The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Hello Folks,

Well, the guys were bouncing off the walls a bit more than usual last night, but somehow we survived.

I think we're a little shy on organization for the camp out this weekend.  We've got the HF Piffs and Crimson Fromage going on Friday afternoon and the Biohazards on Saturday.  I'm not sure which adults are going or who is in charge of adult food and equipment.  I'll ask for a response on that in a separate email.

More on this weekend's campout:  Please have all scouts bring a Class A shirt that they can wear for the cross-over.  They should also bring mess kits and water since this is supposed to be "backpack style" camping.  It's not clear how well they planned for backpacking.  In any event, I'll be car-camping with the Cubs and they can always eat car-camping style if they have to.

Since next week is test week at the schools, we're going to have a shortened meeting.  We'll be starting as close to 7:00 as we can and we'll end promptly at 8:00.  This way kids will get some relaxation before their exams and get home early as well.

We've got the leadership positions pretty much resolved.  Here they are:

Position

Scout
Scribe Sean Fink
Historian Phillip Lewis (assisted by photographer Ben Painton).
Quartermaster Justin Williams
Librarian Still Vacant
Troop Guide Johnny Lozano
Den Chief Ben Warms
Instructor Daniel Kurtz

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
Acting SPL Corey Collier presiding assisted by Acting ASPL Dane Rasmussen
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Mason R-K.  Coached by Ms. Cece and Mr. Painton
Alexey
Nathan
Bryan
Flip
Ben
Mason
Nick
Justin (excused, at a game)		  
   
Crimson Fromage     Patrol Leader, Joshua Rose.  Coached by Dr. J.
Sean
Tony
Chris
Johnny
Silas
Josh
Ben
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Dane Rasmussen.  Coached by Ms. Patty
Lee
Corey
Daniel
Zach (excused, home sick)
Dane
 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo
Biohazards 5 5 2 3 15 130
Fromage 5 3 5 5 18 118
Piffs 5 4 5 5 19 133
Note: So, if it was so crazy last night, how come the points are so high?  Something ain't right here.
 

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) Our next camp-out will be April 24th at John Knox Camp. For those going Friday night, we're pulling out from the Scout Hut at 5:30.  Current weather forecast (as of 8:30 Wednesday morning) calls for 20% chance of rain on Friday and 40% chance of scattered T storms on Saturday and Sunday so be prepared.  Also remember that Cubs are sponsoring a Raingutter Regatta and Swimming.  Each costs $5 (for the regatta that pays for your boat, for the swimming, it pays for the lifeguard).  So, bring some cash if you want to participate in either of these events.

2) The next payment for summer camp is now due.  It is $75, adult or child.  Please make your arrangements with Ms. Cece if you haven't done so already.

3) Adult leader indoor training is April 24th.  Outdoor training for adult and youth leaders is the weekend of May 15th.  It is really good for all parents to be trained so I urge you to avail yourself of these training opportunities.  The more people who know the more stuff the better we'll run.  For more information on training contact Molly Alexander at molly.alexander@aol.com

4) Outdoor training for both youth and adults is scheduled for May 15-16.  Important note.  If you're going to this training, you must also go to the Roundtable on May 13th since planning for the training will be held then.  As I understand it, adults in this training are grouped as patrols and must plan and operate as patrols do.  That starts at the Roundtable.  For more information, contact Molly Alexander at molly.alexander@aol.com

5) Rockets.  We'll be launching our rockets at the next meeting.  Please bring $1.50 for each launch you intend to do.  Rockets may be launched several times...or not (depending on how well you made them).  Because of testing at the San Marcos schools, we'll try to make this a shorter meeting than usual.  We will have an opening and closing but not activities other than rocket launching.

 
 
More on Financial Aid

This is the second part of a column that started two weeks ago.  In that column, I outlined a series of policies for financial aid.  In this one, I'd like to give you some data about family incomes in San Marcos and propose two forms for use in appropriating financial aid.  By the way, I've had no feed back on any of the policies I proposed two weeks ago.  That means either I got it right, or no one cares, or you're all waiting for an appropriate time, or no one is reading.  OK in any event I suppose.

