having each family bring one dessert item so that we can have a big dessert buffet after the presentations.  There will also be a presentation by Friends of Scouting before the Court of Honor (but it's not connected with the dessert buffet...no auctions at courts of honor).

April Camping, April 24-25

We'll be once again at John Knox for our April Campout.  This will be a backpacking campout.  We'll be at a site that is not accessible by car.  The main event in this campout will be to assist at the Webelos Cross Over.  We will be receiving the new scouts on Saturday Night.  They'll be spending that night at our camp site and hopefully, we'll have some cool stuff for them.

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.

May Scout Hut Work Day, Date TBA

We're hoping to paint the main meeting room of the Scout Hut.

May Camping, Date TBA

Wolf mountain and Enchanted Rock.  Dates and details forthcoming.

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.

Silver Pines Junior Leadership Training Program, May 30 - June 5.  To go, boys must be First Class and 13 years old.  It's held this year at Green Dixon and parents do not go.  Here's how the Silver Pines web site describes the program.  The Silver Pines Junior Leader Training Conference  is a week long outdoor experience for boy leaders in support of their Scoutmaster’s responsibility for training troop junior leaders.  It is a junior leader training conference conducted by the Capitol Area Council using a training program that is approved by the Boy Scout Division of the Boy Scouts of America.  Scouting recognizes that Scoutmasters have the responsibility of training their own junior leaders. The purpose of this junior leader training conference is not to assume the role, but to support it.  The objectives of Silver Pines are:         To give participants the confidence and knowledge to run the troop program.        To give participants a basic knowledge of the eleven skills of leadership and help them relate these skills to their troop responsibilities.   To give participants the opportunity to share ideas and experiences with Scouts from other troops. To create an atmosphere where Scouts will experience Scouting at its best.    To enhance the relationship between the participant and his Scoutmaster.       To have FUN!

If you're interested in going to Silver Pines, drop me a line at r.warms@txstate.edu

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.