Monthly Archives: November 2009

Another Scoutmaster Minute

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LOST AND FOUND
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You already have the initial lost & found list from the Cook-O-Ree to which I am adding two items:

- 2 black clip-on pockets for water bottles
- Red Swiss army knife with a Scout logo

To that list I am adding three historic items:

- Light Blue OR-style cup
- Blue enamel plate
- Enamel cup

In addition, I have pictures of other historic items.

and view the PDF you will find there.  The pictures are of historic items which have been kicking around for quite a while in several cases.  If you spot something, let me know.  If you aren’t sure, grab me during a Scout meeting so we can arrange a viewing.

Typically, if I find an article of clothing that is not Scout-specific and which does not have a name in it, I will hang it on the rack in the large hall because there is no way to know if it belongs to Troop 160 or not.  If it is Scout-specific or if it has a name in it, it usually goes to Lost & Found and I will try to return it at the next meeting.

I have already received some e-mails claiming items on my first list.  They will be available at the meeting this Thursday.

VETERANS DAY
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Troop 160 will be participating in the parade/walk/ceremony.  Be at the White House (the old School Admin building next to the police station) by 9:45 AM on Wednesday.  It will take about one hour because this is the short parade.  Yes, Scout or LHS service hours will be given.  There will be other Scout units there as well including Troop 119.

THE GREAT BOOK MIGRATION
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On Thursday, starting at 5 PM, we will be helping the Friends of Cary Library prepare for their twice-yearly book sale.  Pizza in the Library after we finish.  Picture for the Minuteman.  We will finish in time to walk to our meetings.  Troop 119 is invited to join us and we will be joined by some Webelos working on Citizenship requirements as well.

GEAR CLEANUP
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Some Scouts and adults have already been working on the gear from the Cook-O-Ree.  We are going to try to finish up the rest of the gear in half an hour or less.  It took us around two hours last time which is too long.  Since I know we are going to finish on time this week, it will leave us plenty of time for the Scoutmaster Challenge.  All I can say about that is I hope you know how to tie basic knots.  Guides and Instructors should come prepared to teach four basic knots (Clove Hitch, Square Knot, Sheetbend, and Tautline Hitch).  I know–the Tautline Hitch is a bear, but I bet we will all know it after this next meeting.

A NOTE ABOUT BEING SCOUTS
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I would like to meet with all older Scouts (Green Bars and JASMs) before the meeting next week (not this week–next week) for 15 minutes to talk about leadership.  Baden Powell wrote extensively about the Scout Law and decided that Trustworthy was of paramount importance.  The original version of that Law was A Scout’s Honor Is To Be Trusted.  I’m with Lord Robert on that one, but I will also go with one that has changed since his day.  The sixth Scout Law, Kind, was originally A Scout Is Kind To Animals, an important law in an era when we depended on animals for so much and they were often mistreated.  But today Kind has changed to Kindness for others.  And don’t forget that whole string of Helpful, Friendly, and Courteous which go along with Kind.  A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout, wrote our founder, and that must not change.  There is a reason there are so many Laws which talk about how we should act toward each
other and I don’t mean just toward other Scouts.  But it starts with other Scouts.  Scout meetings and other events should be a place where we can all learn and play together.  Let’s talk about that for at least a few minutes.

-Hank Manz

First Aid Merit Badge

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Ginny Caples is our counselor for the First Aid Merit Badge.  She has offered to instruct this merit badge for 10-12 interested scouts (maximum).   The merit badge program would require 6 hours of class room instruction.   The dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, November 14th from 1:00-4:00; and Saturday, November 28th from 10:00-1:00.   Location TBD.

I will have a sign-up sheet at this Thursday’s troop meeting for scouts who are interested and can commit to attending BOTH of these sessions and completing ALL 6 hours of instruction (no make-up classes available).

Unfortunately, we will have to limit the class to 10-12 scouts in order to maximize the learning experience for this important merit badge, so we may need to decide who is “accepted” based on rank.  We will certainly look at offering the First Aid merit badge again at some future date.

John Woodhouse- can you please let me know if we can have access to St. B’s on these two dates/times.

Thank you,
David M. Gambone

A Scoutmaster Minute

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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

Cookeree is this Saturday- Large Crowd Expected

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Hi

First take a few minutes to read this letter in it;s entirety. It contains important information for this weekend’s Cookeree.

The 2009 Troop 160 Cookeree will take place this Saturday November 7th. It promises to be a day for scouts and their families to come and enjoy a Thanksgiving feast cooked and enjoyed in the outdoors. We will also have the opportunity to introduce many Webelos as guests at this event.

Note: We have a high expected turnout (over 160 people) for the event this year. There are a number of considerations that need to be taken at this year’s event:

1. Scouts should arrive at St Brigid’s at 8:00 AM. We will spend some time loading gear to be brought to the site.  Adult drivers that have volunteered to transport scouts at this time include:

Lepore, Kjelsberg, McLaughlin, McCallum, Palmer, McMillan, Hobbs, Sifre

In addition, trucks/SUV’s for hauling gear and food:
Brown, Beaulieu, Woodhouse(Manz), Foley

2. Carpooling- Parking at Camp Acton is extremely tight. Many people have indicated they have conflicts during the day and will meet us there. PLEASE make attempts to carpool with others as parking will be a problem plus we’ll all benefit in saving the planet.

PLEASE – Carpooling is important. Many people are coming to the site just for dinner and there is not a lot of parking. I strongly suggest an afternoon meeting time at 4;00PM at Saint Brigid’s and carpooling out for those just coming for dinner.

3. Bike – Mike Ames is willing to take any scouts or adults interested in biking to the site. Please meet at St Brigid’s at 8:00-8:30 AM and they will head out from there.

4. Overnight campers:  The expectation is for those adults staying overnight, that they bring their own camping gear. For scouts and webelo guests staying overnight, the troop will provide the tents. Scouts should bring their sleeping bags and personal belongings.

5. Dinner is expected to be served at about 4:45 PM

6. click here for directions to the site

7. For those staying overnight, we expect to break camp in the morning at about 9 AM. I’m still looking for volunteers for parents to bring scouts back to Lexington.

Please let me know if you can help us by providing any of the following items for use this weekend:

Potato Peelers.  If you can bring one, please tape your name to it and bring to the site,

Dutch Ovens – We can certainly use another 1 or 2. IF you have one we can borrow please let me know ASAP.

Banquet Tables – If you have one we could borrow, please let me know.

Thanks,

Rich Foley