April 2007
Committee Chair’s Corner
Marsha Kofman, Committee Chair, rdhetal@yahoo.com, 429-0794
Spring has arrived and everyone’s calendar becomes more active. Be sure to check the Troop Calendar and the monthly newsletter’s Upcoming Events section to confirm dates for the scheduled events and outings. If there is a question about a listed event, a question can be asked or a clarification may be given at the Troop Meeting announcements. They usually begin at 8:15 PM at the Troop Meeting. Please be sure to listen for the final details.
Speaking of changes, the Troop has a new Editor of this newsletter. We would like to welcome Kelly Seeley to the Troop 401 scouting family. She has had prior experience working on a newspaper. I understand she was the General Manager of the Iowa State Daily. Be sure to get your articles to her for publication.
Mrs. Becker has decided to step down from the troop newsletter. The troop would like to thank Pat Becker for her years of service as the Editor of the Troop 401 news. Her hard work has been appreciated.
The Scouts and the Senior Patrol have requested that the adults gathering for announcements or staying for the meeting, “to please keep the noise and chatter very low. It is hard to hear during Skill Instruction or announcements.”
Again, I would like to thank all of the adults that so graciously volunteer their time to Troop 401. Time is a valuable commodity and we appreciate your contributions to the boys. Thank you.
If you see an area that you could be of assistance, please let us know. “Many hands make light work.”
Marsha Kofman, CC, rdhetal@yahoo.com or 429-0794.
Scoutmaster’s Minute
Mike Marston, Scoutmaster, marstonm@comcast.net, 424-0017
Troop 401,
First I would like to extend an official WELCOME to all the new scouts and parents. Please feel free to address any questions, comments, concerns, or ideas regarding Troop 401 to me. I would love to hear any ideas you may have. A few parents have stepped up as Assistant Scoutmasters and Committee members…the more the merrier!!!
We have now completed the bulk to the Wilderness Survival, Camping, and First Aid merit badges. Any scout that attended all or part of the skill instruction on these topics and wishes to complete the badges MUST initiate the Blue Card process and complete the process with the Counselor. We will be doing Pioneering next.
The major scouting event this month is the Spring Rendezvous. This will be held in Hudson, across from the Alvirne High School at the Hills House Historic Site from Friday, April 27th thru Sunday April 29th. Due to lack of interest by leaders and scouts, we have decided not to attend this event.
School vacation is coming up this month, so there will not be a meeting on April 23rd. Have a great week off!
Reminders:
- The balance for summer camp is due before May 14th.
- This is a good target for all class 3 medical forms to be turned it as well.
YIS Mr. Marston, Scoutmaster, Troop 401
Patrol Assignments
The patrol assignments for the months of April and May are below. This month’s themes are:
April
16 Set Up/Opening Senior
Skill/Game Invisibles
Closing/Clean Up Scorpions
30 Set Up/Opening All/Senior
Skill/Game Mrs.
Rich/
Mrs. Kofman
Closing/Clean Up Senior/All
May
7 Set Up/Opening Scorpions
Skill/Game Senior
Closing/Clean Up Invisibles
14 Set Up/Opening Invisibles
Skill/Game Scorpions
Closing/Clean Up Senior
Upcoming Events
April
17 Committee Meeting
18 Roundtable
19 Outdoor Leaders Skills Training
27-29 Spring Camporee
30 Scoutmaster Conferences
May
5 Hike a thon, Mine’s Falls
7 First
Aid Merit Badge Training
9 PLC
10 Committee Meeting
16 Roundtable
12 Den Chief Training
TBD Adopt a Road
TBD St. James Clean-up
31 Library Book Sale – Set up
June
3 Library Book Sale – Break down
Announcements
Committee Meeting
This month’s Committee Meeting has been moved to Tuesday April 17th due to scheduling conflicts. We will meet at St. James Church at PM in one of the classrooms. All parents and adults are welcome.
The May Committee Meeting is Thursday 5/10,
Roundtable
This month’s Roundtable topic is Safety Afloat and Safe Swim Defense. This training will have a training card presented. Valuable information will be given during this course. If it has been a few years since your last Safety Afloat, it may be best to attend for a review and recertification. Please see Robin Rich, Troop 401 Training Coordinator, if you have any questions.
Roundtable takes place monthly, at the LDS Church, in Nashua on the 3rd Wednesday of each month, beginning at 7 PM. See everyone there on April 18th!
