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BSA Troop 10 |
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Prepared Since 1928 |
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TURTLE EXPRESS |
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January, 2010 |
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A Pair of Ducks Will It Still Matter When I’m Thirty?
Scoutmaster Larry Wood I was watching „The Dave Ramsey Show” (a financial show offering advice to callers having difficult financial circumstances) this past week, and a caller asked about balancing their son's activities along with working. They wanted their son to understand what it took to earn money and how to handle it responsibly but didn't want it to interfere with after school opportunities like ice hockey. Dave had an interesting response. He asked, “Will it matter when he's thirty?” He thought it was great that their son was active in a sport and could learn a lot from it, but more than likely, it would just be a good memory latter in his life, while other skills like learning how to handle money at an early age before he gets into financial trouble, will last for a lifetime. It's a classic dilemma for most youth as their wants exceed their parents‟ bank account, and so some go on to get a job and start to understand what their parents have been gripping about. However, as they begin to make money they start to loose free time to do what they enjoy. Put another way, when you have time you don't have the money, but when you have money, you don't have the time. This is sometimes called a paradox (pair of ducks) and will be a challenge for your entire life as you learn to balance the two. I would take that a bit farther and say that what you are learning in Scouts will be more valuable in your life than most of your other after school activities or part time jobs. Consider Personal Management merit badge for instance. It's an award that takes a long time to earn as you have to track you expenses over 13 weeks time and analyze the results. If done properly, it can reveal much about wise expenses and wasteful ones. Other more obvious benefits are the leadership you develop in your years of Scouting. Leadership is not something that can be learned from a book or over the course of a college semester. It's gradual and must be experienced. You may not even notice how far you progress, but we do. So, I would say in conclusion, when you're starting to feel overwhelmed by your own activities, you might ask yourself, “will it matter when I'm thirty?” |
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Order of the Arrow
Assistant Scoutmaster Jay Jarvis The annual meeting of the Amangamek-Wipit Lodge was held on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at Camp Snyder. There were about 40 scouts and scouters from the Old Dominion District, and representing Troop 150 was Assistant Scoutmaster Jay Jarvis. No scouts from Troop 150 attended. Arrowmen heard key remarks by NCAC Council President Dan McCarthy, as well as remarks by Loge Chief, departing Council Scout Executive (Lodge Supreme Chief of the Fire) Alan Lambert. Awards were presented for Outstanding Chapters and the Old Dominion Chapter was among them. Honors were bestowed upon four scouts who were named Vigil O/A members from the Old Dominion District. Two scouts and two scouters received the Lodge's highest honor Founder's Award. For more than 90 years, the Order of the Arrow (OA) has recognized Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America's youth. --From the Order of the Arrow website Troop 150 OA members are Scouts Ben, Boris, Adam, Fletcher and Scouters Todd Bolick, Jay Jarvis, Christian Tomsey, Mike Tomsey and Larry Wood. Troop 150 will be holding elections for new members to OA on March 1st. The requirements are:
· Be a registered member of the Boy Scouts of America · After registration with a troop or team, have experienced 15 days and nights of Boy Scout camping during the two-year period prior to the election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight, weekend, or other short-term camps. · Youth must be under the age of 21, hold the BSA First Class rank or higher, and following approval by the Scoutmaster or Varsity team Coach, be elected by the youth members of their troop or team. · Adults (age 21 or older) who are registered in the BSA and meet the camping requirements may be selected following nomination to the lodge adult selection committee. Adult selection is based on their ability to perform the necessary functions to help the Order fulfill its purpose, and is not for recognition of service, including current or prior positions. Selected adults must be an asset to the Order because of demonstrated abilities, and must provide a positive example for the growth and development of the youth members of the lodge. An OA elections team from the Old Dominion Chapter will conduct the election during our regular troop meeting on Monday, March 1st. |
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Wreath Sales
