Troop News

"These are busy times."


We wanted to thank again all the leaders who went up on the early party to set up all the tents and shelters for our recent trip to Shiloh, as well as Mr. and Mrs Eggers for all the work they and the assisting leaders gave to assure all our meals were prepared from the time we got there until we left. Special thanks also to Lieutenant Colonel Charles Kidd for making the 13 hour drive from Ft. Bragg, NCarolina to be here in assisting the Phoenix and the WEBELOS with Trail #4, and to Mr. Jay Plyler for "coming out of retirement" to assist in camp and drive the bus. "Can't do the things we do without the help of all who take the time to make it work."

The tents and tarps are still wet in most cases, so we are going to let them hang for another week until the meeting next Monday when we will take them down and hang those remaining.

We had a good full house for the Patrol Leader's Planning Conference....Though we can use greater numbers in the Troop Committee, the meetings were successful and we accomplished a great deal:

NOVEMBER 22 There will be a regular Troop meeting the 22nd to complete hanging our gear and stuffing those which are dry. We will also cover salesmanship at the Christmas Tree lot and Mr. Madison will cover the basic requirements for the Salemanship merit badge..Scoutmasters Minute: Mr. Elmore

CHRISTMAS TREES We are expecting to receive our trees this year during the weekend of the 20-21..most likely on Sunday afternoon...if your son is a patrol leader..he will be called by the Senior Patrol Leader to call his patrol families to have everyone report..so please have a Troop roster handy for him to use to make this work....Adults will also be called with the time and date expected if we can't be forewarned enough by the emails during a work day. It a takes the family so bring clothing for the weather and gloves to protect your hands while carrying the trees. Leaders should bring work gloves and a pair of wire cutters to assist in setting up the scaffolding.

Thanks to Mr. Smith all of the light fixtures have been re-wired for hanging this year. Mr. Kaiser added to our lighting numbers by contributing some out door string lights to the usual we have in storage. Mr. Smith also recently repaired and improved the Troop marquis for it's use adjacent to the Tree Lot location, Mr. Madison, Mr. Hardy, and Mr. Smith will also be assuring the tree scaffolding is picked up and brought over to the lot for use in the next few days.

NOVEMBER 26, Friday is the Tree Lot set up day..we will start at 7:30 AM..Dress for the weather and bring work gloves..we have normally taken most of the morning for the job..the more the quicker so please plan on being there...We will start at the Hut loading the gear we need, then end up at the lot (Bluff Park United Methodist Church on Valley where we always use the lot.

NOVEMBER 26 is also the start day for shifts at the Tree Lot..make sure that the Scout and Family know that the Scout and a parent need to be there for tree sales and that in case they cannot, they need to find a substitute within the Troop. The Schedule is posted on the Troop Web Site.

We are going to need some help again this year by distributing pamphlets to home developments showing the location and discount for our trees. More will be announced for this in upcoming meetings. The same for displaying our banners at critical closeby intersections in the morning and in the evenings to assure new customers are aware of us.

NOVEMBER 29 Meeting..Guest Speaker, Mr. Bennett for the Aviation Merit Badge, and more Tree Lot information as required. Patrol leaders final planning and assignments for Christmas party) Scoutmasters Minute: Mr. Hutchens

MONTH OF DECEMBER or sooner: We need the Scouts and a registered leaders annual dues for 2011. Scouts are $30.00; leaders are $15.00. Mr. Steve Frost will be collecting this. Please mail it his home address made out to Troop 21, BSA. We need this during December. Please be timely with this in order for us to retain our status as a "District Quality Unit."

DECEMBER 4 DISTRICT ROUND TABLE at Cantebury United Methodist Church. If you are an active leader and/or you are on our Troop Merit Badge Counselor Contact List, please attend this hour long presentation to certify/re-certify as a merit badge counselor. The training is required by the BSA/District on an annual basis. The instruction is well prepared and given in the hour or so it takes. Please help out with this. Training will start at 6:30 PM.

DECEMBER 6 TROOP PICTURES Please make sure he comes to the meeting and takes his picture in the Class A Plus uniform: Tan shirt, Troop Neckerchief, Neckerchief Slide, belt, Scout trousers or shorts, Scout Socks. There is no charge if he does not want a copy of the composite..so please encourage him to come so we can have everyone in the picture..same for uniformed leaders...if he wants a copy of the composite..the cost is $20.00 paid in advance made out to Troop 21, BSA or cash...if you would like a family portrait with him or just a single by him self, the cost is $10.00 for each picture. Please help out with this so we can make the composite as complete as possible for the Troop legacy. We will start at 7:00PM and he can leave when the picture is taken or take part in the activities.

DECEMBER 13 TROOP CHRISTMAS PARTY regular time at the Hut..inexpensive but useful gifts as a "dirty santa" format. No gag gifts..just straight up wrapped gifts.

Venture: 2 liter bottle soft drinks (patrol leader planned)
Fox cookies/small cakes/snacks (patrol leader planned)
Shark Cookies/small cakes/snacks (patrol leader planned)
Phoenix dips/chips/ snacks (patrol leader planned)

DECEMBER 19 SUNDAY Christmas Tree Lot take down starting at 12:00 Noon. Once again a Scout and leader requirement to be able to pack up quickly.Normally, takes an hour or two or less.

JANUARY 8 ANNUAL PLANNING CONFERENCE Uniform Class A w/o neckerchief or sash. Brings sleeping bag and $15.00 for lunch and Dinner (lunch at the Church and dinner at the Golden Corral in Hoover). Starts at 8:30 AM in the room adjacent to the Kitchen and next to the gymnasium. Pick him up at 8:00 AM in the Youth area exiting near the new entrance way of the Church. Enters in the same location. This is a lock-in and no one leaves w/o the Scoutmaster's permission. Will need one or two leaders present overnight as well. Sleeping bags and air mats for sleeping in rooms in the Youth Area in the Church. The boys will be planning out the entire year's activities during this time. Leaders are welcome for input and ideas.

Cathy Kidd will be conducting a class on Youth Protection for all leaders and Scouts as well..Scouts before the leaders and leaders in the class room next to the kitchen at 3:00 PM. As you know this is mandatory training every two years in order to be registered as a leader in the Troop. If you cannot attend here, please assure you do so on Myscouting.org and give Mrs. Kidd a copy of your certification card.

JANUARY 15-17 We will be heading to New Orleans to tour the D Day Museum, Chamelett, and the Confederate Museum if we have time for them all. We will be staying in buildings on both nights and taking fast food/resturants for meals. The cost, soon to be announced, will depend on our numbers, the fees, and other requirements. We will depart on the 15th, tour on the 16th, and return in the late afternoon of the 17th on the Troop bus. Would like a least one follow-on vehicle to accompany us.

The TROOP MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR CONTACT LIST has been updated on the Troop Web Site. Take a look at it as new names have been added to replace earlier names who are no longer with us or who have chosen not to be active at this time.

Congratulations again to J Ng and N Madison and their families for having all their requirements passed at the Eagle Boards for their Eagle Rank recently, as soon as A Byrd ties his loose ends up, he should also complete his this year.

Make a copy of this news letter and give it to your son to keep him abreast if he is not reviewing the Troop Web Site "Troop Blog." on a regular basis.

A warm welcome again to our five new Scouts and their families (the Ponders, Smiths, Cokers, and the Hutchens).

Thanks again for all your support and encouraging attendance.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"