November 2005

Congratulations to the Troop 401 scouts that placed second and third place at the Fall Camporee in Litchfield. The competition involved knots and lashings of a structure as a “Tribute to those that Serve.”  A big THANK YOU goes to the Scouts, the leadership of Mike Marston and Robin Rich who organized the event, the other adults that attended the Camporee and the planning meetings and the parents that provided transportation.  The success of this event was made possible by practicing the knots and lashings, and planning the structure with a few extra meetings. Thank you to all that provided assistance with those meetings.  Great Job!

In order for the Scouts to be successful, it takes work and planning from everyone; Scouts and families to attend the meetings and the campout. It takes Leaders and adults to arrange for use of the church for the extra meeting times. Leader’s securing people with the skills to teach the knots and lashings. The scouting program can not run by a few people. It is a collaborative effort of everyone to make the program a success for the Scouts and Your son. 

The one thing I have not mentioned is fun. The scouts and ADULTS are having fun! It is amazing how learning can take place, especially when it is done when we are having fun.  Join in on the next event. Come have some fun!

Hello Troop 401,

Let me start by congratulating Troop 401's newest Eagles. Great job guys. I hope everyone has had a chance to see just what they have done. There have been some great Eagle Service Projects and many merit badges earned.

I know Mr. Tucker has been very busy lately. The number of merit badges earned at summer camp was very encouraging. Over the next few months there will be a few merit badges offered at the troop meetings. If anyone has a suggestion for a merit badge for the troop to work on please let us know what it is. We will try to get that merit badge into the schedule.

October is Fire Prevention Month and we will be working on the Fire Safety Merit Badge. Most of the merit badge should be earned while at the Central Fire Station on Oct 17. There will be a few requirements that will be completed on your own.

The troop meeting scheduled for Oct. 31 is still on. We will be having a game night. I realize that this is Merrimack's Trick or Treat. So if you would like to skip that and have some fun with the troop, please join us for game night.

For the month of November we will be working on American Heritage Merit Badge.  This should be a very interesting merit badge to work on.

We have many events on the calendar coming up. Some of these are campouts while others are not. In Nov. we will be looking for some help from everyone. On Nov 12 we have a Council wide Community Service Project, Scouting for Food.  On Nov. 12 we will be distributing the bags. We will let you know what the time will be later. On Nov. 19 the bags will be picked up. This is where we will need all scouts and parents to help.  The reason for the need for assistance is the Troop will be camping. The weekend of Nov. 18 - 20 is Troop 401's annual Turkey Campout. The reservation was made and paid for before we had firm dates from Council for Scouting for Food. The Turkey Campout is one event that the scouts look forward to going on. We can not come back to Merrimack to do the bag pickup that Saturday morning.

I'm asking that you parents help out for approximately 1 hour with the picking up of these bags. Also any scout who does not go on the Turkey Campout should plan on helping with the bag pick up. If we all help this can be done very quickly and the St James Food Pantry will be well stocked for the Holiday Season.

Thank you to everyone that helps us out on this event. I'm sure that the boys will be grateful for all the help also.

If anyone has any concerns, questions, or comments please let me know. This is the only way I will find out what’s on your mind. I can be reached by calling 424-5968 or sending me an email at A76eagle@adelphia.com. Yes I have changed my e-mail address.

YIS, Bill Courtemanche, Scoutmaster

 November

5              Den Chief Training

7              Board of Review

9              PLC Meeting

10           Committee Meeting

12           Scouting for Food Bag Distribution

16           Roundtable

18-20     Turkey Campout

19           Scouting for Food Bag Pickup

21                 Thanksgiving Pie Bake

23           PLC Meeting

26           Candle Light Procession

28           Scoutmasters Conference

 December

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

 9             District Eagle Banquet

11           PLC Meeting

12           Committee Meeting

18           Roundtable

27-29     Sun in the Fun Campout

30           Scoutmasters Conference

The patrol assignments for November are as follows:

11/7        Setup/Opening                      Dragon

                Skill Instruction/Game        Lizards

                Closing/Cleanup                 Vipers

11/14      Setup/Opening                      Badgers              

                Skill Instruction/Game         Dragons

                Closing/Cleanup                 Lizards

11/21      Setup/Opening                      Vipers

                Skill Instruction/Game         Badgers

                Closing/Cleanup                 Dragons

11/28      Setup/Opening                      Lizards

                Skill Instruction/Game         Vipers

                Closing/Cleanup                 Badgers

Committee Meeting

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

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

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

For those of you that were not aware, Mrs. Wong our Troop Treasurer for the last 4 years will be retiring this year. Mrs. Wong has maintained the Troop accounts with her Accounting expertise, managed to juggle 50 questions asked of her every Monday night and give the answers when asked on the spot, and translate the handwriting of the scouts from their weekly attendance and dues paperwork.  Thank you for your commitment to the scouts and the troop. Your help with the monthly Committee Meetings, payment for the countless events, juggling the scout credits from Popcorn or Wreath sales, have all been greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Welcome the New Treasurer

I would like to welcome Rick Allard as the new Troop 401 Treasurer. As a member of the Troop Committee, he will assume the responsibilities of managing the Troop finances. He has years of experience with Scout finances as the Treasurer for Pack 401. Welcome.

