Expect a call

FYI, I am Logan Teodoro’s (SPL) dad, and am now a committee member with the troop. I have taken the task of updating everyone’s contact information starting today, and will be calling your family on the phone for this. This information will be passed along to the Troop Committee, and given to Mr. Moon to update our master list.

So that you are expecting them, here is what I will be asking you to verify and update:

• Phone info: Home, cell, and work phone numbers for each family member. These are for both emergency contacts, and in case they have changed. We already have most of it, but in some cases are not sure which cell or work number goes with which family member.
• Email: Addresses for each family member. If there is only one you want used, we can do that, but we want to assign the right address to the right person, and some are not working, or we get no response from them.
• Mailing address: We’ve got em all, but have they changed? I’ll verify it with you.
• Site subscription: Whether you are subscribed to the Web site. If you’re getting this via email, you probably are. As most of you know, we plan to go away from mass emails to a subscription format, and this site is how that will work. You will get only up to ONE email per day with any and all new posts. ALL announcement and communication will come from this site’s subscription, unless there’s an emergency.
• Troop FB Group: We want to make sure you are a part of the troop’s FB group. For more information, go here.

And that’s it! Starting today…

Need directions to event? How to get to our most common destinations.
Check our calendar for upcoming events.
Consider a volunteer position with the troop! Info here.

2/28 meeting - don't miss it!

At least two things will happen at Monday's meeting (2/28)

1. We will be planning our next camping trip to Camp Beaumont scheduled for March 4-6. Mr. Moon needs to know who is planning on going ASAP - please contact your Patrol Leader so that he can report on Monday. This camp out is in a large lodge with heat. We will be traveling to Rock Creek, Ohio. Camp Beaumont is a large Boy Scout camp with much to do, and this trip will help us decide between Bucoco or Beaumont for Summer Camp. If you are in the FB Group, you can confirm here. If you want to be a member, go to the PA Troop 743 Group and click to request to join today.
   
   RSVPs so far are
   
   SCOUTS:
   Jonathan McCracken (Confirmed via FB Group)
   Logan Teodoro (Confirmed via FB Group)
   Jonathan Wherry (maybe attending via FB Group)
   
   ADULTS:
   Jake McCracken (Confirmed via FB Group)
   Nathan Teodoro (Confirmed via FB Group) - can drive
   Michele Stanley (Confirmed via FB Group)
   
   Again, everyone should report in on FB or to your Patrol Leader by Sunday so that we can get a count. We need counts of Scouts, Adults, and Drivers. Adults can email Mr. Moon at PATroop743@Gmail.com.
2. Collection of goods for the City Rescue Mission's Hearts for Hygiene Campaign
   Please click the link for more information, or just bring the following new (and unopened) Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
   Razors
   Face & Body Soap
   Body Lotion
   Shampoo and Conditioner
   Antiperspirant/Deodorant (Combined)
   Cotton Swabs
   Combs & Hairbrushes
   Foot Powder 

We look forward to seeing you there!


Need directions to event? How to get to our most common destinations.
Check our calendar for upcoming events.
Consider a volunteer position with the troop! Info here.

Boy Scouts help Haiti

Jan. 12 marked the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and The Resource Center and the Boy Scouts recently sent financial assistance to aid children impacted by the disaster. TRC and the Boy Scouts presented a check for $2,081.39 to Christian Service International to support children with disabilities in Haiti who were impacted by the quake. The amount represents the proceeds from a rummage sale hosted by TRC and the Cougars, a Scout troop composed of individuals with developmental disabilities who receive supports from The Resource Center. "This money is probably enough to cover a mobile medical unit to treat and provide medicine to about 600 people," said Roberta Anderson of Christian Service International, who with her husband, Bertel, delivered the proceeds to Haiti. "This money could also almost cover two teachers' salaries for a whole year at the school in Galette."

Read the whole story here.

2/21 Troop meeting is Canceled

Tonight's Scout meeting is canceled due to poor weather conditions.

Patrol leaders should call their scouts.

