BSA Troop 373 Smoke Signals

May 2003

SMOKE SIGNALS NEWSLETTER

SCOUTMASTER’S MINUTE

by Wally Werner

Scoutmaster Minute
Looking Back, Looking Forward

Scouts, I’ve been privileged to serve as your Scoutmaster for the past two years. Sometimes, when we’re working on our individual rank advancements we don’t see the big picture. During these last two years, our Troop has seen:

· 48 new Scouts (a total of 100 right now),

· 474 Merit Badges earned,

· 27 Scouts attained the First Class rank,

· 19 Scouts achieved Star rank,

· 13 Scouts earned the Life rank,

· 7 Scouts are now Eagle Scouts,

· 1 Bronze Palm, one Gold Palm has been earned.

We’ve been learning during the week and camping on some weekends. We’ve gone on summer camp trips, mid-venture trips, and high adventure trips. Our Troop has a terrific program, and we do our best to live the Scout ideals.

None of this would be possible without the support of the Troop Committee. The committee provides a strong financial base and excellent guidance for our Troop. Much of what the Troop Committee does is invisible, but those things creates the fabric that holds our Troop together.

We have a group of Assistant Scoutmasters that is second to none. Ladies and gentlemen, I’d be pleased to go camping with you any time. Thank you for your service!

Richard Earle has agreed to serve the Troop as Scoutmaster for the next two years. He takes over tonight. Scouts, I know that you’ll give Mr. Earle the same support and respect that you have shown me … and with that support, we’ll continue to have a Troop that we can all be proud of.

Troop Leadership:

Senior Patrol Leader:	Andrew B.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders:	Corey O. Alex R. Pete W.
Historian:	Brandon E.
Librarian:	Will M.
Quartermaster:	Phillip T.
Scribe:	Kyle B.
Chaplain’s Aides:	Alex C. Josh S.
Bugler:	Matt W.

Patrol	Patrol Leader	Assistant Patrol Leader
Platypus	Will M.	James L.
Flaming Eagle	Jimmy M.	Phillip S.
Mighty Muffin Men	Dale B.	Connor A.
Lynx	Jake E.	Matt G.
Phoenix	Kalin P.	Josh S.
Scorpions	Alex C.	Ross D.
Flaming Moose (Combined Flaming Arrows and Moose)	Andy S. (Eric L.)	Andrew B. (Ryan M)
Hornets	Mark E.	Eric S.
Wolverines	Andy H.	Pete W.
Hawks	Andrew H.	Ryan S.
Dragons	Reed P.	Ryan K.
Venture	Jeff Th.	Chad N.

Upcoming Events:

Rock Climbing Clinic Vedauwoo Wyoming	June 13,14,15
Fat Tire Classic Mountain Bike Ride fund -raiser	June 28-29
Catalina Island Summer Scout Camp	June 22-28
Tall Ships Sailing High Adventure Trip	July 6-13
Ben Delatour Summer Scout Camp	July 20-26
Northern Tier High Adventure Canoe Trip	July 27-August 6
Philmont Scout Ranch Backpacking Trek	August 8-20
Colorado Backpacking Trek Mid-Adventure	August 11-17
Court of Honor	August 26
Mt. Elbert Fourteener Climb and Campout	September 12-13
Denver Area Council Camporee Campout	September 19-21
Golden Gate State Park Troop Campout & Hiking	October 3-5
Wood Rock Ranch & Muller State Park Campout	October 17-19
Havasu Falls Grand Canyon Backpacking Trek	October 25 – Nov 1

An Eagle Scout’s Address

By Scott L.

I want to apologize for not being able to address you as an Eagle Scout in person. A very important Lacrosse Awards Banquet was scheduled the same night of the Court of Honor. However, I still have something to say:

First off, I would like to thank everyone in the Troop who supported me on my path to Eagle Scout. I feel I was very lucky to be involved with some of the best Adult Leaders this troop has seen.

This is the part where I should tell the younger Scouts that they should stick with it and get their Eagle Scout award. I should also tell them that it is very meaningful. (But seriously, how many times have we heard these words from Eagle Scouts?) Well, I guess I have something a little different to tell them. My message is rather simple: have fun in scouting. The great camps I went to, the events I enjoyed, and the times I remember all had little or nothing to do with rank advancement. Going mountain biking in Winter Park at the Fat Tire Classic isn’t required for Eagle. Going to New Mexico on a challenging, yet fun, backpacking trip, notoriously known as ‘Philmont,’ isn’t required for Eagle. Going to the National Jamboree in Washington D.C. to meet with Scouts from all over the world isn’t required for Eagle. You get the idea.

I can count the number of times I have heard Eagle Scouts say how meaningful Scouting is. I will not be telling you this. I think that a Scout should be able to figure out just how meaningful Scouting is on his own. Believe me, I have seen the kids who have no desire to be in Scouting. It just does not work when a Dad is more of a Scout than his son is. So instead of trying to convince you that what you’re doing is worthwhile, I would tell you this: just have fun. If you think Scouting isn’t for you, find something that is and pursue that activity. However, I must strongly warn you if you choose to do this. Through Scouting, I have developed so many great relationships that I won’t forget for a long time. I have seen the amazing look of relief on a hungry person’s face the moment after they have received aid from our Troop. I have had people I don’t even know thank me for doing my Eagle Project at their school. And I can’t even describe the accomplishment you feel when someone tells you, “Congratulations, you are Troop 373’s newest Eagle Scout.” Oops, I guess I’m preaching about how meaningful scouting is. Well, every now and then, a rule just needs to be broken.

