Troop 14 Scouts, Long Beach CA: News

Troop 14 News and Events Feb 18 2010

For those of us who visited fire station 14 last week Monday, a fun and educational time was had by all. Many thanks to the firemen at station 14 who took ther personal time off to give us a tour! If you didn't go, you can see pics at http://www.troop14scouts.org/photo/contents.aspx?Albumid=74

Brian, our new committee chair, hit the ground running at our committee meeting on Wed Feb 17 - the following items were reviewed:

Rummage Sale - Lisa M gave her plan for our upcoming fundraising event - the annual T14 rummage sale. Plans are underway - so save your sellable stuff and make plans to help out on April 24.
Lisa also indicated that Long Beach Memorial has a DOUBLE HOURS volunteer opportunity for Mar 25 / 26 from 4 - 7p.m. to help with their vendor faire. Contact Lisa for more information. This is not a scout event - but kids needing service hours can fill the need here.
Phil reported on our incoming weeblos:
Pack 007 - We will be bridging 10 cubs on March 21
Pack 14 - We will be bridging 1 cub on March 3
Pack 81 - We will be bridging 1 cub on Feb 27
If you would like to participate in any of the above bridging ceremonies, please contact phil ASAP - we need to get headcounts to the respective cub packs.
Our White water rafting plans were reported on. Our current reservation is for 50 and the thought was given as to increasing the count or not. Due to Seirra South's STRICT cancellation policy, we decided to hold the count at 50. This means there are currently ONLY 20 Spots left for famiies and scouts who have not paid. If you are planning on going on this outing, we encourage you to get signed up ASAP.
Susan K reported on the troops finances. From the looks of how she manages our books, anyone needing help with their taxes should ask Susan! She presented us with a GREAT report of our finances with an income / expense report detailed by source and outing that gave us a great perspective! MANY THANKS!!! Our current reserve is at $2,333.40 with no current liabilities.
Ken reported on current outings and indicated that he would be lead coordinator for our Tahquitz summer plans but would solicit the aid of parents in this outing. Summer camp is EXTREMELY difficult task - and we encourage parents to volunteer - in planning and/or camping with the boys during the week.
Our Grand Canyon plans were discussed and as you may know, we're planning on two itinaries: 1 backpacking trip, 2) camping / touring the south rim / flagstaff area. If you are planning on attending EITHER trip, please contact your scoutmaster ASAP so we can plan accordingly.

Following are upcoming events.

NEWS FLASH!!! - Volunteer and GET!!! For those of you who don't know, Disney is offering "Give a day get a Disney day" - Where you volunteer for a qualified service project - and Disney will give a pass! Up to 1 MILLION passes will be given - and the opportunities fill up QUICKLY. I managed to get online today and spoke with a volunteer coordinator who is HOLDING 50 spots for a cleanup this SATURDAY - Feb 20. Children 6 and up qualify. If you would like to participate, visit http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/disneyparks/en_US/WhatWillYouCelebrate/index?name=WhatWillYouCelebratePage&int_cmp=DPHomeGADGAD and look for the cleanup on 1175 E 11th Street. If there are no spots available, email me ASAP with your contact information and names and I will attempt to get you registered on the 50 reserved spots.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Please note the following (tentative) changes / updates to our program plan:

Mar 1- Campout Prep. We will be going over our plans for the Midway trip - As this is a very Large trip, PARENTS, please plan on staying for the meeting so you get all of the specifics. Also, we will be having a representative from long beach area concil visit so your attendance is really appreciated.
Mar 15 - We are planning on practicing FLY FISHING at the casting pond at the park next to Wilson. Please look for a flyer coming soon!
April 19 - In preparation for our Rummage sale, scouts will be making signs and planning volunteer service hours. We will need help on Thursday and Friday night as well as on Saturday of the rummage sale - so please check your calendars!!!

Troop 14 Committee / Parent Meeting Minutes - Jan 21 2010

Troop 14 Committee / Parent Meeting Minutes.

For those of you who do not know Doug Z, he is a long time supporter of our troop efforts. Thanks to Doug, the troop has a trailer to haul our gear on campouts. His participation on troop outings many times has made the difference in carrying cargo and scouts. Our thoughts go out to him as he goes in for surgery next week Thursday.

Following our troop committee / parent meeting, we've updated our program plan through July. You can find it online at troop14scouts.org/events/calendar.aspx - Click on the link to download the program plan.

