The Troop 1954
Wednesday Newsletter

 

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Hi Folks,

Thanks to everyone who helped out at last night's meeting.  Special appreciation to Michael Smith for his archery lecture and demonstration.  We're still working on getting hay bales for our archery range (the problem is the ground is to wet for them to be delivered).  Anyhow, we hope to be able to do some more archery at next week's meeting.

This weekend, of course, is our Big Bend Camp Out.  Please be at the Scout Hut and ready to go at 6:30 on Friday morning.  We want to get out there early enough to do some hiking on Friday.  The weather forecast for the weekend is partly cloudy with highs anywhere between 85 and 100 (depending largely on elevation), very little chance of rain.  Today's predicted high for the river canyons is about 104 (but only mid to upper 80s in the Chisos Basin).

This week's contest winners: The Biohazards

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
Acting SPL Sean Fink presiding, assisted by acting ASPL Josh Rose
   
Vicious Badgers  Patrol Leader, Daniel Frediani  Coached by ????
Patrol motto: Badger Badger Badger Badger MUSHROOM MUSHROOM
Mason
John
 
 
Ferocious Ferrets  Patrol Leader, Justin Williams  Coached by Ms. Patty
Patrol motto: We are the Ferocious Ferrets.  We sleep we eat and we sleep some more.
Perry
James
 
Biohazards   Patrol Leader, Nathan Hicks.  Coached by Mr. Myers
Alexey
Nathan He.
Nathan Hi.
Philip
Mason
 
   
Crimson Fromage     Patrol Leader, Josh Rose.  Coached by Mr. Bandy
Patrol motto: A Light Sprinkling of Genius with a Chance of Doom
Sean
Josh
 
Highly Flammable Piffs     Patrol Leader, Dane Rasmussen.  Coached by Dr. J.
Patrol motto: Don't Misunderestimate Us!
Lee
Johnny
Zach
Dane
 
Non-Patrol Scouts    
Thomas
 

Point System Scoring

Patrol

Attend.

Uniform

Behavior

Game

Spirit

Meeting

6 Mo

V. Badgers 5 5 0 0 3 13 71
F. Ferrets 2 5 0 0 3 10 70
Biohazards 5 5 0 0 5 15 74
Fromage 5 5 0 0 3 13 67.5
Piffs 4 3 0 0 3 10 66.5

notes: 1) you get half a point for wearing a "class B" on a "class A" night
2) We're adding a category for the evening's contest (whatever it may be).  We'll see how it works.

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) As per above: Big Bend Camp Out meets 6:30 on Friday the 3rd.  Expected return around 10:00 Sunday night.

 

 

 

Essay

 Pittsburgh Tribune Review,  May 30, 2005

Scout, 94, on his honor, does his best

by Jim Ritchie

BODY:


Jim Kratt has received every possible honor awarded by the Boy Scouts of America.

The 94-year-old Bellevue man received one more honor Sunday, this one from his community.

Kratt marked his 80th anniversary with the Boy Scouts of America on Wednesday and was lauded yesterday during a morning service at Greenstone United Methodist Church in Avalon.

"He has become a legend in his own time," the Rev. James Kramer told the congregation. "He's become an icon in this community."

A wiry man with glasses, Kratt walks with the help of a cane. But his mind remains sharp, and he's quick to promote the good values instilled in youth by the Scouts.

"If everybody believed in the Scout Oath and Law, this would be a better world -- no question about it," he said.

Kratt sat in a front pew with his wife, Wilma, 90. The couple recently celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary.

Kratt joined Troop 2 in Bellevue in 1925 and eventually became Scoutmaster, a position he held for 20 years. He then served as Explorer Post Adviser in 1954, holding that position for 41 years. He still attends weekend outings and camping trips.

Mary Ruth Yarrison said Kratt encouraged her to join the Explorers -- a branch of the Boy Scouts -- 30 years ago, even though it was uncommon then for females to participate. Among their adventures was a hiking trip at the Grand Canyon.

"I got to do some things in my life I know I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do," said Yarrison, of Bellevue. "It was such a wonderful thing."

Kratt graduated from the University of Pittsburgh and was employed by Dravo Corp., of Neville Island, helping to build minesweepers and submarine chasers. He later retired from United Engineering and Foundry in 1974. He and his wife have a son and attend Greenstone United Methodist.

Kratt's honor came amid a church service that honored veterans of the U.S. military, which includes Kratt -- a U.S. Army veteran.

Kratt spent nearly 70 years with the Scouts teaching swimming, sailing and canoeing. He estimates he taught more than 3,500 children to swim.

"All these things would not have been accomplished if I didn't have a good buddy, my wife," Kratt said. "She is one grand lady."
 

Upcoming Events

 

June 3-5, Big Bend Camp Out. We'll be leaving EARLY (6:30) on Friday morning.  Big Bend does not accept reservations so we have to be able to get there early in the day.

June 5-11, Summer Silver Pines

June 24 to July 3, Summer Camp, Camp Alexander, Colorado

July 4, Summerfest Fundraiser

July, date TBA, Blanco River Camp-out

August 13, River Clean Up service activity

September 9-11 Pedernales Falls Camp Out

October TBA, McKinney Falls Camp Out

November TBA Lost Pines Camp Out (climbing tower)

December 1-3, Sights and Sounds of Christmas Funnel Cake Fundraiser

January TBA, John Knox Camp Camp-Out (ropes course)

February TBA, Kiwanis Camp Camp-Out (and game)

March TBA, Enchanted Rock Camp-Out

April TBA, Camporee