Please see calendar below!!!
I would like to welcome the Webelos and their families who have recently joined Troop 401. They have bridged from Webelos to Boy Scouts. Some have earned their Arrow of Light Award. 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 you along the way. The adventure has just begun.
This 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 feel free to contact me: Marsha Kofman, rdhetal@yahoo.com or 429-0794
Silent Auction: Crunch Time is here!!!
Ticket sales are going on presently! The more people, the more bids to be made for the numerous items donated. We still need lots of help!!
*Thank you to the parents that have been making follow up calls to businesses that forgot those letters on their desks.
*We need people to do some more pick up. As the items are confirmed, we need adults to pick up the donated items and deliver the receipt and donor tickets to these local businesses. See Mrs. Kofman to pick a few along the way.
*Posters: Mr. Brodell of Ace Printing has created posters to be placed in stores, businesses and places of employment. Each scout will be given posters to place, with permission of the business or manager. Be Prepared and deliver the poster with some tape in your pocket so you can put it in place right there after they say yes!
* Sign Boards: Mr. Milton is having sign boards printed to be placed at Merrimack’s busiest intersections on our A frames to advertise our event. We need people to place these signs.
*Mrs. Beck is collecting a list of the baked items you will be donating. We learned from last year and we are trying to create a variety of dessert items. After all it is a Dessert Buffet!
*Raffle items. Please let Mrs. Kofman know what you will be donating for a Gift Basket / Raffle item so that brief descriptions can be created. This was a great success last year and there was a phenomenal amount of creativity that was tapped into. If you have any questions, please ask.
*Day of Auction: We will need shifts of people to set up, fill up, arrange, sell, clean, count, put away, sweep and everything else. Look for signup sheets for a specific job and time slot.
Remember: This event is what has paid a large portion of the 2008-09 scouting program. Without this major fundraiser, the events would have a considerable price tag. Everyone needs to do a little bit in order for this to be successful. It cannot be left to just a few to run.
I will thank you in advance for all of your help that you will be giving. With the ciaos for the event, I don’t want a thank you to be missed.
Marsha Kofman, SADB Fundraiser Chair (Interim)
Welcome New Scouts
Don’t
forget your paperwork, applications, health forms, parent surveys, parent
committee volunteer applications, and your dues. You can turn them in at a
Troop 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 3/30/09 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.
Merit Badges
Scout’s, who have already started the Reading, Scholarship, Dentistry, Dog Care, Pets, or Family Life Merit Badge or are interested in starting, please see Mrs. Kofman. Remember, these are ongoing Merit Badges. Don’t forget to bring your Blue Card that you already got from as Assistant Scoutmaster or the Scoutmaster!
Dues Reminder!
Don’t forget you need to be current with your dues to participate in Troop 401 events. Have YOU paid your dues???
Committee Members Needed
Parents: In order for the scouts to have a Board of Review for advancement in the scouting ranks, they need to present themselves to the Advancement Committee. This is run by the Advancement Chair, Mike Volante. He then has a group of Committee Members (registered BSA volunteers, aka. parents) that sit on this Board of Review. (Mr. Volante will let you know what this committee is looking to evaluate for each rank.)
The Troop is in need of Committee Members. Last month, there were not enough adults to do these ever necessary Boards of Review. That would mean the Scouts cannot advance to the next rank. So we need you!! (Adults that cannot be a part of the Boards of Review: Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee Chair and a Committee Member on your own son’s Board of Review.) Ask for an Adult Volunteer Application from Mrs. Kofman.
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.
Shaw’s Receipts
You no longer need to save your receipts. Mrs. Berube will be updating you on changes soon.
Unit of Honor
Vertical Dreams
Look at all the brave Scouts… and Volunteers!!!
Due to the lack of volunteers we may have to cancel events!!! Can you help out the boys so they don’t miss out???
