Home.6 February 2000
Greetings to All. This is the first major Projectoree 2000 mailing, and contains a lot of critical information, along with several action items which will require your immediate attention. Please read it carefully. It is being sent only to those Units who have signed up to attend, or are on the waiting list pending available Patrol slots.
As previously noted, and in response to some of the bitter criticism directed at me last year, it is my firm intent to dramatically cut the excessive number of meetings and emails regarding this year's Projectoree. In fact, I believe everyone would agree that I've already done so. In response, however, I will also be completely intolerant of failures to attend the upcoming organizational meetings (on time), or of failures to respond (on time) to inquiries and deadlines. In plain language, this means I will be terminating those Troops who fail to heed their obligations. Unlike in 1999, when I was trying to educate 2/3rd's of the District, everyone is now familiar with the Projectoree format, so the learning curve is almost flat for all participating Troops. Excuses will not be accepted.
For these reasons, I strongly urge each participating Troop to form a Projectoree subcommittee, with at least 2 or 3 members, to ensure that nothing is missed due to a critical person being out of town, sick or buried at work.
1) When and Where
There is only one Projectoree this year, to be held the weekend of May 5th - 7th. It will be held at Camp Wilson, at the Pohick Bay Regional Park near Lorton, VA - the same site we used for the first six Projectorees. The site has already been reserved and paid for.
2) Troop Sign Ups
The following Troops are confirmed to attend the Projectoree (numbers in parentheses are the initial number of participating Patrols each Troop has projected): 104(1), 111(5/6), 128(2/3), 149(2), 167(3), 505(1), 624(1/2), 638(4), 647(1), 648(1), and 1916(2).
The following Troops signed up late, and are on the waiting list: 143(2) and 667(1). Troop 667 is first on the waiting list.
For the record, two other Troops attempted to sign up late, but then declined upon learning that they would be placed on the waiting list.
Under the current Projectoree format, the maximum number of Patrols that can attend is 24. The estimated numbers of Patrols from the confirmed Troops range from a minimum of 23 to a maximum of 26. I have been asked (several times) to expand the Projectoree beyond 24 Patrols, but I have played with several options to accomplish this, and have convinced myself that none are particularly appealing or feasible. I will review these options one more time between now and the first organizational meeting, but I do NOT intend to force the issue.
For the record, past experience has shown that every Projectoree suffers a decline from initial Patrol sign ups to actual attendance, and I think we can reasonably assume a similar scenario this year. However, Troops 667 and 143 should both have alternate plans "in the can" for the Projectoree weekend in case adequate Patrol slots do not become available between now and May.
3) Meetings
There will be two organizational meetings this year, on Sunday, March 12th, and Sunday, April 30th. Both will be held at the St. Agnes Parish Center, 1914 N. Randolph St., Arlington (07). They will start at 7:30pm sharp, and will end by no later than 9pm. All participating Troops are expected to have at least one and preferably two or three knowledgeable persons, including an involved Senior Scout, present
BY NO LATER THAN 7:15PM
to sign in, pick up handouts, turn in required checks and forms, discuss mutual issues of concern with fellow Troop representatives, and socialize if necessary. This individual (or individuals) should be both authorized and prepared to sign up for the various Projectoree administrative tasks and/or games.
If your Troop's representatives are not present and seated at 7:30, ready to go, your Troop will be terminated on-the-spot from this year's Projectoree, and your slots will be given to the Troops on the waiting list. 7:31 will be too late.
4) Required at the First Meeting
Each Troop must bring the following items to the March 12th Organizational Meeting:
A) A nonrefundable Deposit Check equal to $50 PER PATROL, made out to "Troop 111", and listing your Troop number and "Projectoree 2000 Deposit" in the memo section. [See additional information below.]
B) A copy of your Troop's APPROVED Tour Permit [See additional information below.]
C) A photocopy of your Troop's approved BSA Insurance Policy (Mutual of Omaha), or (if it hasn't arrived yet) a letter signed by both your Troop Committee Chairman and Scoutmaster confirming that your Troop has applied for the BSA Insurance policy, and will be so covered at the Projectoree.
If your Troop's representatives do not turn in these mandatory items at the First Organizational Meeting, your Troop will be terminated on-the-spot from this year's Projectoree, and your slots will be given to the Troops on the waiting list.
Additional Information:
Pertaining to A: Cash will not be accepted under any circumstances. "Per Patrol" is emphasized, and is done so in order to eliminate frivolous over-sign ups of Patrols and give the waiting list Troops a better chance to attend. If you sign up for 5 Patrols, but bring only 3 to the Projectoree, you forfeit $100 of your deposit for the two Patrols who fail to attend (and thereby deprived their fellow Scouts the opportunity to attend in their stead.) Take a hard look at your Troop and make a firm decision on how many Patrols will actually be coming. Remember your incoming Webelos when making your estimates. Also remember, each Patrol MUST have a minimum of 6 Scouts and a maximum of 10 Scouts.
