Boy Scout Troop 1001

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The next meeting is MONEY MONDAY! All scouts and scouters attending the upcoming campout at Myers Park near McKinney, March 7-9, should bring $10 to the meeting. We would also like to ask parents to sign a permission form on Monday night, rather than sending it with your scout on Friday. Too often we have to call to get permission when a scout is dropped off with no signed form.

At Monday's meeting we will continue to hone our scout skills, in particular, fire building. Our patrol advisers will be assisting the patrol leaders as they teach the younger scouts the proper method to build a safe fire. Scouts should read the section entitled "Using Campfires and Lightweight Stoves" starting on page 248 in the Scout Handbook to prepare for the meeting. We will also be preparing menus and duty rosters for the campout next weekend. Patrol corners will begin immediately after the flag ceremony and uniform inspection. It will be a busy meeting so please be on time.

Scouts who would like to begin the communications merit badge must contact Mrs. Lofley at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to secure a spot in her six week class which will start March 3 should enough Scouts sign up for the class.

I look forward to seeing you Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We are in that busy time of year as reflected in this rather long message. Please read this message in its entirety. Breaks are allowed while reading.

Thank you to all that came out in the cold rain to work on behalf of the less fortunate in our community. Troop 1001 collected almost 1000 items out of the total 56,000 food items collected in the North Trail District at last Saturday's Scouting for Food event. Great going!

SCOUT SUNDAY
Trinity Bible Church and Troop 1001 celebrate Scout Sunday on February 24. See the article Scout Sunday at TBC - February 24, 2008 for details.

PHYSICAL FITNESS MERIT BADGE
Monday night the Physical Fitness merit badge class will be held at Richardson North Junior High Track at 6:00PM . Scouts needing to finish up this merit badge should attend. Any scout 12 or older needing this Eagle-required merit badge should plan to attend. Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to confirm your attendance. We need to make sure we have adequate transportation from the event to TBC for the regular meeting.

COMMUNICATIONS MERIT BADGE
This Eagle-required merit badge class will begin again Feb. 25 or March 3, if there is enough interest. Participants should be at least 13 years old, and willing to devote outside time to complete 9 requirements. This class will meet Mondays, from 6:15 p.m. To 7 p.m. for about six weeks, and will include a field trip on a weeknight to either an RISD school board meeting or Richardson City Council meeting. Please contact Mrs. Lofley at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if interested.

GOD AND COUNTRY AWARD
The next session to earn the God and Country Award will start September 15, 2008. It is a rewarding but fairly rigorous curriculum comprising 12 sessions over 19 weeks, ending January 19, 2009 and receiving your medal on Scout Sunday 2009. If you plan on doing God and Country then, then spend your time this spring and summer working on other advancement since GAC is time consuming for five months. More on GAC later or call Mr. Frank 972-658-0103.

MEETING PLAN
We will be learning about First Aid at the meeting Monday night. Scouts should review chapter eleven, pages 288-329 in the scout book to get familiar with the material we are going to study on Monday.

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

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

It is time to re-charter with Circle 10 council. For many of you this means nothing more than acknowledging that the information we have on file for you is correct. For those whose paperwork has lapsed or if you are a scout that has recently reached the age of eighteen, we need to get a new signed application from you. Stop by the scout room or check out the forms section of the website for the form and return to Mrs. Van Hamme, Mr. Coon or Mr. Kannarr as soon as you can.

Saturday, February 16 is Scouting for Food. Mr. Bryan will be coordinating the collection effort at TBC starting at 8:30am Saturday February 16th. All scouts needing service hours, patrol leaders and patrol advisors should plan to participate.

We will continue to study basic scout skills at the next meeting. Pioneering and knot tying will be emphasized. Check out this great website for a head start on knots. As usual this is a full Class A event. Please dress appropriately.

The 'First Aid' merit badge class has completed the scheduled coursework. The 'Citizen in the Nation' merit badge class will continue at 6:00pm for those scouts who need to finish their write-ups to turn in to Mrs. Van Hamme.

The Eagle required 'Communication' merit badge class will begin next Monday at 6:00pm. All scouts with First Class rank and above who are at least thirteen years old are encouraged to attend.

I look forward to seeing you at TBC Monday night.

YiS,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We had a great time in Austin at the Capital last weekend. The trip to Longhorn Cavern was spectacular. Thank you to all the Scouters that worked tirelessly to make this a special trip for the Scouts.

Camporee is just around the corner, so it is time to get prepared!

This week's meeting will be a round-robin demonstrating Scout Skills hosted by the patrol leaders. Scouts will be participating in shelter building, water and food safety, firebuilding, pioneering and first aid.

Merit badge classes will continue at 6:00pm for those in 'First Aid' and 'Citizenship in the Nation'.