Forms, Forms, Forms

To all of those that have turned in their yellow forms stating that you have read and reviewed the Policies and Procedure, and have received permission from your parents for your pictures to be taken for the troop web page or newspaper, THANK YOU.  To those scouts that have not turned the paperwork in, please get those forms to me ASAP. 

Thank you, Mrs. Kofman

Troop Shoot???

Notice the date for the Troop Shoot came and went?  Well October is Hunter Training month and November begins the Hunting season. What does this have to do with the Merit Badge Class? Well, the instructors for the program teach Hunter Training and Hunt.   This event will be taking place in January of 2006. The Troop is trying to secure a location for the program. Stay tuned!!!!!

Medical Forms

Mrs. Dougherty is now responsible for organizing and maintaining the troop’s medical records.  To complete the files, she needs current Class 3 medical forms for all boys and adults before they can attend any troop event.  This includes all adults who drive the boys to and from events.  All medical records are kept confidential.  Mrs. Dougherty will be contacting you within the next month if your form is not current. 

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.   Permission slips and money are due to Mrs. Dougherty by November 21 so she can confirm the reservations.   Please make all checks out to Troop 401.

YMCA Lock-In

Troop 401 is planning to join 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.  This is a non-refundable deposit, so please check your calendars carefully. 

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

Den Chief Training

Any boy who wishes to hold a leadership position as a Den Chief should speak to Mr. Courtemanche and then attend Den Chief training on Sat, Nov 5 at St. James Church from 9- 2:30.   Wear your class A uniform and bring a bag lunch, den chief handbook, and pen or pencil.  Cost is-$6 payable to Daniel Webster Council and sent to Dave Giguere, PO Box 309, Merrimack, NH 03052

Adult trainings

Boy Scout Leader training is being held in Chelmsford, MA at Trinity Lutheran Church on 170 Old Westford Rd.  A Massachusetts Boy Scout Council does the training on  Nov 12 from  9 AM to 5 PM.  If interested send an email to:   j.Dixon@ieee.org.

Arrowhead District Boy Scout leader and troop committee trainings will be held Jan 8 and March 5.

Remember to give completed merit badges blue card to Mr. Tucker as soon as you have completed the requirements.  

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

Since the last newsletter, two scouts earned new ranks and one earned a new merit badge:  

Tyler Golemo – Scout Rank

L. Francisco Resendez – Life Rank, Communications Merit Badge

Scouting for Food

We will be splitting up this task with the Cub Scout Pack.  We will be putting the bags out the weekend of November 12 and the Cubs will be picking them up on November 19. 

This event will be done on a patrol level.  The area will be divided and patrol members will be responsible for making sure the bags get out to the town.  Patrols can split this up even further—two scouts should do an area together.  The bags can be delivered on Saturday, November 12 or Sunday, November 13.

Thanksgiving Pie Bake

On Monday, November 21, we will be holding our annual Thanksgiving Pie Bake to benefit the St. James Community Food Pantry.  Anyone who helps bake a pie will earn an hour of service time.  Please let Mrs. Dougherty or Mrs. Becker know if you are interested in helping.  We will meet at St. James at 6 PM, in Class B uniforms. 

Candlelight Procession

Troop 401 will be passing out candles and songbooks at the Candle Light Procession on Saturday, November 26 at 6:15 PM.   Anyone interested in helping, please meet at the Abby Griffith Park in Class A uniform, warm coat, hat and gloves. 

Popcorn

Mrs. Demers will be giving everyone who sold popcorn a call when the popcorn is available for pick up.  Please pick it up from her promptly so you can deliver it and collect the money as soon as possible.  Popcorn money is due back to Mrs. Demers by December 5. 

Christmas Wreaths

Troop 401 will be selling Christmas Wreaths and Kissing Balls again this year.  The prices are as follows: 14” wreath - $14, 18” wreath - $18, 24” wreath - $24, 36” wreath - $50, 48” wreath - $70, Kissing Balls - $25

Order forms are online at the Troop web site or you can make your own form from the information listed above.  Order forms with money are due back on Monday, November 14 with delivery at the November 28 Troop meeting.

Patrol Leaders Council  (PLC) 

The PLC will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month beginning November 9^th.  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. 

 

Fall Camporee

The fall camporee was held at the Litchfield Middle School, and camping was at the high school.   We had two patrols attend.  The boys who went were: Patrick Marston, Dan Petrovic, Dan Becker, Aaron Becker, Matt Becker, Joel Yates, Francisco Resendez, Michael Phillips, James Rothenberg, Matt Stockhausen, Jacob Kirby, Robert Schueler, Nathan Demers and Ricky Allard,

The theme this year was “Saluting those who Serve”.  We had to rescue a downed pilot behind enemy lines.  As part of this program, we had to go on an orienteering course that was over one mile long.  It was often hard to find the markers.  Being off by 5° can mean you will be off the target by 22 feet.  It was often cold at night but we lived through it.  Both the patrols got wet when we did shelter building because they shot a stream of water from a fire hose at us.

Each Patrol won a prize, one took second place and the other took third place for the competition.  The Troop won “Most Patriotic” for the memorial structure that we built. 

Submitted by Daniel Becker, Scribe

“Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him and to let him know that you trust him.”

                                Booker T. Washington       

The third Monday of each month will be the deadline for all newsletter articles.  The next date is November 21.