Troop 87 Scout Newsletter
October 20,1999 Parent Meeting
Committee Chairman:
At a recent leader meeting, Mr. Tom Blank has agreed to become the Troop Committee
Chairman. Mr. Blank will take over that position from Mr. Jim Morris who was the Committee
Chairman for the past two years. I would like to thank Jim for time for serving in this position,
and I welcome Tom. It is very gratifying to know that there are individuals willing to spend their
time and energies for the development of our youth.
Atomic Jamboree:
The Atomic Jamboree at Davis-Besse was very successful and interesting. Over 150 boy
scouts and 40 adult leaders attended. Troop 87 had 19 scouts and 9 adults attend. Some of
the scouts still need to finish the requirements for earning the merit badge.
These requirements are: Make 3 - three dimensional models of hydrogen; make the radiation
sign; and identify contributions made by 5 scientists. Scouts who have competed this merit
badge had their “blue card” handed back to them. If the scout needs help in completing this,
please see the Scoutmaster.
Catholic Scout Retreat:
The next camp out will be November 12, 13, and 14 at Camp Miakonda (cabin camping!). The
scouts will need to register by Wednesday, Nov. 3. Cost will be $10.00 per scout. Patrol
assignments have already been made. If your scout is working on the Ad Altari Dei religious
award, this will fill one of the requirements.
Christmas Wreath Fund Raiser:
The Christmas Wreath Fund raiser is the main source of income that supports the many
troop’s activities. It is expected that every scout will support this fund raiser. As in the past, we
will provide a $2 per wreath incentive for each wreath sold for the scouts. This money is to be
used for scout activities / equipment. However this year, in order for the incentive to kick in,
the scout must sell at least 5 wreaths. Also, the scouts are expected to support the Christmas
wreath sale after the masses on November 20 and 21. Sign ups for that will begin November
10 and parents are also needed.
One 10" wreath will be distributed per scout on November 10th to show and then SELL. The
price will be the same as last year ($15 for a 10" wreath; 20$ for a 14" wreath.) Please keep
the sample wreath in a cool place and occasionally mist it to slow down the natural drying
process.
Camp Alaska Training:
In January, we will be spending a night (24 hours) outside in a shelter that the scouts will
make. Although to the adults, this seems cruel and inhuman, it is actually one of the highlights
of the scout year. Because of the nature of this campout, we take it very seriously. There will
be 5 mandatory meetings to prepare for this outing. Older scouts who have been on
numerous Camp Alaska nights will be allowed to miss some of these meetings. If your scout is
planning on attending Camp Alaska, these are the important meetings not to miss:
November 17- Clothing (also Parent Meeting Night)
December 1- Shelter Building -- knots
December 15- Shelter Building -- Shelters
January 5- Fire building & Ax / Saw Safety
January 12- First Aid / Food
National Jamboree:
There is a video available from the 1997 National Jamboree for anyone to borrow that is
considering signing up for the next National Jamboree in 2001. See Mr. Gang for the video
and also for paperwork to sign up. Any boy in the troop now will be old enough to go by the
time the Jamboree arrives. There will be fund raisers to help pay for this once in a lifetime
experience (unless he gets to go as an adult leader, of course!). The troop cannot go as a
troop - a contingency from our council will be going.
Dues:
As a reminder, the yearly dues were due last month (September). If you see a star on your
envelope on the address label that means you have not yet paid your dues as of the mailing
of the newsletter. They are $50.00 per year. You can pay now for the entire year, or pay for
six months now and then in six months pay the rest. See Mrs. Robaszkiewicz.
Note: if your scout has Christmas wreath money due from last year, please use it up (help
pay for the dues, hint, hint). We do not want to keep carrying this on the books.
Treasurer’s Report for September:
Amount on hand as of 9/01/99: $933.13
Income: $1455.07 (Dues, Activities, Car Wash Fund Raiser ($514), Misc.)
Expenditures: $1176.01 (Activities, Supplies, Program Materials)
Total amount on hand: $1212.19
In Savings Acct.: $1518.87 (Not expendable)
Total Expendable funds: $1175.88 (plus $39.69 in BSA Account at Council, minus $76.00
credited to scouts for wreath credits).
(Note: When you understand all that, you’ve probably been around the troop quite a
while!)
Calendar and Upcoming Events:
I have received input from the scouts for next year’s activities, met with the leaders and am in
the process of finishing up the 1999-2000 calendar. However, the following dates are firm.
Please mark these on your calendar at home:
November 3- Ad Altari Dei Session
November 12, 13, and 14- Catholic Scout Retreat at Miakonda
December 10, 11, and 12- Winter Weekend I at Miakonda
January 22 and 23- Camp Alaska at Pioneer
February 25, 26, and 27- Klondike Derby at Pioneer
July 9-15- Summer Camp at Pioneer
August 18, 19, and 20- “Silver Weekend” USS Silversides and Silver Lake
Other activities we need to confirm the dates on are: Toboggan day, COSI @ Columbus,
COPE Course, whitewater rafting, canoe outing. 1999-2000 is shaping up to be another fun
and adventurous year for Troop 87.
The next parent meeting will be: November 17.
The following articles have been submitted by Sean Rogers:
On Aug. 13 Troop 87 left for a weekend of canoeing on the Rifle River. Mr. Gang and
his family went up that morning to set up camp, so when we arrived at 10:00 PM all we
had to do was set up some more tents. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Gang. We left for our
day on the river around 9:00 AM. We did not pack anything to drink or eat because we
were stopping at camp for lunch on our way down river, and then going to continue on
our trip the next morning. It was a sunny day, but the water was cold. Many ended up in
the water due to the many turns in the river. Mr. Solt and Mr. Voyles won for the
number of times their canoe tipped over. At one point we all had to get out of our
canoes to lift them up over a fallen tree. That is where everyone got blasted with the
water guns or dunked in the water. We had not planned on the trip being so long; we
did not get back to camp until 3:00. We were out of energy and starving. We all ate
lunch and then 2 hrs. later fixed dinner. Mr. Gang cooked 2 turkeys in the deep fryer.
The very best anyone has ever had! A double thank you Mr. Gang! Sunday morning
Robbie Solt arranged a mass for us at the chapel. It was outside and a bit chilly, but
closer to nature and God himself. Great job Robbie. Then we finished our trip on the
river, sore rear ends and all. We all had a great time.
On the weekend of September 10 Troop 87 left for Kelly's Island. We left about 7:00
PM, then we arrived at the ferry about 8:00. By the time we got to camp, it was dark out.
We set up camp and went to bed. In the morning we cleaned up the beach. One of the
rangers commended us for an excellent job. We spent the rest of the day fishing. Mr.
Mann was nice enough to take us out on the lake in his boat. Thanks Mr. Mann! On
Sunday, after we tore down camp and went to church, we went to an old quarry. There
we fished and swam. After 30 minutes we left and went home. What a wonderful camp
out!
On Oct. 10, 1999 Troop 87 left for Davis Besse Nuclear Power Plant. We set up
camp in the dark, trying to do it in less than an hour. Mr. Hook offered a prize to us if
we could do it. We were off by 10 min. It was raining so we all went to bed. Saturday
we had breakfast at Davis Besse and then had a flag raising ceremony. The flag was
flown from the top of the cooling tower itself. Then we attended classes where we all
were able to enter the Control Room Simulator. Then lunch and more class time. After
dinner we went back to camp and played capture the flag. The next morning the older
scouts and adults went on a special tour of the plant arranged by Mr. Hook. We saw
the dry storage area for the uranium rods, the turbines, the water processing plant, and
the back up generators. It was a another great weekend with Troop 87.