Weekly Post, Week of October 28, 2012

Post date: Oct 27, 2012 11:29:56 PM

Greetings Troop 737! Last week we conducted an Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) training. This is a mandatory training for all scouts that have been elected to troop or patrol leadership positions, except Den Chiefs. This was the first time this training was held on a Monday evening as a time saving experiment. I am not so sure that it was a success and will be revisiting the decision for spring elections. For those of you that attended, thanks for your enthusiasm and I am looking forward to working with you and helping you succeed in your new jobs. For those scouts that were elected to troop jobs and did not attend the ILST, please see me as this is a requirement for your new job. Without this training, you have not completed the requirements to get signed off.

This week, we will have a regular meeting that includes advancement and a Halloween party. Please see below for details on this party. Costumes are encouraged and all patrols will be bringing in food and drinks. The list is below. Also, since food is involved, I would ask that all scouts be involved in the cleanup and that no one leave prior to the cleanup being completed.

Speaking of cleanup; I would like to remind the troop that the entire service patrol is required to arrive 15 minutes early to do the meeting setup, and stays about 15 minutes late to do the tear down and cleanup. Lately, a few scouts, usually not in the service patrol, and I have been doing the entire cleanup. We need to make sure that this does not keep happening!

Monday October 29^th the uniform table will be set up at the meeting. Mrs. Force will be selling our Class B items in time for our first winter campout.

Upcoming Signup Deadlines (see below for details):

· Monday, October 29 is the Signup Deadline for Winter Camp Training on October 2 – 3

· Monday, November 5^th; last day to sign up for the November Campout to Pawnee National Grasslands on November 9 – 11^th.

· December 3^rd; last day to sign up for Okpik, however, if you wait this long, you might not be able to go because we have to commit soon. We have registered for about 10 spots and once these are filled, we can request more, but no guarantees.

Service Patrol:

The service patrol for October is the Falcons Patrol!! All members of the Falcons Patrol should be inside our meeting room no later than 6:15 to help set up for the meeting.

Please read below for details on upcoming events, and always stay current with our Troop Calendar on the web site. This is the best way to have the most current information.

Upcoming Activities and Sign up & Payment Deadlines:

Troop Meeting – Advancement & Halloween Party – Monday, October 29 @ 6:30 to 8:30 PM at ELC:

· Regular troop meeting to work on Merit Badges and Trail top First Class.

· Halloween Party starting at 7:30 PM, after Merit Badges

· Closing flags and circle time will be completed early and prior to the party.

· Patrols are responsible for bringing food as follows:

o FP (Who are these guys??): Soft Drinks

o Staggs: Dry Ice and a large pot.

o Falcons: Pumpkin Seeds

o Sharks: Candy

o Serpents: Twizzlers

o NFE: Cookies

o Titans: Cheese Its

· Cleanup will start before 8:15 PM and will include the whole troop, not just the service patrol. We need to plan on vacuuming the entire meeting room, take out trash, clean counters and tables, etc. I am asking that no scouts leave the church until we are all cleaned up.

Winter Camp Training – November 2 - 3:

· HALO: Mr. Moss and Mr. Robertson

· Winter Camp Training is required for all scouts and adults that will camp in the winter months; November - March. This one time training starts on Saturday morning for trainees, and includes a lunch prepared by our master scout and adult chefs. Expert training is conducted by Boy Scout experts that are very experienced in winter camping.

· Trainers will show up on Friday evening to prepare for the next day's training activity, and will sleep over with snacks and movies. Exact time and details will be worked out in October.

· We need to have our Quartermasters, troop guide, and all troop instructors sign up as trainers. I would also like to encourage all scouts that have been to winter camp training and winter campouts with our troop to sign up as trainers. This is a fun activity for the trainers that start with Friday evening preparation, followed by snacks and movies. All experienced winter camp scouts are welcome!

Pawnee National Grassland Winter Campout – November 9 - 11:

· HALO: Mr. Snyder and Mr. Catterson

· Winter Camp Training is required for by all participants of this campout, ne exceptions.

· Cost is $20.

· Activities will include;

o A five mile hike to the top of both of the Pawnee Buttes.

o Working on several merit badges. Astronomy, Nature and/or others.

o Patrol cooking contest. We will have several categories for our evening meal. We will discuss the details of the contest at the Campout Prep on November 5^th.

o This is also a good campout to work on trail to first class.

· Unfortunately, campfires will not be allowed, so we will plan a campfire program using a fake fire of some sort, like a lantern. We will perform skits, run-ons and stories. Please come prepared.

· More details to come.

As always, please read the troop web site, especially the calendar, for the most current information on all upcoming and scheduled events.

Mr. Hoffman

Scoutmaster

Troop 737