First–If you look at page 32 in the Celebrations section of the most recent Minuteman, you will see a couple in traditional Mongolian clothing.  The groom is Jimmy Goodrich, a 160 Eagle Scout.  He was a super gearhead who was part of a great Eagle clss who taught me a lot about hiking in the White Mountains, that I should not always trust JASM cooking, and that I could encourage Eagles, but they would dictate the pace at which the needed work would be done.  You can read the story online at:

http://www.wickedlocal.com/lexington/news/lifestyle/celebrations/x23528458/Xuejiao-Goodrich

Second–As a troop we are terrible at knots.  If you look on our Website, you will find links to some Web sites which use animation to show you how to tie knots.  Or you can just Google a bit and you will find some.  Scouts really need to know how to tie a sheetbend, a bowline (the same knot except on a loop or bight), and a tautline hitch (also called a halyard bend.)  Learn to tie those knots so you can graduate to other ones.

http://www.troop160lexington.com/home/reference/lots-of-knots/

Third–There is a rank requirement to make a personal first aid kit.  Don’t just make it.  Carry it!  Make it small enough that it won’t be any trouble to carry in your pack.  Most injuries can be treated with your personal first aid kit.

Here’s one idea:

http://www.survival-gear.com/personalfirstaidkit.htm

You may want to leave out the medications for your own kit and you can go a bit lighter on the bandages.  My own everyday kit is just bandaids, 4×4 gauze squares, tape, two short tongue depressors, a safety pin, moleskin, alcohol swabs, and a small tweezer.  You can wrap adhesive tape around a tongue depressor so you don’t have to carry a big roll of it.  And toss in a small plastic bag which can double as a glove or as a receptacle for medical waste.

Fourth–there are a couple of Cubs who will be at the Cook-O-Ree this weekend who have nut allergies.  Let’s exercise some caution in the snacks we bring and the food we select for our meals.

Fifth–mentioning camping and food always makes me think of Grubmasters.  If you are a Grubmaster who has not been reimbursed for the White Mountains trip, then you probably have not followed Mrs. Ho’s Four Step Method for Grubmaster Success.  See me at the next meeting.  And if you are a Grubmaster for this trip and are at all unsure of how to get reimbursed for the food you purchase for your patrol, talk to me.

-Hank Manz