TROOP 1320 NEWSLETTER
January 31, 2001
“All The News That Fits, We’ll Print”
_______________On the web at “Troop1320.org ”
SCOUTMASTER NOTES
Well
it really is a new millennium but I don’t feel any different? How about you?
Things seem to be the same old boring stuff around the Scout House what with
Scouts working on advancement, learning first aid, going skiing and
snowboarding, touring Washington D.C. and getting ready to go Winter Camping.
Just when it seems like I might have to hibernate I learn that a new slug of
Scouts will be joining the troop. All right, by now you should have figured out
that I am joshing you... What is really happening in the new millennium is this
Troop. And what is making it happen are the Scouts and the adults who volunteer
to assist our Scouts. In fact, if anyone of our faithful, or even intermittent,
adult readers would be willing to get involved we could use even more help with
our Troop Committee. Of course, any such volunteer will have to steel himself
to deal with the always obdurate and vexatious Charter Representative Hal
Englund. If you think you might be able
to handle it please call me at 941-4363.
Scoutmaster, Paul Burke
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
(Let’s Go Skiing)
The Snow Sports merit badge program at Hidden Valley is
in full swing. We still have two more sessions to go on February 4 and 11,
2001.Those of you hoping to earn this merit badge would do well to review the
requirements over and above the on slope ones. Those requirements include a
complete knowledge of the Skiers Responsibility Code, first aid aspects, the
international trail marking system, the importance of the DIN Standard and
knowledge as to different types of downhill skis etc. This is just a friendly reminder
to check out the Merit Badge booklet as these are called “requirements” for a
reason.
Friends
of Scouting Dinner
This is it the Social
Event of the Season! Mark your calendar now for the evening of Saturday
February 24, 2001 as that evening Troop 1320 will host every Scout’s
parents and other family members for our annual Friends of Scouting Dinner in
the Social Hall of Trinity United Methodist Church.
During this gala event
the Scouts will prepare and serve a deluxe meal under the careful supervision
of our crack team of culinary experts. (It is even rumored that Mr. Burke will
brew up some of his infamous “Camp Coffee”). Following the meal we will enjoy a
Court of Honor in which many of the Scouts will be recognized for their
achievements over the last several months.
We will also welcome the new scouts into Troop 1320.
We will also have a
representative of our District present who will provide a presentation on the
benefits of Scouting to the gathered multitude. In addition, I suspect that there will be some great skits and a
surprise or two on the agenda.
So be sure to mark your calendar now for
the evening of February 24, 2001 as
it will be a night to remember!
Washington
DC
On Friday night we departed for
Washington. The ride was pretty long
but everyone survived. We stayed in a
large gym with an area for eating and a recreational room with a pool
table. After setting up our sleeping
areas and playing some basketball we all went to sleep. We had to wake up early the next morning for
the White House. After stopping at the
base’s dining hall we had our tour of the White House. Next we walked over to the Washington
Monument. Everyone was disappointed
that we couldn’t go up in it. In
between lunch and the White House we viewed some of the Smithsonian
Museums. We all had a good lunch at the
old Post Office. Preceding our dinner
at the base, we saw the Air and Space museum along with a long and windy walk
to the Lincoln Memorial. The adults
figured we had some time to waste so we all went bowling. We packed a lot of activities in on
Saturday. Again, some of the scouts
played basketball and everyone went to sleep.
On Sunday morning we viewed the Capitol Building. This was one of the favorites because you
were allowed to freely roam through the building. After one final stop at the National Archives we departed
home. This was a great trip that
everyone enjoyed. I think everyone will
surely come again next year.
Danny Cox
United Way Campaign
Some of the parents of Scouts may participate in the United
Way Community Giving Campaign and if so we would encourage you to consider
designating the Boy Scouts of America on your pledge cards. While it may not
effect the amount that may be contributed through the United Way to the Scouts,
it will continue to send a message that many of us recognize Scouting for the
great program, which it is, and the benefits it provides to boys.
