Scoutmaster’s Minute
Troop 1
Edmond, OK

February ‘06

Greetings,

Good Grief!

Another month has gone by and no camping.  No real camping anyway.  Still, the Omniplex was a blast as always and hopefully the lock-in last weekend gave the guys a chance to get out of the house for a while.

The Patrol Leader Development training on the 6^th was very beneficial.  I hope the guys had positive things to say about it.  Tom, Mark and I felt that it was worthwhile (spirit of the squirrel) and Alan Simpson (scoutmaster) from Troop 479 observed and had favorable comments.  Eight of our boys learned a little bit about the patrol method, leadership, teamwork and responsibility.  They also learned to tie a Turks Head (woggle) knot.

We plan on doing a PLD at least every six months.  Usually just before troop elections. 

I am anxious to get back outdoors.  When the guys are cooped up they miss the program.  February should be a busy time for us.  Here is an overview of the month to come

-    Feb 3^rd – Eagle District Merit Badge Fair.  If you have not signed up, please do so as soon as possible.  I think that only a couple of our guys have not done this.  You can enroll on-line at; http://www.eagledistrict.org/ed/mbc/FillInRegister.aspx  This link will take you to the registration page.  Call me if you have any difficulties.

-    Feb 5^th – Court of Honor in the Scout Shack.  7pm

-    Feb 10^th – Troop Leadership Training – This will be for selected boys in our troop who are ready for Troop leadership positions.  We have invited Troops 77 and 479 to join us.  9am – 4pm.  I will notify the boys in our troop who are invited.

-         Feb 11^th - Scout Sunday – 11:00am service at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.  Try to arrive by 10:45 and plan on sticking around for a little while to show off the scout shack.  We should be done by 1pm.  Full uniform including merit badge sash, if you have one.

-    Feb 13^th – Troop Committee Meeting – 7pm at the scout shack.

-    Feb 16-18 – Campout (Finally!) – Slippery Falls Scout Ranch.  Program is Climbing and Rapelling.  Last year this program was cut short because of the burn ban and sub-freezing temps.  Shouldn’t be a problem this time.  We should also be camping with our newest crop of Webelos.  

-    Feb 24^th – Spaghetti Supper – 6-8pm at St. Mary’s.  This is our Troop fundraiser to help pay for new tents and other equipment.  More information to come.

Well, that ought to get us through the month. 

I want to take a moment to again thank the adult leadership for their help with the program for the year.  I couldn’t do it without you. 

Please take note of the Communication Center at the back of the room the next time you are at the shack.  Rita Craig has produced the calendar for the year and should have a supply of permission slips and information forms for the coming months. 

It is not too early to start your Summer Camp planning.  We will be attending Quivira Scout Ranch in Sedan, KS from 10-16 June.  Total cost (without spending money) is $205 per boy and $105 for adults.  Please see Rita, Tom or myself for more information.  A full packet should be coming out shortly.

This is also the time of the year for the troop to recharter.  That means that it’s time to pay our dues.  A breakdown of the cost for 2007:

$10.80 per person (boys and adults) for registration

$12.00 for Boys’ Life Magazine

$10.00 for Order of the Arrow dues (if you are a member)

$50.00 per boy for annual dues

That means that if your boy is staying with the troop, and wants Boys’ Life, his recharter fee is $72.80.  Obviously, if he opts not to get the magazine, it would be $60.80.  Checks should be made out to Troop 1 and you can give those to Rita Craig or Quimby Enterline. 

The annual dues cover the cost of advancement (pins, patches and cards), hats, neckerchiefs and t-shirts (coming soon).  It also covers other items such as merit badge books, printing, supplies and our internet access. 

With some creative and aggressive fundraising, we can reduce this burden for families in the future.  If anyone would like to help us with our fundraising activities, let me know. 

We brainstormed our budget the other night and realized that for a troop with 20 boys, it takes a budget of almost $15,000 to operate this troop.  Summer Camp, recharter and dues makes up over $5,000 just for the boys’ cost.  Realistically, it costs about $500 per boy to operate this program for the year.

Troop elections are coming up on Monday night.  I would encourage you to talk to your boys about running for Patrol Leader of their respective patrols.  The boys who attended the PLD training are eligible and I believe that any of them would make good leaders.

There is still so much to learn.  It’s hard to believe that it has been a year since most of these guys joined.  Do they seem different to you?  They sure do to me.

The best is yet to come.

Gung Ho!