| Scoutmaster Weekly Update May 12, 2008 |
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Troop Service Project a Success! This past Saturday we had 24 Scouts and several leaders providing community volunteer service to Pilgrim Church. We raked and picked up debris for about three hours on Saturday. Pack 19 also participated. The church grounds are much improved and everyone should take pride in their effort in helping beautify the church property. The troop also raised the new American Flag (donated by Troop 19) on the church flagpole. Thank you to all that helped out! Check out the troop website for the pictures.
7:00pm sharp! - Not 7:05 or 7:10 Last week over half the troop was late for the troop meeting. We are trying to instill important life skills which include being on time. Secondly, a number of patrols have assignments (meeting set-up and opening ceremony) which requires that they need to be their even earlier. A Scout is courteous. Please be on time.
Troop Website Updates One of the four hike groups have submitted some of their Grand Canyon pictures for everyone to see. The website is updated weekly, so be sure to check it often.
Tuesday Night Meeting Return all Troop 19 camping equipment! Final Practice Meeting with First Aid Instruction and Contests in preparation for Disaster Night.
DISASTER NIGHT IS MAY 20TH!
Eagle Court of Honor this Sunday Be sure to attend the Eagle Scout Court of Honor at 5pm this Sunday. Troop 19 will recognize four Scouts in achieving the highest award in Boy Scouts; Alex Gerlitz, Kevin Wang, Ben Filteau and Don Griffin. It is an impressive ceremony and can serve as the impetus for encouraging other Scouts to work hard to attain Eagle Scout. Scouts and all family members are invited to attend. A reception will follow at 6:30 in Fellowship Hall.
Summer Camp A week of summer camp can be one of the highlights of this summer. I always looked forward to summer camp as a youth. Just to be out on my own and being with friends to go swimming, use the rifle range, fish, boat and sail kept me enthusiastic about Scouting and taught me a lot about myself. I understand the cost of camp can be a challenge in today’s economy, but dollar for dollar it is one of the best deals around for a week’s vacation. Please give it some additional thought and sign-up if you have not done so. If there is a parent or two that would like to help organize a quick fundraiser to help defray costs, the troop is certainly open to that option. It could be a bake sale, car wash or some other endeavor. Come join your friends at Camp Bell!
Backpacking and Hiking Merit Badges Scouts that attended the Grand Canyon should consider earning the backpacking and/or hiking merit badge. Check out www.meritbadge.com for the latest requirements.
Point System Rambunctious Rodents - 281 Pumas - 243 Frozen Fire - 180 Bears - 136
Minnesota youth named American Legion's top Eagle Scout Paul J.P. Banwart of Shakopee High School in Minnesota has been named The American Legion Eagle Scout of the Year for 2008. The 18-year-old senior also earned a college scholarship worth $10,000. The award was announced during The American Legion's board of directors meeting at Indianapolis on May 7. The award recognizes Banwart's practical citizenship at school and in Scouting, as well as his passion and commitment to the environment and conservation. For his Eagle Scout project, Banwart demonstrated the importance of bat habitats in addressing public-health concerns dealing with meningitis and the West Nile virus. Banwart created a brochure and Web site, and built enough bat boxes to house more than 650 of the creatures. As an Adopt-A-Park sponsor, he orchestrated an environmental project involving the Department of Natural Resources and Deer Hunters Association, while enlisting and educating Cub Scouts in the planting of 300 trees to provide wildlife cover and prevent erosion. For his conservation projects and community service, Banwart has received Bronze, Silver and Gold Medal congressional awards, the Time Warner Youth Service Award for Outstanding Dedication to Community Volunteer Work, the Lions Community Service Award and the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award. An Eagle Scout since 2004, Banwart is also an honors student and star athlete. While in high school, Banwart also earned an associate in arts degree last December from Normandale Community College in Bloomington, with an emphasis in accounting. This fall, he plans to attend the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota. The American Legion also awarded $2,500 scholarships to Tyler James Moore of Marine, Ill.; Brandon Charles Drozd of Genoa, Neb.; and David M. Cairns of Stowe, Vt. The American Legion has supported the Boy Scouts since its first national convention in 1919. Legion posts sponsor more than 2,700 Boy Scout units, serving more than 72,800 young people, at a cost of more than $1.7 million.
Regards, Greg Anthony
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