Time is planned to work on Trail to First Class (TFC) advancement. All scouts should be sure to bring their scout books. The meeting will begin with a uniform inspection after the flag ceremony, so look your best.

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

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We are off to a fantastic start in 2008. The turnout was great for Derby day. The Autobots took the speed contest, The Knights of the Round Table took the distance and style award. While a new patrol made up of troop guides showed off a custom jeep complete with headlights and a PVC gun turret. Although it did get a bit cold overnight we survived it and we had a great time on Saturday racing the custom made patrol cars. Thank you to all that participated.

We had so much fun last year that we are going to Austin again to march in Scouting's parade up Congress Avenue the weekend of February 1-3, 2008. So that makes this week's meeting 'MONEY MONDAY'.

Each Scout and Scouter planning to ride the bus to Austin should bring $50 to cover all fees. The cost is higher for this trip due to the additional activities planned.

The fee includes the bus fare, parade patch, all meals and a special guided tour into Longhorn Caverns. This is one of the few river formed caverns within the state . It has an interesting history dating back to the Comanche Indians and to its use during the civil war. Apparently, it was a Confederate stronghold where gunpowder was manufactured in secret during the Civil War.

We will have a registration table setup on Monday night to sign up for this exciting trip. Scouts can use scoutbucks to cover the cost of this excursion. All youth and adult troop members planning to ride the bus must sign up and pay Monday night. Please contact Scoutmaster Coon or Committee Chairman Miller if the additional cost creates a hardship. We want all scouts that are able to attend to have this special opportunity.

Scouts can work on Citizenship in the Nation and Geology merit badges during this outing. Please sign up Monday night if you plan to begin either merit badge. The First Aid merit badge class will continue as planned Monday night at 6:00pm.

I look forward to seeing you at TBC Monday night.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Our next regular meeting on January 14 is a short one due to upcoming semester final tests. Parents: please make a note to pick up your scout from the meeting at 8:00pm, thirty minutes earlier than usual. The PLC will meet from 8:00pm to 8:15pm.

It is Money Monday. Scouts planning to attend our upcoming Derby Campout should bring $10 to give to the scout buying the food for his patrol. Bring your best creative ideas; you will be working on your callout skits for Derby Day.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 to 8 pm and is preceded by a Florida Seabase meeting at 6 pm and a First Aid Merit badge meeting also at 6 pm. Scouts who missed the first First Aid MB meeting a week earlier can still start it January 14.

Make note of the following schedule changes:

1. Derby day camput January 19th & 20th, returning Saturday evening. This is a one-night campout leaving TBC Friday evening and returning Saturday evening.
2. Camporee preparation campout rescheduled to March 7,8,9 to avoid conflicts with Advanced Backcountry Training.
3. Camporee rescheduled for April 4,5,6 to avoid conflicts with Oak Leaf Training.

All first class scouts should attend Oak Leaf Training if they have not done so already.

Our four troop instructors will be making themselves available before meetings to ensure all our scouts are proficient tying knots. Please practice your knots and be ready to ask questions.

I look forward to seeing you all Monday night at Trinity Bible Church.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

Another year is here and the holiday break is coming to an end. I hope you all had a good break.

Each patrol should have spent some time together working on the next campout scheduled for the third weekend in January. It is our Derby Day campout. I am looking forward to seeing each patrol's creativity in action. The Senor Patrol has raised the bar high with the presentation of their 'rolling couch potato' entry which was on display at our December Court of Honor.

Next Monday night January 7, 2008 we will have our next regularly scheduled meeting at 7:00pm at the Trinity Bible Church.

I look forward to seeing you all there.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

It is time for Fall Court of Honor. Please respond to the evite if you are planning to attend. If the current weather continues we may be in the cold so please dress accordingly.

Patrol patches were distributed recently. Your scout should have it attached to his right sleeve directly under the flag by the time we convene Saturday.

We will be meeting at the Trinity Bible Church at 8:00am on Saturday morning with departure for Camp Hoblitzelle near Midlothian, Texas as soon as possible after that. Please eat breakfast before arrival or have it with you so we do not have to stop on the way to camp.

 Scouts attending should have paid $10 Monday night to cover meal costs. If a scout did not pay we will be collecting money Saturday morning before departure. A signed permission slip is required as well. Patrol members who are responsible for getting ingredients for the patrol dessert contest should turn in their receipts to Mr. Watts for reimbursement.

The dinner and ceremony will commence at 5:30pm with a planned conclusion at 8:00pm. Parents and visitors are welcome to campout overnight with the troop. All scouts will return Sunday morning with arrival at the church no later than 12:30pm. No scout will leave early unless the scoutmaster has spoken with the parents of the scout prior to departure Saturday morning.

I look forward to another fun outing.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon