Boy Scout Troop 1001

From Troop Committee Chairman Doug Miller:

Hal Coon has served three exemplary years as our Scoutmaster. He has "Delivered the Promise," including that of Troop 1001 being a true "boy led" Troop. He has been a great mentor to our Scouts and a huge supporter of our program, as well as a great team player. It has been my pleasure to work alongside him and to call him my friend. I look forward to his continued support and leadership in our troop in whatever capacity he desires. I hope each of you will take the time to thank him in your own way.

Important: If you are planning to go on the Lexington trip, please check for your name in the list below to make sure we are holding a seat for you. If your name is not listed, please contact Rick Goad immediately at 214-802-3298. Space is tight and we have to have the headcount exactly correct.

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

We had a great turnout for the Swim test last Monday night. Thank you TJ and Richard for managing the event so well.

On the agenda for Monday night's regular meeting at the TBC May 18 at 7:00pm will be our annual troop elections. All scouts who would like to be Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides or Senior Patrol leader should come prepared to speak. The PLC has decided that this year a scout must be present for the elections to run for office. The results will be announced during our trip to the Lexington during the Memorial Day weekend.

All scouts planning to attend summer camp should be registered at this time. If you have not registered and plan to go please contact Mrs. Van Hamme.

We have an Eagle candidate, Andrew B., preparing to execute his project. Please check with him on Monday night to see how you can assist.

Until I see you next Monday, do a good turn daily.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Update May 15, 2009: The CPR/AED class has been cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. Stay tuned for a new date.

Mr. Reisinger advises that a CPR/AED (automated external defibrillator) training session will be available Saturday, May 16, at TBC from 8-10:30 a.m. The trainer can handle a maximum of six participants (Scouts and adults) per course: we'll add a second session from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. if there is enough interest. The cost is $35 per person. Contact Mr. Reisinger at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or (972) 907-8949 for details.

Mr. Reisinger would also like to thank everyone for taking part in the Friends of Scouting presentation. He offers special thanks to those who turned in their FOS Pledge Card Monday night, and asks those still intending to pledge to return the cards to Mr. Reisinger by Monday, May 11, so he can turn them in to the Council office.

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

The 2008-2009 Scout Season is rapidly drawing to a close which makes for a very busy time.

Thank you to all that lent a hand this past weekend at Cottonwood. Despite the poor weather we managed to keep our donations up. Thank you to Mr. Bryan and Mr. Carnes for their fantastic organization and planning for the event.

All Scout Show tickets or monies should be turned in to Mr. Saverline at this time. We had record sales this year. Thank you Mr. Saverline for helping the troop earn those necessary dollars.

Next Monday night we will be meeting at the Oak Point Recreation Center located at 6000 Jupiter Rd, Plano, TX 75074, (972) 941-7540 for our annual swim test. We will be forming up at 7 pm although the actual test will not begin until 7:30 pm. We will continue until 9 pm. Any scouts with school activities that need to arrive later than 8:15 pm may do so. Each scout planning to attend the Lexington trip or Summer camp should complete the test. Please wear class B shirts, a swimsuit and bring a towel for this event.

Scouts who need a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review should arrive in Class A uniforms and bring a swimsuit to wear after the conference or board. We will meet with you prior to your swim test.

I look forward to seeing you all for a fun time Monday night at the Oak Point Recreation Center.

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Hello all Scouts and Scouters,

It has been a wonderful Spring; our calendars almost say May. Monday night, May 4 will be a combined Parents' meeting and scout meeting. The topics will be the upcoming Lexington trip to Corpus Christi on May 22-25, 2009 and Summer Camp the week of June 7-13, 2009 at the Hale Scout Reservation near Talihina, Oklahoma.

All scouts and parents of scouts attending either of these activities should plan to attend Monday night's meeting.

All monies or scout show cards should be turned in to Mr. Saverline at this time. If you have not yet turned in your money, please do so by this weekend.

This weekend is our semiannual Cottonwood fundraiser. We would like a minimum of eight adult volunteer hours per family. There is a lot to do on Friday all day as well as Sunday after 5:30pm by helping the artists load in and out. In between those times there is booth sitting, water sales and other ways to be of service. Not to mention getting the family out to see some fascinating art and hear some great music in the park.

Our Adult Quartermaster, Mr. Roberts, lost his mother recently. We send our prayers and sympathy to his family during this time of transition. Anyone who would like to make a memorial donation in his mother's honor please do so by check made out to Troop 1001 and give it to our Treasurer, Mr. Watts. We will be forwarding it to the Our Daily Bread ministry in Enid, Oklahoma.

