January 2008 News
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,” it 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 learning how to tie a bowline, or build a fire using only one match; learning how to provide First Aid miles away from the nearest medical facility or even a cell phone tower to get help. This means learning about coin collecting, how our government works, teamwork, snow boarding, and swimming. 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.
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 your special and unique talents. Everyone has them!
Marsha Kofman, 429-0794, rdhetal@yahoo.com
Scoutmaster’s Minute
Ken Sanborn, Scoutmaster, klrksanborn@comcast.net, 423-9835
With a spectacular snowy December and the promise of more snow to come, our troop is sure to have an outstanding time at the upcoming Klondike Derby.
Just before the turn of the last century, gold prospectors traveled the sub-zero reaches of Alaska by means of dogs and sleds. They camped out in all kinds of winter weather, and therefore needed adequate survival skills, which they learned from the native Eskimos. Scouting has incorporated this theme in the Klondike Derby.
The scout version involves an overnight campout and multiple Camporee type stations, where patrols compete against each other. Each patrol uses a dog sled that uses Scout power to pull it instead of dogs. The scouts pull the sleds that are loaded with their personal and patrol equipment. The Scouts journey through woods and fields, up and down hills and stop at different activity stations. Usually the scouts have to use a map and compass to navigate themselves and their sleds to their destinations (each activity station). When they arrive at these stations, they are timed and tested on their scouting knowledge, their teamwork and their problem solving skills. Some of the things they may be tested on include knots and lashings, first aid, starting a fire in the snow and building a shelter to get out of the elements.
Our troop will have a Klondike practice on Saturday, February 9th at Camp Whip-O-Will. The practice will replace the February 11th troop meeting and will help prepare our troop for the main event on February 15th-17th.
A sign-up sheet is available at the church and I highly recommend that all scouts participate in the practice and the event itself. It is incredible fun and a truly valuable experience.
Your Scoutmaster
Ken Sanborn
Training Opportunities
· New Leader Essentials – February 13th at the Roundtable
· Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster training – March 1st at First Church in Nashua also on March 29th at the LDS Church.
· Venturing training – March 1st at LDS Church
· Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster Outdoor training:
Introductory meeting April 17th
Weekend training June 7th – 8th
· Den Chief training – May 10th
· Powderhorn training for venturing and troop leaders – July 11 -13 and 18-20 at Hidden Valley
You can obtain an applications and more information from Troop Training Chair, Robin Rich or from the DWC web page.
Upcoming Events
January
19 – Tubing
21 – Game Night
24 – Library Book Sale – Set up
26 – Snowshoe Hike
27 – Library Book Sale – Take down
28 – Troop Mtg – Cobras: Klondike Training
– knots & lashings
February
2 – Ice Fishing
3 – Scout Sunday – General
4 – Troop Mtg – Pumas: Woodworking
9 – Klondike Practice (replaces troop mtg)
10 – Scout Sunday – St. James
11 – No Regular Troop Mtg (Klondike practice on
the 9th)
13 – District Roundtable
14 – Troop Committee Meeting
15-17 - Klondike Derby
29-3/2 – Camp Spam
Announcements
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SCOUTING
Scouting was founded by Sir Baden Powell on February 10, 1910. To mark this date in History, we celebrate on Scout Sunday, which is the first weekend in February. Most churches and synagogues have special services to celebrate. Our Lady of Mercy and St. John Neuman have marked February 3rd as their day of celebration. If you would like to attend this service, please be in full scout uniform and meet in the back of the church at 9:15 AM to join in on the celebration.
Sunday, February 10th is the Scout Sunday Service at St. James United Methodist Church, Troop 401’s chartering organization. The Troop and Pack will join together to participate in this ceremony. Please arrive in full Class A uniform to participate at 9 AM. We would like to encourage as many attendees as possible to show our appreciation to St. James for chartering and supporting our Scouting program. If you have any questions, please speak with Mrs. Kofman, the Troop Committee Chair or Mrs. Sanborn, the Troop Charter Representative with St. James Church.
Snow Tubing
This coming Saturday, January 19th will be this year’s snow tubing event. The Scouts will be flying down the hills at McIntyre Ski Area in Manchester from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The cost is $14/person and the troop will meet in the St. James parking lot at 5:30 p.m., departing sharply at 5:40 p.m. Pickup time will be approx 9:15 p.m. Please contact Mr. Courtemanche with questions 424-5968 a76eagle@comcast.net.
Hiking Club – Snowshoe Hike
This
year’s winter hike will be a short snowshoe hike at the Joe English Reservation
on Saturday, January 26th. We are able to get a 10:00 am time for at least 10 people for a special training and tour - to include the shoes. Our winter
fundraiser can subsidize this event if we can get enough people signed up - so
please sign up on Monday or email Mr. Seeley at kseeley2005@ yahoo.com if you want to come.
Parents are encouraged to participate…..make it a family event. The hike will
be about 2 miles and count for 4 miles in the hiking club.
Joe English reservation is right in our backyard and a fun place to hike.
http://www.amherstn
h.gov/pmec/ location. html
Camp Spam
Scout Camp Wanosockett in the shadow of Mount Monadnock has been reserved for Friday, February 29th to Sunday, March 2nd. Two scouts will be selected for planning the event and menus (Spam for sure). A $25 deposit is needed that will be refunded into your scout account for those who participated in the gift-wrapping fundraiser.