To keep you updated, following are the minutes from our Committee / Parent meeting of January 21, 2010:

Scoutmasters' reports. Ken and Ted reported on recent outings and meetings. Our winter campout to Tahquitz was visited by three weeblos and parents from pack 007.
Finance Report. Our recent ribbon project brought in almost $500 in donations.
MIDWAY. MAR 5-6 Ted reported on our upcoming Midway visit. Instead of struggling to make the 40 quota, it turns out that we may be hitting the capacity of the air craft carrier! With invitations going out to weeblo dens and prospective scouts, our count is currently close to our new maximum of 70! If you haven't paid but still want to attend, see your scoutmaster to see if there is any space available. More details on the campout to come.
GRAND CANYON BACKPACKING AND CAMPOUT. APRIL 3-8. Ted reviewed the current backpacking plans. The current plan is as follows:
Sat - Drive to Camp Raymond (450 Miles)
Sun - Drive to South rim - hike into Cottonwood Creek (6 Miles -4500FT)
Mon - Day hiking at canyon floor
Tue - Hike back (6 Miles +4500FT) Drive back to camp Raymond
Wed - Drive back to Long Beach (450 Miles)
For those of us who will not be backpacking and want to tour the Flagstaff area, we are planning a "Surface Campout". That will be far less rigourous and based at Camp Raymond. If you have never been to the flagstaff area or visited the Grand Canyon, you can choose HIGH-ADVENTURE or RELAXING CAMPOUT. Stay tuned for more.
WEEBLO Recuitment / Bridging Ceremonies. Currently we expect to get a few scouts from pack 007 and are planning on attending the pack 007 and pack 14 Blue and Gold dinners. If you would like to be part of the bridging ceremony, please see your scoutmaster.
RUMMAGE SALE. - April 24 - At the Church. Mark your Calendar, save your "valuable junk". Doug Z will request the use of the Church and we unanimously elected Lisa M to lead the rummage sale committee.
ANNUAL PROGRAM PLANNING - Saturday May 15. 9-11 a.m. - Parents! Please plan on attending the ANNUAL PROGRAM PLANNING MEETING. If you have a skill, interest or hobby, let's turn it into an outing or program meeting!
COMMITTEE POSITIONS Treasurer - Susan Kirk will be taking over as Treasurer for the troop. We reviewed our current accounting procedures and Susan will be great in taking over these very important responsibilities.
Committee Chair - Brian Maloney was selected to be the new committee chair. Many thanks to Brian for stepping up and taking the lead! Brian has been serving as our troop outing coordinator. If you are itching to find a purpose in life, please see brian. He's got a job for you!

Troop 14 News and Events - Jan 19 2010

After a short hiatus, the email blasts resume....

For those of us who participated in the holiday ribbons setup and takedown, our efforts was met (mostly) with appreciation and the generosity of our friends and neighbors added approximately $500 to our troop outing funds. These funds help pay for supplies and equipment as well as provide funding for scholarships.

Many thanks to Brian and Lisa M for their efforts in last Monday's meeting - the first of two scheduled for scouts wishing to earn the Family Life merit badge. In case you missed out on last Monday's meeting because "it was a holiday" - we meet every Monday except the ones between christmas and New Years. Not to worry - Brian and Lisa will be at it again going over Family Life on Jan 25. Those of you who started the worksheet, be sure to bring it back on Monday. Those of you who need it and missed on Monday, there's still time to catch up.

Upcoming Events...

In case you're wondering what's happening to the calendar, it's normal for us to plan - and then to plan contingencies. Please be sure to 1) Visit our website, 2) Come to our meetings, 3) email your leaders 4) Sign up online for email updates 5) Volunteer! :) Nonetheless, here is a recap of our UPDATED Calendar. More to come after our parent meeting this Thursday.

Troop Parent / Commitee Meeting -Thursday Jan 21 - 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Our regularly scheduled parent / committee meeting is schedule for this Thursday at 7:00 p.m at Roundtable pizza. Come, get informed and get involved. Our Agenda on Thursday will include:
Scout Masters Reports
Finance Report
Calendar / Outings: (Midway Campout, Grand Canyon, Fishing Trip, NHRA Drag Races?)
Future Calendar Items (Weeblo Recruitment / bridging, Rummage Sale, Annual Program planning.
Committee Positions / Assignments - Committee Chair, Finance Coordinator.
Midway Air Craft Carrier Outing - Sat Mar 5 - Sun Mar 6.
Instead of camping on Feb 20/21, we will be overnighting ON the Midway in San Diego. This promises to be an action packed, fun filled outing for our scouts. Cost is $85 per person and that includes Dinner and Breakfast, accommodations ON BOARD the Midway and tours of the ship. If you have not paid as yet, Monies are DUE THIS THURSDAY Jan 21 - so please make arrangements NOW!
Grand Canyon Backpacking / Camping trip - April 3 -7.
Stay tuned for this trip - but mark your calendar. While the backpacking portion promises to be a HIGH-ADVENTURE outing for our experienced back packers, we may be planning an accompanying campout / family vacation for our other scouts. For the backpacking trip, cost is $115 per person and limited to 8 scouts.

