Troop 734 - Hilliard, OH

For a variety of reasons, most of which relate to the recent windstorm and subsequent power outages in Hilliard and Columbus, the Troop Committee Challenge which was scheduled for Thursday, October 9th at Warehouse 839 has been postponed. A new date and time will be announced soon.

• Tonight's program Patrol: Jalapeno's; Scout skills: first aid, fire building, knots & lashings.  Patrols voted tonight for campout ideas for 2009.  Each Patrol should have submitted their 12 favorites.
• Next meeting: Oct 6.  Program Patrol: 12-Gaugers; Scout skills: game night.  Please wear a Class "B" tonight - Orange, if possible.  Patrols all need to have a game idea approved by Mr. Pearsall tonight.
• Upcoming events
  • Caving campout - we need counts!  We want to be as close as we can be on counts, so please let Mrs. Kirke know if you think you're going to go.
  • Reminder - Mr. Prine's benefit is this weekend.  If you're interested in helping, please talk to Mr. Pearsall as soon as possible.
• Other info - Popcorn sales have started, so start rocking those popcorn sales.
  • There's a show & sell this weekend - please sign up if you're interested.
  • You have until November 18 to keep selling.

November 7th - 9th, 2008
Plans are to camp at John Bryan State Park and use it as a base camp to visit Wright PattersonAir Force Base

• Friday Evening - Arrive and set up camp at John Bryan State Park.
• Saturday - Cook breakfast at JBSP and then drive over to WPAFB in privately owned vehicles.  Along with a Cub Scout Pack from Kettering, take USAF-provided bus on to base and visit C-5 Star Lifter aircraft flight line and support facility.  Take bus over to base dining facility and have lunch on base.  Take the same bus as a group over to Presidential Exhibition (display of several retired Air Force One aircraft and other planes) in secure area of WPAFB.  Ride the bus back out as a group to the base gate and then take POVs back to JBSP for evening of Scouting-related activities.
• Sunday - Cook breakfast at JBSP; break camp and head back toward Columbus.

A special thank you to the Pond Family for arranging both the USAF bus and the C-5 Star Lifter flight line tour.  Both are very hard to arrange.
 
Due to base security requirements, each person over the age of 18 must provide a state or federal ID or driver's license to enter secure areas of WPAFB.  A list of participants must be provided in advance.  If you are interested, please contact Mr. Bryan no later than September 29th to reserve a spot.

It's Popcorn time once again.  Our goal for the Troop this year is $10,000 in popcorn sales.  This means that if everyone in the Troop sells just one sheet of orders, we'll make our goal.  This is an important fund-raiser for the Troop, and for you!

We work hard to keep Scouting affordable, but the things we do cost money, and this is a great way for you to offset these costs.  You're going to earn almost 29% of every dollar you sell, and these funds go into your Scout account to pay for dues or camping. 

• Tonight's program patrol: Eagles; Scout skills: Heimlich maneuver, hurry cases, carries.
• Next week's program patrol: Jalapeno's; Scout skills: first aid, fire building, knots and lashings.
• Upcoming events:
  • Mammoth Caves campout
    • We'll camp at Crooked Creek Thursday night and Singing Hills Friday and Saturday nights. 
    • We'll tour the Louisville Slugger bat museum and factory on Friday, Oct 17.
    • Saturday, we'll tour the cave, split in two groups (alternate groups will hike or work on Scout skills).
    • Follow this link for more info, including costs (there is an extra fee for this campout).
  • WPAFB trip - November 7-8
    • We'll tour the flight line, courtesy of Mr. Ponds
    • We'll tour the Presidential Exhibit
    • Lunch will be at the museum cafeteria.
    • Standard camping fee of $20 applies.
  • Popcorn is Starting!  Be sure to read this page, because there's lots of good info here.
  • Mr Kolker and his son Zach have completed their OA Ordeals - Congratulations!
  • PLC meeting tonight.
  • We need camping ideas for next year so we can get an early start on this.
  • Mr. Prine - benefit dinner Oct 4.  Please let Mr. Pearsall know if you can help with this.

The Young Eagles and Buckeye District of the Simon Kenton Council are sponsoring another opportunity for Scouts to earn their Aviation Merit Badge.
The current event is scheduled for Saturday, October 4th at Don Scott Field.  This event requires reservations and passing of a pre-requisite test based on a Young Eagles handbook as well as the Scouting Merit Badge Handbook.
Scouts currently signed up for this program and the opportunity for a free propeller aircraft flight over Franklin and Delaware Counties are:
Nick C. // Kyle H. // Brice S. // Chester B.
Please contact Mr. Bryan if you are interested.

Due to the continued power outages, we're skipping tonight's meeting.  Program patrol, Scout skills, etc., will be pushed to next week.
Also note (per Mr. Graves' email) that we have only two remaining meetings in which to complete advancement and schedule your Board of Review if you wish to advance at the Oct 13 Court of Honor.

What is a Troop Committee Challenge?

A Troop Committee Challenge is a free training opportunity from the Buckeye District designed to help existing and new or potential members of a Troop’s Committee understand the function and role of the Committee as a whole and each member’s individual importance to a strong Boy Scout Troop.  Attendees will hopefully include the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, the Committee Chair, the Advancement Chair, the Outing Chair, the Secretary and Treasurer, their current Committee members OR anyone interested in becoming a Committee member for any of these groups.

This free BSA training will be held at Warehouse 839 of the Hilliard United Methodist Church (formerly known as the Christian Life Center), 3191 Main Street  (near the intersection of Main Street and Scioto Darby Road  and in between McDonald’s and the main building of the HUMC).  The Troop Committee Challenge is a small group training session that will begin at 6 PM on Thursday, October 9th and lasts approximately three hours.

Snacks and refreshments will be provided.  “Reservations” are required for both group size and food/beverage management purposes.  Please RSVP to Bob Bryan prior to 5 PM on October 1st.