Troop News

So far the only Scout signed up for the National Youth Leader Training ( NYLT) is J Berry. If others are interested in sending your son, please advise me so that we can start arranging transportation and other details. Details of the course are on the GAC web site at 1BSA.org under "training." We will scholarship fifty percent if he meets the earlier describe prerequisites as approved by the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee.

The Ordeal this weekend went excellently with over 200 in attendance at Camp Comer. Thanks to P Kidd, J and K Berry, and J Kunka who all formed the "pre-ordeal" ceremony it went even better. Thanks also to S and S Hardy, as well as M Gunn for going also and were able to practice their roles also as future "pre-ordeal" team members for the Coosa Lodge, Order of the Arrow. Pictures will be posted on the Troop Web Site. Thanks to Mr. Berry for the transportation to and from.

The previous Troop news talked to the importance of tonight's (May 10) meeting. Not only is there a guest speaker, but please read the recent Troop Blog and assure the Scout is present if going on the Trip to Buck's Pocket State Park for rappelling. This is a confidence building weekend with associated skills and fun that he should plan on being there for unless he has an excuse not to be. We need our numbers to defray the costs also. All of which will be discussed and announced tonight.

For those of you who were absent from the Court of Honor, we have the Troop Group photo taken in January for you to pick up tonight.

Congratulations were in order at the Court of Honor for service as active Assistant Scoutmasters and Troop Committee members in the Troop by Mr. Branin (over 20 years), Dr. Nelson (over 15), Mr. Smith (over 10), and Mr. Madison, Mr. Berry, Mrs. Kidd and Mr. Simon for over 5. Highlighted at the Court also, was P Kidd's being awarded the Eagle Silver Palm as well as the new and earned title of "Junior Assistant Scoutmaster." Jim Ellis was awarded the title of "Assistant Scoutmaster" and will remain active until entering the university this Fall. All of the Penquians were awarded the conversion and shirt patch to " Venture ," and the Scouts completing the Junior Leader Training Course (JLTC) this last February received their certification cards.

Attendance at J Kunka's and R Blackburn's Eagle Court, the Day before, was also good. It is important for the younger Scouts and their families to attend these occasions to understand the meaning of the rank but also the purpose of the program. It is also important to stress attendance to assure the numbers are effective in rounding out the praise for the amount of time, service, and hard work taken by these young men in earning the coveted Eagle rank. Thanks especially to Mr. Berry and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kidd for serving as Guest Speakers. Finally a special thanks to Mr. Frost for the hard work in assuring the advancement records were as they needed to be and for Mr. Harbin for the personal work he undertook for each Scout to make sure the final stages of the earned rank were complete and Court itself was prepared for and choreographed as well and effectively as they always are.

Recognition Awards will be made at tonight's meeting to Mr. Harbin and Mr. Clark for over 10 active years service, along with Mr. Young, Dr. Hamilton and Mr. Frost for over 5 since they were not present at the Court last Monday.

Thanks for all your support and particularly for encouraging his attendance to all our activities..

Yis Dan s "Delivering the Promise"