Troop 14 News and Events - December 30 2009.

I trust that everyone has had a happy holiday and looking forward to a great new year. As we look back on the year in scouting, we were graced with a huge influx of new scouts that brought a new energy to the troop. We attended some great outings and a few of our senior scouts were able to perform community service projects.

Most significantly, for me scouting meant an opportunity to meet some great people and great scouts. Our troop adult leadership, council leaders and parent volunteers - we can all find things to look up to. It's also a great feeling of acomplishment to see our new scouts advancing and maturing so quickly. It was just a few short years when I first joined the troop and the metamorphasis and am constantly amazed that the changes - you will certainly want to witness your scout growing and learning. I encourage you to attend as many of our outings and meetings to bear witness for yourself.

This is a reminder that we are back ON on January 4 2010 - our first scout meeting for the new year.

Also, on December 2 - this SATURDAY, we will be taking down the ribbons from the neighborhood and putting them away for use in the future. To date, we have raised approximately $450 for the troop - Many thanks to those who helped.

Troop 14 News and Events - December 11 2009

To all of the scouts that helped with putting up the ribbons, Many thanks! We had a great turnout - among the attendees were: Connor, Danny, Josh, Jared, Carl O, Andy, Johnny, Austin B, Nick, Matt M, Mr. Brydon a few friends and a few visiting weeblos. All in all we covered at least as many streets as we've done in the past and have collected over $200 in donations to date. Thanks again T14!

Also, at the service at the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church, we were published in the bulletin for the eagle projects of Danny and Connor at the Church. Pastor Sheena and Mrs. Dines (the sunday school teacher) gave the scouts and adult leaders in attendance a very warm welcome and words of appreciation at service. Again- congratulations to our young men and their contributions to the community.

EVENTS

If you haven't heard yet, our campout planned for this weekend has been scrubbed due to weather.

Dec 14 - Winter camping. In Preparation for our winter campout at Tahquitz Snow Camp (We will be camping in the cabins at Tahquitz), we will learn about preparations for winter camping. This will be our last meeting for the calendar year 2009. May you have a great holiday and look forward to a great new year.

Dec 18 - 25 - Family Life Merit Badge Counselor. Brian M, our future committee chairperson, will be going over the requirements of the Family Life Merit Badge. Brian is a counselor for this and a few other key EAGLE REQUIRED Merit Badges. This is a GREAT Opportunity to earn this merit badge. Please note - the merit badge requires more than the two meetings - but the two meetings will get you well on your way.

Troop 14 News and Events - December 2 2009

I trust that everyone had a great thanksgiving holiday. Many thanks to Mr. Ridgeway for speaking at our meeting on December 1. I'm sure the boys learned a lot during the informative meeting.

A special note of thanks to Brian M for assuming the duties of Troop Treasurer. If you feel the sudden urge to do great things for your troop, please don't hesitate to contact me! I have a job for YOU!. :)

Also, many thanks to Monique for helping out with filing our Recharter for 2010. You will be happy to know that our long time troop Charter Sponsor, the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church will continue to sponsor us. With that in mind, please see the following news and events:

Troop Holiday Ribbon Project - Sat Dec 5 - 8:00 am
Put up ribbons. Please join us on Saturday December 5 from 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. (?) for our 3rd Annual holiday ribbon project. We will be putting up holiday ribbons on the trees in the Alamitos Heights neighborhood along with a note on who we are. In years past, our troop has raised 400 - $700 to support our outings. This year I hope to expand it to cover 300 homes in the neighborhood - so bring your scouts at 8:00 on Saturday.
Sunday service at BHUMC. Sunday Dec 6 - 10:00.
To recognize the efforts of our recent eagle scout projects, the church will be recognizing our scouts, the volunteers and our Troop at the sunday service. All scouts and parents are encouraged to join us (scouts in Class A uniforms please) to show our continued appreciation for our charter sponsor.
Petroglyph's Campout - Dec 12 - 13
On Monday, we will be preparing four our campout to the Petroglyphs. Scouts - please don't forget to bring $15 (cash preferred) for food. Adults: $20 and sibblings accompanying adults: $15.
Troop Leadership Core Meeting - Dec 10.
If you are a newly inducted patrol leader, please plan on attending our TLC meetings every month.

Troop 14 News and Events - 11/22/09

Our court of honor was held last week Monday and we installed our new Senior Patrol Leader, ASPLs and Patrol Leaders. Many of our scouts received rank advancements and merit badges. A big welcome to our new SPL - Connor M. We look forward to a successful tenure. Many thanks to our scoutmasters Ken and Ted for their efforts, to Leslie - our advancement coordinator and to everyone who attended this special ceremony.

