Boy Scout Troop 1001

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We had a great turnout at the committee meeting last Monday. Thank you for your time and input. Family participation keeps our program strong.

The upcoming Monday night meeting will be a water safety review. We successfully completed our swim test in preparation for the Galveston campout. Paul D. and Richard H. will lead a discussion of proper water safety, including the importance of the buddy system.

There are a few seats left on the bus to Galveston and NASA. There are also a few seats left for summer camp. Please contact Mr. Watts to sign up for either trip.

Thank you scouts Seth W., Stan C. and James M. for helping several hundred scouts have a great time at the Scout Show May 12th. A scout is helpful. Also thank you to Scouters Doug M., Jeremy W. and Brett R. for their cheerful contribution. A scout is cheerful.

We did not meet our goal to sell 500 tickets this year. However, we did manage to sell 245. Please turn in all funds to Mr. Watts.

Time for Court of Honor is coming upon us quickly. Mr. Coon will be available at Paul D.'s Eagle project Sunday, May 18 in the afternoon if any scout has received clearance by the Advancement Chair for a Scoutmaster Conference. All Star rank and above need to personally request a conference with the Scoutmaster and a Board of Review with the Committee Chairman.

Do a good turn daily.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Please pay special attention to this message. WE WILL BE MEETING AT A DIFFERENT LOCATION MONDAY, MAY 5.

In preparation for our May campout and upcoming summer camp, Monday night's meeting is a BSA swim test to be held at The JJ Pierce High School Natatorium. The school is located at 1600 N. Coit Road south of Campbell road.

Monday night May 5th we will meet at 7:00pm at JJ Pierce High School Natatorium. The pool is located in a separate building east of the main school building (see map). The natatorium may be approached from Senior Way, which runs on the north side of the campus.

Scouts should wear appropriate swimwear, footwear and bring a towel. Class B shirts please. We will begin as soon after 7:00pm as possible. We should be able to complete the test by our normal 8:30pm meeting end time. Adults planning to get in the water in Galveston or at summer camp need to take the test as well.

There will be no Scoutmaster conferences, merit badge classes or Boards of Review this week due to the new meeting location.

There are a few seats remaining on the bus to Galveston, NASA and the Battleship Texas. Please contact Mr. Watts to sign up for the trip if you have not done so and plan to attend. Signups are also due for summer camp.

Paul D.'s Eagle project continues on Saturday. If you are not planning to be at Cottonwood on Saturday please consider helping Paul complete this important project on the church grounds. Starting time 9am, finish when the remaining sand has been relocated. Bring gloves, a shovel, water bottle, sunscreen and a burning desire to get 'er done.

Scout Show tickets are selling fast. Please continue to sell this great moneymaker for your account with the troop. Contact Mr. Chrisman if you need additional tickets.

I look forward to seeing you at Cottonwood park this weekend and at JJ Pierce Natatorium Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

There are many things happening within the troop and we are coming into that busy time of year when school is winding down and summer activities are revving up. For readability I will present the many events as a bulleted list. Please mark your calendars and check the web site for more in depth detail.

1. Summer Camp parent meeting on Monday at 7pm at the church. All families sending a youth to camp should have at least one parent present.
2. Memorial Day trip sign-up is still happening. We will go to Galveston Beach, NASA and The Battleship Texas on May 23-26, 2008. The fee is $100 per seat.
3. Cottonwood Sign-up. Cottonwood is our biggest fundraiser of the year. Each scout family should plan to contribute to this important weekend May 2-4.
4. Scout Show tickets are for sale. 50% of the proceeds go to the scout and 50% to the troop. Every scout family should sell at least 10 tickets. This is a great way to earn the May camping fee or to get some extra money for summer camp. The Scout Show will be at Market Hall May 10, 2008.
5. Communications merit badge class meets at 6pm at TBC.
6. Scoutmaster Conferences will continue at 6pm at TBC. Boards of Review are also scheduled Monday night. Scouts should contact Mr. Miller to confirm their BOR.

I look forward to seeing you Monday night at TBC.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Troop 1001 maintained its winning tradition at Camporee this past weekend at Camp Cherokee. There were 100 patrols competing. The IHOBS earned third best patrol and the troop brought the first place trophy back home to reside in the glass case it has been in at the church most of the time since the trophy was created in 1990.

Congratulations to SPL Nik, ASPL Alex & ASPL Daniel, Patrol Leaders Stan, TJ, Tom, Richard, Paul & Stephen. They worked hard this scout season to make sure their patrols were prepared to win. And they had fun while doing it. Our quartermaster team also deserves recognition for being one of the highest performing teams in our unit. Thank you Jack, Andrew, Ethan for your camaraderie, spirit and hard work.

Due to the spring schedule changes we are having a one day service/fun event this Saturday, April 12th, instead of a campout. It is the annual City of Richardson Trash Bash. We will meet at 9:00am at TBC. From there we will shuttle to a location nearby that we have been assigned by the city to clean.

After we finish the service project we will return to TBC for a patrol round-robin volleyball match. May the best patrol win! We plan to be finished by 2:00pm. All scouts requiring service hours for rank advancement should plan to attend.

