August, 1999 Newsletter
Table of Contents
- Important Dates
- First Troop Camp Out of the New Year
- Telephone numbers/e-mail addresses
- Flying Cobras!!!
- Massaweepie Rules!!!
- Leader’s Campout
- New Leaders Trained
- Canoes are us !!
- Scoutmaster Scribbles
Important Dates
Tuesday, Sept. 7 @ 7 PM:Joint Leaders & Committee meeting at Scout House
Monday, Sept. 13 @ 7 PM:
First Troop meeting of the new school year!
Weekend of Fri-Sun Sept 17 -19:
No Ev Lewis Car Show!
Potential Troop Campout TBD
Weekend of Fri- Sun Sept 24 - 26:
Potential Campout TBD
Monday, Oct. 4 @ 7 PM:
Troop Meeting at Scout House
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First Troop Camp Out of the New Year
Plans are being finalized now for the first troop campout which will be either the weekend of Sept 17-19 or Sept 24 - 26. Final location, details, etc.will be provided at the first meeting on Sept. 13th. No matter when or where, it will surely be a great way to start the new scouting year!! (There will be NO troop meeting on the Monday immediately following the troop campout!!)
No Ev Lewis Car Show:
Our local Ford Dealer has decided not to put on the antique and classic car show this year. Don’t worry, we’ll find plenty of service hour activities with our plans for 4 annual road cleanups on Route 65 and several pending eagle projects.
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Telephone numbers/e-mail addresses
Attached to this newsletter mailed to you will find a member roster. Please review, make corrections, return to Paul Collard at the first meeting or earlier. We’d like to have all family and boy’s e-mail addresses as that has become a great way to communicate quickly and inexpensively. We will make one more draft to be handed out on 27th September or 4 October.There is also a form to be completed for each scout which will be used in our new computer system . We will be able to track advancement, skills, merit badges, SM conferences etc. Please get that form back to Mr. Collard soonest also!!
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Flying Cobras!!!
If you heard that some of our boys were ‘high flyers’ you heard right! Six boys from the Cobra Patrol recently completed the BSA Aviation merit badge which included them actually PILOTING an airplane!!! For at least one boy, it was his first time ever to fly in an airplane!! Words like “awesome†, “great†and “incredible†described the weekend.Way to go Cobras!!!
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Massaweepie Rules!!!
A very successful week at camp in Massaweepie was enjoyed by two dozen boys and dads in late July. I heard very good reports from all including the fact that the food was good! (This from the boys no less!!) The boys came home with over 50 merit badges, no broken bones, and high enthusiasm for next year’s plans at the new facility at Pioneer. There were several words of encouragement from adults with high praises for the older scouts who showed mature leadership and camaraderie with the younger scouts. Way to go Troop 10 !!! And many thanks to Mike and Chris Monnat for a superb job in organization !!!Back to top
Leader’s Campout
Eight leaders trekked to the Adirondacks for a weekend of camping, canoeing, cooking, eating, and getting to know each other in early August. Saturday’s weather was “picture perfect†, making for a great canoe trip, and an enjoyable hike to another nearby lake. The boys will be pleased to know that the dads are no laggards when it comes to cooking AND cleaning up. We did cook and eat well!!One of the highlights, believe it or not, was a great discussion about the future of Troop 10 and some of the things we can do to make the scouting experience even better for our boys. We agreed to make this an annual (or bi-annual??) event so those of you who weren’t able to go, get ready for the next one!!
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New Leaders Trained
Five boys were selected by our Troop to attend the Junior Leader Training Conference this summer at Camp Cutler. Chris Monnat, Eric Beck, Chris Collard, Michael Collard and Reid Williamson spent an entire week learning new skills, working with a patrol of boys their own ages, and demonstrating their leadership and scouting skills. Based on conversations with some of the boys, it was an ‘awesome’ experience which gave them greater enthusiasm for scouting, leadership and adventure. We are proud of you and look forward to you sharing your skills and knowledge as you advance in Troop 10.Back to top
Canoes are us !!
Just a reminder that our troop has six canoes.....we OWN six canoes. The patrols and troop can use them for campouts and weekend activities. You can organize canoeing merit badge programs, afternoon paddles, weekend fun. With so many lakes, ponds, streams and beautiful nature around us, we encourage you to find ways to take advantage of the resources we already have. We also have a trailer which can transport all the canoes.Back to top
Scoutmaster Scribbles
I don’t yet feel that summer is over in spite of the cooler temperatures. But in reality, I guess the summer is behind us. I enjoyed getting up later in the morning and I don’t look forward to getting up earlier , and soon enough, in the dark. The start of school always means more structure to our lives, less of the ‘freedom’ we enjoy in the summer.As in life, this September my goal for scouting is to add a bit more structure to Troop 10. Not to take away freedoms, but to be able to gain the most benefit from scouting, and provide the most advantages to our boys. Scouting is an asset to all of us: parents, families, boys and community. Just like any asset, we need to nurture it, feed it, respect it and help it grow and prosper.
In our new scouting year, we will implement a bit more rigor and structure. We’ll wear full class A uniforms (meaning scout shirts with neckerchief) to all Troop meetings. Attendance will be taken at each meeting. Leadership roles for the boys will have job descriptions so they know what is expected of them when they take over a position. Merit badge and rank advancement sign offs will be more rigorous, to make sure we are honoring the values of scouting and those who have led before us. The rules will be clear and understood. Our meetings will be planned, run smoothly, and benefit all involved. Our Troop will continue to have fun, to enjoy nature, each other and our community.
Troop 10 will continue to be ‘awesome’ and we will be it’s proudest supporters. Together, we’ll help our asset, Troop 10, grow and prosper. Your leaders and I will be sharing more on this subject in September. In the meantime, enjoy what’s left of your summer.
See you next month!!!
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