Mr. Moon

City Rescue Mission's Hearts for Hygiene Campaign

Please bring items to the Feb. 21 or Feb. 28 meeting!!

This is an excellent community service opportunity for Scouts!

 

Have a Heart for the Homeless
Show That You Care!

Collect and Donate the Following Items:

Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
Razors
Face & Body Soap
Body Lotion
Shampoo and Conditioner
Antiperspirant/Deodorant (Combined)
Cotton Swabs
Combs & Hairbrushes
Foot Powder

Purchase or Drop off your donations at any of these locations:

Dollar Tree
Walmart Plaza - New Castle

Globe Leader Office
129 W Neshannock Avenue, New Wilmington

City Rescue Mission
319 S Croton Avenue, New Castle

Donations can be dropped at any time to the City Rescue Mission, other locations THROUGH 2/28/2010.

For hygiene reasons, we can not accept open packages.  Thank You!

City Rescue Mission | 319 Croton Avenue - PO Box 965 - New Castle, PA 16103-0965
Tel: (724) 652-4321 - Fax: (724) 652-4922 - E: crm@cityrescuemission.org

National Youth Leadership Training Scholarships from the Troop

Per the last Committee Meeting, there will be a scholarship program sponsored by the troop for a few of our Scouts to attend this training. More information will be provided as soon as it is available.

Some additional details on the training from the BSA:

The NYLT course centers around the concepts of what a leader must BE, what he must KNOW, and what he must DO. The key elements are then taught with a clear focus on HOW TO. The skills come alive during the week as the patrol goes on a Quest for the Meaning of Leadership.

NYLT is a six-day course. Content is delivered in a troop and patrol outdoor setting with an emphasis on immediate application of learning in a fun environment. Interconnecting concepts and work processes are introduced early, built upon, and aided by the use of memory aids, which allows participants to understand and employ the leadership skills much faster.

As Committee Chair Colleen Chamberlain shared at the meeting, our troop’s direction is to be primarily Scout-led, and we are looking for leaders to step up and take the reins of the organization.

See this post for eligibility: 2011 MTC National Youth Leadership Training Announced

On the ball Cub Scout is a hero!

MT. VERNON, Ohio, Feb. 17, 2011 -- /PRNewswire/ -- Ian Whitaker, an 8 year old Cub Scout from Mt. Vernon Ohio has been awarded the Boy Scouts of America Heroism Medal for his quick and decisive actions in administering first aid to his injured Grandfather.  The Heroism medal is one of the highest honors a Scout can receive.  While there are over 2.8 million boys in Scouts, less than 100 will receive a Heroism medal this year.  

When Ian learned about first aid, and how to stay cool in a crisis as part of his Wolf Pack training, he had no way of knowing that these lessons would enable him to be there for his Grandfather when help was needed most.  On a visit with his grandparents in January 2010, Ian and his Grandfather were watching television together.  Moments after his Grandpa had gone to the kitchen to get a snack, Ian heard a loud thud.  He discovered his Grandfather had passed out, fallen, and suffered a head injury that was bleeding profusely.  Ian applied pressure to the wound to stop bleeding, called 911 to get medical assistance, and provided constant care to his Grandfather while waiting for help to arrive.  

Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/17/3411829/mount-vernon-cub-scout-earns-national.html#ixzz1EKW7kqSx

Scouts Can Now Invite Friends Electronically

Did you know you can now invite your friends to join Scouting online? Via Scouting.org:

A new feature called the e-card is available to Scouts and leaders on the www.thescoutzone.org Web site. This fun and easy activity will help a Scout complete the new First Class requirement that states he must invite a friend to a troop meeting or activity. Please share this at roundtables and in newsletters.

Step 1

Go to www.thescoutzone.org

Step 2

Click on "Tell a Friend."

Step 3

Enter your name and your friend's name and e-mail address in the boxes.

Step 4

Select images of activities you think would be fun and interesting for your friend to do.

Step 5

Chose the music and the message you would like to send.

Step 6

Preview your e-card and send it to your friend.

Another example of why you should learn basic first aid and life-saving skills

This story is a great example of Scout training paying off!

