Hey all
Just a short email to keep everyone informed.
Bo's General Scout Store is now open. Now you can get most of your basic scouting needs at the hut. We have scout books, field books, book covers, shoulder epaulets, neckerchiefs and slides. We even have Eagle camp mugs. In the next few weeks we will be adding compasses and pocket knives. We know times are tough and spare time is even tougher to get. The Troop store will save you time and money. We are buying in bulk and passing the savings on to you. You no longer have to travel to Fairburn or Griffin to get the basics. No other Troop has an onsite store for its member's convenience.
We also have rental gear! For 5 American dollars you can rent a backpack or a tent for a weekend. The packs and tents must be returned clean and dry at the following Tuesday night Troop meeting. We hope this will help ease the burden of purchasing gear for new Scouts. As our rental program grows look for more packs, tents and eventually stoves. No other Troop offers this convenience.
Parents meeting – Rescheduled for this Monday night. I think at 7 pm. Look for info on the yahoo group from Chris Smith.
Campout permission slips are due Tuesday Night. I will attach a copy to this email. Should be a fun campout.
New parents/old parents training – This will be a one time mandatory meeting for parents to get "trained" in how we do things. Also while there we will be signing you up to teach any Merit Badges you might be interested in. We will be gathering driver information, as well as covering Training requirements. Should be early May. Stay tuned for details
Camp Cards – Sorry guys – I really underestimated our sales on these. I should have gotten 1000 or more. Next year we will be prepared. Everyone is sold out or nearly sold out. Super great fundraiser. Kudos to Publix and Chic Fil A for this one.
The Troop 165 Archery Range - The large dirt mound on the back left of the parking lot will serve as the backstop for the new Troop 165 archery range. Larry S. is a NRA certified range safety officer, and an NRA range training officer, so he can run the range for us. I am going to try to take the training this fall (money permitting), and once I'm done, we will have two range safety officers and our own range. How many Troops have that?? Mr. Lesley from the Georgia Bow Hunters Association is going to try to help us with the range setup and even come down and organize some shoots for us. He thinks he can even get some targets and other stuff donated!!
Training - This continues to be a sore subject. After researching the details myself- I have to be 100% trained before the end of the year(maybe). I already am. ASM and Committee member will have to be trained before the end of 2011. We will cover that at the parents training meeting.
Encourage Jeremiah to go to Summer Camp and get his Lifeguard Certification!!
We are going back to Philmont in 2011, the dates are July 6th through the 18th. Currently the Trek is full. If you are interested in going let me know and we will put you in a standby position
I need some adults to be thinking about that summer (2011). I only get two weeks paid vacation and will use that at Philmont in 2011. I need a couple of adults to commit to Summer Camp that year so I can go to Philmont. I really want to go to Philmont, but I need to make sure the Troop has the required leadership to go to Summer Camp also. So far Mrs. Burton has replied that she could go. Let me know.
Someone mentioned to me the other day that our travel plans to Philmont were a pipe dream. I looked back at that person and said "a year ago this (the scout hut) was a pipe dream". I dream big for our Scouts. They are the best bunch of young men that I know. They deserve the best. The decisions I have made have cost me ALOT of grief, but I did not make them for me, I made them for the Scouts. The hut is almost done, the bus is near, after that we only need our Canoe trailers and canoes and then I can relax. I am a firm believer in surrounding yourself with GREAT people and even GREATER things will happen. Our little Hut is one of the nicer in the state and everyone contributed in their own little ways. Each of you deserve more thank you's than I can ever give. We ROCK!
Summer Camp 2010- Remember the next $100.00 is due now. As a Scoutmaster, I naturally want 100% attendance for summer camp. It is the best environment for a scout to learn Merit Badges and grow as a Scout. The Wednesday night OA ceremony alone is life changing. Please make sure to attend. The final 100 is due May 1st.
Medical forms for summer camp should be turned in by May 1st.
My daughter is still mad at me from the last message.
Toner cartridges and cell phones - please continue to bring in those old toner cartridges, and used cell phones. We earn steady money from them, not much, but it is steady. Every little bit helps. We currently are rolling 350.00 over to the bus account from the toner account. That helps a lot.
Scout Bus – We are actually closer than ever. I rolled 350 out of the toner fund and we have actually found a good bus. We hope to have it by summer camp. Metal is at $12 dollars a hundred, and we have plenty of metal. Let Bo know if you are free one day to help load a trailer, haul a trailer, or gather more metal.
Web stuff – we are on facebook at – boyscouttroop onesixfive. We are on youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ScoutTroop165
Remember – Our Yahoo group is our #1 source of info. Go to Yahoo groups and search for– Troop165 – then click join. You may have to create a yahoo login if you don't have one.
And as always at http://www.troop165bsa.org/
Knotmaster – This is a really cool program – Jacob and Jeremiah are running this- it is incredible. It is a program that will teach scouts to tie knots to new levels. It can take years to complete. It is sorta based on Karate – as you advance you get to wear better Knots. My thoughts are that each of our Eagles should be "Black Knots". Our scouts can camp better, cook better, and perform better than most. Now they will do knots better. At the rollout meeting the Scouts decided to give up game time to tie knots. Whould a thunk it…. I am amazed.
Adopt A Road - Stay tuned.
Recruiting Drive - Since recruiting is now a requirement for Rank, we are going to encourage the boys to recruit. For every boy that joins the Troop, the Scout that recruits him will get a ticket for a drawing. The winner will get an IPod Shuffle or a Kershaw Assisted opening knife. Both valued at $50.00. Encourage your son to invite his friends to visit the Troop or attend our March camping trip. The contest ends May 1st with the drawing at the May 4th meeting. I can assure you we will receive no help from our District with recruiting new scouts, Period! They will not help us. That is a proven fact. That is a totally separate issue that we are going to be dealing with later when the time is right. So, for now, recruiting will need to be a group effort. Recruit for our Troop every chance you get. We are blessed to have a very large Pack right now, and I am trying to work with David Holly (the Cubmaster) to make sure we can recruit those new scouts.
Thanks.
Doug Clemens
Scoutmaster Troop 165
http://www.troop165bsa.org
scoutmaster165@gmail.com
404-520-1160
The school system may have done away with winners and losers; life has not.
Bill Gates