Please note the upcoming events:

Hunter Safety - Nov 30.
We are lucky to have Mr. Ridgeway - a troop 14 alumni speak to the troop regarding hunter safety.
Holiday Ribbons Setup - December 5On Sat Dec 5, we will be putting up ribbons in the Alamitos Heights area - This is a great way to spread the holiday joy while raising funds for the troop. Please plan on arriving at the Tsoiasues house at 645 Los Altos. Scouts will go in pairs to line the trees in our neighborhood with ribbons. Ribbons will be taken down on Jan 2. Class A Uniform attire is requested.
Petroglyphs Camp - Sat Dec 12 - Sun Dec 13.
Our Decmeber campout will be to see the petroglyphs at Rodman. See flyer at our scout meeting for details
Tahquitz Snow camp - Jan 15- 17
Our January campout is set for Tahquitz snow camp. We will be staying in "cabins" at tahquitz - and cooking in patrols.
Whitewater Rafting - May 21-23We are still taking reservations for our whitewater rafting trip. If you know for sure you will be attending this campout, please book early - The sooner we get committment, the better we will be able to plan this trip - and reserve more spots on the boats. Your early reservations will be used to make the necessary deposits. Our priority will be to scouts and then to sibblings / adults in the order they were received - so book EARLY to confirm your spot!!! This is a GREAT family outing and we don't put this on our calendar every year - so you don't want to miss out.

Troop 14 News and Events - 11/18/09

For those of us fortunate to attend our annual Roc Stoc campout last weekend, aside from bearing 31 degree weather and a narly wind on friday night (fun trying to put up your tent when the wind is trying to blow it down), there were lots of rocket launches and lots of failures. Thanks to master chef Ron, the adults were treated to gourmet breakfast and bbq skewers and home made soup for dinner. YUM! Thanks Ron! This year we had 10 launch pads running and though Art was not able to launch any of his big rockets, the kids had lots of opportunities to launch their rockets in the morning and afternoon.

Please note, some of our calendar dates are changing - please look for an official calendar effective Monday Nov 23. Our apologies for changes - but our calendar shifts as we get closer to outing dates. Please, note the following upcoming dates:

Troop Committee Meeting - Thu Nov 19 - 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.Round Table Pizza - on Ocean.
BHUMC Scout Appreciation Day - Sun Dec 6 - 10:00 a.m.In appreciation of our recent Eagle Projects with our charter sponsor church, the Belmont Heights United Methodist Church will be recognizing the efforts of our eagle candidate scouts and all that helped out on the projects. Please plan on attending mass and joining us on Sunday.
Holiday Ribbon Project - Sat Dec 5 and Sat Jun 2Every year during the holiday season, we line the trees of Belmont Heights with ribbons. A short note is attached describing our efforts and the troops' participation. In years past we've collected considerable donations to help ofset some of our outing costs and to provide scholarships to some of our scouts. Please join us on Sat Dec 5 to help line the trees. The more trees we line, the more our efforts will show - and the more donations we will receive.

Troop 14 News - November 3 2009

TROOP NEWS:

Our troop elections were held on Nov 2. The boys tried their hand at the political process giving their campaign speeches - full of promises and bribes of food. We will look forward to installing our new Senior Patrol Leaders, Patrol Leaders and other officers at the Court of Honor at our Nov 16 meeting.

For those of us who attended Connor's eagle project (part I) on Sunday, we had an opportunity to witness an amazing display of teamwork, craftmanship and planning. On the first day, Connor and his crew were able to get the bulk of the shelving cut and installed. Stay tuned for Part II and Part II (see below for details).

TROOP EVENTS

Connor - Eagle Project - Part II and Part II (Sat Nov 7 - 2-5 pm, Sun 12-5 pm)on Saturday, Connor will be adding the trim and puttying the shelves as well as preparing the walls for painting. On Sunday, we will be wrapping up the project by adding primer and finish paint. Wear work clothes and arrive at the church
Campout Planning - Monday Nov 9
The trip is ALMOST HERE. For those of us who built our rockets over the last few weeks, the time is almost upon us. We will be planning for the campout. Scouts planning on attending should attend so we get an accurate headcount. Campout fees for food are $15 per scout / sibbling and $20 per adult. Please bring CASH as we will be redistributing the funds to scouts in the patrol to purchase food. If you would like to earn the Rocketry Merit Badge, BRING YOUR MERIT BADGE HANDOUT and complete the requirements with CHUCK. Extra rockets will be awarded to scouts who earn the rocketry merit badge!!! Our campout is Friday November 13 - Sunday Nov 15
Court of Honor - November 16In addition to honoring our scouts' recent rank and merit badge achievements, we will be installing our new leadership. If your scout was recently elected to office, please plan on attending so he can be recognized.
White water rafting - May 21 - 23 2010Our reservations are MADE - and we did not get as many spots as we'd like. With only 40 spots available for this trip, it's sure to sell out. Priority will be given to scouts and then to families / sibblings that book early. If you would like to lock your spot on this trip, BOOK now!