Calendar:
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3/30 & 4/6 |
*Easter Bread Bake |
Erica Beck |
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April. 4 |
3nd Annual Dessert/Silent Auction |
Marsha Kofman |
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April 17-20 |
Issac Davis Trail & Renactments * |
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May . 2 |
District Hike a thon (Beaver Brook Orienteering) |
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May. 9 |
District Spring Patrol Olympics |
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May.15 |
*Adopt a Road & Church Cleanup |
( Scout) & Mike Beck |
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May. 16 |
Fishing Derby |
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May. 30 |
Hike |
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June. 4 |
*Library Book Sale Set Up |
Melissa Thomson |
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June. 6 |
Hike |
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June 7 |
*Library Book Sale Break down |
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June 12-14 |
Frank Daley Campout * |
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June. 19 or so |
Families to Fishercat's Game ???? |
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June. 20-21 |
Father's Day Backpacking *Cancelled |
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June. 22 |
COURT OF HONOR |
Lisa Sanborn |
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July. 4 |
Parade coordinator |
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July. 4 |
Midway concession |
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July. 12-18 |
Week 3 HVSR Summer Camp |
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July 24-26 |
Backpacking Trip * Cancelled |
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Week 6 Camp Bell ??? |
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Aug. 6-9 |
Canoe Trip Lake Umbagog * |
Ken Sanborn |
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July 1-15 |
*Whip O Will Cleanup |
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*COMMUNITY SERVICE: All community service projects are written in this color on the calendar.
Why not gain some hours, hang out with friends and just feel good!
Committee Meetings
Committee Meetings are open to all Troop adults. They are on the second Thursday of each month at St. James Church, 7 PM. Hope to see you there. The Troop committee oversees the events that the scouts have chosen. We also make sure that the scouts and leaders have the necessary materials and training to have these events happen.
Everyone’s help is always welcome.
Roundtable
District Roundtable is on the second Wednesday of each month. It takes place at the Church of Latter Day Saints, in Nashua, at 7 PM. All Leaders and troop adults are encouraged to attend. Valuable information about upcoming events is made available at this monthly training meeting.
Finding North Without A Compass
The shadow method:
Place a stick upright in the ground so that you can see its shadow. Alternatively, you can use the shadow of a fixed object. Nearly any object will work, but the taller the object is, the easier it will be to see the movement of its shadow, and the narrower the tip of the object is, the more accurate the reading will be. Make sure the shadow is cast on a level, brush-free spot.
Mark the tip of the shadow with a small object, such as a pebble, or a distinct scratch in the ground. Try to make the mark as small as possible so as to pinpoint the shadow's tip, but make sure you can identify the mark later.
Wait 10-15 minutes. The shadow tip will move from west to east
Mark the new position of the shadow's tip with another small object or scratch. It will likely move only a short distance.
Draw a straight line in the ground between the two marks. This is an approximate east-west line.
Now stand with the first mark (west) on your left, and the other (east) on your right. You are now facing mostly toward true north, regardless of where you are in the world.
Use this to orientate your map and mark the four points on the compass, North South, East and West on your map. Then when you orientate your map later with land marks you will know where north is.
It is always good to re-check later a well, to recalibrate yourself. A few degrees off can get you lost.
Corn Beef Potato Salad
INGREDIENTS
2 tbsps. White vinegar
1 tsp celery seed
1 tsp mustard seed
3 large potatoes
2 tsps sugar
1/2 tsp. Salt
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1 cup corned beef cubed (canned works to)
1/4 cup finely chopped dill pickle
1/4 cup sliced green onion
Dressing
1 cup MAYO
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. Salt
Method:
Combine vinegar, celery seed, mustard seed, and set aside.
Peel and cook, then cube potatoes while still warm, drizzle with vinegar mixture. Sprinkle with sugar and 1/2 tsp. salt. Chill, and then add cabbage, cubed corned beef, pickle, and onion. Combine Mayo and milk and 1/2 tsp salt, pour dressing over and toss.
Please feel free to contact me anytime with words of wisdom, creative ideas, pictures etc. that you would like to add to the scout newsletter!
Melissa Thomson, mlissat@comcast.net, 429-2805