Pertaining to B: As everyone who actually reads the Chainemails already knows, the Council recently imposed a hard 2 week deadline for submission of Tour Permits. The Tour Permit turn-ins at the 1999 Projectoree were abysmal, especially at Projectoree B. I am therefore insisting that we take care of this early this year. You will need to prep your Tour Permits within the next three weeks in order to meet this deadline. The destination should be "Camp Wilson" - NOT "Projectoree 2000" (the latter is not a recognized event by the Council.) On numbers of Scouts and Adults, high-end estimates on the Permit are perfectly acceptable. On the automobile/driver list, it is suggested that you just attach a comprehensive list of all drivers and autos currently in your Troop, which is what Troop 111 and many other Units do. If you do not have such a list, please list anyone who is likely to assist your Troop for this event. You do NOT have to have an exact list of who will be driving; it is understood that substitutions may occur.
Pertaining to C: The insurance policy application is included in each Troop's Recharter package. This insurance is trivially inexpensive ($1.58 per Scout and registered adult for the ENTIRE YEAR), and is an excellent supplemental policy to family insurance policies. We demand this coverage in order to protect ourselves in case of injuries at the event, and also to fend off the Council's demand for "Council Insurance" (currently $3.45 per Projectoree attendee), which provides no additional insurance coverage whatsoever, and "covers" only the three days of the weekend to boot. [In fact, Council Insurance is not insurance at all, but is rather a hidden fundraising tax imposed by the Council on all "official" events.] Call me if you need to discuss this matter.
5) To be distributed at the First Organizational Meeting
Two copies of the complete and comprehensive Projectoree Guide will be distributed at the First Organizational Meeting. Per complaints made in 1999, no forms will need to be downloaded from the Troop 111 website; all will be provided as hard copies in the Guide.
6) New Games
The Acid Bath, Ball Toss, Human Chain Tire Pass-Through, and Magical Lily Pads Games from 1999 have been eliminated from the 2000 Projectoree in order to keep things fresh. The Egg Toss and Nuclear Reactor Games, and the Obstacle Course, will be retained with minor adjustments. The Caber Toss, Firebuilding Race and Hot Lava Rescue Relay will be retained essentially unchanged. See last year's mailings for detailed description of the retained events.
New Games include:
Bangalore Torpedo - Not the same as past iterations! - Patrol will lash five poster stakes together, use them to reach out and knock over a set of plastic cups. Troop 111 has used this event twice in the past year as Troop meeting games; it works and is fun.
"Running" Kim's Game - Or should that be a Kihm's Game, in honor of Chris Kihm, Troop 647's Scoutmaster? - 50 Scout-related items are hidden behind a sheet about 50 feet from the Patrols. Patrols send members one at a time to run and view items (10 seconds stay max); as each Scout returns, the Patrol writes down list of items (1 point for item, 1 additional point for one addition description, e.g., a "yellow" "flashlight" is worth two points.) Also done by Troop 111 as a Troop meeting game; works well.
Radioactive Basketballs - 5 members of the Patrol use 8-feet long staves to collectively pick up one basketball, carry it about 50 feet, and drop it in a pail. All Scouts must stay at least 5 feet away from the basketball. Harder than it sounds. When done, second group of five repeats with a second basketball. Groups repeat the game with a third and fourth basketball.
Rescue Rope Assembly and Throw - The Patrol ties 12 lengths of 4 ft long pieces of rope together, using any joining knots, but each Scout must name the knot(s) he is using to the Senior Scout monitor. If wrong, must re-do, or try another knot. Patrol Leader may coach, but not do. Each Scout in the Patrol must tie one knot, no-one may tie more than 2 knots. When done tying all ropes together, the Patrol Leader must coil and throw for accuracy and distance down a lane 10 feet wide and 40 feet long. (Patrol Leader must hold onto the end of the rope.) Throw rope must stay within the lanes and cover at least 35 feet on a straight line. The Patrol Leader gets 2 throws; if neither was successful, he hands off to any other Patrol member to try, and so on til someone finally succeeds. When the Patrol is successful, they must retrieve the rope and untie all knots, handing all 12 ropes to the Senior Scout Monitor. Time to completion is when the ropes are handed to the Senior Scout. Also done by Troop 111 as a Troop meeting game; works well.
7) Signups at the First Organizational Meeting
All of the following staffings must be signed up for at the first Organizational Meeting. As noted above, your Troop representatives must come to the meeting authorized and prepared to sign up for these taskings. Each Troop should consider one tasking from each of the following three categories: Games, Administrative Duties, and Sunday Morning Cleanup Duties.
If anyone wishes to pre-sign up for their staffings, please email me. First come/first serve.
Bangalore Torpedo
Caber Toss
Egg Toss
Firebuilding Race
Hot Lava Rescue Relay
Nuclear Reactor
Obstacle Course
Radioactive Basketballs
Rescue Rope Assembly and Throw
"Running" Kim's Game
Scoutmaster Chariot Race
Catholic Mass Coordinator
First Aid/Communications/Timekeepers/Lost and Found/"Rovers"
Flag Ceremonies/Campfire Program Coordinators
Protestant Services Coordinator
Publicity
Registrar/Treasurer
Scoring and Awards Coordinator
Service Project Coordinator
Site Coordinator
Staff Food Coordinator
Staff Area
Campfire Circle and Trails
Roads and surroundings around the Staff Area and Comfort Station
Sign Removal and Recovery
Firebuilding/Obstacle Course/Dining Hall Areas
Main Competition Field, and road to Gunston Road
Comfort Station - Late Job
Primary Camping Area - Late Job
Secondary Camping Area - Late Job
Three Months to Go!
- Dr. Bob
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