Troop 14 News and Events - October 27 2009.

For those of us participating and witnessing the rocket building, MANY THANKS to Chuck and Art for their generous contribution of time and effort. Thanks also to Richard W for filling in as Scoutmaster of the day on Monday's meeting in Ken's absence. Following is an update of T14 events.

Elections - November 2On monday we went over the various leadership positions and who was eligible for the positions. On Nov 2 scouts wishing to run for office will be given an opportunity to give a speech and elections will follow.
Rocketry Merit Badge - November 2For those scouts who did not complete the requirements for the rocketry merit badge, Chuck will be at the scout meeting on Nov 2. This is a great opportunity to earn this merit badge - so don't miss out! As an additional incentive, Art is contributing EXTRA ROCKETS to scouts who complete the merit badge. Bring your merit badge worksheet and see Chuck on Nov 2.
Troop 2010 Recharter- Due Nov 16.It's time for us to recharter with BSA and that means dues for 2010 need to be collected. Please see our recharter letter. See Monique S for paying your 2010 dues. The troop dues for 2010 is $70 / scout. The BSA fee for registering as an adult leader is $10. Registering with BSA as a leader provides umbrella liability on official scouting events.

Troop 14 News - Calendar Change

Because our rocket building meetings are so impacted, we have decided to dedicate the November 2 meeting to troop elections and move the court of honor to November 16.

TROOP ELECTIONS WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 2. Scouts seeking election to a leadership role should prepare (full uniform) to give a nomination speech prior to the elections.

TROOP COURT OF HONOR WILL BE HELD ON NOVEMBER 16. We will be recognizing our scouts' rank and merit badge achievements on November 16. We will also be installing our new scout leadership. Parents - please plan on attending this special event for your scout. If you would like to contribute / assist in planning some light refreshments, please let us know.

Troop News and Updates - Committee Notes

Troop 14 News and Events - Committee / Parent Meeting Updates

(REMINDER: - We are continuing our rocket building meetings on Oct 19 / 26. Also - Troop elections are next week - Oct 26 - come prepared on Oct19 to give your nomination speech if you plan on running for office).

Scoutmasters' Reports.

TLC Meetings.
Ken Reported on the troop meetings and the Troop Leadership Core (TLC) meetings. The TLC meetings are supposed to be attended by the SPL, ASPLs and a representative from each troop (either the Patrol Leader or Assistant Patrol Leader). If your son is in a leadership position, his participation in the TLC meetings is important.
Troop Elections. (Oct 26 Scout Meeting)
In anticipation of the troop elections, scouts interested in running for a leadership position should plan on giving a nomination speech at the October 19 scout meeting. Leadership positions and the requirements are as follows:
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). The Senior Patrol Leader is the scout leader of the troop. He is responsible for running the meetings, and that means working with his Assistant SPLs, the Patrol Leaders and the Scoutmaster to plan and conduct the meeting. Eligibility requirements are: Age 14, at least 1st class rank and have been an ASPL in the past.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL). ASPLs assist the SPL in running the troop meetings. ASPLs must be at least 1st Class Rank and have held a Patrol Leadership position.
Patrol Leaders (1 per patrol). Patrol leaders are the group leaders within the patrols. They are the 1st line of command in problem resolution for a scout. On campouts, patrol leaders are responsible for making sure that the patrol duty roster is followed. While there are no eligibility requirements for the patrol leader, this is a very important role for the patrol and attendance to scout meetings and the TLC meetings are critical to the success of the troop and the patrol.
Assistant Patrol Leader (1 per patrol). The Assistant Patrol Leader is the backup for the Patrol Leader in the patrol. Ideally, either the patrol leader or the assistant patrol leader is in attendance of scout meetings and outings. There are no eligibility requirements for the assistant patrol leader
Chaplain. The role of the Chaplain is to Provide a spiritual tone for all troop meetings and camping experiences. There are no eligibility requirements for this position. There are no eligibility requirements for this position.
Scribe. The scribe is responsible for maintain the troop attendance records and documenting the troop's activities. There are no eligibility requirements for this position.
Librarian. The Librarian is responsible for maintaining the troops library of books and handouts. There are no eligibility requirements for this position.

Finance Report

I reported that in Jacklyn's absence, I have the troop checking account and obtained an ATM card to the troop bank account until she returns. To date, I've conducted three transactions:
a deposit of $416 that I received from council made payable to the troop (I'm not aware what it was for) and
I cashed some checked that Danny received for his eagle project
I issued a check to Leandro for some checks he received for his eagle project.

