C Griffith on the news

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/10/17-year-old_hoover_boy_scout_c.html

Troop News

We had a good turn out for the Court of Honor today for Z Kaiser, K Berry, M Phillips, and M Frost.  Congratulations to the Eagles and their families for reaching the goal set seven years ago.

We will need more Scouts and leaders to assist this coming weekend with S Lewis's Eagle project in the Midfield area in order for him to complete it...a notice as to the location and times will be published again shortly by Stephen..

The same for J Taylor's project at the Red Mountain Park as explained in his recent memo...he will also need assistance for his earlier described project
Eagle projects are a great part of the core of our program...it is counted for rank advancement, and coaches all the boys and leaders in what purpose scope they are for their own in the future.


Reminder:   There will be a Troop Eagle Court of Honor for four of our Scouts on Sunday October 28th..specific times will be announced shortly.....this culminates seven years for each of the boys in earning the Eagle Rank in the Troop...and like the Court of Honor, a strong attendance by the Troop should be an understatement for us. The uniform for both Courts is the Khaki shirt, neckerchief, merit badge sash, BSA Trouser or shorts, and BSA socks.  Location:  Reid Crotty Fellowship Hall in the basement of the new section of the Bluff Park United Methodist Church (North Parking Lot entrance down from the Korean Church).

...Greater Alabama Council  Scout Executive J.T. Dabbs at the beginning of the Court and will be making a presentation of the BSA Honor Medal to Life Scout Christopher Griffith...Advancement Chairman, Mr. Greg Stocks will be presenting over 400 merit badges and a high number of rank advancements..as well as the Troop welcoming in the new set of Scout leaders for the next six months...Several adult recognitions will also be made near the end of the Court.

The host patrol is Venture  who should arrive  at 6:00 PM to assist with the set up...

Meals  for the Court  are the usual family  covered dish/pot luck type.

Venture: entre plus an extra vegetable plate
Phoenix: entre plus a bread/bun or desert plate
Crocs: entre plus a salad or bread/bun plate
Eagles: entre plus a vegetable plate
Scorpions: entre plus a desert plate

We will need the family to bring a serving spoon or fork for the dish.

Strong attendance is recommended for these courts as they remain Troop high points for over  the last six months.

The Fall OA Ordeal (next weekend near Forence at Camp Westmoreland), the Troop's annual trip  to Shiloh, Christmas wreath sales totals, and Troop Tree sales are  coming up quickly.....

This year, thanks to Mr. Hanke and Mr. Hill,  annual patches for Shiloh completion is accurate and timely..if the Scout/leader completes all six trails s/he is eligible for the earning the Shiloh Military Trails Veteran Hiker Award (12x18 inches), suitable for framing, a copy of which will be at the Troop Court of Honor. Normally, it takes six year to complete all six trails at the rate of one per year.

Collections for all the wreaths are due to Mrs Griggs at the Monday Troop Court of Honor....remember.... as explained earlier, there is a requirement of six wreaths per family this year in order for the Troop to assure a strong annual budget....

Reminder:   if wreaths are not sold, the family will pay the Troop $80.00 ($30.00 for the Scouts annual registration and $50.00 (wreaths)  to supplement the budget...if there is more  than one Scout in the family,  the fee is still $50.00 for the family or six wreaths, and  $30.00 registration per Scout)
 Adults/leaders registration remains at $15.00.  Active,  registered Leaders without  a Scout in the family are still required to sell wreaths or advance  the $50.00 fee on the 29th, plus the $15 annual  registration fee....

The six wreaths sold represent $50.00....or approximately. $8.30 per wreath sold or not sold.

 Mr. Stocks will be registering the Troop this year with the District, December being the target date for District/Council registration.....

Collecting all of the above were  discussed at the Committee meeting with  Mrs. Griggs, and Mr. Elmore.

Not finally, thanks again to the Allison's we have a refrigerator in the Hut equipment room..thanks to both Mr. Allison and Mr. Morrow, it was moved from the Allison's home to the hut today, Sunday,  October 21st.