Florence teen saves grandmother's life with Heimlich maneuver

MORNING NEWS/ DWIGHT DANAJacob Suggs, right, poses for a portrait with his grandmother Donna Hewett.suggs, a 13 year- old boy scout recently saved his Grandmothers life by performing the hymilc manuver which he learned in Boy Scouts. “I was eating cereal with nuts in it when I looked up at a picture,” Hewett recalled. “I had a mouth full. The food all of a sudden ran  down my throat before I could swallow and I choked.”

By Dwight Dana
Published: February 16, 2011

FLORENCE — Jacob Suggs, 13, was studying poetry at home while recovering from the flu when he heard strange sounds coming from the kitchen.

He yelled for his grandmother, Donna Hewett, who was staying with him while his mother was out of town.

When he didn’t get an answer, he ran to the kitchen.

“Grandma couldn’t speak, and her face was really red,” Jacob said. “I knew immediately that she was choking on something.”

Jacob went behind his grandmother and began performing the Heimlich maneuver, a life-saving procedure he learned when he joined the Boy Scouts.

Read the rest at the news site.

Youngest in family joins his 3 brothers in Eagle Scouts

Paul Bartschi’s family has always been a close-knit group. Paul and his wife, Jennifer, raised four boys and one girl, and all the boys joined Boy Scouts. Earlier this month, Aaron Bartschi, 18, the youngest sibling, earned the rank of Eagle Scout at a Court of Honor ceremony at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Las Posas Road in Camarillo. In itself, the Court of Honor wasn’t unusual, although only 4 percent of Boy Scouts nationwide attain the Eagle Scout rank. Aaron’s Court of Honor on Jan. 8 was unusual because it was the fourth one he and his father have attended. Aaron’s older brothers, Paul III, 31; Jordan, 25; and Mark, 21, all made Eagle Scout before him. Now it was his turn.

Read the whole story here.

Winter Klondike looks like it was fun

Check out the King Beaver District’s site (includes some pics).

Get to our site from your mobile phone

If you’ve got a mobile phone, you can get to our site and view everything but the sidebar links (and the calendar). Simply point your mobile browser to:
http://troop743.blogspot.com/?m=1
Pretty amazing, this Internets thing, isn’t it?

The Value of Scouting–Northern Tier

Previous ScoutCasts here.

Put your pics and videos to share on the Facebook Group

Group is here - just ask to join. We can upload pics, videos, links, and events there.

Clarification and reiteration ref Facebook Group

As stated before, “If anyone joins who is not a member of the troop, or a parent of the Scout, that person will not be approved. Remember Scouts, this is for you!”

Current Troop 743 Scouts and their parents should join now (go here). Anyone who does not fit that criterion will be removed.

Troop site construction update 2/14/2011

Here’s what’s changed and, hopefully improved during this last week. I said at the last Committee Meeting that it should be 30-60 days until the site was stable, but it may be less at this rate.

1. Most important, we created our new Facebook Group (not the Page, a group). Follow these instructions here and join it. All Scouts and parents should join (if you use Facebook). Patrol Leaders, please join immediately, then add your patrol members if they are FB friends.
2. Added Scouting Forms to the links on the sidebar. Use them. Don’t bug anyone for forms until you’ve checked here first. Then bug.
3. Updated the Troop 743 Eagle Scouts page. All of your boys should end up on this list. And all of you parents should make sure of it!
4. Added the Labels links onto the bottom right of the sidebar (as pictured). What that means is that you can jump to that whole category of posts. Want to read all of the fundraiser posts? Just click the link. Read all the Loganisms in one shot? Now you can!
5. A search tool for finding anything on our site, or anything to which we’ve linked. Try it!
   
6. The Recent Calendar Updates will be on the right side, near the top of the sidebar. This will show you anything on the calendar which has recently been added or updated, so that you can keep up and plan. For example, the upcoming “Philaganza” trip is on the calendar, but we don’t have the details. When we do, it will show up there as a recent update, and you can just click the link and you’ll be in the calendar entry. Again, try it to see how it work.
7. Finally, Comments have been enabled for the site. Why? Well, I think that some of these things will be better served by allowing comment. In other words, if we get feedback on things here, it will be a good way to gauge opinion or get new ideas. Comments are subject to moderation or deletion, and if this doesn’t work out, we can always change it.