Summer Camp Reminder
Although the snow & ice is piling up, summer camp will be arriving soon. The deposit for summer camp of $50.00 will be due at the beginning of March. Just as a reminder you should check your Scout account to see what money you will have available to pay for camp. Please see Mr. Allard, the Troop Treasurer for this information.
Troop Committee Meetings
All parents and leaders are encouraged to attend monthly meetings. They are scheduled on the second Thursday of each month, at 7 PM. The meeting takes place at St. James Church.
District Roundtable
Scheduled for the second Wednesday of each month, the meetings take place at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Nashua, next to Greeley Park at 7 PM.
All adult leaders are encouraged to attend this valuable training. Parents are also welcome to attend these meetings to learn more about the scouting program.
Upcoming Topics are:
February 13 – LL Bean presentation on GPS devices
March 12 – Eagle Board presentation (continuation)
Fundraising
Grocery Receipts
BIG NEWS!!! Thanks to the troop’s efforts, Mrs. Prive has submitted more than $15,000 in receipts. Please continue to save and bring in your Shaw's receipts! And, be sure to thank Mrs. Prive for her hard work.
Wreath Sales
This year’s wreath sale fundraiser was another solid success. Thank you to Mrs. Demers for organizing the event. The following scouts participated in the fundraiser: Eric R., Matthew B., Joel Y., Sam P., Tyler G., Brendan A., Jackson V., Holden L., Ricky A., Robert K., Nathan D. and Matt S.
The top sellers were Tyler G., Jackson V. and Robert K.
Special thanks to Pack 401 Webelos Andrew S. for his clean up of the hall and to all the scouts and scout leaders who helped decorate and distribute the wreaths on Troop night.
Gift Wrapping
Almost everyone participated in one of the gift-wrapping sessions. Your efforts earned enough money to fund our winter camping events and postpone our trash valet service to early spring. We learned a lot about which days and locations worked best and look forward to doing it again next year.
Silent Auction and Dessert Buffet
Please mark your calendar for April 5th. This is the date for the 2nd Annual Silent Auction and Dessert Buffet fundraiser. Proceeds from the event will go towards MANY needs the troop currently has. All scouts are expected to help with this event whether it is with planning, preparation, gathering donations, ticket sales or during the actual event.
Stay tuned for more information in the very near future. Please be thinking about creative donations that can be used for the auction.
Scouts: We need three scouts to act as the youth leaders for this event. One will help the adult/parent leaders with organizing the dessert buffet and the other two will help with the planning and execution of the silent auction. Please contact Mr. Seeley if you are interested in being a youth leader for this event.
Parents: The troop will also be grateful for parent help in many areas. At this time we need one or more people interested in organizing the dessert buffet portion of the event. Please contact Mr. or Mrs. Seeley for any help you can offer 424-0734 or kseeley2005@yahoo.com.
Community Service
St. Joe’s Box Wrap
A big thank you to Tyler G. and Sam P. for their participation in St. Joe’s Box Wrap on December 17th. Mr. Prive did a great job supervising the boys.
December Pie Bake
Also on December 17th, Matthew B., Brendan A., Logan S. and James R. all worked hard with Mrs. Rich to bake 16 pumpkin pies. Mrs. Kofman, Mrs. Prive, Mr. Milton and Mr. Courtemanche helped the boys as needed. Tommy and Ricky A. and Holden L. all brought pies to the troop meeting that they baked at home. Good job to all involved!
Past Events
Vertical Dreams
On December 8th Robert K., Maxwell L, Logan S. and Jackson V. set forth with Pack 401 Cub Scouts Ryan C., Shane C., Mason L. and Alec V. to traverse the challenging and difficult rock walls at Vertical Dreams Rock Wall Gym in the Manchester mill yard. The boys did their best to overcome many challenges by climbing an extensive network of rock walls ranging in height from 12 to 72 feet.
Maxwell L. and Logan S. over came their fear of heights by climbing up an abandoned elevator shaft that rose 4 floors, 72 feet in height, to achieve a personal best. Not only did the boys climb 72 feet once but Maxwell climbed to the top twice (144 feet) and Logan three times (216 feet)!!
Great job
by all the climbers and adult volunteers!
Thank you to Mr. Carlson, Mr. Conquest, Mr. Killkelley and Mr. and Mrs. Volante
for their help in making this event a success.
On Being a Scout….
After Lord Baden Powell’s death, in 1941, this message was discovered amongst his writings.
“Dear Scouts – If you have ever seen the play “Peter Pan,” you will remember how the pirate chief was always making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he might not have time to get off his chest. It is much the same with me, and so, although I am not at this moment dying. I shall be doing so one of these days and I want to send you a parting word of goodbye.
Remember, it is the last time you will ever hear from me, so think it over.
I have had a most happy life and I want each one of you to have a happy life too.
I believe that God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn’t come from being rich, nor merely being successful in your career, nor by self-indulgence. One step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so that you can be useful and so can enjoy life when you are a man.
But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best.
“Be Prepared” in this way, to live happy and to die happy – stick to your Scout promise always – even after you have ceased to be a boy – and God help you to do it.”
Your Friend,
Baden Powell
Knot Knowledge
What kind of knot would you use to tie together two ropes – especially if they are different thicknesses?
Last Month’s Question: What knot would you use for adjustable tension on a tent guy line?
Answer: Figure-eight
Newsletter Contact
Kelly Seeley, Newsletter Coord., 424-0734, troop401news@yahoo.com