Court of Honor — Monday, December 16, 2013:

• Recognition for advancements
• Great memories of the outings we had this Fall
• Award presentations for the marksmen at the Turkey Shoot

Please remember to bring a canned food item for the Annual Ben Papineau Memorial Troop 365 Food Drive, supporting the Worthington United Methodist Church food drive and Scouting for Food.

Congratulations to Troop 365’s newest Eagle Scouts, Thomas Stimpert and Thomas Matlak!

Special Olympics — Remember: This is mandatory (one or both days) to fulfill your service project hours requirement.

Saturday — Meet at the church parking lot at 9AM; we will return sometime between 5 and 6 PM (depends on how long the swim meet goes).

Sunday — Meet at the church parking lot at 7AM; we will return sometime between 12:30 and 1:30 (depends on how long the swim meet goes).

What to wear — warm clothes for the bus ride down; in the natatorium you will want to wear light clothing — a t-shirt (you should not bring your scout uniform — you will receive a free “volunteer” t-shirt to wear over your other clothing); shorts (the scout switchback pants with the zip off legs are ideal); tennis shoes or flip flops — no boots or hard shoes.

A sack lunch will be provided, but you might bring some cash for the concession stand for snacks. Water and cups will also be provided.

Please plan to attend both days if you have the time.

The service project for the Special Olympics has been moved to December 14-15. Please make sure you update your calendars and plan to attend. The sign-up sheet will be available during the regular troop meetings.

This week is busy enough for many of our Scouts so, our committee meeting has been changed to November 20th. Wednesday evening. 7:00PM WUMC.

We will continue our conversation started with the retreat. My previous blog will provide a fair sketch as to the outline. Highlights to be addressed are

• Reviewing the budget. Report on Fruit & Greenery sales.
• Adult Orientation
• Some shifting in our outdoor programming.
• Building Templates, what do we already have
• Scoutmaster report
• 1-59 days looking forward: Luminaires, Delivery of fruit and greenery, etc.
• 60-90 days looking forward: Spaghetti Dinner
• Summer Camp, High Adventure

Peace to all! See you Monday

Bill Alsnauer, Chair

To:  BSA Troop 365, Scouts, Scouters & Parents.
From: Committee Chairman, Bill Alsnauer
Re:  Recent Committee Retreat

Hello, this past Sunday 15 of us, (committee members, Scoutmaster & assistant scout masters) gathered for some planning.  We used a format to discuss what’s going on with Troop 365, community involvement and Scouting in general.   Here’s a short bit of what we learned and some direction we’re heading.

1. We are excited about the # of new adults & experienced Scouters (adults)  interested in being part of the leadership.  We recognize the interest and our responsibility to provide orientation and training, even at the most basic level.  Moving from Webelos to BSA 365  can be a bit overwhelming.   Of all areas identified for action, this was the clear choice as our first area of focus.
2. Identifying adults that want more than basic knowledge/involvement and providing a path.  Building depth in leadership.
3. Equally in the groups mind?

1. Turnout for outings, some events like Kelly’s Island or Turkey Shoot have a lot of boys and families, but some others are being minimally attended.
2. Recruitment, connection with the troop and retention of Scouts.
3. Overextended boys, lives, etc.

4. Website, cited as very strong but needs some adjustments, updates, including building in ‘push’ notices.
5. Indoor Program (meetings) should be assessed.  Content, participants, structure.
6. Cost over runs on trips, concerns about bus costs vs. benefit.
7. Planning & processes so moving forward BSA 365 has some basic templates, but flexible for boys to learn & experience as they develop leadership skills.  How do we help them plan an event?

We had close to 100 ideas, consolidated in discussion to 28 items, prioritized to 7 seen here.   The next step will be to come up with some solutions, some will require consensus, other’s solved through direction of me, the committee or Mr. Roderick.   We have already taken some steps, focusing on parent onboarding and recruiting.

There will be more to tell, but I’m glad you and your boy are part of BSA Troop 365.

Sincerely,

Bill Alsnauer, Chair

WHO: Hello and thanks for your part in making BSA Troop 365 great. This Sunday is our committee retreat. Like all committee meetings all are welcome.

WHAT: Retreat (Please wear your Class A’s) Remember our conversation will include strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Think both inside and outside our Troop.

WHEN: October 13, 2013, 3-6PM

WHERE: WUMC, Allen Lounge

Beverages, munchies will be included. We won’t spoil your dinner though.

Many of you have done retreats at work or church and some have lead them as well. Each year we have boys go away for 3 days in a Leadership Event. It’s been fun to watch and learn from them. Instead of 3 days, max three hours. Please consider doing the following:

• Please bring along something to write on and something to write with.
• Spend 15 minutes on your website, some great information about our troop.
• Class A’s

This Sunday’s retreat is a time together, dedicating part of our Sunday to talk about our Troop. Everyone is welcome, most especially committee members and ASM’s. Parents and interested parties are welcome as well.

Conversation, encouragement, ideas, easels & newsprint will be part of the day. I look forward to our time together.

— Bill Alsnauer, Committee Chairman

This Saturday, 10/5, right after Trifle & Treasures, we will be assembling benches for the first phase of my Eagle Project at the church by the garage. Lunch will be provided before we start, especially for those boys who were doing Trifles & Treasures all morning. On Sunday 10/6, he may be doing a car wash for final fundraising as well, if needed. More information will be provided by Saturday on that.

We will be assembling 4 Flip Top benches for the Avondale Youth Center out of Zanesville. This center is a home for kids, ages 10 to 17, who have been removed from their homes due to domestic violence situations. Most of them end up living here until they are 18.

Phase 2 will commence next weekend, 10/12 & 10/13 and will involve building a brick fire pit. Saturday, 10/12 we will be heading out to Avondale at about 7 am to get started. This day, we will be preparing the site, digging the hole, laying the frame and pouring the concrete, which has to set for 24 hours.

Sunday, 10/13 we will head out around the same time to begin the final phase and actually build the rest of the firepit.

All meals for these two days will be provided.

There will be multiple vehicles going out, so transportation for any boys willing and available to help would be provided.

I know this is a long way to go and it is somewhat short notice. But I wanted to do something for kids in need and after visiting this center and saw that they are trying to improve the outdoor experience for the kids, I decided to tie it into Scouts as well. This firepit will be something they can cook over or just have a bonfire in. It will encourage them to be outside in the evenings, especially in the summer, as a group and experiencing campfire activities. So, I will take all the help I can get.

— Kody Prosser