That’s all for now. Please join the Facebook Group, and then see you at the meeting.

Mt Pleasant - a great time had by all!

For the 21 Scouts who did NOT attend this event - you missed a great time tubing at Mt. Pleasant!  Driving there was the biggest adventure (now CJ knows what a white out REALLY is!), but when we did finally make it, we had a great time.  Zach and CJ tubed for the entire two hours while the rest of us managed over an hour each.  The weather was perfect for tubing, the hills got faster as the day wore on, and creativity reigned during the last half hour.
 

How many people can you get into a tubing Crazy Train before it falls apart downhill???  We had 10....

Groups of 3 or more were the most popular way to head downhill.

Zach...are you still spinning or have you recovered your equilibrium yet?

We would like to thank Kyle Smith and his dad, Doug, for joining us on the excellent outdoor adventure.  One more Arrow of Light requirement down!!  We are looking forward to welcoming Kyle into our Troop in March!!

Don't miss out on our next event - Cabin Camping at Camp Beaumont, Ashtabula OH, March 4-6.  Call your Patrol Leader to sign up now!!

Colleen Chamberlain

Troop 743 Committee Chair

The Facebook Group is now ready for you!

OK, it’s up and running: our Facebook Group (see this post for an explanation of why we used a Group: What’s up with Troop 743 on Facebook?) is now ready for you!

To get to it, just log into Facebook, then in the Search bar at the top of Facebook (as shown above), type, “PA Troop 743” (uh, obviously no quotes).

Then you should get to our page, which currently looks like this:

Go ahead and join now. Use it to post pictures, share stories, discuss things with your patrol, and make sure you invite the other Scouts from our troop. If anyone joins who is not a member of the troop, or a parent of the Scout, that person will not be approved. Remember Scouts, this is for you!

Troop 733s Spaghetti Dinner is Today

Troop 733′s Spaghetti Dinner will be at the New Wilmington Presbyterian Church (229 S. Market Street, New Wilmington) from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Saturday, February 12. Dine in or take outs available.

Good food, good cause- be there!

Never Fear! Scouting Forms Are Here!

Ever get embarrassed because you forgot to bring home that required form for your next event? Hate to have to call around for a copy, or find that email that tells you where to get it? Well, never fear!

Applications and Forms is the newest link on the sidebar Scouting Links area. Just got there to get your forms and stop crying. The best part about this is that the link is to the official BSA forms page, so they’re always the latest and greatest. Enjoy!

Boy Scout alerts residents of house fire

A Boy Scout is hailed as a hero after he alerted three residents inside a home that their house was on fire. The fire occurred at 7624 San Remo Place in the Lafayette Club subdivision of Orange County. Keith Rausch, 16, just happened to be passing by the house in his girlfriend's neighborhood, when he saw something terribly wrong. "I told her to stop the car." He said he saw that flames were coming from the side of the home. "They were growing 4 to 5 feet." He quickly ran to the door and told the people inside there was a fire. "They thought I was playing a joke, but got the kids out just in case and walked to the side and said, 'Oh my God the house is on fire!'"


Read the whole story here.

What’s up with Troop 743 on Facebook?

It was agreed to use this site as our primary tool to communicate information to our members (Scouts, adult leaders, and parents), but that the Facebook (FB) tool would be different. What’s different?
First of all, the Facebook page will not be a page, but a Facebook Group.

