Committee Chair’s Corner
Marsha Kofman, Committee Chair, rdhetal@yahoo.com, 429-0794
The Scouting year is off to a busy start! We started our year with the Annual District Popcorn sale. This is an excellent opportunity for the scouts to earn money for the entire scouting year, but it is also an opportunity for the Troop to earn money to help with our operation. A BIG thank you goes to Erica Beck for volunteering her time this year to oversee this very important fundraiser. We are trying to shorten the time until the customers can actually get the popcorn. Please watch your email and/or respond to the phone messages left by Mrs. Beck for your popcorn order pick up. BUT, if you didn’t get a form and would like to still sell Popcorn, don’t worry there is still time. Contact Mrs. Beck at the next meeting or myself.
The next event will be the NH Jamboree at Gunstock Mountain, October 5th - 7th. This event only occurs once every four years. Scouts, from across the entire state of NH and beyond, come together and participate in scouting activities. This is an incredible opportunity! Be sure to sign up and attend this event. This is an unforgettable experience.
I would like to thank those parents and adults that have assisted the troop by signing up to oversee and/or organize the activities that the Scouts have planned to do for this upcoming year. If you have not yet had an opportunity to sign up, please see me at the next meeting. If you see an event that you would like to attend and no one has signed up for it, please consider overseeing it and/or organizing it. I would like to see every adult sign up for at least one event. If we do not have people signing up for events, we will need to cancel them. Then, we will not be able to provide a complete and rounded program to the scouts. Please, do not let this happen. Please sign up for one event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. rdhetal@yahoo.com or 429-0794.
Troop 401,
Another
year of scouting is off to a successful start. I would like to congratulate the
boys that will make up the new Senior Patrol.
Eric Retelle – Senior Patrol Leader
James
Rothenberg – Asst. Senior Patrol Leader
Jack Mulrey – Scribe
Nathan Demers – Quartermaster
I would also like to extend a hearty “job well done” to the boys that have been running the troop over the past year, Jake Therrien, Eric Retelle, David Porbunderwala, Dan Becker, and Aaron Becker.
The NH Jamboree at Gunstock Ski Area is coming up very soon - October 5th – 7th. Mr. Seeley is coordinating this event and he needs to get final numbers very soon (like this week). Please let him know if you plan to attend (adults and scouts).
The Jamboree is a great opportunity to meet and hang out with your fellow scouts from throughout the state and beyond. There are lots of fun things to do and lots of new friends to be made. You should not miss this as this event is held ONLY every four years.
Special Congratulations to Robbie Frost and Scott Shidlovsky. These boys (actually adults now) were presented with the Rank of Eagle Scout on September 15th. Great job and best of luck in all you do. This rank is a big hurdle you have crossed in your road to success.
Finally, I would like to thank all the adults that have helped the Troop function for the past year and those who will make this possible for the next year. Boy Scouts is boy led, but still requires significant guidance and mentoring from the parents and leaders. I’m looking forward to a great year.
YIS
Mr. Marston
Scoutmaster, Troop 401
Cell: 603-494-9023
Email: marstonm@comcast.net
Changing of the Guard
We would like to take this opportunity to announce that after seven years of service to Troop 401 as a Committee Member, Ed Tucker is retiring as Advancement Chairperson. After Scout leader and Committee training, then running monthly Boards of Review, entering hundreds of Merit Badges into Troopmaster, countless trips to the Council Store for badges and pins, more paperwork, answering phone calls for scheduling Boards of Review and being a part of 15 of the Troop’s 26 Eagle scouts, Mr. Tucker sure has logged in an insurmountable number of hours of volunteer service. He has gone beyond the call of duty. On behalf of Troop 401’s Committee and Scouts, present and past, we would like to thank him for his dedication and commitment. He has been the pinnacle point in the advancement of all of the scouts from Troop 401. We extend a big THANK YOU.
Welcome
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome our new Advancement Chairperson, Mike Volante. Mike has been overseeing the Advancement for Pack 401 for the past few years and has generously offered to take on the responsibility of the Troop Advancements as well. Mike has been working with Mr. Tucker to learn about the particular requirements that are needed for each of the ranks in Boy Scouts.