Thanks for all your support and for your encouraging attendance.

YiS Dan s                               "Delivering the Promise"

Troop News

Thirty-six Scouts and leaders backpacked nearly 14 miles this weekend on the Pinhoti Trail, from Pine Glen to the Cleburne take out. Thanks to all the leaders who participated and made the trip a success. Will post pictures on the Web site Monday night.


All the Scouts who participated and used Troop tents should attend the equipment take down on Monday Oct 22 starting at 6:30 PM at the Hut....Any Scout or leader who attended should assure they double check their pack to assure they don't have Troop backpacking equipment, and if so to return it tomorrow night.

There will be a PLC (Patrol Leaders Conference) following the equipment take down, starting at 7:00 PM..Patrol leaders and Ast Patrol leaders need to attend to plan the remainder of October and the month of November.

There will be a Troop Committee meeting starting at 8:00 PM following the PLC.

We will be publishing the Court of Honor agenda this week for Monday, October 29....please make a copy of it and bring it to the Court for your information.

Reminder: There will be a Troop Eagle Court of Honor for four of our Scouts on Sunday October 28th..specific times will be announced shortly.....this culminates seven years for each of the boys in earning the Eagle Rank in the Troop...and like the Court of Honor, a strong attendance by the Troop should be an understatement for us. The uniform for both Courts is the Khaki shirt, neckerchief, merit badge sash, BSA Trouser or shorts, and BSA socks.

Strong attendance is recommended for these courts as they remain Troop high points for over the last six months and for the last seven years for the Eagles.

The annual trip to Shiloh, Christmas wreath sales, and Troop Tree sales is coming up quickly.....

This year, thanks to Mr. Hanke and Mr. Hill, annual patches for Shiloh completion is accurate and timely..if the Scout/leader completes all six trails s/he is eligible for the earning the Shiloh Military Trails Veteran Hiker Award (12x18 inches), suitable for framing, a copy of which will be at the Troop Court of Honor. Normally, it takes six year to complete all six trails at the rate of one per year.

Collections for all the wreaths are due to Mrs Griggs at the Monday Troop Court of Honor....remember.... as explained earlier, there is a requirement of six wreaths per family this year in order for the Troop to assure a strong annual budget....

Reminder: if wreaths are not sold, the family will pay the Troop $80.00 ($30.00 for the Scouts annual registration and $50.00 (wreaths) to supplement the budget...if there is more than one Scout in the family, the fee is still $50.00 for the family or six wreaths, and $30.00 registration per Scout)

Adults/leaders registration remains at $15.00. Active, registered Leaders without a Scout in the family are still required to sell wreaths or advance the $50.00 fee on the 29th, plus the $15 annual registration fee....

The six wreaths sold represent $50.00....or approximately. $8.30 per wreath sold or not sold.

Mr. Stocks will be registering the Troop this year with the District, December being the target date for District/Council registration.....

Collecting all of the above will be discussed at the Committee meeting with Mrs. Griggs, and Mr. Elmore.

Not finally, thanks to the Allison's we have a refrigerator in the Hut equipment room..thanks to both Mr. Allison and Mr. Morrow, it was moved from the Allison's home to the hut today, Sunday, October 21st.

Thanks for all your support and for your encouraging attendance.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"

Pinhoti trip

The meeting tonight was informative and well attended, the program centering around backpacking this weekend.


There are 37 Scouts and Leaders signed up to go on the Trip to the Pinhoti Trail in the vicinity of Heflin and Cleburne...just East of Anniston. If the Scout or Leader was not present and intend to attend, make sure the Patrol leader knows to assure the quartermaster bring sufficient meals.

The cost is $20.00 per person...Supper is being furnished by the Troop..the other meals bought by the quartermasters are a fast breakfast, backpacking lunch, and a fast breakfast....$3.00 per meal per person. Fuel is $11.00.

There will be a meeting on Thursday, October 18th for all those going on the trip starting at 6:30 PM, uniform not required. Scouts and leaders need to bring their pack, full water bottles, and all other gear so we can pack Troop gear and other equipment for the hike in their packs.

