The Past – December was a month of camping in the rain. We went to Ft. Travis at Port Bolivar, and it rained. We went to winter camp at Lost Pines Scout Camp and it rained and got very cold. In both cases a good time was had by all that braved the weather. Lessons were learned, skills sharpened and advancements made. A special thanks to Assistant Scoutmaster Mike "Cobbler" Carr for taking on the Scoutmaster job at winter camp and for the great dutch oven cooking that kept everyone happy and full.

The Present – Friday, January 14^th, from 11:00 p.m. to Saturday morning at 7:00 a.m. sharp – the Texas Rock Gym. Sign-up now… Pancake Sunday is January 16^th. January 21^st is the District Dinner for the adult Leaders. January also finds us preparing for the District First Aid Meet on January 29^th from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The First place Troop from the District competition gets to represent our District in the Council wide competition to be held later this year. January is also our month to recharter. If you have been paying your dues of $5.00 per month for the last year, your membership should be current. Our Troop yearly recharter is $55.00 per Scout and $11.00 per adult.

The Future – February is the anniversary of Scouting and Valentines Day. The Court of Honor and Potluck Dinner will be held on Tuesday, February 22^nd. Our Troop will hold elections for the different offices and also O.A. Elections. We will have a campout at either Camp Green Dickson or in La Grange. Stay tuned for more details.

Scoutmaster Minute – I have often spoken with the Troop on perspective, i.e. whether the glass is half-full or half-empty and the positive power of living a half-full life. At the start of a new year, let’s take this one step further. Consider what makes up your half-full glass. On a backpacking trip you only carry so much weight, each tent is carefully examined for usefulness and size and weight and necessity. In life, do you fill your glass with hate and anger or friendship and cheerfulness? Would you choose honesty and bravery or cheating and cowardice? An interesting fact about positive values is they are lightweight and an easy weight to carry. So while your backpack is still only half-full, the positive values you carry allow you travel much further.

Happy New Year!!