Recently, I was talking to a friend and fellow scout about how he came thiiiiiiiis close to getting his Eagle Scout. I was tossing around Eagle Project ideas in case he wanted to make a last-ditch attempt. He shrugged the ideas off and said, “Well I had a lot of fun, and that’s what really matters.”

And then I knew what to say in this letter.

Take care,

Scott L.

In the 25 year history of Troop 373 the following 60 scouts have attained Eagle rank:

For Life Scouts (and parents of Life Scouts), here is an updated list of Eagle Advisors who are available and eager to work with you on your trail to Eagle:

As we celebrated the annual chili cook off much creativity was experienced by all the patrols to provide the best tasting chili. We all contributed by bringing in various ingredients to create the most unusual and BEST tasting chili of the troop. The judges had a difficult time deciding the winners because all the chili tasted delicious! It ended up being a fun evening for all, where everyone participated and had a great time! If you did not participate in this scouting experience you missed a fun evening, don’t miss it next year!

Those words said by Mr. Earle at the spring 2003 Sand Dunes campout proved very true.

For me this trip started after a tiring, but adrenaline filled Westock festival. As soon as the last set finished it was to the car and off to the dunes for a weekend of fun, sun, and lots of sand. A few hours later, after consuming my fresh subway delicacy, a certain loud collision occurred that sent me and my father careening off the road. On the other end of the impact was our furry and rather unfortunate friend Rudolf, who had jumped in front of our oncoming car. Needless to say this deer faired considerably worse than we did.

Upon arriving at the Sand Dunes National Park we hosed what was left of the deer off our car, found our campsite, and got set up. That night the troop went up on the dunes to partake in some nocturnal, not to mention sandy, games. We retired to our campsite around 12:00-1:00 AM. We all slept well that night (relatively speaking). There is one advantage to our bugler arriving late the previous night: he slept in, which meant we got to as well. Following breakfast the troop made another trek on the dunes (or most of us did). Myself I lay on the coolest sand I could find and basked in the sun (ahh… the life of a lazy man). We then returned to our campsite where a variety of activities took place. Some of us slept, ate, drank, and relaxed while others hiked, played about, and advanced towards further ranks. In the evening, after dinner, we lit up our fire and had a very jubilant cracker-barrel where we told jokes, ghost stories, and of course ate marshmallows. When the fire died and the spell of weariness took its toll we all crawled in to our very sandy sleeping bags to await the coming morning. When it came we all somberly ate breakfast, broke camp, and went home to our respective residences knowing that we all definitely didn’t waste the past weekend.

On May 10 and May 11, 2003 Boy Scout Troop 373 went to Underwater Phantaseas. Many people had a great time and liked to relax. First we had 5 minutes of instructions, which went by very quickly. Second we got to swim around, but not in the deep parts. We needed to get used to swimming and breathing underwater. After about ten minutes of swimming we were allowed to go deeper into the pool.

The pool was a little different though. It started out at three feet deep, sloped to five feet, then dropped off to 12 feet. The only way to be allowed down to 12 feet was if you passed a test. The instructor would grab your vest and would slowly pull you down. Every two seconds he would plug his nose and you would too, then you blow out your nose equalizing the pressure of the water and your ears. He would do this all the way to the bottom of the pool. If you had no problems with this you could be in the deep end, otherwise you needed to stay up in the shallow end. There wasn’t much difference though. We got to toss around torpedoes and an underwater Frisbee. Everyone thought it was a lot of fun.

All Scouts are encouraged to sew their own Merit Badges, Rank Patches,etc. onto their uniforms [yes, really this means the Scout, not the Mom or Dad]. However, if you are unable to do so, or need other help such as hemming pants or repairs to your uniform, Blair Sutfin offers these services at reasonable rates. Blair can be reached at (303) 740-8497

TROOP UNIFORM EXCHANGE

Eric Sutfin and his family are providing the means to allow scouts to trade pants and shirts, at a modest fee. Also, if you have any donations of scout uniforms that no longer fit, please give them to the Sutfins for the Troop Uniform Exchange

GROCERY CERTIFICATES

Troop 373 scouts can earn 5% back of King Soopers Grocery Certificates purchased through the Troop. For every $100 in grocery certificates you purchase, $5 will go into your Scout account.

If you purchase just $100 a week, you'll earn $180 for your scout account in 9 months. That's enough to pay for scouts’ summer camp in most cases.

Certificates are available at all Court of Honors and during the first 15 minutes of most weekly Troop meetings at Homestead Elementary.

ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES

Just a reminder for the Scouts from Advancement Chair, Christy Porter:

· Tenderfoot, 1st and 2nd class scouts must check in with the advancement chairman, Christy Porter, to record their advancement.

· Star, Life, Eagle, please remember to:
Schedule your scoutmaster conference, call Troop Committee Chairman, Bruce Porter and ask to be placed on the troop committee schedule. Please remember that the troop committee only meets on the second Monday of each month. Plan ahead!