Next Monday we will convene at the regular time, 7pm at TBC. The spring weather provides the opportunity to get outdoors. Half the meeting time will be outside with activities coordinated by the Senior patrol leader and his assigns. At dark we will go inside for patrol corners to focus on rank advancement.

We are taking reservations for the May campout. Your signed permission slip and payment to Mr. Watts will guarantee a seat on the bus.

Summer camp is coming up, please see me, Mr. Watts or Mr. Miller if you plan to attend. We need to get a head count to see if we can fill a bus.

We have a money making opportunity in the troop. Every scout should plan to sell Scout show tickets this year. See Mr. Chrisman at the meeting for yours.

I look forward to seeing you all Monday night at the TBC.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The April 4-6, 2008 campout is the North Trail District Camporee to be held at Camp Cherokee near Athens, Texas. As usual, we will meet in the TBC parking lot no later than 5:30 pm Friday. Please be early; we want to leave no later than 6:00pm. We will return Sunday about 12:30 pm to the hospital parking lot across the street from TBC.

Please check you gear carefully. You will need your own mess kit and water bottle. Your mess kit can be any durable plate, bowl, cup and utensils. It may rain so pack accordingly. If you did not turn in a permission slip with your $10 food payment please bring it with you on Friday.

At Camporee we want to look sharp so be sure to wear your complete Class A uniform, including Troop 1001 neckerchief and cap and BSA pants and socks. Also be sure to pack your green Troop 1001 Class B t-shirt to wear when the Class A is not required.

This is an opportunity to meet and compete with others that share our love for the brotherhood of scouting. Fun and learning are the order of the day. Get rested up because you are going to need it.

I look forward to seeing you at the church Friday at 5:30pm!

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The next meeting is MONEY MONDAY! We are gearing up for Camporee the weekend of April 4-6 to be held at Camp Cherokee near Athens, Texas. Everyone planning to attend should bring $10 to the meeting Monday night.

The Philmont trek crew will be participating in a C.O.P.E. course at Camp Wisdom this weekend. I wish them great fun in their challenging outdoor personal experience. Kudos to the crew for making sure they are prepared for their adventure this summer.

Scout show tickets are for sale. This year all proceeds will benefit the troop. For each ten dollar ticket sold there will be $5 contributed to the troop treasury and $5 for the scout in his account. Let's get out there and promote scouting in our community. There is a salesmanship merit badge which can be earned. Interested scouts should stop by the scout room and get a blue card for this merit badge.

Saturday morning, Troop 1001 has the honor of presenting the colors at the Southern District Congressional meeting. Thank you Mr. Miller and Mr. Wakefield for getting this organized.

I look forward to seeing you all Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We had a fantastic campout despite the cold weather. Thank you to all that came out to support the troop as we prepared for Camporee. A special thank you to to Sara C. for managing the first aid sessions and for the enthusiastic assistance with the troop emergency preparation disaster scenario. I got to play dead. It was fun. I needed the nap.

There is no meeting on Monday March 17 due to spring break in the RISD and PISD calendars. Our next meeting is March 24 and next campout is the April 4-6 Camporee. But I do want to take this time to whet your appetite for a fantastic trip to finish out the scout season before summer camp. Mr. Duryea has arranged a very special weekend May 23-26. See the article Sign up Early for Memorial Weekend Trip for details.

There may be some scouts who would like to earn some spending money for the trip or perhaps help pay the $100 camping fee. It is time for the Scout Show! Selling tickets is a great money-making opportunity. Every ticket sold puts $5 in the scout's personal account with the troop. Selling 20 tickets will pay the $100 fee for the May campout.

This year we can sell at Burger King and at Mobil One Oil Change shops by simply calling and arranging the time with the manager of the location. In addition to the commissions earned by the scout, prizes will be given to the top sellers. The scout show cards will be available at the next regular meeting, Monday March 24th. If you want to start selling sooner please contact me, Scoutmaster Coon, for cards.

If you have a thing to sell, don't go whisper in a well. If you want to get the dollar, you had better climb a tree and holler!

Have a great Spring Break. During this time remember the twelfth law: A Scout is Reverent.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The March 7-9, 2008 campout will be at Myers Park, formerly the Collin County Youth Park, near McKinney for Camporee Prep. As usual, we will meet in the TBC parking lot in full Class A uniform at 5:30 pm Friday to form up and load up. We will return Sunday about 12:30 pm to the hospital parking lot across the street from TBC. [Ed. note: see March Campout - Camporee Prep for more information.]

This weekend promises to be a fun event. The Patrol Advisors will assist in running a round-robin style competition among patrols. We will have First Aid, Food and Water, Shelters, Orienteering and signaling in the event. Points will be given for Accuracy and enthusiasm. So let's all head to the park and be juuuubeeelaaant!

In addition to the round-robin, scouts that are working on the Emergency Preparedness merit badge will be staging a mock emergency in which the troop will assist as both staged victims and as part of the communication team.

We also plan to cook cobbler in dutch ovens. Yum.

I look forward to seeing you Friday at 5:30pm at Trinity Bible Church.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon