100th Anniversary Service Day

Well, the troop participated in a service project in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of BSA Saturday. The scouts met at the church and put together sack lunches which were delivered to homeless people in Ogden. A quick drive to Ogden Municipal grounds found a couple people in need, while a drive to Lester Park, where frequent homeless people go to the library, found several people in need. After passing out 10 lunch sacks, the scouts only wished they had more.

Playing up to your opponents level

I've often heard NBA teams as playing up to the level of their opponents. So, when the Los Angeles Lakers come to town, the Utah Jazz really try hard, but when the New Jersey Nets come, they don't put out so much. That's kind of what happens in scouting. You get all excited and energized to help these young boys be great scouts, so you prepare, getting excited and make the best effort. But then you show up to scouts, and only a couple have uniforms, most without patches, you wonder why their parents aren't expecting more out of their sons. You work on merit badges and give kids assignments and let parents know what we're doing and the kids never move forward. Then you wonder on your next project whether it's worth getting up and giving your best effort, knowing that the team your playing really isn't going to take advantage of your efforts.

This is the battle of an old guy without a son in scouting. But I continue to move forward believing in the scouting program. I know what it did for my own son and still have hope for the young boys I get the opportunity to associate with. Rank advancement, uniforms and merit badges aren't the end purpose of scouting, but they are the building blocks that build self-esteem. Self-esteem is something you get from accomplishing something. If these boys don't accomplish something like rank advancements and merit badges, then they'll have to get other accomplishments so they will have self-esteem.

I hope the parents of our scouts can really understand the importance of all the programs. Scouting is more than camping, certainly. It is the framework of friendship, learning, belonging and accomplishments.

Delose Connor - Speaks

We had the rare opportunity today to hear Delose Connor speak at church. Delose has been a summer camp director for many, many years. What an amazing meeting for lovers of scouting and our youth. He said so much, but one thing I gleaned from this man was a poem he shared with us about Opportunity. It hit home with the short-comings I find my self equipped with. All of us who feel all we have to contribute to the cause is a blunt, short sword, may feel the strength this poem portrays:

Opportunity

by Edward Rowland Sill

This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream: —
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged
A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince’s banner
Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.

A craven hung along the battle’s edge,
And thought, “Had I a sword of keener steel —
That blue blade that the king’s son bears, — but this
Blunt thing!” — he snapt and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.

Then came the king’s son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout
Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.

Scouting For Food - One Million Pounds of Service

The troop had the opportunity to participate with the ward members in a service project this weekend. Thanks to all those who helped serve those who are less fortunate at this time in their lives.

Summer Camp Parents Meeting

The troop will be having a summer camp meeting, 4 months before summer camp. The meeting will be at 8 p.m. at the church.

Troop Committee reorganized

Julie Young - committee chair
Leisa Williams - secretary (email minutes, newsletter)
Robin Harris - Outdoors/Activities/Equipment (Tour Permits, inventory equipment)
Norm Young - Advancements (Courts of Honor, Boards of Review)
John & Tracey Tanner - Training (Fast Start, New Training Online, BSA Youth Protection) for all scout leaders
Jennifer Dickson - Membership/New Scouts (Welcoming and Registration of all scouts & leaders, Rechartering)
Susan Banner - Librarian (books to check out, current merit badge list)

2010 Annual Calendar

This year we'll be focusing on the 100th Aniversary Award for the Trapper Trails Council as well as the BSA Centenial Award. Here are some of the highlights:

Centennial Award Requirements - Troop 933 will complete the following requirements to earn the council award for the 100^th Anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. Our troop meetings and activities will focus on achieving these goals. Scouts will have to, as individuals, see that they participate and complete the requirements, in that the achievements will not be automatic. (Y-Youth, A-Adults)

Leadership: (1 Required, 2 Electives)

R – Be registered as a scout (Y/A)

E – Participate in a Troop Leadership Training Course provided by troop (Y/A)

E – Serve for 6 months in a leadership position (Y)

E – Complete all necessary online training courses (A)

Character: (1 Required, 2 Electives)

R – Write two specific goals and record your progress in a journal for 3 months (Y/A)

E – Wear uniform to at least 60% of activities for 6 months (Y/A)

E – Participate in the 2010 Jamborall (Y/A)

Service: (1 Required, 2 Electives)

R – Participate in Making a Difference service project (Y/A)

E – Provide 5 hours of service to your church, community, school or non-profit org. (Y/A)

E – Earn a Citizenship merit badge (Y)

E – Do a good turn daily for 3 months and record results (A)

Achievement: (1 Required, 1 Elective)

R – Fulfill the Centennial Patch req. for Leadership, Character, Service and Outdoors. (Y/A)

E – Earn a rank advancement (Y)

E – Complete 6 months of requirements for leaders key/training award (A)

Outdoors: (1 Required, 2 Electives)

R – Attend the 2010 100 Year Fall Camporee or another district, council event (Y/A)

E – Participate in at least 2 other outdoor activities (Y/A)

E – Repeat from memory the BSA Outdoor Code (Y/A)

Legacy:

R – Submit history of unit’s activities during 2010 to your district (A)

E – Fill out the 2010 Centennial Quality Unit Goal Sheet (A)

E – Plan and carry out a 100 year celebration event with your chartered organization (A)

Troop meetings - will focus on at least 6 required merit badges this year, following by 6 next year.

2010 - Citizenship in the Community, the Nation, the World, Family Life, Physical Fitness, Hiking, Cycling, Camping, First Aid

2011 - Swimming, Life Saving, Personal Management, Communication, Environmental Science, Emergency Preparedness.

Additionally, our troop meeting will focus on other optional merit badges such as gardening, space exploration, model building, painting, etc.