March 2005

 

                Happy Birthday Boy Scouts! 

On February 8, 1910, William Boyce and a group of businessmen, educators and political leaders founded the Boy Scouts of America.  To learn how this came to be, I strongly recommend you borrow your Scouts handbook and read about the scouting history on page 431.  There are many interesting facts to be learned.

 

I would like to welcome the new Scouts and their families who have recently joined Troop 401.  They have bridged from Webelos to Boy Scouts. All of them have earned their Arrow of Light Award and come with a lot of Scouting Skills.  On behalf of the Troop, I would like to congratulate them on their accomplishment and encourage them to continue on the Scouting path. Every scout will help them along the way. The adventure has just begun.

 

The Scouting adventure is not only for the Scouts. The adults are encouraged to join in the adventure with their sons.  Do you have a skill you would like to share, you can teach a Merit Badge.  How about teaching scouting skills, you can become an assistant scoutmaster. Do you just enjoy being involved? You can become a member of the committee.  There is something for everyone.

 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at mailto:rdhetat@yahoo.com or 429-0794.

 

 

Hello everyone. I hope everyone remembered to celebrate Boy Scouts of America's Birthday. This year we are celebrating our 95th Birthday. In 1907 is when Boy Scouts started in England.  It wasn't until 1910 that it came to this country.  On February 20, 2005, St. James will be celebrating with a service for us.  I hope everyone can make it to the service.  This is a great way to say thank you to St. James Church for sponsoring Troop 401.  Also remember a Scout is Reverent.

 

During the month of February, we will have some new Scouts joining us.  Yes, it is that time of year again when we have the Webelos graduating into the troop. Please introduce yourselves to them when you see them.  Like last year the new scouts will be in the Bison Patrol.  They will be working on the Scout Badge and the Tenderfoot Rank.  In a few months they will be split up into the patrols in the troop. Welcome to Troop 401 Bison Patrol.

 

Very soon we will be very active again in troop activities.  If you have been looking at the calendar you will see what I am talking about.  There are going to be many trips that we have planned.  Hopefully you will be able to partake in as many as you can.  I believe at the next Court of Honor there will be more info passed out for a few different trips coming up. Let’s just say we are going to have some fun and real soon.

 

Many of the Scouts have been working very hard lately and have earned their next rank.  Great job guys. Please keep it up and you may soon be working on Eagle Scout. Parents please encourage your son to work on merit badges. We will be introducing many merit badges over the scouting year. They do not have to work on all of the merit badges we introduce. If there is one they like help them along to finish it up. Remember scouts before you start working on a merit badge please see me or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters. You will need to get a signed Blue Card from one of us before you start. Please check with the Merit Badge Councilor also before you start. The councilor will tell you just how they would like you to work on that merit badge.

 

If you have any questions regarding the merit badges, upcoming events or anything else about Troop 401, please let me know. I will let you know what is happening.

 

YIS (Yours In Scouting)

Mr. Bill Courtemanche

 

 March

3/5          New Leader Essential/Troop Specific training

3/7          Board of Review

3/9          PLC Meeting

3/10        Committee Meeting

3/12        Lowell Textile Mill  

3/12        YMCA Lock-in

3/16        Roundtable

3/19        University of Scouting

3/21        Easter Bread Bake

3/25        Snow tubing

3/28        Scoutmaster’s Conference              

 

April

4/1          District Dinner

4/4          Board of Review

4/9          District Hikeathon

4/13        PLC Meeting

4/14        Committee Meeting

4/15-17  District Spring Camporee

4/17-18  Isaac Davis Campout

4/18        Scoutmasters Conference

4/20        Roundtable

4/21        Outdoor Leader Training

 

May

5/2          Board of Review

5/7          Boston Red Sox Game

5/11        PLC Meeting

5/12        Committee Meeting

5/14-15  Outdoor Leader Training

5/18        Roundtable

5/20-22  Campout with Hike

5/23        Scoutmasters Conference

 

The patrol assignments for March are: 

 

Mar 7      Setup/Clean Up                   Vipers

                Opening/Closing                 Badgers

                Skill Instruction                    Dragons

                Game                                     Lizards

 

Mar 14    Setup/Clean Up                   Badgers

                Opening/Closing                 Dragons

                Skill Instruction                    Lizards

                Game                                     Vipers

 

Mar 21    Setup/Clean Up                   Dragons

                Opening/Closing                 Lizards

                Skill Instruction                    Vipers

                Game                                     Badgers

 

Mar 28    Setup/Clean Up                   Lizards

                Opening/Closing                 Vipers

                Skill Instruction                    Badgers

                Game                                     Dragons

 

 

Committee Meeting

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

March 10, 7 PM at St. James Church.  All parents are encouraged to attend and participate.    See you at the next meeting.

