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THE LATEST NEWS FROM OUR SCOUTMASTER!

Troop 400

*  There are no troop meetings in July, and no troop meeting on 2 August.

*  Next troop meeting is on 9 August….this is our annual planning meeting witht he Scouts. Meeting will begin at 6pm…repeat 6pm…as we will eat PIZZA first, then have the planning session with our troop.  Don’t miss it if you’d like to have input for our next year’s activities!

*  Summer camp paperwork….we still have about half of the Scout’s completion/partial reports from summer camp at Camp Euchee.   You can pick those up at the 9 August meeting.  Plus, we have the remaining Pathfinder patches, 2010 camp patches, “Tenderfoot” run patches, etc. to hand out as well.

*  Speaking of summer camp and the “Pathfinder” patrol….during camp, those who did Pathfinders took their first part of the Tenderfoot requirement #10 (the fitness test) on 1 July.  In order to complete requirement #10, those Scouts need to complete a second fitness test 30 days later.  As such, several of our adult leaders (Don Beckham, Gil Reid, Patrick O’hern, etc) have volunteered to conduct the 30 day, second fitness test for those Scouts, and any others who have not finished that requirement.  This second test needs to be done on/about 30 July which is on a Friday, or 31 July which is a Saturday.  I’ve asked these adults to handling the testing, grading, and overall coordination for this requirement….yours truly will be out of town.

*  I will be unavailable to handle Troop 400 business effective 12 July through 8 August; I’ll be heading to the National Scout Jamboree at Ft. A.P. Hill, Va. (departing on 21 July). As such, I have a lot of planning, coordinating, and preparation in the next couple of weeks. So, in order to “do my best” as Scoutmaster for one of the three Gulf Coast Council troops (Troop 1520)attending the Jamboree, I will be focusing my efforts to get ready for this trip.  Contact me before 12 July if you need something from your Troop 400 Scoutmaster. Jim Righter and Sam Samoluk will handle Scoutmaster duties during my absence.

*  I do encourage adult leaders and parents to get together during the summer and coordinate some fun activities for the troop, ie. swimming at Krull Lake/Munson Pond, hiking on any of the many trails in the Blackwater River State Forest, etc.  Just remember the “two-deep” adult leadership rule, follow the “Guide to Safe Scouting,” parent permission forms, current medical forms, etc. for the event.

*  Also, the “Pathfinder” patrol from summer camp did NOT earn their “Fireman Chit” cards due to the wet weather/wood.  So, if some adult leaders would like to lead a class or two towards earning this card, contact me as I have the requirements and blank cards.

  HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!  I AM PROUD OF YOU!  We have a GREAT troop!  If I don't see you beforehand, see you on 9 August!!

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We have been selected to attend one of the three BSA national high adventure bases in 2011!

What:  SEABASE (or "The Florida National High Adventure - Sea Base"). For more info:  http://www.bsaseabase.org.  Our type of adventure/trek is "Sea Exploring" sailing on a large schooner (in 2007 we were on an 80-ft schooner named The Heritage of Miami II)

Where:  Located in the Florida Keys, headquarters located at Islamorada, Florida

When:  Our crew dates are 14-21 July 2011.  Our troop departure will be on 13 July, expected return on 22 July 2011.

Who:  This trip is limited to a crew size of 20 for both Scouts and adults.  We are limiting this 20-person crew to 6 adults over the age of 21. Scouts must be a minimum of 14 years of age by 1 September 2011.  Priority will be to Scouts and adults who have not been to Seabase before.  We will have a stand-by roster in case someone later drops out.

Here's the latest sign-up list taken form the 22 March meeting.  Please double-check for acuracy, details below--WE HAVE AN OPENING FOR THE SCOUTS!!!

Scouts (between ages 14-21)-
1.  Charlie L
2.  Donald C
3.  Ryan F
4.  Riley B
5.  Mike K
6.  John S
7.  Derrick B
8.  Cameron B
9.   Will W
10.  Joe W
11.  Jake B
12.  Andrew H
13.  Bryant M
14.

