Troop 406 Update

Feb.28, 2010

NEWS -

March 21 - Golden Age Manor Dinner! Any scouts looking to work on their
cooking MB should report to GAM kitchen door at noon! All scout
families should send a dessert for this dinner!
For questions, contact K. Motsek

Watch for more details. In the meantime practice a skit or two to entertain the residents of Golden Age Manor. They love the Scouts visit and look forward to it each year!

WEBMASTER - The Troop is looking for a new Webmaster for the Troop 406 Website, This can either be a Scout or an interested adult that can help collect the data and prepare it for posting. What would be better would be a team of one each! You must be very computer literate, preferably participating in a computer AT Class at your school and willing to take the time to post Troop information in a timely manner. Contact your Scoutmaster or Mr. Houseal if you are interested.

IMPORTANT DATES -

Feb 25 - Troop Meeting

Mar 4 - Troop Meeting - OA Elections

Mar 9 - Parents/Committee Meeting

Mar 11 - Troop PLC Elections

Mar 12 - 14 - Ski Shawnee Ski Weekend and Trip to Mr Hoffman's Wynooska Lake Resort

Mar 18 - Troop Meeting

Mar 21 - Golden Age Manor - Community Service Project! ALL Scouts plan on being there.

Mar 25 - Troop Court of Honor All family members and friends are invited to celebrate their Scout's accomplishments and advancements.

April 1 - Troop Meeting - NO JOKE!

April 8 - Troop Meeting

April 9 - 11 NASA Goddard Space Center Camping Weekend - Stay Tuned

Eagle Information

Eagle Candidates and those about to be, BSA has published two new Eagle Documents.
There is a new Eagle Application with a place to provide email addresses for letters of recommendation. This new form is required as of now.
There is a new Eagle Scout Service Project Book.
IMPORTANT - If you have already begun the approval process using the older book continue to use it until your Eagle project is completed. If you haven't yet collected any signatures use the new book. Both forms are available for downloading at our website. http://www.bsatroop406.org on the "Scout Forms" page. Also they can be downloaded from the NESA website.

For all of Troop 406 Eagles – The on-line Click Here> Eagle Honor Board <Is Now Updated to 2010!

Have you seen the new Eagle Honor Board in the Social Hall? This is a very impressive project from Mr. Kilcoyne. Check it Out!

Old News...

PARENTS/MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS - The current merit badge counselor list, in rough form, is at 406 Merit Badge Counselors. Please review. If you can counsel and have not signed up, please add to the spreadsheet by going to 406 Merit Badge Counselor Form and fill out the easy, easy form.

YOU TOO can be a Merit badge Counselor. 406 Merit Badge Counselors. Please review. If you can counsel and have not signed up, please add to the spreadsheet by going to 406 Merit Badge Counselor Form and fill out the easy, easy form. You will need to register with (not join) the BSA using an Adult Application and a MB Counselor Form. For the Adult Application see the Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman or Advancement Chairperson. For the MB Counselor Form with requirements see MB Counselor

Other Important Information. We need a webmaster!

Stories- None?

If you for some reason you haven’t received your patrol patch, or haven’t sewn your patrol patch on yet, this is where it goes - click on "Eagle Patrol".

Uniforms – You probably have noticed some Scouts wearing the new Scout uniform. The good news is you do not need to replace your existing uniform. You can mix and match the new and old designs. Take a look at New Uniform. The only immediate change will be our Troop will start using the new green epilette loops. The Troop will provide the new loops if you donate your red loops to our Venture Patrol.
BeAScout.org Campaign –
You may have seen a TV ad or a billboard advertising the Boy Scouts. This campaign directs all interested families to a new website dedicated to providing an easy path from the families to the Cub Scout and Boy Scout Packs and Troops. From this website you can search by zip code and read basic information about the Pack or Troop in your neighborhood. The program is "Words to Live By" referring to the scout Oath and Law. We look pretty good. Go ahead and try it at -http://www.beAscout.org type in your zip and see for yourself!

Scout Participation - At Parents/Committee Meetings there has been discussion about how much does a Scout need to participate in order to meet the requirements to advance in rank. This discussion revolves around the Scouts who participate in legitimate activities outside of Scouting the two largest being Marching Bands and Team Sports. Hanging on the corner with his buddies or computer gaming is not approved. Rather than bore everyone with all the discussion the results are defined as the following.

It is recommended that a Scout should attend at least 30 % of the Troop’s Meetings and other activities. Less participation than this may be detrimental to a Scout’s advancement. A Scout is required to attend the mandatory community service projects or an approved alternate. Each Scout’s participation can be reviewed by the Scoutmaster on a one by one basis. The Scoutmaster can decide whether an individual Scout has met the requirements of participation. Note that each Scout must present himself to a Board of Review in order to advance. The Board of Review is the last step in a Scout’s advancement approval, they must be satisfied that a Scout is "Active". A Scout and his parents can appeal to Council on any advancement decision by the Troop, Scoutmaster or Committee.

We are Troop 406, a uniformed troop. There may be a surprise uniform inspection at any time. The Patrol with the highest score will win a prize, maybe even a trip to Nelson's Ice Cream. Once re-chartering is completed your new membership cards will be distributed. The membership card is part of your uniform. It is advised that you laminate your card as Mom's washing machine will turn it into a useless white lump. Council will NOT reissue a new card until the next re-charter. If you joined after re-chartering, see the Scoutmaster for your temporary ID.

Save your Redner's Tapes to support the troop (you need to use a Redner's Card). Mrs. Kennedy will collect them and answer any of your questions.

Bring your empty ink jet cartridges for donation, Mr. Miller tells us that the used cartridges have earned us over $500.00! Probably $1000.00 by now!

Yours in Scouting, Mr. Reppert, Scoutmaster Troop 406

thphanrep@comcast.net

Please send articles, news and comments to the Troop Historian or Troop Webmaster