The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, January 19, 2005

Hi Folks,

Thanks to all who helped at last night's meeting.  It was a really big one.  Nice to see so many scouts show up.

We had a great time at Canyon of the Eagles, even though many of us froze our ____ off.  We'll be getting polar bear patches for the scouts who went (if you're able to go get these from the Scout Shop give a shout).

I want to remind the younger scouts that there are participation requirements for advancement to First Class.  To be get your first class rank, you have to participate in 10 troop events other than meetings. At least three of them must include camping.  During these camp-outs you have to pitch a tent, help prepare a meal, select a camp site for your patrol, plan a menu, serve as patrol cook...as well as several other things.  Some of our Biohazards and Vicious Badgers haven't been on many camp-outs.  They really need to start coming if they want advancement.

We've been doing some thinking about a possible super trip.  You'll see a proposal in the essay section of this newsletter.  We're totally open to suggestions.

This week's patrol contest winners: It's a tie between the Biohazards and Crimson Fromage...and The Fromage is leading in total points!  Sean Fink!  If you wear a uniform you could actually win this one.

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 Daniel Kurtz presiding assisted by ASPL Dane Rasmussen
   
Vicious Badgers  Patrol Leader, Tony Frediani  Coached by Dr. J.
Mason
Jaimie
Perry
Daniel
Tony
John
 
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Philip Lewis.  Coached by Mr. Myers
Alexey
Nathan
Ben
Mason
Justin
 
   
Crimson Fromage     Patrol Leader, Sean Fink.  Coached by Mr. Bandy
Sean
Josh
Ben
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Zach Painton.  Coached by Ms. Patty
Kirkland
Lee
Corey
Daniel
Johnny
Zach
Dane
Ben
 
 
Non-Patrol Scouts    
 
 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo

V. Badgers 4 4 0 3 11 101
Biohazards 5 4 0 5 14 101
Fromage 5 4 0 5 14 102
Piffs 5 3 0 2 10 92

Note: Scouts with more than three consecutive misses will not be counted against patrol attendance scores.  Such scouts are not removed from their patrols.  They are simply not counted for attendance points until they return.  Also note that when all patrols score the same on a category, it doesn't matter what they score.

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

Spirit: 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) If you do not want to receive Boy's Life or Scouting, please let me know as soon as possible at r.warms@txstate.edu

2) Perry Henson did his cross-over ceremony at our camp out last weekend and last night we officially welcomed him to his first meeting as a member of our troop. Thanks to all who participated in the cross-over and campout. All scouts who were there will get polar bear patches.

3) First aid and CPR class will be February 26th at 2:00 at San Marcos High School. The Philmont crew is required to attend. Others are encouraged to attend.

4) Our Cub Scouts will hold their Pinewood Derby here on January 29th. Drop by and show support if you can. If you want to build a car and race in the open class, email me r.warms@txstate.edu for details about how to get a car kit.

5) Camporee is coming up in April. The date has been pushed back by at least one week. The theme of the Camporee is Baden-Powell’s 1907 camp at Brownsea Island.

6) Merit Badge University.  Did you remember to pay?  If not, get that check in really fast!

 
Essay


For some time the troop committee has discussed the possibility of super trips.  These would be  exciting and special trips for the boys; something that they would really remember.  Super trips would occur every two years (or so).  They would be subsidized by a special fund that has been set aside for that purpose.  Here is a proposal for a super trip for Spring Break 2006.  I have tried to keep the driving to a reasonable amount.  As with everything else, I'm very open to other suggestions.  This should be considered a very preliminary proposal.

I'm proposing going to the Chiricahua Mountains and Southeastern Arizona.  For those of you not familiar with this area, it's one of outstanding natural beauty and considerable historic interest.  The Chiricahua are a massive pine covered desert mountain range.  Chiricahua peak is 9,759 feet high and the Chiricahua wilderness covers almost 88,000 acres.  Chiricahua National Monument is an additional 12,000 acres of really outstanding beauty (compare, Canyon of the Eagles is 940 acres, Lost Maples is 2,174 acres),  In addition there are several sites of outstanding historic interest.  There are the ruins of Fort Bowie, the focal point of the war between the US and the Chiricahua Apache, accessible by a mile and a half hiking trail.  Cochise stronghold...the canyon he defended in the Dragoon Mountains.  There are the historic towns of Tombstone and Bisbee.

This area is not too far away compared to other places we might like to visit.  For example, roundtrip to Willcox, Arizona is about 1650 miles.  Roundtrip to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is 2500 miles.  Roundtrip to Yellowstone is 3250.

Chiricahua and South Eastern Arizona

Leave Sunday Morning.

Sunday Drive to Las Cruces, NM, spend night there. Stay in Motel

Monday Drive to Wilcox, Arizona, Go see Fort Bowie National Monument. Stay in Motel

Tuesday Go to Chiricahua National Monument, Hike the Monument, Camp there

Wednesday Continued hiking either Chiricahua Mtns. Or Cochise Stronghold Continue camping at Chiricahua.

Thursday Go to Visit Bisbee and Tombstone, do Copper Queen Underground Mine Tour. Continue camping at Chiricahua.

Friday Go to Safford AZ, see Discovery Park, Mt. Graham, hot springs etc. motel stay

Saturday Drive to Fort Davis, Star party at McDonald Obs. Stay Davis Mtn St. Park?

Sunday See Ft. Davis, drive home.

Driving Distances: 
San Marcos - Las Cruces: 633 miles 10 h 22 m
Las Cruces - Willcox 200 miles 3 h
Willcox - Bisbee 100 miles 2 h (double this, there and back in a day)
Willcox - Safford 50 miles 1 h
Safford - Ft. Davis 475 miles 8 h 15 min
Ft. Davis - San Marcos 450 miles 7 h 45 min

Total mileage: 2008

Costing out:
Car expense: 2100 miles @ 0,20 per mile = $420. 4 per car including driver = $105.
Motel expenses: 3 nights @ $60 per night = $180. 4 per room = $45
Campground expenses: 4 nights @ $3 per night = $12
Food expenses: 8 days @ $20 per day = $160
Event expenses: Mine tour, Star Party, OK Coral, Discovery park, etc: $40
Total expenses: $362
Suggested charge: $400
Suggested subsidy from Super trip fund: 50%
 

Upcoming Events


February 5, Report to State Parade

February 11-13, Kiwanis Camp Camp Out

February 19, Merit Badge University

March 1, during regular meeting, OA Elections

March 4-6, Guadalupe River State Park Camp Out

April 5, during regular meeting, Troop Officer Elections

April 8-10 Twin Valley Camporee Camp Out

April 12, Spring Court of Honor

May 13-15, Scarborough Renaissance Fair Camp Out

June 3-5, Big Bend Camp Out

June 5-11, Summer Silver Pines

June 24 to July 4, Summer Camp, Camp Alexander, Colorado

July, date TBA, Little Arkansas or similar Camp Out

August 13, River Clean Up service activity

September 9-11 Pedernales Falls Camp Out