The forecast is not looking at rain at this time..but he needs to dress for two cool (middle 40's) nights before he gets in the tent and his sleeping bag....he should have rain suit in case it does rain and to assure he has an additional layer if it does get cool.

Make sure he has two pair of wool hiking socks and two pair of polypropylene (?) sock liners as he will be hiking a total of about 12 miles. It was recommended he also have some synthetic, whisking type of underwear found in most sporting goods stores.

We will meet at the Hut at 5:00 PM, Friday, October 19 and should return in the early afternoon on Sunday. He will need some cash for stopping at McDonalds on the way home for lunch. Uniform for the trip on the is the red Troop t shirt, Scout short or trousers, and socks/w jacket. He should wear hiking clothes on the hike, and not the Scout uniform. We will change into the hiking clothes on Friday evening or Saturday morning and the reverse on the return.

Some minimum articles for hiking are listed in the Troop guide and backpacking Troop handouts. Leaders will also assist with a "shakedown" for unnecessary gear Thursday night to assure he carries only the minimal required gear.

Thanks for all your support and for encouraging attendance.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"

Troop News

Along with the perfect Fall weather, these last two days were a good weekend for the Troop:


1. Thanks to all of of those who turned out, more than thirty-two Scouts and seventeen parents and leaders, the Bluff Park Art show was one of our most successful annual service days for the Troop...not to mention earning over $500.00 for the Troop's Operations Budget from proceeds from pop corn, water, and coffee sales. The Bluff Park Art Association and the BP United Methodist Church annual bake sales will also contribute as they usually do for the Troop's effort and assistance.

Thanks especially to Mr. Stephen Presley for supplying the ice and portable generator, Mr. Morrow for more ice, and Mr. Ng for purchasing our supply of water and a microwave for popcorn sales...whose stock of pop corn was purchased for the Troop by Mr. Branin...Thanks also to those who brought in the Microwave ovens to assure the popcorn was popped for our best sales to date.



2, J Coker's Eagle Project was completed on Saturday as planned thanks to all the leaders and Scouts who assisted him with his work at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society where he was repairing and refurbishing the Society's dog walking trails. He is still asking for donations to assist with the work.


3. The Troop was well represented at the Order of the Arrow's annual Fall Fellowship this weekend at Camp Sequoyah..thanks especially to ASMs and active members David Hutchens, Jay Elmore, and David Gunn for furnishing transportation to and from the camp as well as participating in all the events.....


Two weeks ago the Nunne-Hi Chapter of the Coosa Lodge (Greater Alabama Council) elected officer's for the coming year and the Troop dominated in the results:

S Hardy Chapter Chief

M Gunn, Vice Chief of Inductions

S Hardy, Vice Chief of Native American Affairs

F Hutchen, Vice Chief of Fellowship

C Hutchens, Vice Chief of Communications

The voting was in keeping with all the past years when members of Troop 21 predominated in the elected positions..past Chapter Vice Chiefs and Chiefs have been P Kidd, J Kunka, and S Hardy. E Kidd. N Bolding, M Gunn, K and J Berry have also served in Vice Chief positions.


All of our active OA member Scouts are current members of the Chapter and make up the Chapter's American Indian dance, Ordeal ceremonies , and all activities and competitions requiring the drum team.

Dance: Traditional: S Hardy

Fancy: S Hardy

Ceremonies: M Gunn, S Hardy, S Hardy, N Bolding, E Kidd, and J Elmore

Drum: S Hardy, S Hardy, J Elmore, H Elmore, N Bolding, M Gunn, and E Kidd


This weekend, other than all the available events the Scouts participated in, Eagle Scout S Hardy was awarded the "Vigil" Honor for his leadership skills and service as a Scout and an Order of the Arrow (OA) member. His "Guide and Mentor" for the Vigil Tap Out was our own ASM Christopher Arnold, also a Vigil member, and long time active member of the Order as a youth and as a leader. Chris earned his Eagle as a youth in Troop 237 in Homewood, and was an active member of the Chapter's ceremony teams.