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

Yours in Scouting,
Scoutmaster Coon

Richardson's Cottonwood Art Festival is upon us. Be sure to show up for the time slots you signed up for. If you've forgotten what times you selected, refer to the master schedule. It is organized by the scout's last name with parents beneath the scout. Last names have been reduced to an initial to protect our youth.

You are welcome and encouraged to work additional times beyond those you signed up for. We especially need help with load-in during the day Friday and load-out Sunday evening. Many hands make light work.

When you arrive at the park, sign in at the Troop 1001 tent at the south end of the park near the pool (and, hopefully, near the funnel cakes). Be sure to sign out when you leave, too.

Troop 1001's Cottonwood service project coordinators are Dan Bryan and Roy Carnes, assisted by Mike Saverline and Dianna McAtee.

Have you turned in your Scout Show tickets and money? If not, you must turn them in to Mr. Saverline by Friday at Cottonwood.

Additional information:

• Master schedule
• Cottonwood Art Festival home page
• Map of the festival (Troop 1001 tent is at the south end near the area labeled "Food and Drinks")
• Neighborhood map

The Cottonwood Art Festival is the Troop's main fundraiser. The troop makes money three ways: tips from the artists, a payment from the city, and water sales. The more people helping, the more tips we make. Based on past years, we need about 500 adult hours for our Cottonwood activity to be successful, which equates to about 9 hours of adult help per scout. We need 100% participation to be successful!

Please consider the following opportunities to help:

Thursday April 30:

Need 8 adults from 5 to 9 pm to help to set up the troop tent and to assist local artists for booth set up.

Friday, May 1:

Need help setting up the artists. Need 20 adults from 10 am to 4 pm and 12 adults and 12 scouts from 4 pm to about 7 pm.

Saturday, May 2:

Festival hours are 10 am to 6 pm. Needed are 5 booth sitters and 4 beer garden attendants for each 2 hour shift starting at 10 am, 11 am for the beer garden.

The booth sitter role is an excellent opportunity to for those who enjoy shopping for art to mix a little shopping with fulfilling this important requirement. This role is responsible for watching an artist booth during breaks and various other artists’ tasks.

The beer garden role is one of the easiest roles at the show and that is to make sure no alcoholic beverages are taken out of the beer garden. We require 2 uniformed adults at each of the two exits.

Sunday May 3:

Festival hours are 10 am to 6 pm. Needed are 5 booth sitters and 4 beer garden attendants for each 2 hour shift starting at 10 am, 11 am for the beer garden.

Need everyone starting at 6 pm for artist tear down. This year the troop has several additional carts which will help us execute a quicker and hopefully more profitable tear down.

Please step into the church when you bring your son to the April 13 or April 20 meeting. We need you to update your son's medical records, help him select merit badge courses, and sign up for time slots at the Cottonwood Art Festival. Adult leaders will on hand to answer questions.

The BSA has a new medical form. All scouts are required to have had a physical within the last 12 months for any activity lasting more than 72 hours, such as summer camp. A medical history and release is also required annually for all activities. Please plan ahead to ensure your scout is prepared. Adult leaders will be able to show you on Monday what forms your scout needs, but you can save time by filling out the PDF form in advance and bringing it with you.

Troop 1001 also needs an Over the Counter Medication Authorization Form on file for every scout. This is a new form. Save time by filling this one out in advance, too.

Troop 1001 will attend summer camp at Camp Hale Scout Reservation near Talihina, Oklahoma June 7-13, 2009. The cost for scouts is $230, and for adults, $175. Both fees include transportation by chartered bus. Scouts should sign up early for merit badge classes to ensure a slot. Your guidance is necessary because some classes incur extra costs for materials or services. Half the fees are due by the April 27 meeting and the remainder is due by Monday, May 18.

Finally, and importantly, please visit the Cottonwood table to sign up for time slots to help with this crucial community service and fundraising activity, scheduled for April 30 to May 3, 2009. All families need to sign up for at least 8 adult hours to make this event successful.

Don't forget to sell those Scout Show tickets! Every ticket sold earns $5 in the scout's personal account. Use it for activity fees or to purchase that lightweight sleeping bag you've been wanting. Each sale also provides $5 for the council to fund campgrounds and other programs. And this year, a benefactor has promsed to give the troop an additional $5 for each ticket sold. The troop will use the funds to help build a pavilion at TBC for outdoor activities and to protect our trailers.

Need another incentive to make those sales calls? The new pavilion will be dedicated with a plaque recognizing those who made it possible. Scouts who sell 10 or more tickets will earn their names on the plaque.

Scouts who sell all their tickets may obtain more from Mr. Saverline at any troop meeting. Money from ticket sales and all unsold tickets are due at the April 27, 2009 troop meeting.