CANOE TRIP
Our annual canoe trip is already being planned and
arrangements have been made to reserve ten (10) canoes. This year’s trip will
be over the Memorial Day weekend and will be on the Clarion River. We will put
in the Clarion on Saturday morning at Ridgeway, Pennsylvania and take out on
Monday near Cooksburg, although that has yet to be finally determined. Along
the way we will camp out along the river.
While Memorial Day is a long way off we do need to be
thinking about this trip now because of the demand for canoes from outfitters
on that weekend in particular.
The reason that this article is included at this time is to
alert any Scouts who do not plan to take part in the canoe trip to let one of
the adult leaders know as soon as possible as the cost of the rentals is not
inconsequential. In like vein as soon as any Scout knows for sure that he will
be taking part he should likewise alert an adult leader.
Also all Scouts and adults will be required to take the Safety Afloat Swimming Test prior to this trip so as to
demonstrate sufficient proficiency in swimming. If you have any doubts in your
abilities you might consider visiting the high school pool during recreational
swim hours to work on your swim strokes.
C & O Canal Trail Calls
The idea of a mini?-high adventure trip this summer for
members of the troop has been percolating since the fall. As we head in to the
last quarter of winter there has been more discussion at troop meetings of
organizing a biking and camping trip over the five (5) day period of the July
4, 2001 holiday.
This trip would involve traveling by bicycle along the C
& O Canal National Historical Trail from Cumberland, Maryland to
Washington, D.C., a distance of 185 miles.
As I suspect that your Scouts have probably failed to
communicate their interest in such a trip to their parents, any enthusiasm
which they may have has not been tempered by the reality that the July 4th
weekend is the annual family reunion in Toledo, Ohio and there is no way that
he can take part in such a trip.
While there will be more information forthcoming on this
venture it might be wise to broach the subject with your Scout so as to ensure
that those expressing an interest in meetings have the ability to take
part.
PARENTS:
FOR YOUR INFORMATION:
Feb. 9-11 Winter
Camping & Nordic skiing at Laurel Ridge State Park or Allegheny National Forest
Mar. 23-25 Camping
at Twin Echoes or Anawanda
Orienteering
Course and Competition
April 20-22 Backpacking
on North Country Trail
May 25-28 Canoe
Trip (Memorial Day Weekend) Clarion River
July 6-8 Biking
and Camping on the Yough River Trail
July 4-8 Biking
and Camping on C & O Trail, Cumberland MD
to Washington D.C. (185+ miles)
Aug. 5-11 Scout
Camp at Heritage Reservation
_________________________________________________
Calling All Troop
Equipment
Our
Quartermaster reports that we are missing several items of Troop Equipment.
Among the missing items are at least two (2) Dutch ovens as well as an
occasional cooking pot etc. The Dutch ovens are quite expensive so if you have
them or even think that you may have them sitting in a garage or wherever
please make the effort to get them back to the troop, preferably clean. These
items have been missing for some time, so if you think you may have them, it
would be wise to check.
Hey Guys, everything has to be somewhere and
that includes this equipment. Check your homes, garages and other places where
you may have squirreled things away and get it
back to the Scout House pronto.
NewsFlash----Newsflash---Newsflash
Eagle News---
Scott Benton was approved for and earned
the rank of Eagle Scout at his Board of Review on December 6,2000.
Congratulations Scott. Everyone looks forward to celebrating your achievement
at your Eagle Court of Honor.
________________________________________________________
Troop Committee Meeting
The next meeting of the troop 1320 committee will be held on
February 22, 2001 at 7:30 at the Scout House. Richard Meyers, the troop
committee Chair will conduct the meeting. While Mr. Meyers is a large and
imposing gentleman, he is a really nice guy.
The point being that all interested parents are welcome and encouraged
to attend!!!!!