Eagle Projects Review

I reported (from Ted) that the church was very happy with our eagle project efforts (Danny's book cases for the sunday school and Conner's shelves for the storage area) and that the projects made some significant points with our troop charter. (As of Saturday, it appeared that Leandro's eagle project for the Wilson wrestling team looked like it was on track and in great shape). Connor's eagle project will be held on the following dates:
Nov 1 - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
Nov 7 - 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
Nov 8 - 12N - 4:00 p.m.

Calendar

Please note the following significant dates / changes to our calendar:

Petroglyphs campout (Dec 5-6).
Our Petroglyphs campout will not be at China Lake as previously identified due to reservation conflicts. Brian M will be scouting some other options. Our campout date will stay the same but our location will change.
Grand Canyon backpacking trip. (Apr 3 - 8 2010).
We are planning a 5 day backpacking trip in the grand canyon during spring break of 2010. If you have backpacking experience and would like to assist in coordinating this trip, please see Brian M.

Adult Leadership

Adult volunteer leadership is an important part of your troop. While it's certainly helpful to have your assistance when a call to duty is made (really appreciate it), there are some REGULAR adult leadership positions that would be extremely helpful for the troop's continued success. These recognized leadership positions will provide good backup for our existing leaders as well as create an opportunity to transition positions rather than having to fill them abruptly. In order of priority, our needs are as follows:

Troop Committee Co-Chair.
The troop chairperson has many duties and responsibilities. In addition to being a spokesperson for the troop, the committee chairperson is responsible for maintaining the policies that guide the troop. I have been committee chair for two years and have enjoyed the priviledge of serving the troop in this capacity. While I intend on participating actively with the troop for a LONG time to come, in order to give the troop an opportunity to grow and to explore new ideas, it's important to create opportunities for smooth transition of new leadership. I am actively looking for someone to assist the troop's management with the possibility of eventually serving as commitee chair. If you are interested, please feel free to contact me.
Assistant Scoutmasters (2).
Another big area of need is in the assistant scoutmaster area. Currently, we have Ted and Ron serving actively in this role. This is the same number of assistant scoutmasters even though our (active) troop size has almost doubled. We are looking for two assistant scoutmasters to assist Ken in overseeing the meetings and planning and running the meetings. Though your attendance at every meeting is not required, it is very helpful to have additional assistant scoutmasters help out during scout meetings and outings.
Advancement Coordinator assistant
Next to the scoutmaster, the advancement coordinator responsibilities are the most important. The advancement coordinator(s) are responsibile for maintain the rank and merit badge requirements of the troop. The advancement coordinators file these achievements with council for official recording as well as prepare for the periodic Courts of Honor (COH program, patch purchases, etc). However, in addition to recording these achievements, advancement coordinators can review this information peridocally and provide scouts with assistance with achieving their next rank with their eagle rank in mind.. .
Troop Quartermaster
The troop quartermaster is our equipment coordinator. The quartermaster is responsible for working with the scoutmaster in making sure our equipment is in ready shape for our planned outings. The quartermaster should have good outdoor skills and knowledge of the maintenance and repair of camping equipment.

Pack 007 Den Chief.

If your scout is interested in serving as a den chief for pack 007 (lowell), there is an immediate need to help out a wolf den. This will not only be a great opportunity for your scout to grow his leadership skills and to teach what he learned in boy scouts, it's a great recruiting opportunity for the troop to say fresh. Please plan on attending the Pack 007's pack meeting on Thursday Oct 22.

Troop 14 News - October 12 2009

For those of you who have participated in the rocket building, lots of model building techniques were learned. Many thanks to ART and CHUCK for their time, effort AND financial contributions to our rocket building and rocket launch events

Tonight, instead of going to see the Sea Launch Tour, we will be having a guest speaker from Cal State Long Beach's rocket program. Victor Zankich will be speaking about Cal State's rocketry program. We will be continuing our rocket building sessions on Oct 19 and 26.

Other news Items:

Committee / Parent Meeting - October 15.Committee Members, soutmasters and interested parents are invited to attend our monthly committee meetings at round table pizza 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Our committee meetings are an opportunity to discuss program changes, as well as provide input on troop activities and the scouting program.
Leandro's Eagle Project - October 17/18
Look for more information coming - Leandro will be working with the Wilson High wrestling team to build some bookcases on Oct 17/18 (this weekend!) - All available hands (adults and scouts) would be greatly appreciated.
Court of Honor - November 2.As we will be planning our next court of honor for our Nov 2 meeting, please be sure to get your blue cards to a scout master or to Leslie G by Oct 19 to be included in the Nov 2 COH.
White Water Rafting Trip - 2010 May 21-23 2010.
Talk about early planning....Sierra south is offering a 15% discount to reservations booked by Nov 2 - so please see the event flyer, sign up and PAY in advance of this date to receive the discount. Any payments AFTER this date are subject to our reservations and will not be eligible for the 15% discount. This is a GREAT family event (with accompanying adult) and a tremendously fun trip. We don't do this event every year - so you don't want to miss it.

