Home.24 November 1999
Well, I mentioned that September often brings transfer Scouts. We have thus far been visited by 3 potential transfers, but no-one has committed as of publication of this "Minute." Two more newcomers may visit us this coming Monday night; stay tuned....
Well, once again we start off with "high level" advancement, as Mike Strasburg completed his marathon run, and joins the ranks as Troop 111 Eagle Scout #65. To my knowledge, our first Eagle Scout originating from Pack 637. His Honor Roll:
Michael M. Strasburg
His Eagle Project was building a rock staircase on a steep section of trail at the Arlington Outdoor Lab. This section (about 50 yards of steep downhill) was notorious for injuries due to slips and falls by the many Arlington schoolchildren who visited the lab and walked the nature trail loop. It has since been injury-free - perhaps the finest compliment that can be paid to its quality. Not including travel time back and forth to the lab (which was quite extensive), the project took 310 man-hours of brutal, back-breaking work to complete. At least 20 tons of rock (don't just read over that - think about it!) were manhandled into place, and fitted together multiple times. The biggest rock weighed over 1,000 pounds! With minimal care, the staircase should easily last for several decades. A super Eagle Project.
Mike, a senior at Yorktown, has also been a top athlete in soccer, football and wrestling (twice a National District Champion Wrestler, and oft featured in the local papers.) He has been a long-term Altar Boy, and a member of the St. Agnes Catholic Youth Group (Young Life.) He has also worked at both Calico Corners and with the JJMA Computer Company, and intends to apply to James Madison and Virginia Tech Universities.
Thanks to the Board of Review members Tim Arthurs, Hank Dettmar, Dick Meyers, and Jim Smith. And once again, "Happy 18th Birthday, Mike!"
In other advancement news, Kenny E. completed the second group of his independent summer Merit Badges, earning Personal Fitness and Citizenship in the Community. That's four Eagle required badges in less than a month; an excellent run!
October will be a busy month! On October 1st - 3rd, we'll be travelling to Camp Potomac for our Annual Guns and Arrows Campout - always one of the Troop's favorite outdoor activites. Next up will be our replacement canoeing trip, taking the slot of the originally scheduled backpacking trip on October 15th - 17th. Yes, on the James River, again. The following weekend, we'll participate in the Baltimore Orienteering Meet on Saturday, October 23rd, then the Marine Corps Marathon on Sunday, October 24th. We will be offering the Orienteering Merit Badge in conjunction with the Meet (See Items for Your Attention, #5, below.) A lot of opportunities for the active Scout - keep on top of those permission slips, folks!
1) Parent's Meeting - This Sunday Night (9/26), at the Parish Center, from 7:30 to 8:30; see the recent email from Dan Creedon for the agenda. Please attend!
2) Chainemail??? - I have recently been asked by several Troop members about "Chainemail," what it is and how to get it. Chainemail is the electronic newsletter that I generate for our District (Chain Bridge District.) Most of the Troop's ASM's and some of our more highly involved Committee members are already on the distribution list, along with about 200 other local Scouters from Arlington and McLean. You will be happy to know that I have no intention of inflicting it on the entire Troop; however, there's some stuff there that you might find rather interesting. Anyone who'd like to peruse may easily do so, by downloading archived Chainemails from the District website (run by our very own Brad J.) The URL is:
...and if you like what you see, and what to be put on the permanent distribution list, just let me know!
3) Philmont 2000 - Don't forget the first crew (organizational) meeting, on Sunday, October 10th, 7:00 to 9:30 at the Parish Center. Note also that your first $250 payment is due at this meeting.
4) Stamp Collecting Merit Badge - All Scouts working on the Stamp Collecting MB must finish their collections by October 4th, since we will begin reviewing them at that time. For those Scouts who have completed all the other requirements (Stamp Museum visit, etc.), submission of their collection culminates the MB process.
[Followup Note from Bob - I have another 25 or so foreign stamps, if anyone is still in need; let me know....]
5) Orienteering Merit Badge - As noted above, the Troop will be offering the Orienteering Merit Badge, starting with the October 4th Troop meeting. Rich Sheehey will be the Merit Badge counselor (assisted by other able adults!) Interested Scouts are strongly encouraged to participate, as orienteering is a highly valuable Scout skill. Rich will spend about 20 minutes at each October troop meeting, covering aspects of the badge to get off to a good start. Combined with the orienteering day October 23, Scouts should be able to finish this badge easily within a month.
Well, as we all know, Hurricane Floyd dumped all over our James River canoe trip, with up to 20 inches of rain reported in some areas. The upper James was not as hard hit as areas further to the east, but was still no place for a canoe, that's for sure. What really hurt was the incredibly pleasant weather we enjoyed all weekend long in the wake of the hurricane - talk about adding insult to injury! As noted above, we have rescheduled the trip over the originally planned Fall backpacking trek; that is, October 15th - 17th. It will doubtless be too cold for tubing by then (although you never know around here!), but it should still be fine for canoeing. More on this as we head into October....
The aforementioned perfect weather, however, did allow us to do an instant substitute event - that being a Saturday bike hike, both for enjoyment and (for some) a start on the Cycling Merit Badge. Here's a report from Ted G.:
On Saturday, September 18th, the Troop held a 25-mile bike-hike as a last-minute replacement activity for the Floyd-postponed canoeing trip. Scouts and adults met at the Parish Center at 8:15 and cycled down the Custis Trail to Rosslyn, along the Potomac bikeway to National Airport, and up the Four Mile Run Trail to Bluemont Park. At Bluemont, the cyclists took a long break for a spirited game of Ultimate Frisbee (won by the Shirts 8-4 over the Skins) and lunch alongside the stream. After the break, everyone elected to do the full 25-mile route, so the Troop headed out the W&OD Trail to the Route 7 bridge and then back home to St. Agnes. The weather was ideal for biking and the trip went very smoothly. Participants were: Charles B., John B., Matthew C., Ray D. (with younger brother Phil), Max D., David G., Todd G., Stefan N., J.T. R., Casey S., Neil S., Steve S., and parents Ray D. Sr., Ted G., Jim R., Larry S. (official photographer), and Mark S..
Finally, on Friday, September 24th, we visited the first Cub Pack Meeting of the year, for our annual "Scout Skills" Night. About three dozen Cubs and Webelos enjoyed sessions of firebuilding, tent setup and breakdown, cross-cut saw races, and flint and steel use. We went 15 minutes over, and no-one complained or left, so it was obviously a success. Participants included: Luke B., Charles B., Matt G., William L., Michael R., and Chris Y.
- Bob
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