January 2007

Committee Chair’s Corner

Marsha Kofman, Committee Chair, rdhetal@yahoo.com, 429-0794

Happy New Year! 

The hustle and bustle of the Holidays is a distant memory. The New Year holds many new and exciting adventures in all aspects of our lives. Family, school, sports, work and scouts, are just a few.

The Boy Scouting Program, although it is a “boy run program,” requires support from the adults in their lives. That does not just mean filling out an application to show your support. That means rolling up your sleeves and participating. You may say that you don’t know anything about scouting, you weren’t a scout. The only thing you need to be able to do, is know how to have fun. We can direct you to the training programs so you too can join in on the fun with your scout.

There are also many things that need assistance from behind the scenes. If you don’t like being in the spot light or leading the scouts, we even have things for you!

Ask questions about the scouting program of your scout and the adults at the meetings. Find out how you can join in on the fun and help improve the program with you special and unique talents. Everyone has them.

Marsha Kofman, 429-0794, rdhetal@yahoo.com

Scoutmaster’s Minute

Mike Marston, Scoutmaster, marstonm@adelphia.net, 424-0017

Greetings Troop 401,  

I hope everyone had a Great Holiday!   Thank you to all who took part in the community service projects in December.  Special thanks to Mr. Rothenberg and Mrs. Mithoefer for coordinating the St. Joseph's Box wrap and to Mrs. Retelle for making the December Pie Bake a success.  It is with great pride that Troop 401 is able to offer help to the less fortunate.  Great Job!   The Yankee Swap went very well.  All had a good time and all the gifts were quite good.  This paves the road for more of such activity in the future.  Thanks to Dan Becker for his extra effort in pulling this off by presenting a plan to the committee and carrying off the plan by providing a written set of guidelines.

All that attended the Troop Meetings throughout November and the start of December have completed most of the requirements for the Wilderness Survival merit badge.  Still pending, is to spend an overnight in a shelter they build themselves.  Don't forget, you need to initiate the Blue Card process if you desire this badge.

Starting on Jan 8th, our troop meetings will focus on the Eagle Required Camping Merit Badge.   We have a few activities coming up in January as well.  Mr. Tucker is working on an event to replace the Stoney Field Yogurt tour (as they are closed this month).  Stay tuned!!!  On Sunday the 21st, we will be hosting Pack 401 for a movie.  This is a great chance to show the Pack how great the Troop is. Please plan to attend.  Finally, Mr. C is organizing a Snow Tubing trip (snow pending) for January 28th.  This has been GREAT FUN in the past.  I will be there, how bout you???   Early February, brings the Klondike Derby.  Troop 401 made quite a showing last year.  Please sign-up early for this event so we can get some practice in and do even better.  Thanks to Mrs. Rich for her coordination of this again, however, she will need help from other adults as well.  

 I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  Let's make 2007 the best ever!   Please contact me any time with comments, questions, or concerns.  You can email me at marstonm@comcast.net  or reach me via Cell phone at 603-494-9023.

YIS Mr. Marston Scoutmaster, Troop 401

Patrol Assignments

The patrol assignments for the month of January are below.   This month’s theme is:   Camping

8              Set Up/Opening                   SPL                       

                Skill/Game                            Invisibles              

                Closing/Clean Up                Scorpions

 15          Set Up/Opening                   Scorpions            

                Skill/Game                           SPL

                Closing/Clean Up                Invisibles              

 22          Set Up/Opening                   Invisibles              

                Skill/Game                           Scorpions            

                Closing/Clean Up               SPL       

29           Set Up/Opening                   SPL       

                Skill/Game                           Invisibles              

                Closing/Clean Up               Scorpions

Upcoming Events

January

8              Board of Review

10           PLC & Patrol Advisors

11           Committee Meeting

13           Troop Activity TBA

15           Game Night

17           Roundtable

20           Troop Movie for Pack 401

28           Snow-tubing

29           Scoutmaster’s Conferences

February

5              Board of Review

7              PLC & Patrol Advisors

8              Committee Meeting

10           Klondike Derby/Freeze-out               

11           Scout Sunday

11           Blue & Gold/Webelos Crossover

19           Court of Honor

21           Roundtable

24           Ice fishing (weather permitting)

26           Scoutmaster’s Conferences

Announcements

Committee Meetings

The Troop 401 Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month at St. James Church at

7 PM on January 11.

Klondike Derby

Klondike Derby will be held on February 10, 2007 at Lone Pine Fish and Game Club in Hollis, NH.   Scouts may sleep over Saturday night and be picked up by 10:30 AM on Sunday morning.  The cost for scouts is $13 for the day.  For anyone staying overnight an additional $6 will cover dinner and breakfast.  The adult cost is $5 plus food.  Klondike starts with arriving in Hollis at 7:45 AM and ends at 4:00 PM.  Equipment you will need is boots, non-cotton socks, snow pants (NO COTTON PANTS), winter jackets, gloves, hat extra gloves and dress in layers.    If staying overnight, you will need a 0 degree bag or lower, or 2 sleeping bags (one to fit in the other), hat to sleep in, fleece liner or throw.   For more information, please contact Mrs. Rich at 880-8222 or r-rich@comcast.net.