Troop 14 News and Events - Barton Flats Campout Cancelled.

Due to the fires and lack of availability of alternate campsites, our campout this weekend is scrubbed.

Instead, please join us on a dayhike in Idyllwild. Arrive at the church by 7:00 a.m. - return by 4/5:00 p.m. See the flyer online at http://www.troop14scouts.org/Documents/SanJacintoMtnsDayhike2009.pdf

Scouts should pack appropropriate day hiking equipment including the 10 Essentials

Troop 14 News and Events - September 25 2009

Please find the following News and Events Updates for Troop 14. A new program plan can be found at http://www.troop14scouts.org/files/Troop14ProgramPlan.pdf

NEWS

Recently, we had Danny's Eagle project Part 2. Many thanks to Scoutmaster SUPER TED, Brian, Ron and all of the other adults and scouts that participated. After reviewing the plan, the day was spent assembling the shelves and finishing the staining. Overall, we had approximately 10 boys and the shelves are complete! Aside from a few finishing touches, Danny will be making plans with his project recipient to deliver the shelves and get completion signatures.

UPCOMING EVENTS / CALENDAR CHANGES

Barton Flats Campout. October 3 /4.Due to the fires in the San Gabriel Mountains, our plans for Mt Wilson are scrubbed. Instead, we will be camping at Barton Flats. Look for great mountain scenery, and a 10 Mile day hike. Meet at the church on Saturday at 7:00 a.m., Return at approximately 2-3 p.m.
Rocket Building I/II/III. Regular Meetings Oct 5/19/26In anticipation of our Mojave Rocket Campout at Roc Stoc, we will be building rockets at our regular meetings. Please bring $25 to cover the cost of the rocket kits (plus a fuel allowance at the campout) by October 5. In order for us to purchase enough rockets, please sign up early.
Leandro - Eagle Project - Oct 17 & 18Looks like eagle project season. Leandro will be working with the Wilson boys wrestling team to build some shelves for them. Please mark your calendar and look for a flyer at the scout meetings soon. Adults and scouts are strongly invited to attend.
Connor - Eagle Project - Nov 1 and Nov 7-8Connor will be building shelves for the belmont united methodist church (Our Charter sponsor). Some of the work will be done at the church and some of the work will be done at Connor's house - please look for more details from Connor.
Mojave Rocket Campout - RocStoc. Nov 13-15
Definitely a family afair, our Mojave desert rocket is a popular, easy and FUN campout. Scouts will be launching the rockets they build in October and we will be watching the RocStoc rocket launches. On Saturday night, we will be watching NIGHT LAUNCHES. for more information on RocStoc, see http://www.rocstock.org/
China Lake Petroglyphs Campout - Dec 5-6Please note that our China lake campout has moved up one week. Due to calendar issues, it's necessary for us to visit them before they close for the winter.

Troop 14 News and Events - Sept 11 2009

If you went to the Obsidian Flats campout, thanks for your participation in the troop. Of those that went, the resounding statement was that the Bode Ghost town exceed expectations. Many thanks to scoutmasters Ken and Ted and the adults that went. A special thanks as always to our Charter Representative Doug Zantini for attending and pulling the trailer with all of our troop gear!

Following is an update and reminders of upcoming events:

Danny's Eagle Project - Part 2 - Staining / Varnishing. Sunday Sept 13 - 8:00 - 3:00 p.m. -
For those of you who made it to Part 1 of his project, aside from a few minor issues, all of the wood was cut and most of the staining was done. However, we ran out of time in getting the wood panels sanded, stained again and varnished. All available hands would be really appreciated in getting the wood sanded and varnished. If you have a good quality paint brush, please bring it with you. Please wear work clothes to this project as you may get it stained - Literally.
Parent Committee Meeting - Thursday Sept 17 - 7:00 pm. - 8:30 p.m. - Round Table PizzaCommittee members and interested adult volunteers are invited to attend our Monthly Committee Meeting at Round Table Pizza on 4007 E Ocean Boulevard Long Beach. Our Agenda will include:
       Scoutmasters' Reports
       Finance Reports
       Mt Wilson Observatory Campout (?) Planning
       Rocket Launch Campout Planning / Funding
       Adult Leadership / Committee Positions
Scout Meetings - Leadership Skills.
Our theme for the month is Leadership Skills. - On Sept 14, scouts will go over planning, teaching and setting the example. If you have the opportunity, please don't miss the Sept 21 meeting - your scouts will learn presentation skills - they will try their hand at public speaking and constructive critical evaluations of their efforts will follow. FUN STUFF.

