Troop News

The Court of Honor was one of our best for attendance. Thanks to all for making that happen...

Thanks to Mr. Eggers, the annual GAC Top Gun competition introduced competition for Archery. We've never been able to do that before based on time and expertisee, but thanks to Mr. Eggers. being without it, is history. Thanks also to Dr. Frank Nelson for his leadership and expertise during the competition at Camp Sequoyah (August 29th).

Thanks to Mrs Eggers, we have started pop corn sales this year. Remember...the return is about 35% for all sales by the Scout and his family......like last year, whatever he makes will be credited to him in the Troop for up and coming trips. he needs to take advantage of this opportunity to help out with expenses. All returns are due/expected November 2 (Troop Court of Honor).

Monday Sept 7..Labor Day ....no meeting

Friday Sept 11 meet at Hut at 4:30 PM for transportation to the Order of the Arrow Ordeal at Camp Jackson. Return between Noon and 12:30 on Sept 13.

Sept 14th Regular meeting required attendance for all going on back packing trip Sept 18-20. Venture Crew conducts training/backpacking refresher/meal planning.

Need to pick an activity for January, 2010

Sept 17th Quartermaster night..attendance required by all going on trip to load troop gear in packs and in Frank Tank 630-7:30 PM

Sept 18-20 Backpacking trip to Sipsi Wilderness Meet at Hut at 5:00 PM on Friday. Return regular time on Sunday.

September 21 Equipment take down and storage....PLC/Committee Meeting 0630 and 8:00 PM

September 28th Regular meeting with Guest Speaker hosted by Captain Gandy. Required attendance by all Scouts as we will be scheduling the Bluff Park Art Show service requirments on 2-3 October

Sept 25-26 Order of the Arrow Fall Fellowship at Camp Comer. Will be car pooling as announced for those wishing to attend.

2-3 October Annual Bluff Park Art Show.

Venture Crew cuts Bar-B-Que meat Lions Club from 10:00 -11:00 PM Friday night at the Lion's Bar-B-Que hut across the parking lot from the Scout Hut....We have to have a minimum of 10 Ventures present to b out of there in an hour.

Scouts and leaders begin set up activities for the Bluff Park United Methodist Church Cookie sales at 6:30 AM on Saturday by Scouts and Leaders..Continues through the day by picking up litter, emptying trash cans into dumpsters, watching art displays in the Community Center, selling Troop water and ice cream. Open house at hut for visitors. All Scouts and uniformed leaders are expected to help out at different scheduled hours through out the day. This is our annual service project for the communty.

10 October Vulcan District Scoutmaster/leader Training..recommend all active leaders who will work with Scouts to pre-register and attend this training to become BSA training certified. The companion weekend course (Outdoor Leadership Training-OLS) will be during Nov 13-15....a conflict with our Shiloh trip on the same weekend..recommend attending the OLS in the Spring of 2010.

We will again be marching in the Birmingham Veteran's Day Parade on Veteran's Day in November. We wil be taking the bus and Frank Tank again as usual and are encouragingall the Scouts to attend since it is a School Holiday. We will meet at the Hut. Will need someone to drive the Frank Tank also. We had over 500 marching last year..we would like more this year.

Trip to Northern Tier (2010)..We are still planning a trip( Mr. Young is facilitating) to Northern Tier on the Canadian/US border during the early part of July, 2010. Scouts must be a minimum of 14 years of age. This is a fairly rugged trip which requires the Scout and leader to be in excellent physical shape in order to carry a fifty pound pack and/or the canoe over short portages between lakes. It will be a three day trip there on the bus and three to return with about seven days canoeing and camping in a wilderness area after being dropped off by a float plane from the Scout outfitter base. We are contacting some other troops who may want to go along so we can fill the bus and keep the cost down to less than a $1000.00

For you leaders out there who have not got your Certrified Drivers License for driving the bus, we need you to do that in order to carry on the legacy of this Troop. Dr. Hamilton has just received his CDL and he can brief you on the requirements. Please plan on helping out with this. There are great advantages to having the bus and since we have not access to vans, personal vehicles are the only recourse. It's up to you to assure we have more than the three we currently have hand.

Scouting can't be done through corresponse courses. There are some real attendance problems out there with some of the Scouts not only for Monday night meetings, but for all activities the Troop needs attendance for in order for him to meet Eagle requirements. Service projects, Eagle projects, and trips..if he can't make some, he needs to make others. Please encourage attendance.

"We were there for him...is he there for us?"

Thanks for all your support....

YiS