Scoutmaster’s Corner

The troop web site (www.bsa.23.org) has been substantially revised and now is a great information source. It contains the troop calendar, newsletters, and information about upcoming troop activities and camping sites, and links to advancement resources for merit badges. Check it out! Thanks to Larry Dennis for doing a super job on this.

Our campout to the Olustee battle re-enactment was a success. We had 15 scouts and 5 adults attend, and everyone enjoyed this living history event. The re-enactment was cool, and all went well despite the difficultly we had with people parking cars in the middle of the road that we had to go down with the trailer.

We had 12 new scouts join the troop in February, and will have more join next month. The attached troop roster shows these new scouts and their patrol assignments. Several of the new scouts have already earned the Scout badge! Welcome!

We will have an Honor Court on Monday, March 5 (our next meeting). In addition to recognizing scouts who have earned merit badges and rank advancements, we will have our annual Scout Jeopardy contest as well as a presentation on ham radio use by a member of the local radio club. Members of the Badger patrol need to bring one or two 2-liter bottles of soft drinks, and members of the other patrols need to bring snacks (chips, cookies, etc.).

Troop Training

We are splitting our troop training day into two events. On March 10, we will have training on using the troop’s camping equipment for new scouts from 9AM to noon. All new scouts (those in the troop for less than 6 months, plus quartermasters and patrol leaders) need to attend. This will get the new scouts ready for the campout at the end of the month. On April 7, we will have leadership training for senior scouts from 9 AM to 2 PM (lunch will be provided). This will take the place of Junior Leader Training this spring. All senior scouts (first class and above) should attend; other scouts may also attend.

Glen Lillibridge will start working on the Environmental Science merit badge in March, and Earle Klay will finish work on Citizenship in the Community. We will also start having weekly scouting skills instruction for our newer scouts.

Van Drivers

We still need more adults to take the test and become licensed “Class D” drivers, which requires taking a multiple-choice written test at a driver’s license office. The troop will reimburse you for the cost of the license. If we don’t get more people who are licensed to drive the 14-person vans, we could end up with a situation where we have to cancel a troop campout because we don’t have people to drive.

Troop Elections

Elections for troop and patrol officers will be held on March 26. To reflect the larger size of patrols, each patrol will need to elect a patrol leader and TWO assistant patrol leaders. As always, any scouts interested in running for Senior Patrol Leader or Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (and we will have TWO Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders to reflect the larger size of the troop) MUST talk to me beforehand about the responsibilities and expectations of the job.

Friends of Scouting

If you haven’t returned your Friends of Scouting pledge to the Council, please do so ASAP; just return your pledge and/or check to the troop. We will need to turn this in by next Monday. The money raised through this effort goes to pay for upkeep and improvements at Wallwood Scout Reservation, our liability insurance, and Council operations.

High Adventure

We have made plans for troop High Adventure trips over the next three years.

In 2002, we will do a High Adventure sailing/snorkeling/scuba trip to either the Florida Keys or to the Bahamas. We will charter a boat for this event.
In 2003, we will go to BSA Northern Tier for canoeing in the boundary waters on the Minnesota/Canada border.
In 2004, we will go to BSA Philmont in New Mexico for hiking at the Scout Ranch.
In subsequent years we will either repeat these trips or come up with other High Adventure trips. Scouts must generally be either a specific age (13 or 14, depending on the trip) and be First Class rank.

We need for 2-3 adults to volunteer to coordinate the planning for the Keys/Bahamas trip next year. If you are interested, please let me know; we need to start our planning now for the 2002 trip.

Summer Camp Fees

Scouts going to Daniel Boone this summer should have already paid a $50 deposit. Deposits for Wallwood summer camp will be due in March. Scouts can use scholarship money for this; see Mr. Null if you wish to do this.

Uniform Inspections

Each meeting, we do a uniform inspection of all scouts. We award scholarship points based on how many uniform items each scout is earning. Scouts earn 1 point for having their scout shirt, 1 point for having scout pants/shorts, and 1 point for having at least three of the following – scout socks, scout belt, scout book, merit badge sash, scout hat. This is an easy way to earn about 100 scholarship points (about $75). Be there in full dress uniform!

Troop Schedule

March 1 – Troop Committee meeting

March 5 – Honor Court (pay dues if you haven’t)

March 10 – Troop training at KUMC for new scouts

March 12 – regular meeting

March 19 – no meeting/spring break

March 26 Troop Elections

March 30-April 1 – Camping, Torreya State Park

April 2 – PLC (patrol and troop officer meeting)

April 7 – Troop leadership training for senior scouts

April 9 – regular meeting

April 16 – regular meeting

April 20-22 Camping, Suwannee River Canoeing

April 23 – PLC

April 30 – regular meeting

The Trooper

March 2001

Scoutmaster’s Corner