Troop 14 News and Events Sept 1 2009

Please see the following news and reminders below:

Obsidian Flats Campout.
REMINDER: There is a campout this weekend - Obsidian Flats. We depart Saturday Sept 5 at 7:00 and return on Monday Sept 7 in the afternoon. If you would like to go, please see the event flyer http://www.troop14scouts.org/Documents/ObsidianFlats2009.pdf If you have not signed up and paid for this campout and still wish to go, please let us know ASAP.
Danny's Eagle Project
I got to witness first hand what it's like being the parent of a scout doing his eagle project. For some of you, you will experience it only once. Lucky me, I look forward to the experience THREE times! Overall, Danny did an excellent job working with the Organizational Representative getting the project specifications, explaining the process to her and going back and forth until an agreement was met on the project. Next, came the approval process - Danny made google sketches, a materials list with cost estimates and a duty schedule with the approximate # of scouts and days required. Upon approval of his project, he sent letters to businesses and neighbors to solicit donations for funding his project. A week prior to his project work day (1 of 3 now), he purchased the materials and planned the work site. Last week Saturday was Danny's first work day - and things went very well indeed. A few issues - but overall with the help of about 20 scouts and 5-7 adults, he was able to get the wood cut and stained. Danny will be having another work day on Sept 13 to get the finish completed and one more day (perhaps) to get the shelves assembled and delivered.

Troop 14

NOTICE: The Committee meeting scheduled for today 8/20/09 has been cancelled. My apologies for the short notice.

Our next event - the 3rd Annual Troop picnic is scheduled for this coming sunday - August 23 from 2 pm (setup) - 6:00 p.m. Many thanks to the Maloney Family for helping to coordinate this event. Please bring the entire family to this enjoyable event - there will be bbq provided by the troop and scout families with the following last names are invited to bring the following:

B-G bring Desserts
H-R Bring Salads
S-W Bring Drinks

If you are planning on going on our Labor weekend Campout to Obsidian Flats, please be sure to sign up and bring monies for the campout. $15 / scout / child, $20 / adult. On August 24, we will be having a guest speaker talk about the ghost town of Bode.

Troop 14 News, Events and Reminders

Tonight - August 10 - we are having a court of honor for our scouts. Parents and family are invited to stay for the court of honor to recognize your scouts' rank and merit achievements. For the many scouts achieving a rank advancement, parents will also be honored with a parent pin - so please plan on attending the court of honor with your child tonight. Dinner will be catered by the Brightman family and will be served at 7:15 following the opening ceremony. A small donation is requested to cover costs.

Also, we have attached flyers for our upcoming events:

Troop 14 Annual Picnic - August 23. http://www.troop14scouts.org/events/view.aspx?Eventid=316
Danny's Eagle Project - Saturday August 29. http://www.troop14scouts.org/events/view.aspx?Eventid=364
Troop 14 Campout - Obsidian Flats - Saturday September 5 - Monday September 7. http://www.troop14scouts.org/events/view.aspx?Eventid=312

Troop 14 News - July 31 2009

The Philmont crew returned on Tuesday a little weary but ALL extremely happy about the trip. Aside from bilsters, foot rot and a dislocated knee that didn't stop a their trek the boys and Ken made it back in good spirits and health. Whether it was sushi, Claim Jumper, or home cooked, the call was the same - FOOD. Congratulations to Jordan, Josh, Andrew, Danny, Leandro, Conner and Ken for their significant accomplishment in Scout mecca.

As we look forward to August, our theme for the month is SUMMER FUN. Please see our troop calendar for meeting details but here are a few outing highlights:

Court of Honor - August 10.
The deadline for submitting merit badge achievements for the Aug 10 COH is Aug 3rd. Also, if your son is ready for a rank advancement, August 3rd is the deadline for Board of Reviews. Proper attire is important for the Board of Review.
Eagle COH - Michael Fudim and Robert Bebek - August 16.We will be having an Eagle Court of Honor for Robert and Michael at St Bartholomew's Church across from Lowell from 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. All scouts and family are invited to attend this special ceremony.
Bike to Beach - August 17For our regular meeting on August 17, scouts and interested parents are to bring their bikes to the church. We will be riding to the beach and playing volley ball on the beach. Scouts may ride home or can be picked up at the beach at 8:30.
Family Picnic - August 23Our 3rd Annual Family Picnic is set for Aug 23 - 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm. See the link at http://www.troop14scouts.org/events/view.aspx?Eventid=316 for details. Many thanks to Brian for coordinating this event. If you would like to assist in the setup, please contact Brian M.
Eagle Project - August 29.
Danny will be having an eagle project work day. His project is building bookcases for the church. For many scouts in the troop, this will be the first opportunity to participate in an eagle project - . Please see the calendar for more details. http://www.troop14scouts.org/events/view.aspx?Eventid=364