As the information on the Groups page says, we can:

• Chat as a group – the boys can get online and chat together – currently, FB members who chat from their own pages can only chat with one person at a time – Pages allow a group (only members of that group) to chat together. It’s going to be a secret group, and therefore no one will know the names of it’s members, or see the content from outside the group. Privacy is more secure this way.
• There will be a Group email address – members can post to the wall by sending to the email address, then, depending up their own notification settings, ALL members will receive the message. Want to set up a chat with your Patrol? Notify where and when, and then do it!
• Control our membership – the Committee is very concerned that we preserve the privacy and safety of our boys, and therefore, you can only be a member by being invited by a current member, and that membership has to be approved. When we start out, you will be able to do a search on FB for our group, which is called PA Troop 743, and then click on, "Request to Join this Group" under the group picture on the right side of the screen. You can also be added to a group by a friend who is already a member. Then, the administrator will have to approve the membership. We can also block specific people from joining if there were a reason to do so.
• Post to the group, share links, photos, and videos, and documents. Members can also comment, create events (automatically invites all members), and Chat, as mentioned in the first bullet. The good thing is that members of the group do not have to first “Friend” each other to chat or participate. It operates independently of that normal FB protocol.

Some changes from the old page:

1. The Group will NOT be another way of getting information on the troop’s calendar and act ivies, but a community for interaction by the troop. There will be no feed from the Troop 743 site, so you’ll need to make sure your email subscription is up to date to the site to get the news. If you’re not subscribed, just put your email address into this area on the right side of the site and follow instructions.
   
2. Parents are encourage to join, but participation should be mostly the Scouts. There will be moderation, but accountability is high since no one will be anonymous. Please do NOT invite people who are not members of the troop to join. Immediate family (Mom & Dad), and the Scouts themselves will be the only approved members.
3. We will reserve the right to delete postings (moderate), and to remove members, but expect that it will be uncommon, if not rare.
4. Scouts should feel free to post and express themselves. It can be used to invite your friends to events, but use common sense. If not, see #3, which always applies.
5. Posting photos will not be done on the troop site, but is encouraged on the Facebook Group.

What do you think? We believe it will be a great way for the Troop to interact and develop stronger friendships. We hope you do, too.
For More Information:
The Facebook Groups page
Overall Design of Groups
Group basics
Group features
Admin basics
Groups privacy and abuse

Minutes from February 10 Committee Meeting

The meeting started at 7:02 pm, at St. Camillus Church with the following adult members in attendance: Doug Moon, Marilyn Moon, Colleen Chamberlain, Nathan Teodoro, Phillip Lucas, Betsy Wolford, Gary Wolford and Donna Matuch. Logan Teodoro was the only scout in attendance. Michael and Zachary Matuch stopped in to present Zachary’s Eagle project to the committee. Note: Meeting was originally scheduled for February 1, but rescheduled due to inclement weather.

Jeepfest is still on! The club that previously organized the event has decided to continue which will enable the scouts to prepare food as a fundraiser. The date is August 20. Camping at Colleen’s parents home in Ohio is now re-scheduled for the weekend of August 5-7.

Open positions on the committee remaining are the activities and equipment coordinators. Parents are encouraged to help with these positions.

The flags and equipment that were ordered are in and will be available at the next meeting. Mr. Moon will contact Jake McCracken about an additional set of flag stands similar to the ones he had previously created for the troop.

Financial: Council store account balance is $409.72, $750.00 in the Eagle Scout fund, Scout balance is $2,510.74 and balance in the account is $5,324.21.

Senior Patrol Leader: There may be some re-alignment with some or all of the patrols in order to facilitate better organization of the patrols. There will be a patrol meeting in the beginning of each Monday for the patrols to establish their own events. An agenda may be created for each meeting. Upcoming events are troop elections (3/21) and OA elections (3/28).

Troop Webmaster: There is very positive feedback to the website. Nathan will continue to update the website and shake out any bugs. Members of the troop need to accept the message in order to get email updates. The Twitter option has been deleted, and a Facebook option will be created as a group and be by invitation only. Committee meeting minutes will also be processed through the troop account as well. A link for national forms and a council training information will also be included on the page.

Medical Forms: A new medical form for 2011 is available. There is an additional page to complete for any scout interested in high adventure.