The Vigil Honor is one of the highest awards a Scout can earn in Scouting on his trail to Eagle through a selection process by a committee made up of fellow OA members (consisting of the Coosa Lodge Executive Leadership Council-LEC members) out of the entire Greater Alabama Council's Coosa Lodge membership (about 800 are active).

Other than S Hardy, there have only been three Troop 21 Scouts who have been awarded the Vigil rank over the past sixty-seven years: Wes Hauffe, P Kidd, and J Kunka. The Order of the Arrow has had an active chapter in the Birmingham/Greater Alabama Council since 1912, of which Troop 21 has always had/has an active part in. Wes Hauffe's legacy is the Troop's red "T" Shirt design still being worn on all Troop activities.

Active Membership in the Order is reflected as a companion ingredient of the Scout's successfully earning his Eagle.

Membership in the Order is gained by Troop members through an annual election, wherein those nominated by the Scoutmaster as being eligible, are then nominated and elected by all the members of the Troop (a scout does not need to be an OA member in order to vote for a nominated Scout).

Members are nominated for membership provided they meet minimum requirements for attendance, leadership skills, and demonstrating Scouting Spirit. Those nominated who are voted upon by 50% of those members present at the time of the election (1/2 of the Troop have to be present for the election).

Those elected will be announced with a "Tap Out" at Summer camp during the "Tap Out" ceremony on Parent's Night (Wednesday). There are currently 22 Scout OA members in Troop 21, about which 10 are active. There are about 12 Leaders who are OA members in the Troop, about which 6 are active.

Active, dues paying members ($8.00 per year and participating in annual OA activities..Chapter and Lodge activities) can be recognized by their wearing the well known OA "flap" on the BSA Khaki shirt right breast pocket flap. Further, up dated information about the Order of the Arrow can be found on the Web site: Coosa 50.org

Activities include: Cub Scout Crossovers, (3) New member "Ordeals", (1) Regional Conclaves (GA/AL), Lodge Activities such as American Indian Seminars (dance, ceremony. craftsmanship), Fellowships, Leadership Conferences, Recognition Banquets, and National Conferences (NOAC-the most recent at the Michigan State at Lancing-July 2012..The Coosa lodge was the largest numbered lodge attending (104 members) of the fifty states participating.


Thanks for all your regular support and for encouraging attendance for "assuring all that we can do as a Troop, is being done."



YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"

Troop News

The coming weekend will be busy for the Troop.


BLUFF PARK ART SHOW is the Troop annual service project for the Bluff Park Community..... Most of the Scouts signed up for time at the Bluff Park Annual Art Show at the Monday night meeting.....He needs to be there to support our effort and to earn service credit for his earning rank and giving service to the communty....

Please make sure they are on time for their assignments and are dressed in the Class A uniform with out neckerchief or merit badge sash.

Several Scouts and leaders have signed up to be there at the Hut at 6:45 AM for the Troop set up. About half have signed up to be there from 8:00 AM until Noon and the other half will come at Noon until 4:30 - 5:00 PM...they are welcome to stay all day...they will need snack and lunch money if they do and should be prepared for the weather.We will close down between 4:30 and 5:00 PM.

We will be selling iced bottles of water, hot coffee, and as last year, micro waved popped pop corn...Leaders should also be in uniform in assisting/supervising the vending/trash pick ups and other assistance required.

MICROWAVES for popcorn... If you have a stand alone micro wave we can use on a rotation basis, we would appreciate your bringing it either for the morning or the afternoon....Most of the crowd will be there in the afternoon hours so we will need the most Scout and leader participation then. All of the earnings from the above sales go directly into our Troop operations budget..along with wreath and tree sales. this also counts as service hours for the Scout in his rank advancement requirements.

Parking will be difficult around the Hut unless you are making a drop (tell the street guards you are dropping off or picking up Scouts/equipment who are working the exhibitions). Early arrivals (before 8:00AM) may find a spot on the Hut's grass. At all other times and if they have no gear to bring in, you can either drop them off in uniform or just take the bus it from it's regular pick up/ drop off points.