Adults (over age of 21)-
1. Mr. Boling
2. Mr. Cunningham
3. Mr. Bitely
4. Mr. Samoluk
5. Mr. Funk
6. Mr. Whitfield

Stand-by:
Scouts -
Adults -  Mr. Hart

REMINDER - Need your $100 deposit not later than the 26 April meeting!!  Also, If you want to go and not in the first 20 slots, go ahead and use "stand-by"...most of the time we will have cancellations.

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NEW Troop 400 Leadership--
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)  -                                     Tanner H (Life)
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL- Planning) -    Charlie L (Life)
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL-Logistics) -    Joe W (Star)
QuarterMaster -                                                          Bryant M (Star)
Chaplain’s Aide -                                                        Donald C
Troop Guide-                                                              Garrett M, Austin H (Life)
Historian -                                                                   Jake B
Librarian-                                                                    John S
Scribe -                                                                        Andrew H
Instructor -                                                                  Jon S, Mike K (Life)
Junior Assistant SM -                                                  Ryan F, Nathaniel M (Eagle)
Order of the Arrow (OA) Rep-                                    OPEN

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Recently our troop received a nice donation of 14 military style sleeping bags!  They are down filled, green in color, clean, and serviceable.  I have already given out 3 bags to our Scouts...if you need a sleeping bag, let me know!  They will be yours to keep!  I'm also picking up MORE sleeping bags end of this month...
   Also, in the spring, we received 11 complete military style "shelter half" style pup tents.  They are green, canvas, and do not have a floor, ie. you would need a ground cloth/plastic sheet, but are complete with poles, stakes, and ropes.  If you would like one of these tents, again let me know...they are yours to keep.
   Additionally, if the cost for a camping weekend or trip is keeping you/Scout from going camping, please talk to me or our committee chairman (Ryan Bitley).  We do have a campership program to help pay for camping weekends and trips...one program is the "50-50"...if you can pay 50% of the trip, the troop can cover the other 50%.  We hate to see our Scouts miss a camping opportunity due to cost.
   We understand prices seem to always go up, and not down.  We try to keep our camping and trip costs as low as possible...if you need assistance, let me know.
   PLUS...we do have uniforms (pants, shirts, some socks) that other Scouts have either outgrown or donated back to the troop.  If your Scout needs a uniform, please see Priscilla, Theresa, or Ryan and maybe we'll have the right size!
   Also, we have 5 Scout Handbooks at a reduced price of $4.00 each in case your Scout needs one...the council Scout store was running a sale, so we picked up a few before they were gone.
   Hope this helps, God Bless....
 

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In order to have a better operating Troop 400, I need some adult volunteer support....
  Click here for a list of different ways you can help...this is the same list I handed out at the COH on Monday night, 21 Sep.
   Please look it over; some of the positions require more than one adult to help.  These positions do not require you to be a parent, ie. some of our single, adult Eagle Scouts can fill these spots as well.
   If interested, or you don't exactly understand what it is I'm looking for, then give me call....995-1582, or talk to me directly at the next meeting.
Our Scouts deserve adult guidance, leadership and support in order to make YOUR SON'S Scouting experience a positive and fulfilling experience!  Adults often ask, Moni, what can I do to help?"  Here is a list of ways you can help!  Let's make Troop 400 a better troop!

Our troop will participate in the 100th Anniversary of Scouting by pursuing the "Year of Celebration" award series...(see our home page).  This is a GREAT program involving our Scouts, adults, parents, and alumni over the upcoming 2009-2010, 100th anniversary year with service projects, team building, outdoor activities, and numerous Scouting events celebrating the Boy Scouts of America!

    As such, we need at least two parents to tackle this project...one would be an assistant scoutmaster and the other a troop committee member.  I want parents who are really going to be involved with this project, and not just half-step it. Duties would be to track our progress towards achieving each of the 5 awards....recording progress for each Scout and adult in Troop 400.  Also, assist in planning events for the awards, coordinating activities, ordering the patches, and generally overseeing the project for the next year.
   

If you want to get involved in Troop 400 in a BIG way, then contact me about this program.  It will require some time on your part every week to give us updates and progress reports at our troop meetings, committiee meetings, and courts-of-honor.  But in the end, when our Scouts start earning these awards as part of the 100th anniversary of Scouting, it will be well worth your time and energy!

In Scouting,

Moni Boling
SM, Troop 400

home: 850-995-1582