Snow Activity (February 12): Mt. Pleasant trip will have a 9:00 am departure from the church for our 10:30 appointment time. The event will be for 3 hours and an estimated return of 4:00 pm. The cost is $15 per person and the troop will cover the cost for the scouts. Kyle Smith and his dad will also join the group. Kyle will cross over in March and is anxious to join our troop. The committee agreed to pay for Kyle and his dad’s entrance fees.

Troop 733 Spaghetti Dinner (February 12): Anyone interested in a good meal, Dean and his scouts will be serving dinner from 4-7:00 pm.

Pack 743 Blue and Gold (Weekend of 2/18-19): Date to be confirmed.

Trainer’s Edge (February 26): Leader training to be conducted at the Preston Center at Camp Bucoco for any adult. Registration is available in the council website.

Camp Beaumont, Ashtabula, OH (March 4-6): The troop will spend the weekend at the Boy Scout camp in a cabin which has a wood stove, and water sites (no running water).

Ellwood Pack Blue and Gold (March 18): This event is open to anyone wishing to assist with the crossover. It will be held at Camp Agawam and start at 7:00 pm.

OA Lodge Banquet (March 19): Dinner for the OA Lodge will be held at the First Baptist Church. Troop 743 has been designated to be the hosts for the event.

Spaghetti Dinner (March 20): Cost will be $8 and $5 for age 11 and under. Scouts will be asked to provide a dessert and there will be no Jameson candy sales. The boys will once again be able to supplement their accounts with $1 per ticket sale going to their account. Lastly, only older scouts will be allowed in the kitchen, for safety reason. Additional details to follow.

Court of Honor (April 4): A speaker and MC are needed for this event. Mr. Moon will look into getting a representative for the Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation. This event to be held in the gym.

Invasive Species Clean-up (April 23): Reservations have been made for some scouts to participate in the Jennings Environmental Center clean-up. It will be held from 9-1 and is a good opportunity for a community service project.

Woodsy Owl Weekend (May 13-15): Camping and Woodsy Owl clean-up at Clear Creek. More information will follow.

Tan and Green Banquet (May 20): The potluck family dinner will have the scouts provide a talent show for entertainment.

Troop Camping (Week of June 19-25): The troop has two options available for summer camp this year; either Camp Bucoco or Camp Beaumont. The final decision will be made after the troop overnight at Camp Beaumont on March 4-6.

NYLT-Silver Wolf Training (June 16-19 and June 23-26): Training for any scout (First Class and above). For scouts who are interested, the committee is offering a scholarship for half the cost of the program. You must write a formal letter of request and if you are unable to go, the money must be refunded back to the troop. Applications are due March 15.

PHILAGANZA (July 5-9): The dates for travel have been set. This Tuesday through Saturday event is something not to be missed! If you have any ideas for this trip, please contact Mr. Moon. Mark your calendars.

Blood Drive (Tentative Summer 2011): The church holds two events (spring and fall) and asked the scouts if they wanted to combine the efforts. It was determined that an additional event would be a bigger benefit for the blood bank. The scouts will hold a separate event in the summer.

Camping, Ohio (August 5-7): Trip to Colleen’s parents for a weekend of fun with army vehicles and memorabilia.

JEEPFEST (August 20): Annual troop fundraising event at Pearson Park.

Cuyahoga Bike-Aboard (September 18): The group will board a train at Peninsula, Ohio and ride to the interpretive visitors’ center. After unloading the bikes from the train, the troop will enjoy an 11- mile bike ride. Cost is $5 for the train ride with an additional cost for a dinner stop. The event will run from 9-5:00 pm.

Parents please help the troop and sign-up as merit badge counselors.

The meeting schedule for the Committee is the 1^st Tuesday of the month. All parents and scouts are encouraged to attend. This is a great opportunity to be a part of what is going on in your troop. The next meeting is scheduled for March 1 at 7:00 pm. This meeting will be at St. Camillus Church.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 p.m.

Respectfully,

Donna A. Matuch

Committee Secretary
_______

For more Committee minutes and notes, click on the Committee label.

