Troop News

As a Troop, the winter Camporee this weekend was one of our best in recent memory. We had twenty-four Scouts and nine leaders in attendance. Thanks especially to the attending leaders, there were no problems that arose to make it difficult.

As usual, there was a shortage of older Scouts to bolster the overall efforts of the Scouts who were present. Encouraging attendance, wearing the completed uniform, to assure the Troop is assured all our our synergistic potential has to become more of a priority to keep the greatest benefits and the best qualities for the Troop. Younger Scouts have a hard time learning and acting as individuals and team members when the more ranking boys no longer show an interest or are disinterested in leadership responsibilities.

Getting there was especially easy since Mr. Branin, Mr. Hardy, and Mr. Madison arrived as the early party to reserve our location and set up leaders tents and the large white tarp.

We were visited by about fifteen WEBELOS and their parents during both nights and Saturday. They all did well in the competition, and most shared lunch and dinner with us....about four camped out with the Troop... in fact there were never more WEBELOS from the District in attendance at the Camporee than any time in the past thirty years who competed in all the games and competition. The same applied for the number of Scouts attending as there were more than 700 Scouts and Leader present Friday through Sunday morning.

We camped in our usual centralized location, with the patrols having their own breakfast.
As a break for the Scouts, the leaders prepared the lunch meal and dinner for a total of about fifty, and thanks to menu preparations, had hot dogs and soup for lunch and four, "trash can turkeys" for dinner.

Thanks to the Scouts who participated, and with the special attention of Mr. Young and Mr. Simon, the Troop placed second in each of the cooking events: Foil, backpacking, WOK, and Dutch oven. Quite a feat and a first for the Troop. Thanks to the special efforts of B Garrett and J Taylor, the Venture who were present placed second in the Flag Pole Relay.

Wanted to thank B Debalsi and B Garrett for stepping to their leadership roles up when the senior had to leave.

We came up short two Camporee patches at the end for those in attendance...will pick them up from the Camporee Director this week.

Thanks to Mr. Simon, all the Camporee pictures are posted on the Troop web site.

Congratulations to Mr. Hardy for being close to earning his CDL for driving the bus and for Mr Bolding for heading that way. This is important for us to keep the number of drivers available for our trips..please consider getting one yourself to compliment our numbers and flexibility.

The Executive Board of the Greater Alabama Council has recently passed a resolution from a recommendation that all active leaders/parents in a Troop who serve in a leadership role for the Scouts are required to have basic leader training. This includes Boy Scout " Fast Start, " and Boy Scout "New Leader Essentials, " available on: myscouting.org, and SMLT and OLS (Scout leader Specific Training and its complimentary Outdoor Leadership Training). These courses are being offered in March and April 2010 as well as in the fall by the Vulcan District). We need to work that direction. Scheduled courses are listed on the Vulcan District and Greater Alabama Council web sites which are linked off our own Troop web site for further information.

We need to continue updating our Troop merit badge list for the Scouts...This is important and can be browsed on our Troop Site...If you have a unique specialty or are willing to assist with our more generic badges, please take a special effort to sign a registration sheet at the Hut to keep the flexibility we need for the Scouts. This is a good way to stay involved if your time is difficult for Troop meetings and trips.

If your son is a patrol quartermaster or Troop quartermaster he needs to be present tonight (Monday, 2/22 at the Hut at 6:30 PM to take down and store Troop gear. If you were a leader on the trip, please feel free to assist to speed it along. Patrol leaders and Assistant patrol leaders are required to be present to help out, as well as attend the Patrol Leader's Conference at 7:00 PM for about an hour to plan activities for the remainder of February and the month of March.

The Troop Committee meets a 8:00 PM. Please attend if you are a regular and think about being there if your aren't.

This coming weekend on 2/27 the Senior and assisting Leaders will be conducting Troop Leadership Training (JLT) from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM at the Hut in uniform. Breakfast snacks and Lunch will be provided. The cost is $5.00 for the meals and snacks. This is the basic fundamentals of leadership he will use for his Scouting career and general knowledge in other a activities. It is required to be a Senior Patrol leader and he will earn the "Trained" patch setting him up for National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) given each summer by the Council. If he has attended JLT, and is not coming to summer camp, he should plan on registering for NYLT this summer or in the future. It is an excellent week long course in an outdoor-camping environment stressing basic leadership and team skills.

The University of Scouting is also coming up (March 6) for Leader Training and certification. Please consider attending (Greater Alabama Council Web site (1BSA..org- linked on the Troop web site) if you have not already registered. Please advise me if you have and we can either meet there or carpool. I plan on leaving in the early afternoon.

Finally, we will be going to FT.Benning, Georgia this coming month (March). We will camping on private property and will be touring the Post, inclusive of the US Army Infantry Museum, Ranger Facilities, Airborne Facilities, and an air show at the Columbus airport. A unique opportunity and a first for the Troop. Do the Scout a favor and encourage attendance.

Thanks again to all who attended at the Camporee in making it as successful for the Scouts as it was. Thanks again to all of you who are active with us in assuring the program is strong in keeping our legacy.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"