Mr. Lance Witkowski The Scouts of Troop 150 recently completed their annual wreath sale fundraiser for the 2009 holiday season. We had an early start to our fundraiser when we provided security and accepted orders at AUMC's Craft Bazaar on November 7. We were privileged to have an overnight activity in our own community, and the sponsors of the Bazaar were reassured that their wares were kept safe. The Scouts enjoyed watching the movie Poltergeist and playing video games on the church's projector screen before distributing Scouting for Food bags and selling wreaths the following morning. We kicked off our fundraiser in earnest at our annual ribbon-tying event on November 20, which was well-attended by cookies, brownies, and cakes, not to mention the Scouts and their families. Since that time, we've been making sales and delivering decorated balsam wreaths throughout our community. Since this is our troop's only fundraising event, we can use the proceeds to maintain and replenish the camping gear that we take on trips nearly every month. We also provide scholarships to summer camp for Scouts who can't afford the trip, if interested please speak with Committee Chairman Mike Tomsey. With funding from the wreath sale, our troop is able to stand behind the claim that no Scout should be prevented from going to summer camp based on financial need. Additionally, each Scout earns $3.00 from the profits of each wreath he sells which can be used to pay for his personal Scouting activities throughout the year; several Scouts have managed to finance a trip to Goshen just using money from their Scout Account. Since funds are still coming in from the sale, Scouts will be notified in the next month as to the status of their accounts. Thanks for your help making our 2009 fundraiser a success, with hopes for an even better 2010! |
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Troop 150’s New Venture Patrol
“Scouting is a Game with a Purpose.” Fun is the Game. Values are the Purpose. Learning is the Process. --- The Mission Statement of the Boy Scouts of America What is the Venture Patrol? The Venture Patrol of Troop 150 provides an opportunity for more advanced scouts to go on more challenging outings, and expand on the skills they learned in the Tenderfoot through First Class ranks. Scouts in the Venture Patrol have the opportunity to go on more adventurous and outings, similar to the High Adventure outings that the troop offers every one to two years. These outings often have strong themes such as wilderness survival and rock climbing. How do I get into the Venture Patrol? Any scout who is a member of Troop 150 and has obtained the rank of Star and is at least 15 is eligible to participate in Venture Patrol activities. How is the Venture Patrol organized? The Venture Patrol will be led by a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader will serve up until the next Venture Patrol outing. Meanwhile, the Assistant Patrol Leader will begin to plan and coordinate the following outing. After the upcoming outing the Assistant Patrol Leader will become the Patrol Leader and a new Assistant will be appointed based upon the interest in the next subsequent outing. Working with the adults, the Patrol Leader and the Assistant will be responsible for:
· Researching outing locations · Acquiring qualified guides if appropriate · Planning and coordinating necessary training for the patrol · Working with the Troop Outings Chair Mr. John McDermott to obtain necessary reservations · Communicate through U.S. Mail, e-mail, telephone, and regular Venture Patrol Meetings important information and progress being made toward outings to the rest of the Venture Patrol. · Serve as Patrol Leader during the outing he has worked to plan and coordinate.
What are some possible outings? Wilderness Survival Outing, White Water Canoeing or Kayaking Trip, Outdoor Rock Climbing Outing, Scuba Diving Refresher and Certification Outing, Boundary Waters Canoe Trip, Open Cockpit Airplane Ride. |
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Troop T-Shirt Design Contest
It‟s new tee-shirt time, and you could be the latest Troop 150 designer! Provide your design to Mr. Gabe Nasser no later than February 22nd. Best design will get a special prize—and, of course, be memorialized on the next batch of shirts! Get drawing, everyone! |
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Adult Help Needed!
Even in a boy-led troop, adult volunteers are needed! If every parent helps out, no one is over-burdened. We still have quite a few unfilled positions. Please support the boys and volunteer. The committee meets only once a month! The following positions are vacant:
· Secretary · Camp and High Adventure Coordinator · Health and Safety · IT and Database Coordinator · Transportation Coordinator
Contact Troop Committee Chair Mike Tomsey at chair@troop150.biz if you want more information or are ready to volunteer! |
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Turtle Express Spring 2010 Submissions
Please email submissions for the spring newsletter to service@troop150.biz |