2011 MTC National Youth Leadership Training Announced

Contact MTC or Mr. Moon for more information

2011 MTC National Youth Leadership Training

June 16-19 and 23-26

Who should attend: Any First Class Scout (by the time of application) Completed 7th grade or age 13 (or older) by August 1st, 2011 and especially Senior Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders, and any Junior Leaders in the troop.

Why: NYLT helps to fully develop your Senior Scouts leadership potential, to enhance your Troops program quality and to create an incentive for your older Scouts to remain active in their Troop. NYLT gives Scouts skills they will use now and throughout their life.

When: The two weekend course runs June 16-19 and 23-26. Start now to plan to send your junior leaders for this valuable training. Scouts must attend both sessions in order to complete the program.

How Much: The fee for this course is $220 with a $20 discount if registered by April 1 and paid in full by May 18

Program Prerequisites

First Class Rank..................................................... Prior to application

Completed 7th Grade or Age 13+..................................... By August 1

Recommended by unit leader.

Participant Applicants

Please submit Participant Application with $50 deposit......

Please submit balance of $150............................................ By May 18

Applications after May 1: the total fee of $220 will be due in full By June 10

By April 1

National Youth Leadership Training is designed for councils to provide youth members with leadership skills and experience they can use in their home troops and in other situations demanding leadership of self and others. Through activities, presentations, challenges, discussions, and audio-visual support, NYLT participants will be engaged in a unified approach to leadership that will give them the skill and confidence to lead well.

All participants will have to submit a completed medical form with their final payment.

Note: multi camp discount will apply for in council campers.

2011 is going to be a fun year! Calendar updates!

At last night’s Troop 743 Committee Meeting, there were quite a few calendar updates. By the way, you can look at the calendar on the sidebar, or go directly to it here (bookmark it!). Just a taste (in no particular order):

The biggest news is Jeepfest! Everyone’s favorite fundraising activity is back at Pearson Park for 2011! Announced on their site, Pearson will be their venue for the 11th year, and it will be our premier fund-raising event. It’s scheduled for Saturday, August 20.

Jeepfest has historically been an incredible fundraiser, and has set up our budget for the rest of the year. Look for more details on the calendar and in the days ahead.

Camp Ottobre was moved to the weekend beginning August 5 in Litchfield, Ohio, and will feature two nights of camping, military vehicles, rank advancements, fun & games! And did we mention MILITARY VEHICLES?

Our delicious Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser on Sunday, March 20, from 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM at the church. Invite any of your friends who like to eat.
More info to follow.

Troop Elections are coming up on March 21 at our regularly scheduled meeting. ALL Scouts should attend this meeting and participate in our great American tradition of electing our leadership.

One of the most enjoyable events last year was the Liberty Hike from New Castle to Ellwood City, a 12-mile hike of epic proportions. It’s not for the faint of heart, but will be fun. Actually, if you do have  heart condition, don’t go, but for the rest of you, get off your butts on April 16 and go for a walk.

April 23 we’ll be participating in a program called Take Back the Woods: Battling Invasive Species at the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock. Spend a spring day pitching in at the park to help manage invasive plants. Lunch and tasty samples of some recipes featuring invasives will be provided. Yum!

Philaganza! Need we say more? Oh, you need more information?
Ok, for those who don’t know, Phil Lucas had nothing to do with the name – he was out of the committee meeting at the time – it’s because we’re taking a trip to Philadelphia from Tuesday Jul 5, 2011 through Saturday Jul 9, 2011. Yes, it’s Independence Day week, and we’ll be going to celebrate by heading to the cradle of our republic in Philly! More details to be announced later.

Finally, the Cuyahoga Bike-a-Board (where does the committee come up with these names???) on Sunday, September 18, 2011, from 9am to 5pm, will be a very cool trip involving boarding a train in Peninsula, Ohio, and then biking 11-miles back to where we started! It sounds pointless (why go, if you’re coming right back?), but the idea has to do with the outdoors, fitness, and stuff, which we all understand, if only in theory.

Be a winner, not a whiner!

That’s it for now. Remember two things to be more successful in life:
1) you should be at the Committee Meetings on the first Tuesday of every month to participate in the excitement and get the news before it arrives here, and 2) make sure you bookmark our calendar here, or keep checking the calendar in the right sidebar of this excellent troop site.