EAGLE PROJECT J Coker will have his work day for his Eagle Project this Saturday also..an earlier Troop News memo indicated the time and location.

OA FALL FELLOWSHIP About fifteen Scouts and leaders will represent the Troop at the Fall Fellowship this weekend starting Monday and returning on Sunday.

WREATHS ..we are having to get more serious about wreaths than before anytime in the Troop's past as they are have become a strong, major supplement to our operations budget...in the years past, twenty-five percent or less families have participated, but these sales contributed to 1/3 of the total budget.

Even though we are meeting budget requirements to get by, we are slowly not making the cut for what we realistically need on a regular basis. We are slowly losing ground as the cost of equipment, fuel, and overall operations gradually increase for our trips and activities.

With all families contributing to wreath sales instead of the twenty-five per cent who are, we will over come the shortages we are expecting due to equipment needs (tentage), Troop operations, vehicles and vehicle maintenance, and general administration. For instance....We are going to need to think of purchasing a bus to replace our current twenty year old model. We are hoping for strong tree sales this year also, as strong as last year to assure our forward movement.

Thanks for all your support and for encouraging his attendance.


YiS Dan S "Delivering the Promise"

Troop News

TROOP ELECTIONS


We had a full house tonight for Troop elections for the next six months starting April 29.....Congratulations to E Kidd for being elected Senior and to all who will be part of the team driving us into 2013.

The new named other Troop positions will be posted on the up and coming agenda for the Court scheduled for April 29.


BLUFF PARK ART SHOW

The boys also filled out spaces they will fill this coming Saturday at the annual Bluff Park Art Show....the initial group will set up gear for the cookie sales at 6:45 AM..the othe two shifts will will work from 8:00 to Noon with a final group at Noon to 4:30-5:00 PM. This is an annual service for the Troop and as many Scouts and leaders should attend to assist with trash collecting, selling water, coffee, and popcorn in our own area. The uniform is the khaki shirt, BSA shorts, and socks. This is fund raiser for us and attendance is important for our image and sales.


FALL FELLOWSHIP

Nearly 14 leaders and Scouts of the Order the Arrow will represent the Troop as the Nunne-Hi chapter at the Fall Fellowship this coming weekend also. As noted we will depart at 5:00 PM for Camp Sequoyah and return Sunday before Noon.



EAGLE PROJECT

J Cocker will also be working on his Eagle project this same weekend on Saturday as earlier announced.


POPCORN SALES

Thanks to Mrs.Elaine Eggers, popcorn sales were collected today with some record numbers on the boy's parts for sales...thanks to all who participated and who are continuing with sales remembering that nearly 30% or more of the sales goes directly to the Scout and his family.



TROOP WREATH SALES

Last Monday night after a healthy debate, the Troop Committee approved a motion to require that each Scout sell enough Christmas wreaths to bring $80 into the Troop Treasury. This can be done by each scout selling 6 or more wreaths. The $80 will cover the Annual Recharter Fee which is $30 per Scout. So, we are asking for an additional $50 but providing the opportunity to support ongoing Troop operations by selling wreaths to raise the money.

We have to plan for the future replacement of our bus, purchase new equipment to supplement some of our well worn items and continue to provide the program that these young men deserve.

If you prefer not to sell wreaths, please make a check out to Troop 21 in the amount of $80. If your prefer to pay $50 now (by October 29) and $30 by the end of the year (December) for your BSA Recharter fee that is acceptable as well.

Mrs. Griggs passed out a complete wreath package/envelope for local and mailing sales to the patrol leader to assure each scout family received one tonight....Please make sure you get yours..more are available at the next meeting. They are the same company we have worked with for the past more than fifteen years.

Our regular Christmas tree and wreath sales will be critical this year for our continued success moving into 2013. Each family's contributions in sales will make the difference for us in "keeping the Promise" for the boys.

Thanks for all your support and for encouraging attendance.

YiS Dan s "Delivering the Promise"