 

Scouts

Assist the new scouts that have joined the Troop. Make them feel welcome. Help them learn the scouting skills they need to have fun.  Remember, you were once just like them.

 

Youth Protection Awareness

The Troop will be showing the Youth Protection Awareness Videos on 3/14/05 at 8 PM, after the meeting. We ask that a parent attend the showing of the BSA videos with their son. If you would like to preview the videos, please contact Mrs. Kofman.

 

Family Life

The next meeting for the Family Life Merit Badge will be at St. James Church on Monday, March 14 at 6:15 PM. Please be sure to bring your paperwork, MB book, pen and your Blue Card. Any questions or conflicts, please contact Mrs. Kofman at 429-0794 or rdhetal@yahoo.com  .

 

 

New Leaders Essentials/ Scoutmaster Training will be March 5 at First Church in Nashua starting at 7:30 AM.  If you have already attended New Leader Essentials you need to come at 10:30 AM.  Cost is $6.   The outdoor preparation meeting will be Thursday April 21 and weekend outdoor training will be May 14-15.   Contact Robin Rich if you wish to register or have questions.

University of Scouting:   Sat., March 19, Alvirne High School, Hudson, NH   Six sessions of classes will run from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM.   Each participant should choose a first and second choice for each session.   A mid-way will also be run during sessions 3 and 4.  Please bring your own bag lunch.  Food is not being provided this year.  Cost is $12 per person before March 4 or $20 per person after that date.   Class listings and registration forms are available on-line at dwcbsa.org.

Congratulations to all of the boys who have earned a rank or merit badge during the past few months.   Since the last Court of Honor, there were 16 merit badges earned by 8 scouts.  Ranks were earned by:

 

Matt Stockhausen                Scouter

Michael Dougherty              Tenderfoot

Cody Gladstone                   Tenderfoot

Aaron Becker                        Second Class

Nathan Demers                   Second Class

James Rothenberg             Second Class

 

There are many service projects that will be taking place this spring.  If you need service hours for your next badge of rank, keep watching this space for announcements of dates and times of the opportunities the troop has planned.  Also remember that service projects done with other organizations such as your church or school may also be used for service hours provided they are approved by the Scoutmaster.

 

Fundraising for Scout events is an on-going effort.  If you find you need to participate in a fundraising event to help pay for camp, the trip to the National Jamboree, or for any other scouting event, please let Mrs. Kofman know.    Likewise, if you have an idea for a new fundraising event, please contact Mrs. Kofman with your idea. 

 

 

 

 

One seed can start a garden,

One smile can lift a spirit,

One candle can light a room,

One conversation can start a friendship,

One step can begin a journey,

One heart can love many,

One person can make all the difference –

                That one is YOU!

                                Author Unknown

 

 

A Scout is Clean:   A Scout keeps his body and mind fit and clean.  He goes around with those who believe in living by these same ideals.  He helps keep his home and community clean.

 

A Scout is Reverent:   A Scout is reverent toward God.  He is faithful in his religious duties.  He respects the beliefs of others.

 

 

Last Month’s Trivia Questions and Answers

1.  A new star is added to the American flag on the date a new state joins the union.      True or False

When a state is admitted to the union, the new star is added to the flag on the following July 4.  

 

2.  When an American flag touches the ground it should be burned.      True or False

The flag does not need to be burned, but it should be properly cleaned.

 

3.  The American flag should never be carried flat during a parade.     True or False

The American flag should never be carried flat, unless it is draped over a casket.

 

4.  The American flag has always had thirteen stripes.  True or False    In the 1814, the “Star-Spangled Banner” had fifteen stripes.  Congress later passed a bill limiting the number of stripes to 13. 

 

5.  When the National Anthem or the bugle call “To the Colors” is played during the raising of the flag, the color guard should secure the flag as soon as the flag reaches the top and hold the salute until the music is completed before marching away.   True or False

The flag should be raised, but not secured until the music has ended.              

 

These answers were found in the BSA booklet called Your Flag:  Everything you Want to Know About the Flag of the United States of America.

 

This Month’s Trivia Questions

What is the name of our district?

 

Who is our District Director?

 

Who is our District Chairman?

 

Who is our District Commissioner?

 

What cities and towns make up our District?

 

For answers, see Mrs. Becker or read next month’s newsletter.

 

The deadline for articles to be included in the next newsletter is March 23.