December 2005

 It is that time of year again to take a step back and take a look at the wonderment of life around us; to notice the beauty of every thing around us; the company of family and friends; the blessings of good health; and gratitude for the everyday “little things.”

Thank you to all those individuals that make the “little things” in the Troops activities just happen. They “happen” for our scouts, to expand their horizons in the out of doors, their knowledge and behavior of good citizenship, and to learn what it is to make a difference in the world around them everyday.           

THANK YOU.

Here’s wishing everyone an enjoyable and healthy Holiday Season.

Wishing each and every one of you a safe and happy holiday season; may your holidays be filled with joy and peace.

 December

2              Spring Camporee Meeting

4              Holiday Parade

5              Board of Review

8              Committee Meeting

10           Troop Movie at Chunkey’s

14           PLC Meeting

19           St. Joseph’s Box Wrap

19           Christmas Pie Bake

21           Roundtable

19           Scoutmasters Conference

26           No Troop Meeting

27-28     Whip-O-Will Campout

January

 2             Board of Review

 4             Spring Camporee Meeting

10           District Eagle Banquet

11           PLC Meeting

12           Committee Meeting

18           Roundtable

25           PLC Meeting

27-29     Sun in the Fun Campout

30           Scoutmasters Conference

February

1              Spring Camporee Meeting

3-4          District Freeze-Out

4              Klondike Derby

6              Board of Review

8              PLC Meeting

9              Committee Meeting

12           Scout Sunday

12           Webelos Bridging Ceremony

15           Roundtable

22           PLC Meeting

20           Scoutmasters Conference

28           Ice Fishing

The patrol assignments for November are as follows:

12/5        Setup/Opening                     Dragons

                Skill Instruction/Game        Lizards

                Closing/Cleanup                 Vipers

12/12      Setup/Opening                     Badgers               

                Skill Instruction/Game        Dragons

                Closing/Cleanup                 Lizards

12/19      Setup/Opening                     Vipers

                Yankee Swap/Party                             

                Closing/Cleanup                 Dragons

12/26      No Troop Meeting

Committee Meeting

The Troop 401 Committee meets on the second Thursday of each month. The next meeting will be on

December 8, 7 PM at St. James Church.  All parents are encouraged to attend and participate.    See you at the next meeting.

Chunkey’s Movie Cafe

Saturday, December 10, the troop will attend the new Harry Potter movie at Chunkey’s in Pelham, NH.  The cost is $15.60 per person and includes the movie, lunch of cheese pizza, popcorn, soda and a hot fudge Sunday for dessert.  We will meet at St. James and leave around 1 PM

YMCA Lock-In

Troop 401 will be joining Troop 424 at the Goffstown YMCA for a Lock-In on March 25.  We need to know how many boys and adults will be attending and collect a deposit of $10 from each person by December 5.   Checks should be made out to Troop 401and given to Mr. Becker.   The remaining balance, if any, will be collected at a later time.  You may use your scout accounts for this expense also.

Family Life Merit Badge:  For all those scouts interested in working on this merit badge, please contact Mrs. Kofman.  This MB is ongoing.

This fall the troop started working on several  merit badges during troop skill instructions.  It is your responsibility to continue to work on the requirements on your own and then meet  with the merit badge councilor to complete the requirements and getting the blue card signed. 

 Adult trainings

Arrowhead District New Leader Essentials, Scoutmaster and Committee Training for Boy Scout leaders will be held January 7 and again on March 4.  The Outdoor Leader skills training will be held on April 20 and the weekend of May 6 and 7.  For more information on these training sessions, contact Robin Rich.   All registered adults should take the New Leader Essentials and either Scoutmaster or Committee training, depending on your position within the troop. 

Safe Swim and Safety Afloat Training can now be done on-line.  The link to the training is  http://www.scouting.org/pubs/aquatics/index2.html.  At the end of the training, there is a short test and then you can print out your own training card. 

Scouts working on the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class should bring their Scout books to the weekly meetings so that achievements can be signed off in your book.  Books should also be given to Mr. Tucker at least once a month so that he can update the computer files.

Congratulations to Albert Wong for earning the rank of Eagle. 

Scouting for Food

Pack and Troop 401 worked together again this year to do Scouting for Food.  The pack retrieved 383 of the 2000 bags distributed.  A total of 3161 items were donated.  Thanks to all the scouts and parents who participated in this effort.  Mrs. Greenleaf of the food pantry was very pleased with the results.

Popcorn

Popcorn money is due back to Mrs. Demers by December 5. 

Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) 

The PLC will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month.  The members of the Senior Patrol, Patrol Leaders and/or Assistant Patrol Leaders, the Scoutmaster, Patrol Advisors and anyone who has business to be discussed by the PLC should attend these meeting. 

 

Senior Patrol 

The Senior Patrol has been busy planning the lively troop meetings that all of the scouts of Troop 401 are fortunate enough to attend.  We have also spent days at a time planning your Spring Camporee.  We have been meeting with Troop 15 and Troop 424 to make the next Camporee the best one yet. 

On a different note, the Senior Patrol recently awarded Mr. Milton the “Turkey Scout Award” for his fantastic work on the Turkey Campout.  That’s all for this month.  This is the Senior Patrol signing off.  –Submitted by Patrick Marston, SPL

Badger Patrol

During our patrol meeting we discussed what to do for our American heritage skill instruction.  We are discussing what parts each of us is doing.   We are looking forward to another meeting. 

Submitted by Matt Becker, Badger Patrol Scribe

 

Ideas are funny little things.  They don’t work unless you do.

The third Monday of each month will be the deadline for all newsletter articles.  The next date is December18.        

Happy Holidays!