Happy Birthday to Scouting

Boy Scouts of America celebrates the start of the Scouting Program in February. This is the month in 1910, that Baden Powell first began the Scouting Program.

To honor this, celebrations are incorporated into most of the religious programs during the month of February. Please check your own church calendar and participate in those activities. Be proud that you are a Scout and attend in Full Class A Uniform.

St. James United Methodist Church celebrates Scout Sunday on February 11^th with a special service. We ask that if you are not attending your own church’s celebration, that you attend this service at St. James Church. Your attendance, in uniform, will show your appreciation to the church and its members, for sponsoring this Troop. Without St. James, Troop 401 could not exist.

If you would like to participate in any of the special service that Reverend Gage will by running that day, please contact Mrs. Sanborn, 423-9835, the Troop Charter Representative.  Mark your calendars now!!

Merit Badges

Merit Badge Blue Cards

Scouts, remember to obtain a Blue MB Card from the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster, before you start a Merit Badge.  Also speak with them if you would like to do a Merit Badge but you don’t know who the Merit Badge Counselor is for that Merit Badge.

Citizenship in the Nation Merit Badge Starts in January!

To those needing this badge, you have a choice of attending on Wednesdays or Saturdays.  The location for both sessions is yet to be confirmed.

Wednesday, January 17   7:00-8:00

Wednesday, January 24    7:00-8:15

Wednesday, January 31    7:00-8:15

Wednesday, February 7     7:00-8:15

Wednesday, February 21   7:00-8:00

Saturday, January 13          3:30-4:30

Saturday, January 20          3:30-4:45

Saturday, January 27          3:30-4:45

Saturday, February 3           3:30:4:45

Saturday, February 10        3:30-4:30

Please be sure your name and phone number are listed on the bulletin board.  You will need a merit badge book, a writing utensil, and a burning desire to talk about history!  For questions, please contact Mrs. Collette (Kathleen.Collette@comcast.net or 429-1045) or Mrs. Yates (424-7158).

Pet Merit Badge

The Pet Merit Badge is currently being offered.  This must be worked on at home by individual scouts.  It is an easy badge to earn, but it does take 4 months of caring for a pet (any type of pet).  If you are interested in earning this badge, please get a blue card and contact Mr. Becker so that you can start on your requirements right away.

training

Robin Rich, ASM, Training Coordinator

r-rich@comcast.net, 880-8222.

Leader Training

 On January 6, 2007, the first Saturday in of the New Year, there will be a training program offered by the Arrowhead District Training Committee.  It is located at the First Church in Nashua. This is a BOY SCOUT SPECIFIC PROGRAM. Besides the New Leaders Essentials program that is only required to be taken once, there is training for the following aspects of BOY SCOUTS. 

Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters 10:30 to 4:30 ish (this will be offered again on March 3, with

Troop Committee Challenge for the Troop Committee Members 10:30 to 2:30 ish (this is the only time this Committee program will be run until next year.)

There will be a lunch break for you to enjoy your bag lunch and meet people from other Troops.

All parents are encouraged to attend these programs. The information is invaluable.

Please contact the Troop 401 Training Coordinator, Robin Rich to sign up for this event. 880-8222 or 

r-rich@comcast.net

 . 

University of Scouting

University of Scouting will be held on March 24 at Alvirne High School in Hudson, NH.  The cost is $12 per person if registered by March 7.  The cost after March 7 is $18 per person.  Each person may take five classes covering a variety of topics and skills.  It is for all levels of scouting from Cub Scouts to Venturing.  Please bring your own lunch and lots of Scout Spirit.

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

This training is for all Boy Scouts who wish to be a leader to Cub Scouts or Webelos Scouts.  It is a full day training on May 12.  NOTE:  This year training will only be held in the spring.  

Advancements

Ed Tucker, Advancement Chair

edthepiper@verizon.net, 429-1012

Congratulations to those of you that have worked so hard and gone on to the next rank. We also have a very impressive showing of merit badges, all Eagle required!                                                                 

Life Matthew Becker

Star Aaron Becker

Jack Mulrey

Merit Badges

Camping                              Joe Prive

Communications                 Joe Prive

Citizenship in the Nation    Jack Mulrey

Citizenship in the World     Jack Mulrey

Environmental science      Jack Mulrey

Family Life                           Holden Lambert

Personal fitness                  Aaron Becker

   Matthew Becker

   Joe Prive

Personal Management – Daniel Becker

Joe Prive

A special note to all 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

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Fundraising

Patrol News & letters

Words From Baden-Powell

Passages from Footsteps of the Founder

Losses

315   When a Troop resounds with merry laughter and enjoys success in competitions and the fresh excitement of new adventures, there won’t be any loss of members through boredom.

316   It would be an interesting study to find out why each boy who is a Scout first joined the Scouts.  It would also be equally interesting to learn why each ex-Scout left the Scouts.  My own conclusion is briefly this:  want of adventure brought the boy in; lack of adventure took him out.

Newsletter Deadline

Patrice Becker, Newsletter Coordinator

pab514@netzero.com, 424-2954

The third Monday of each month is the deadline for all newsletter articles.     Due Date:  January 15