Troop News

Looks like it was a good decision after all to cancel the trip to TN. We know there was some disappointment but safety and limiting risk factors remain paramount. There will be time for back packing in near future. For now, we will be going to Buck's Pocket State Park for rappelling in May with two certified instructors who usually accompany us. More of this to be discussed at the PLC tonight with the Scouts.

If you will review the April 12, 19, and 22 Troop blogs on the web site, there is information on the Patrol Leaders Conference (PLC) tonight that the Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Senior Patrol Leader, and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader should be present for to tonight at 7:00 to plan May's activities. If he isn't there he can't help out so please encourage attendance.

There was talk several weeks by the Scouts ago about having the Troop Scribe also attend (PLC's) in order to write a Troop Newsletter to the Scouts on Scout email addresses rather than relying on the Leaders Newsletter as you are reading now. Will talk to this tonight at the PLC as to it's importance in increasing staying active and scheduling time with the Scouts

Congratulations to Mr. Andy Yarbrough for attending the Outdoor Leadership Training (OLS) at Camp Sequoyah this last weekend, but even though in attendance with 48 others, it was canceled Saturday morning due to the rain. There will be a make up announced in the immediate future.

Remember..New Leader Essentials (NLE), Youth Protection, Scoutmaster Leadership Training (SMLT), and Outdoor leadership Training (OLS), and specific other courses such as Wilderness First Aid, are now required training for active leaders in the Troop who serve as Assistant Scoutmasters and merit badge counselors on trips and activities in the Troop and other activities..If you have had these, and other courses, such as safe swim and others offered on the internet at )Scouting.org) in the past, please make sure Cathy Kidd has the subjects and dates recorded for you with the Troop as the Council is moving fast to fill in dates that were not recorded for you in the past. If you attended Cub Training before you became active with the BSA and have not yet attended BSA training, please make sure Cathy has those dates also.

If you haven't taken these training courses and intend to be active with us on trip and activities with the Scouts, please mark your calendars for them.

Also..our Troop is fortunate to have the vehicles we maintain for our trips..in avoiding large numbers of family cars for transportation needs. We have to assure an adequate number or drivers for the bus through obtaining the State Certified Drivers License (CDL). At this time there are only four of us (with one in training). Please strongly consider adding yourself to out list to give us the depth an flexibility we need to assure the success of our program.

A reminder also that we are having an Eagle Court this Sunday (May 2) (J Kunka and R Blackburn), (see April Troop Blogs on our web site) at 2:00 PM at the old Sanctuary of the Bluff Park United Methodist Church. Please encourage attendance in full Class A plus uniform.

And, next Monday (May 3), we have the Troop Court of Honor in the Reid Crotty Fellowship Hall of the Bluffpark United Methodist Church starting at 6:30 PM (a pot luck dinner with details following tonight after the PLC). There will be the normal formal appointment and "swearing in" to leaderhip positions for the Scouts for the next six months, the award of rank and merit badges earned this few months since the August Court, a Scout summary of the last six months, and finally a recognition of leaders serving actively for five years or more with the Troop. This is a family affair for us and all are invited.

Thanks for all your support and encouraging attendance to afford us the opportunity to be all we can be in giving the Scout the maximum benefits of the Program.

"We can't do it if we aren't there."

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"