Mount Pleasant Snow Tubing–Final list

Our next Scouting event is Tubing at Mt. Pleasant!

Saturday, February 12

9:00 AM Depart St. Camillus
10:30 AM  Start tubing
2:30 PM Depart Mt. Pleasant
4:00 PM Arrival at St. Camillus (approximate)

Attending:

[We can take three more]
AJ Parsch
Jonathan McCracken
Evan Lucas
Zack Matuch
Kyle Smith
Doug Smith
Colleen Chamberlain
Donna Matuch
Michael Matuch

Troop Elections Announced!

Next elections will be held at the meeting on Monday, March 21.

ALL Scouts should attend this meeting. In addition to the elections, we will be realigning the patrols to balance numbers.

Troop site construction update 2/10/2011

• Added Weather Underground to the sidebar. It's a constantly updated weather feed from the airport in New Castle. We can use it for trip planning, and deciding how much coat to put on before coming to a troop meeting. Or if you should bring an umbrella.
• Added 'Reaction" check boxes for each post. At this time, there are no comments allowed (may change), but you can react by checking, funny, interesting, and cool. That cool with you?
• Created the Facebook "Group" that I think we'll be using instead of the Page. It's more private, allows specific updates, etc. 
• Due to the item above, I've removed the Facebook page link from the sidebar.
• Alphabetized the Scouting Links on the sidebar. Amazing! So useful!

REMINDER - Committee Meeting Tonight

If you want to get involved in the decision-making process for our troop, come to St. Camillus tonight and check out the Committee Meeting. Tonight's agenda is here.

Check out our Get involved page for ways you can help!

We've set up a permanent location for ways you adults can assist the troop. Please check out the Get involved page, and then contact the troop leadership at PATroop743@Gmail.com. 

Go ahead! You can do it!

Snow Tubing–Deadline is Wednesday, 2/9/11

Our next Scouting event is Tubing at Mt. Pleasant!

Headcount for this event by Wednesday, Feb. 9. 

PATROL LEADERS - call your Scouts, then call Logan with the names!! 

We will also need drivers for this event. 

PARENTS:  please let me know via e-mail if you will be driving!!

Friends and family members are welcome to attend, provided we have enough drivers.  Let's have some winter fun!!

Mrs. Chamberlain

Troop 743 Committee Chair

RESCHEDULED: Committee Meeting Agenda: 2/10/2011

Date & Time: Thursday, 2/10, 7-9 PM
Location: St. Camillus – regular meeting room

AGENDA:

1. Review old business / meeting minutes from January
2. Discuss upcoming training opportunities - including NYLT and possibility of Scout scholarships for training
3. Report on Spaghetti Dinner (D. Matuch)
4. Report on Philadelphia Trip (C. Chamberlain - we are looking for a Chairperson to head coordinating this activity)
5. Report from SPL (L. Teodoro)
6. Report on Troop website, Facebook page, Twitter, etc (N. Teodoro)
7. Discuss any other new business
8. Discuss upcoming events / Troop calendar - including scheduling hiking, biking, and summer activities

Please let me know if you have any other agenda items.  Thanks, and have a great weekend!
-Colleen ChamberlainTroop 743 Committee Chair

Troop site construction update

1. Added Facebook badge so you can "Like" us and see updates there, too.
2. Moved the Facebook badge below the Subscribe via email box
3. DELETED the Twitter link. Per the attendees, no one uses Twitter to get information. If there is demand in the future, we can always re-add. I will leave the account up as a placeholder.
4. The background graphic is only visible in my Firefox browser, but not Internet Explorer 8. Can anyone see it in their IE browser? What versions? How about Chrome?
5. Disabled comments on the Facebook page until the new administrator is in place (CJ).
6. I am considering creating a Facebook "Group" instead of a Fan Page. The reason is that you can control who can join, and who can see content. The deciding factors will be which serves the purpose of better communication. I am leaning toward the Group. Any thoughts? See this comparison.