The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Dizzy With Success, Volume III.

First, thanks to everyone for the fantastic attendance last night.  We were really glad to see all the new scouts and congratulate them on completing their first real Scout meeting and on getting their Scout rank.

However, I don't know if it was the full moon or the long parent meeting or whatever but by the end, last night was about as crazy as it gets.  We've got to get this troop together and we will succeed in doing so.  We've got some problems that I've been predicting all along.  The fact is that the techniques we were using last fall when the average meeting was between 8 and 14 won't work as well now that our meeting size is above 20.  We're having the expansion crisis that I've warned about several times and we're going to have to learn how to deal with it.  We are going to be the largest, best, and most exciting troop in this area and we're going to experiment and innovate until we get it right.  So, hold on to your hats, it's going to be a wild ride.

Some immediate changes and suggestions.

First, we're going to change the meeting order a bit and see if that helps.  We'll be going from Opening and Announcements to patrol activities and we will hold the game until after the patrol activities are finished.

Second, we need to try to stick more closely to schedule.  One problem last night was that we ran extremely late.  This was largely because of a long parents meeting (the scout activities were finished by 8:40 but I didn't get home until close to 9:30).  However, we do need to control the schedule better.  So, this is what we'll do (actually, it's what we've been trying to do but we're going to try harder).  Pre meeting activities run from 6:55 to 7:10 (that's usually wall ball or some such).  Opening is promptly at 7:10.  Closing is no later than 8:30.

Third, Part of our problem is that the place is so big.  We lose people around the back.  I don't want to ban people from going outside (but might have to).  Instead, we'll try using a whistle.  When you hear the whistle, come in and assemble.

Fourth, Faith was exactly right in her letter last week.  I really do need parental help and support.  I want all parents, especially new parents, involved in the troop.  I've already assigned coaches and assistant coaches, but it's pretty clear we need a bit more.  I'll be working that out and contacting you over the next week.

This week's winning patrol: The Vicious Badgers...off to a pretty good start (but good news and bad news...they really picked up points on attendance and uniform...behavior, well....)

As always, 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 Zach Painton presiding, assisted by acting ASPL Lee Clendennen
   
Vicious Badgers   Led by Troop Guide, Johnny Lozano.  Coached by Nicole Williams
Mason
Daniel
Tony
John
Thomas
David		  
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Mason R-K.  Coached by Mr. Painton
Alexey
Nathan
Bryan
Flip
Ben
Mason
Justin		  
   
Crimson Fromage     Patrol Leader, Joshua Rose.  Coached by Dr. J.
Sean
Chris
Johnny
Silas
Josh
Ben
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Dane Rasmussen.  Coached by Ms. Patty
Lee
Daniel
Zach
 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo
V. Badgers 4 5 3 4 16 143
Biohazards 4 5 2 4 15 145
Fromage 5 2 0 3 10 128
Piffs 3 5 3 4 15 148
 

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) PLC Retreat will be held this Saturday at 7:00 at the Painton's.  SPL, ASPL, and all PLs need to be there.  If a scout needs to be there but can't make it, he should appoint a replacement (usually the APL) to be there for him.  Patrol Coaches and Assistant Coaches are welcome.  Other scouts may attend if they can contribute constructively and non disruptively to the meeting.  However, only APL, ASPL, and PLs (or their stand-ins) can vote.  SPL Zach Painton will be calling people tonight to provide additional details.

2) Next meeting we will be planning for the Wolf Mountain/Enchanted Rock campout to be held May 21-23. If you plan to go on that camp out please bring $10 to the meeting next week to cover expenses.

3) Boy do we need the front and back of the Scout Shack mowed.  If anyone can do this, please let me know (or just do it).  In another week or two we're going to have to rent a bush hog (or perhaps a mixture of sheep and goats).

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

 
 
A Proposal for a Troop 1954 Alumni Association

A discussion I had a few weeks ago with a Scout parent about her experiences posting some information last summer about a former member of this troop really got me thinking about our former scout and scouter members.  It seems to me that these folks are a vital resource that we're allowing to go to waste.  We would benefit everyone by paying attention to our alumni.  For us, they can serve as a source of expertise, information, ideas, and perhaps funding too.  For them, I believe they would probably like to stay in touch, get together, renew old friendships, and revitalize their connection with scouting.  To facilitate this, I propose the formation of a 1954 alumni association.  Here are the immediate goals

1) Generate a complete listing of all the scouts and scouters associated with Troop 1954 since its inception.

2) Create an alumni web page that lists all of these individuals and provides current contact information.

3) As we discover information, have a brief alumni news/where are they now section of our weekly newsletter (information to be transferred to the alumni pages as we create them).

4) Here's the big one:  I propose that our April Court of Honor be changed to an annual Court of Honor and Alumni Banquet.  This will be a great way to honor our current scouts, get a bunch of people together for a good time, encourage people to make and renew connections, and perhaps raise a bit of money too.  We'll do something like buy barbeque plates from Lockhart (like I've seen them do at Hernandez Teacher Appreciation luncheons) for about $6 a plate and sell them for about $10 a plate.  We'll have good food, good fun, and raise a bit of cash.  We have a full year to pull this off so we should be able to do it.

I'm going to be generating a list of known alumni over the next week or so.  I'll put it out and ask members who've been involved in 1954 for a while if they can think of additional folks who are missing.  But, here's a start.  As near as I can tell, Troop 1954 was chartered in July 1987.  The charter youth members were:
Jason Alexander
Troy Brown
Jacob Debram
Mark Dees
Daniel Gonzales
Marcos Haderxanaj
Michael Lewis
Cody Smith
According to my records, all these kids should be turning 28 or 29 this year.
The charter adult members were:
Gary Allen
Mark Burdick
Terry Clary
Kelli Cloud
Bryan Duhon
Angel Garza
Phillip Gonzales
Ben C. Johnson
Kenneth Jones
Larry Lohn
William Shults
James Smith
Fredric Weber
Linda Winn
And, just 'cause I can tell you, I will....the average adult in this group will turn 51 this year (That's actually really interesting because I'm not sure but I imagine that the average age of the current adult member is probably only a couple years younger....that was a group of young adults back in '87).

I've got some sources for other youth and adult members, but perhaps not as good as this one.  I'll need help to reconstruct the whole thing.

 
Upcoming Events
PLC Retreat, May 8

SPL, ASPL, PLs gather to set the program and schedule for May, June, and July. 

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.