The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, April 7, 2004

Hello Folks,

Great meeting last night.  Sorry that we ran a bit overtime but there really were a lot of things to accomplish.

First of all, congratulations to our new youth leaders.  Zack Painton was elected as SPL and selected Corey Collier as ASPL.  The PL for the Piffs will be Dane Rasmussen with APL Lee Clendennen (I believe), for the Fromage Josh Rose PL and Silas Ott APL, and for the Biohazards Mason R-K PL and Nathan Hicks APL.  We will officially seat our new leaders at the Court of Honor next Tuesday.  I very much look forward to working with all of them.

We still have several positions unfilled and this is a matter of concern and importance.  We have volunteers for Historian and Troop Guide (and those selected will be announced at the C of H) but we have openings for scribe, quartermaster, and librarian.  Folks, these may not be the most exciting positions in the world and truly our troop can operate fine without them.  However, let me point out that any scout First Class and above needs at least four months of leadership experience to advance.  If your son is First Class and does not take a position, the earliest he could advance in rank would be a full year from now.  I'm really working off the top of my head at this moment but I believe that the following people who do not have leadership positions need to take them in order to advance: Phillip, Justin, Sean, Johnny, and Gus.  If you or your son (this newsletter increasingly goes to Scouts as well as adults) is interested in any of these positions please let me know before the end of the week.

There may be cases where there is more than one volunteer for a position.  That's currently the case with troop guide.  My sense is that such choices should be based largely on two factors: first, is the job appropriate for the scout, and second, does the scout need a leadership position in order to advance.  What do you think folks?  Should we decide such things substantially on need?

April 13, is Court of Honor to be held at Thermon.  We'd like to have each family bring a dessert to treat the boys to something special.  I sent out a list of advancements and merit badges to be awarded earlier in the week.  I've been able to add several to them but please check that list to make sure that we've accounted for everything properly.

This week's point winners were, once again, The Piffs.  We may have to give them a handicap or something.

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
Ben
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Zach Painton.  Coached by Ms. Patty
Lee
Corey
Daniel
Zach
Dane
 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo
Biohazards 5 4 3 5 17 115
Fromage 4 3 0 5 12 100
Piffs 5 4 4 5 18 114

 

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) 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).  Please remember to be sure to check that I've got you down for the right awards.

2) We’ll be having a Scout Hut work day on Saturday April 17th. We’ll be setting the flagpole, dealing with the trash, and working on the equipment room.

3) Our next camp-out will be April 24th at John Knox Camp. Because of our Court of Honor, we’ll have a shortened planning period for this one. We’ll be two weeks from tonight on April 20.  We will be planning as well as paying on that night.  The cost will be $10 per person, scout or adult.

4) The next payment for summer camp will be due on April 20.  That will be $90 for youth and $58 for adults (Ms. Cece? Is that right?)

 
 
Troop 1954 Financial Aid Policies.
To my mind, in a large troop, it is very important that we have written policies and formal procedures for many things, but particularly for financial aid.  That way everyone knows the same thing about what is available and how to get it.

I've tried to devise some basic policies concerning the granting of financial aid to 1954 Scouts.  Financial aid policies are really a troop committee matter.  These policies are not yet active, they are just a draft of what I'll propose to the committee (which may choose to reject or alter them).  I solicit your feedback on these ideas.  If you have ideas on how they should be changed, please e-mail them to me at r.warms@txstate.edu.

So, here's my stab at writing a policy.  You'll notice that it mentions financial aid forms.  I've still got to work on those.  I will try to have them ready next week.

Introduction:

By tradition Troop 1954 makes a certain amount of funds available for financial aid and camper-ships to those scouts in need.  Three principles guide us in giving such aid.  First, finances, in general, should not prevent any scout from participating in all of the activities of the troop.  Second, Scouting encourages boys to be self sufficient.  Therefore it is unlikely that Troop 1954 will fund the entire cost of any event for any scout.  Third, Troop 1954 will make financial aid decisions for the benefit of the entire troop and consistent with prudent financial management of the troop's treasury.

Articles:

1) The Troop Committee shall, at its yearly budget meeting in January, establish the total amount of financial aid available for the year.  This shall not exceed 20% of the funds then available in the General Fund.

2) The Troop Committee shall appoint a sub-committee of at least three members to evaluate requests for financial aid and recommend levels of aid for individual scouts to the Troop Committee.

2.1) The financial aid sub-committee shall appoint a chairperson who shall schedule and run meetings.

2.2) The sub-committee shall operate in a manner consistent with Robert's Rules of Order.

2.3) The Troop Committee shall approve or reject each of the sub-committee's suggestions by simple majority vote.

3) Eligibility: In order to be eligible for financial aid, a Scout must have been an active member of Troop 1954 or another Cub Scout or Boy Scout unit for one year prior to the event for which the aid is to be used.  If a Scout was a member of Troop 1954 in the month of September, he must have participated in at least one fundraising event (popcorn sales, Sights and Sounds, or other) during the past year. (the Committee may, at its discretion, waive these requirements until December 6, 2004.)

4) To apply for financial assistance, the Scout and his parents or guardians must complete a financial aid application and submit it to the chair of the sub-committee.  Applications are available at this link.

5) The financial aid sub-committee shall take the following points (listed in approximate order of importance) into consideration in making recommendations to the committee:

5.1) Financial need as documented by the financial aid application.

5.2) The Scout's participation in Troop 1954 meetings and events over the past year (or since joining).

5.3) The Scout's efforts to raise money by himself.

5.4) The benefit to the Troop from having the Scout participate in the event.

5.5) The benefit to the Scout from participation in the event.

6) Except in cases of exceptional need, awards should be limited to 50% of the total cost of the event (fees plus transportation plus spending money).

7) Financial Aid schedule.  Families should consider their financial needs for each calendar year.  Requests for financial aid for the calendar year should be submitted to the financial aid sub-committee by March 1st.  The financial aid sub-committee and Troop Committee should consider all requests and respond to them by April 30  (These requirements waived for calendar year 2004).  If, after April 30, there are still funds remaining in the financial aid fund, the financial aid sub-committee and Troop Committee may, at its discretion, continue to accept financial aid requests and respond to them using the procedures above until all money in the financial aid fund is spent.

 
Upcoming Events

 

Twin Valley Round Table, Thursday April 8

7:00 at First United Methodist as per always.

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 Scout Hut Work Day, Saturday April 17

We'll be doing a bit of general clean up (quick sweep out and removal of trash), setting up our flagpole, and working on cleaning the equipment room.

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 Youth Leadership Retreat, Tentatively May 1

SPL, ASPL, PLs gather to set the program and schedule for May, June, and July.  More details in future letters.

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. 

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.