Troop 4 Newsletter

Fox River District - Potawatomi Area Council Volume 5 - Issue 4
http://www.pacunits.org/t4/ May 2008

Upcoming Events

August 2008
12 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
16-17 August Outing
19 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
26 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm

September 2008
1 Wreath Sale Starts
3 Round Table 7:15 pm
7 Committee Meeting 12:30 p
9 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
12-15 Webelos Jamboree
16 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
23 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm

October 2008
1 Round Table 7:15 pm
3 Popcorn Sale Starts
5 Committee Meeting 12:30 p
7 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
14 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
21 Troop Meeting 6:30 - 8 pm
Wreath & Popcorn Forms Due to Troop
31 Webelos Day Outing - TBA
TBA Planning Lock-In

November 2008
7-9 Creep O Ree

August Outing

The August Outing is scheduled for August 16th and 17th. We've scheduled a biking outing. Permission slips need to be turned in ASAP -- at the August 12th meeting so we have numbers for buying food.

When: August 16-17, 2008
Time: Arrive at ETC at 9:30 August 16.
Return to ETC August 17 in the afternoon
What: Bike trip along the Glacial Drumlin Trail
Cost: $20 / person

Things to remember:

  1. Bike outing... Each scout needs to have their own bike.
  2. Bike helmets: Every scout and adult needs to have and wear a helmet when we are biking.
  3. Biking Merit Badge: Liz is a merit badge councilor for Biking. If you want to take out a blue card and try for the merit badge (hey, it's an Eagle merit badge), do so before the outing.

Webelos Jamboree

Webelos Jamboree is September 12-14th. Troop 4 is signed up to run an Obstacle Course. Start thinking about what challenges you want to design for the Webelos.

Webelos and Recruitment

With Webelos Jamboree coming up, it's a great time to start inviting Webelos to meet the Troop. If you know of any Webelos I or Webelos II dens, let Liz or Mr. Danner know.

We are looking for Scouts interested in being ambassadors to Pack 4, Pack 22, and Pack 163. What would you have to do? Attend the school's open house in the fall and attend a couple of pack or den meetings to talk to the Webelos about Boy Scouting and Troop 4. If you're interested, see Mr. Danner or drop a note in the box at the next Troop Meeting.

It's also a great time to invite other boys you think would have fun into the Troop. Inviting a boy is easy! We've got postcard invitations available at every troop meeting. Bring the boy's name and address and fill out a postcard. We'll mail it for you! This also satisfies the recruitment requirement for First Class.

Planning

We're rapidly running out of activities for the year! Out planning lock-in will be at the end of October. Start thinking of ideas for things you'd like to do next year. Drop your ideas into the box at a troop meeting and we'll make sure to include it in the list during the lock-in.

Ideas for activities: Overnight at the museum or zoo. Going on a cave tour. Hiking in Kettle Moraine State Park.

Things to remember: Next year's summer camp will be in South Dakota. Creep-O-Ree is in November, we are planning to go. Other Districts and Councils sponsor camping events -- we can always go to one of those.

Fundraising

We'll be selling wreaths and popcorn again this fall. The wreath sale starts September 1st, the popcorn sales starts October 3. Think about what you want to do and how much you'll need to fundraise to earn money to do it. A reminder: Summer Camp in 2009 will cost about $500 (including travel expenses). We should see about 40% commission on the fall fundraiser.

We need at least one scout to attend the Training on August 19th.

Birthdays

Collin G
Conor D

New Uniforms

Lead the Way in your high-performance gear!

The Scout Uniform is changing. There are new options and new features. New fabrics for pants and shirts. New pockets on the shirts. New belts. New colors -- Boy Scouts now have forest green shoulder-loops and numerals.

The new uniforms will be available for purchase starting August 15th.

Check it out at BSAUNIFORMS.ORG

But what about my old uniform? The current uniform (shirts, pants and red colors) can still be worn. The red shoulder-loops and numbers can only be worn on the OLD STYLE SHIRTS. The pants are still good no matter what.

Note: the Troop will give you your first set of green shoulder-loops and numbers.

2009 Philmont Scout Ranch Expedition

The Council has made reservations for 24 scouts to participate in a Philmont Trek next year. The dates are July 1 to July 15, 2009.

Who can go: scouts who are 14 by January 1, 2009, or have completed the 8th grade and are at least 13 by June 25, 2009.

Cost: $1,220

This is not a Troop activity. If you are interested, you will go with the Council as part of their group. A Philmont trek is physically, mentally and emotionally demanding. Participants will carry a 35-50 pound pack for 10 days at altitudes from 6,500 to 12,500 feet.

That said, the scouts who go always have a blast.

Applications are available. Ask at a troop meeting.

For more information contact the Council Philmont Coordinator: Steve Akins: 262-246-6107 or  email.

August's Quiz

  1. Who was the king of England during the American Revolution?
  2. What was the original flavor of the cream filling in Twinkies sponge cakes?
  3. Which European capital is located on the Spree River?

July's Answers: 1) Eight. 2) None. 3) $5,000.

Troop Leadership

Committee
Boni Danner - Chairperson
542-7002

Liz Danner - Treasurer / Secretary / Web
574-1140

Chairpersons
Heidi Pelrine - Outings Chair

Jim Schramke - Equipment Chair

(open) - Fundraising Chair

Bill Pelrine - Advancement Chair

(open) - Pack Liaison

Bob Grubb - Charter Org. Rep

Leaders
Dean Danner - Scoutmaster
542-7002

Ron Baer - Assistant Scoutmaster

Rich Benkstein - Assistant Scoutmaster

Patrols
Dragon Slayers
Wolverines
Flaming Arrows

Charter Organizations
St. John Neumann Catholic Church
esitec, llc
Sponsor
ETC

Please contact Liz Danner with items and/or corrections for the newsletter.

Committee Meeting

Next Committee Meeting: September 7, 12:30 pm

Next Round Table: September 3, 7:15 pm at Butler Middle School.

Drop Offs

Anything that is due to the Troop can be dropped off at ETC to Liz or Dean Danner's attention weekdays 8 am - 4:30 pm.

Mailing List

Keep up to date on what's happening in the troop! Subscribe to the Troop 4 mailing list. Send an email to Liz Danner with subscribe scout-troop4 in the body of the message.