Scouts, your Blue Cards now go to Mr. Volante. When you need a Board of Review, after your Scoutmaster conferences, you now need to call upon, Mr. Volante. Adults, be sure to congratulate Mr. Volante on his new endeavor. Mr. Volante, from Troop 401 members, present and future, a big THANK YOU for stepping up and assisting Troop 401.
Woodbadge
The ultimate leadership skills training…the PhD of Scouting….will be held at Hidden Valley on Friday – Sunday, Sept 28 - 30. Highly recommended and FUN! Sign up before this course is filled. Call Robin for more information. 880-8222.
New Leader Essentials
Saturday, October 13, there will be training at the First Congregational Church in Nashua. The New Leader Essentials course will run from 9 to 12. The Troop Committee Challenge for Troop Committee Members will run from 12:15 to 2:45PM. The cost is $6.00. You can obtain an application from Troop Training Chair, Robin Rich or the DWC web page.
Den Chief Training
The training will be held on November 3rd. Please contact Robin Rich at 880-8222 for more information.
Upcoming Events
September
28 – Woodbadge Training
29 – Hiking Club – Mt. Cardigan
October
5-7 – NH Jamboree
8 – Game Night (Troop Mtg)
10 – Roundtable
11 – Committee Meeting
12 – Adopt a Road
13 – New Leader Essentials Training
13 – Corn Maze – Coppal House Farm
20 – Hiking Club – Mt. Monadnock
26-28 – Turkey Campout
29 – Court of Honor
November
3 – Den Chief Training
10 – Scouting for Food Bag Drop-off
10 – Parsonage Clean up
12 – Movie Night (Troop Mtg.)
Announcements
Troop Committee Meetings
All parents and leaders are encouraged to attend this monthly meeting. They are scheduled on the second Thursday of each month, at 7 PM. The meeting takes place at St. James Church.
NH Jamboree 2007
NH Jamboree 2003
Scouts from Daniel Webster Council, New England and Canada will come together for adventure and fun on October 5-7 at Gunstock Recreation Area in Gilford, NH.
There will be so much to do that it will be impossible to do everything with the allotted time available but everyone will have a great time trying. There will be climbing walls, rope bridges, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, archery, BB’s, relay races, BMX bikes, native American games, broom hockey, knot tying, water rockets, soap box derby, rain gutter regatta, knot relay, canoe portage station, geo cashing, orienteering course, first aid demonstration, monkey bridge, bike course, low cope exercises and activities, spider’s web, river crossing, group juggling activity, hike to the top of Gunstock, ultimate frisbee round robins, and the list goes on….
Not to mention the hundreds of exhibitors and merit badge councilors, that will be there. For example, Civil Air Patrol, Scottish Arts Institute, EMS, Gilford Police, Gilford Fire, Gilford Marine, Concord Fire, DRED - Trails with their trailer , Squam Lake Science Center, NH National Guard, NH Air National Guard, Concord Railroad Club, AMC, Honda, Captain Morrill's Company, Remax hot air balloon, LL Bean, scouting museum, and so on.
They have even been discussing with Gunstock the possibility of having the quad chair lift operating so you can take a scenic ride to the top of the mountain. There will be a $5 per person fee that you will pay Gunstock directly at the bottom of the lift.
There will be a day show stage with entertainment during the day, and a spectacular night show that will conclude with fireworks.
Sooooo…..we still have openings for Troop 401 available for the Jamboree. Please sign up this week! Troop 401 will have a great time….PLEASE JOIN US!!
Kevin Seeley will be organizing Troop 401’s involvement. Please contact him with any questions. Email him at kseeley2005@yahoo.com or call him at 424-0734.