Troop Historian Seeking Items
Michael Dougherty, troop historian, is seeking photos and programs from past Eagle Courts of Honor and troop Courts of Honor. From this collection, he hopes to form a troop archive of these important documents. If you have any to donate, please give them to Michael or to Mr.
Marston. If you can label the back of photos with names/dates, that would be very helpful. Thanks!
Merit Badges
Scouts, remember to obtain your blue cards for your next Merit Badge from an Assistant Scoutmaster or the Scoutmaster BEFORE YOU START THE CLASS.
Wilderness Survival- Mr. Milton
I have passed out the quiz to be completed and returned to me. If you lost it I have more. Complete the quiz and give me your blue card. I don’t have any quizzes or blue cards yet. After I have these, all we have left is the overnight in your shelter. Be the first to complete the merit badge.
Swimming - Mr. Milton, Mr. Kofman
I have the list of the guys wanting to take this merit badge. I am just waiting to hear the pool times and I will be in-touch with you.
Art –Dan Milton
Dan Milton has your names and will be coming to a troop meeting to schedule the time for the class.
Outdoor Leaders Skills
Outdoor Leaders Skills is a two-part training. The first session is an orientation meeting to be held on April 19. The second session is the outdoor training which will be held the weekend of May 5-6.
Den Chief Training
Den Chief training will be held May 12 this year for interested scouts- save the date. This is the only time it will be offered this year.
First Aid Merit Badge
Training
for the First Aid Merit Badge will begin on Monday, May 7th from 6-7pm (right before the Troop meeting). Please email Robin Rich at
r-rich@comcast.net if you are
interested.
Congratulations to all the new scouts in our troop, I continue to get information from the Scoutmasters on your advancements and it has been very impressive. As you begin to do merit badges, please inform me of your completion as soon as possible. If you would like to know who does a merit badge that you are interested in, I can find that for you.
A special note to boys approaching Eagle. As you turn in your merit badges to me, please be aware that I do not go to the Scout council on a weekly basis. If you are planning on submitting your Eagle forms soon, please check with me first to be sure I have submitted your merit badge applications and any other paperwork before you do.
Service Projects
Fundraising
Dessert Buffet and Silent Auction
The troop is very busy preparing for our Silent Auction /Dessert Buffet to be held the Saturday of Mother's Day weekend – May 12th. Scouts, thank you for all the work you have do so far . Please return all unsold tickets and any ticket money to Mrs. Becker and Mrs. Dougherty.
Regarding donations for the silent auction, we have received many gift certificates and are now seeking theme baskets, such as: "summer fun," "off to camp," "back to school," and baskets that contain special items for Moms and Dads. We are grateful to any families or patrols who wish to put together these baskets, as they generally are successful at
auctions.
Within the next few weeks, we will be circulating sheets for scouts to sign up for work hours on the day of the event, and for families to donate goods/services and desserts. Many thanks to folks who have done this so far.
If anyone has questions, please contact Mrs. Becker or Mrs. Dougherty. Thank you!
Fishercats Fundraiser
The Troop will be running another fundraiser this year thanks to the NH Fishercats. Be sure to keep Saturday, August 25 free on your calendars. The Troop has reserved 200 tickets for this date to watch the Portland Seadogs play the NH Fishercats. We will also be working the concession stand again this year. More details will be coming regarding the ticket sale incentives. Start making your list of your Baseball fans that would like to go to a game!!
Patrol News & letters
Hello Everyone.
Wow
did we have a great time or what. Feb. 18 was a great day for snow tubing. A
few of us went to Gunstock Ski Area for some Fun in the Sun. With the snow we
received the week before it made for a great time on the hill. All the way
there it was nice out. Once we got on Gunstock Property it started snowing. At
times it was snowing hard enough that when you were at the top of the hill you
could barely see
the bottom. It wasn't too cold and the snow made it great. I think we need to
figure out a way to make snow in the summertime so we can do this more often.
Oh well I guess we need to wait until next year. Hope to see lots more people
there next time. Even the adults that went had a great time.
YIS
Bill Courtemanche
On Being a Scout….
The values and ideals of Scouting are the foundation for a successful life. I am proud I was a Scout. –Mike Ditka, NFL Hall of Fame Player
Next Due Date: April 30th
Distribution Date: May 7th