Troop 1113 February Newsletter
The Past:
January brought the north winds to Texas and with it very much winter weather. Unfortunately due to that predicted cold weather, the January outing was to be re-scheduled. But due to other commitments it was not meant to be. We had donut/pancake Sunday. January was also a month for Eagles! Tim Osborne had his Eagle Board of Review. Eric Bao completed his Eagle project, constructing some fine benches for his temple. We were also blessed with a 4 Eagle Scout Ceremony! A big ol’ Texas congratulations to Brian Dinwiddie, Spencer Meredith, Paul Nester and Alan Nguyen! Outstanding scouts! The troop also participated in the district first aid meet. John Dinwiddie, Juan Medina, Kevin Metcalf, Joseph Melcher and Paul Nester received honor patrol.
The Present:
February brings re-charter time for the troop. It is time to get current in your dues! Please see Mr. Melcher to check your status. We will also be conducting troop and patrol elections. It is very important that everyone be present for these elections. Two things, it is not a popularity contest and your vote counts! Our monthly campout is to Lake Sommerville State Park, Birch Creek Unit. Sommerville is a great place for backpacking and an excellent opportunity for rank advancement. Our district will be having the annual Merit Badge Fair on February 22nd. Summer camp signup will begin (deposits due to reserve your slot).
The Future:
March will bring our semi-annual Court of Honor. Please don’t miss it! The District Spring Camporee will also be in March. Our Family campout to Enchanted Rock is just around the corner also. You do not want to miss this one.
SM Minutes:
As Scouts and as school pupils, you spend a lot of time meeting standards. In school your work may be graded on a scale from A through F. In Scouting, you're asked to meet a set of standards before you can earn a skill award, merit badge or new rank. These are all pretty clear-cut standards. Either you can tie a bowline and perform rescue breathing, or you can't. There's nothing in between.
We have other standards in this troop that are harder to measure. I'm talking about our standards of behavior, dress and grooming, and Scout-like conduct. Soon we're going to going camping and these standards will be particularly important then. I'm not saying that they are not important all the time. But when camping you're not just John Smith, you're representing this troop and the whole Boy Scouts of America. I hope you'll all remember that and do your best to be neat and clean, wear your uniform when it's appropriate, and, above all, to conduct yourselves as Scouts should. That doesn't mean that you have to be a goody two-shoes. There's a time for horseplay, getting mussed up, and teasing. But in this troop, the standard is that when the horseplay and games are over, we look like Scouts, sound like Scouts, and conduct ourselves like by the Scout Law.
Yours in Scouting
Bobby Metcalf