Troop 401 Hiking Club
Mt. Cardigan – A Junior Sized Peak with a Big Mountain Feel
The next Hiking Club hike with be Mt. Cardigan’s West Ridge Trail on Saturday, September 29. This trail may be the most deceptive hike in New Hampshire. Although the path is often broad and ascends at a reasonable pace, the upper reaches traverse almost a quarter of a mile of the mountain’s bare summit cone. Because this innocent trail quickly transports hikers to an exposed peak with all the attendant risks of a larger mountain, Mt. Cardigan has taken on the aspect of a proving ground for each generation of new, young hikers. It’s a great place to bring the kids! Comes complete with unique views of Vermont, the Lakes Region, and the Connecticut River Valley. Please contact Kevin Seeley with questions. Email him at kseeley2005@yahoo.com or call him at 424-0734.
Fall 2007 Schedule:
9/29 Mt. Cardigan
10/13 Corn Maze – Coppal House Farm
10/20 Mt. Monadnock
10/27 Turkey Campout hike – Northwood Meadows
State Park
11/3 Sheldrick Forest Preserve
Coppal House Farm Corn Maze
Join Troop 401 on October 13th as they descend on the Coppal House Farm’s Corn Maze located in Lee, NH. Marvel at this amazing feat of agricultural engineering as you try to make your way through living walls of corn that are over 8 feet tall! Please sign up soon. The group will be meeting at St. James Church at 1pm. The sign up sheet is on the board at the Church. Mr. and Mrs. Allard are organizing the event. If you have any questions. Please email them at Paula.allard@comcast.net or call them at 429-1071.
2007 Coppal House Farm’s Corn Maze – Coyote Howling at the Moon
Roundtable
There has been a schedule change for the monthly meetings! They are now 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:
October – Eagle Board presentation: Guidelines for helping Scouts prepare Eagle write ups and proposals.
November – Cold weather preparedness training.
December - Webelos Transition
Fundraising
Troop Participation
As this year’s Scout year begins, just a reminder that Troop 401’s Policies and Procedures state that all Scouts are required to participate in at least two fundraisers per year. If you did not participate in round one of the popcorn sale, it is not too late. Scout families can sell popcorn until October 29th. The next fundraiser will be the annual wreath sale followed by the Hikeathon in the Spring. Scout fundraising participation is critical to both the Scout and the Troop – please Do Your Duty and participate!
Popcorn Sales
The first round of popcorn sales has been completed. Scouts can continue to sell popcorn until October 29th. Please contact Erica Beck at ingaa@msn.com or 424-2611 for popcorn sales forms or more information. This is a very important fundraiser for the troop and for the scout accounts. The troop receives up to 6% of the sales and individual scout accounts receive 30% of the sales.
Fishercat Ticket Sales
A big congratulations and THANK YOU to Max L. and Logan S. These two sold the most tickets for this fundraising event.
Past Events
The Hiking Club’s Hike #1 – Pond Parish
Two Saturdays ago the clouds broke up in time to let the rain-delayed first hike occur. James R., Kyle S., Logan S., Mrs. Sanborn, Mrs. Seeley, and Mr. Seeley., as well as Birk and Bella hiked the two mile loop seeing a city of stumps sticking out of a beaver-dam bog fall beneath the wings of a startled great grey heron.
Pond Parish Hike
The Hiking Club’s Hike #2 – Shieling State Forest
This last Saturday saw an Indian Summer day falling beneath the boots of a crowd of adventurers from Merrimack. The 2.5 mile loop included lunch on a glacier-deposited giant boulder as well as a walk down a long forgotten carriage road. The scouts: Tom A., Matthew B., Robert K., Max L., Holden L., James R., Logan S., Jackson V. tested their hiking skills and did a great job preparing their day packs. The adults/familes included Mr. Landry, Mr. Volante, Mr. Kilkelley, Mrs. Allard, Mrs. Seeley and Mr. Seeley as well as three younger but very capable boys. The 'pack animals', Birk and Bella, provided the Seeley's with water as well as song.
Shieling State Forest Hike
On Being a Scout….
There were a total of 6,943 Merit Badges earned in the Daniel Webster Council in 2006.
The Top Ten Merit Badges were:
Swimming…………………………………………398
First Aid……………………………………………371
Environmental Science………………………….252
Camping…………………………………………..233
Archery…………………………………………….232
Personal Fitness………………………………….226
Wilderness Survival………………………………219
Citizenship in the World………………………….219
Personal Management…………………………...209
Family Life…………………………………………204