First, some data about San Marcos and Texas.  The numbers here are derived from city, state, and federal  sources.  In 2003, the Federal Government defined poverty as an income of about $18,500 for a family of four.  Kids qualified for free school lunches if their families made 130% of that, $24,050 or less.  They got reduced priced lunches if their families made 185%,  of that,  $34,225, or less. 

According to the city, in 1999, there were 5,520 families living in San Marcos.  The median family income was $37,113.  A high percentage of the families clustered in the $25,000 - $75,000 range (about 56%).  Only 6.4% made more than 100,000 and only 2.2% more than $150,000.  These numbers are probably up a little bit since then, but not too much.

I'm proposing two forms, one to be completed by the scout himself, the second to be completed by the parents (and not necessarily given to the scout).  Let me note parenthetically that, as I've written the rules, as Scoutmaster, I neither serve on the financial aid sub-committee (so I will not see these forms) or vote on financial aid decisions (though I am entitled to give my opinion to the committee at large).

Troop 1954, Financial Aid Form

Part One, to be filled out by the scout.

1) Name _____________________________________

I request financial assistance from Troop 1954 for the following activities:

     _______________________________________________________

     _______________________________________________________

     _______________________________________________________

2) Approximate date you joined Troop 1954 _____________________

3) Previous Scouting Experience (troop or pack and dates) ______________________

4) Participation in Scouting events.

Please list the last five Troop 1954 or other scouting events in which you participated with their approximate dates.  Events include camp-outs, service projects, work days, and events sponsored by the district or council (but not fund raising as that is covered below).

     ________________________________________________________

     ________________________________________________________

     ________________________________________________________

     ________________________________________________________

     ________________________________________________________

5) Participation in fund raising.

a) Did you work with Troop 1954 at the most recent Sights and Sounds?   yes/no, number of shifts _____

b) Did you sell popcorn in the past year?  yes /no, approximate total value of sales $__________

c) Did you participate in any other scout fund raising effort? ___________________________________

 ________________________________________________________________________________

d) Describe any other work you have done (or intend to do) to raise money to help pay for your scouting experience.

 ________________________________________________________________________________

 ________________________________________________________________________________

6) It is our intention to use troop funds to encourage continued participation in scouting.  It is our expectation that, if we provide you with troop funds, you will do your best to remain active with our troop.  We expect you to attend at least 2/3 of meetings and events in the six months after the event for which you've applied for funding.  Do you agree to meet these expectations to the best of your ability?   yes /no.

7) Affirmation and signature.

On my honor, I affirm that the above statements are accurate to the best of my knowledge.

     _______________________________          ______________________
     signature                                                           date

     _______________________________
     print name

 

 

Troop 1954, Financial Aid Form

Part Two, to be filled out by the parents/guardians of the scout.

1) Name ________________________________

2) Approximate total household income from all sources (check one):

   Under $20, 000  
   $20,001 - $27,500  
   $27,501 - $35,000  
   $35,001 - $45,000  
   $45,001 - $55,000  
   $55,001 - $65,000  
   More than $65,000  

3) Total number of members of your household (Members of your household are defined as yourself and those living with you full time).
                                                    ____________

4) Please describe any additional circumstances that you think the committee should take into consideration in determining whether or not to offer your son financial assistance.

     ___________________________________________________________________________

     ___________________________________________________________________________

     ___________________________________________________________________________

     ___________________________________________________________________________

5) Signature and affirmation.

On my honor, I affirm that the statements above are true to the best of my knowledge.

     _______________________________          ______________________
     signature                                                           date

     _______________________________
     print name

 

 

Next week: a proposal for a 1954 Alumni Association.

 

 
Upcoming Events

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 to do.

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 8

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

Twin Valley District Roundtable, May 13

Roundtable is at 7:00 the second Thursday of each month.  This one is particularly important since you must attend if your are planning on going to the Adult Outdoor Training on April 15-16.

May Scout Hut Work Day, Date TBA

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

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.

Camping at Wolf Mountain/Enchanted Rock May 21-23

Details forthcoming.

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.