Sam Buffum – Eagle Court of Honor
The Eagle Court of Honor for Sam Buffum is scheduled for Sunday June 6, 2010.
Please join the event to congratulate Sam Buffum in achieving this milestone.
The Eagle Court of Honor for Sam Buffum is scheduled for Sunday June 6, 2010.
Please join the event to congratulate Sam Buffum in achieving this milestone.
Minutes from the January 3, 2010 Committee Meeting.
In attendance: Jeff Buffum, Paul Casco, David Bosselait, Matt Bosselait, Fred Bowe, Norman Thibault, Bob Czekanski, Ed Sterling, Peter Scott, David Foster
SEPTEMBER, 2009
OCTOBER, 2009
NOVEMBER, 2009
DECEMBER, 2009
We are headed to Pine Tree Council’s Camp Hinds in Raymond, Maine for our December campout. The current plan is to drive up on Friday afternoon and set up camp. We’ll be staying in the Cadigan Cabin, which has a woodstove and maybe even electricity. Campers can also choose to sleep outside in tents.
Weather and trail conditions permitting; we will drive to Pleasant Mountain on Saturday morning for a hike. There are several trails to the peak, with elevation gains of 1600 – 1900 ft over 2-1/2 miles and some nice views at the top.
We’ll spend Saturday night at Camp Hinds and pack up Sunday morning to head back to Bolton.
Scouts and Adult Scouters will need to make a firm commitment by the December 1st troop meeting if they plan to attend this campout. A final itinerary, including the campout fees, will be available shortly.
JANUARY, 2010
FEBRUARY, 2010
This trip is a 2.5 mile hike up 1500 feet to a mountain cabin on the side of Mt Cardigan and then a day or hikes around the top of the mountain. The cabin has a wood stove for heat, wood bunks with mattress pads, and a propane stove for cooking. There is no local water supply so we either carry it up or melt snow. The high cabin provides easy access to the summit and a number of other trails around Mt Cardigan. It should be noted that the cabin only sleeps 12 (we can have up to 14 with floor sleeper) so space is limited on this trip. For those who want to know more about Cardigan, visit the AMC website: http://www.outdoors.org/publications/outdoors/2005/mountcardigan.cfm
This is a winter trip by snowshoe with the initial climb in the dark by headlamp. The climb up to the high cabin is with full gear and as such, is not for those who may have health issues. This is a winter hike with all the environmental concerns: high winds, exposure, rain, snow, freezing rain, etc. As such, all attendees must have appropriate winter gear. See the scout website for a list of winter gear. There will be a prep meeting prior to the climb to go over what gear is appropriate and how to pack for the weather without loading yourself down with too much weight.
On the lighter side, the mountain is criss-crossed with backcountry ski trails. Scouts in prior years have brought along plastic sleds and made a number of fun runs. The views from the top can be spectacular and the views from the cabin porch are also great. In all prior years there has been a fair amount of snow on the mountain, although the peak is often clear of snow due to the open rock and high winds.
MARCH, 2010
This camping trip is a hit amongst the Scouts and brings out the gourmet chefs. The Patrols will be challenged to come up with a menu and cook a gourmet meal that wows the judges. They may even have to incorporate a “secret” ingredient. The Troop will enjoy Camp Collier in Gardner, MA as the stage for this culinary delight.
APRIL, 2010
MAY, 2010
On Saturday, May 22, 2010 the Troop will visit the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT. The museum’s web site states that it “houses one of the world’s most outstanding collections of historic aviation artifacts; more than 80 aircraft and an extensive collection of engines, instruments, aircraft parts, uniforms and personal memorabilia. Within this collection are the last remaining four-engine American flying boat, the Sikorsky VS-44A, donated by its previous owner, actress Maureen O’Hara and restored to original condition; a B-29 Bomber; the Silas Brooks Balloon Basket (1870), the oldest surviving aircraft in the United States; the Bunce-Curtiss Pusher (1912), the oldest surviving Connecticut-built airplane; the Sikorsky S-39, the oldest surviving Sikorsky aircraft; and a Kaman K-225 helicopter, the oldest surviving Kaman-built aircraft.” In addition, the museum has exhibits including a “Lafayette Escadrille, WWII Combat Gliders, the History of Sikorsky Aircraft, Early French Aviation, a History of Air Mail, the Tuskegee Airmen, Airships, and many others”. More information can be obtained at: http://www.neam.org/default.asp
The Troop will stay that evening at June Norcross Webster Scout Reservation, a BSA Connecticut Rivers Council Camp, in Ashford, CT before returning to Bolton on Sunday, May 23rd.
JUNE, 2010
JULY, 2009
AUGUST, 2009
Patrol Leaders Council Meetings
August 30, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 29, Dec. 27, Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25, May 23
Please use the comments to this post to report “lost and found” items from troop meetings, events, and other activities.
Click on the “# comments” link at the top of this post (to the right) to read the description of items.
The Troop has built a shed at the Bolton Transfer Station for the purpose of sorting returnable bottles and cans deposited in the shed by Bolton residents. This section describes the procedures to be followed by Scouts and their parents when it’s their turn to sort.
Remember – sorting redeemable bottles and cans is the Troop’s sole source of funds. These funds are used to help offset the cost of camping trips, to purchase and repair equipment, to pay for advancement materials, and more. As a member of Troop 1, you have an important role to play in keeping the Troop on a secure financial footing.
The schedule is posted on the troop website , and it is announced at each Tuesday’s meeting.
Before heading to the shed:
If you leave the collection of boxes for the last minute, chances are you won’t be able to find enough. It’s quite common to fill 50 or more case boxes each weekend. Good sources for these boxes are:
All you have to do is ask.
When dealing with local businesses, the boys should make the request for the boxes and make it clear that they’re being used for fundraising and community service (and not, say, for moving). Please remember to be polite and courteous as another Scout will inevitably be visiting that business for more boxes in the future.
It’s quite simple, really:
You’re done when there are no bottles and cans left to sort, the shed is swept clean, and supplies have been put away. Does this mean you have to plan on a full day at the shed? No. But it does mean that you cannot arrive at, say, 10am and call it a day at noon, as additional bottles and cans will surely be deposited until the transfer station closes, at 3pm.
Your sorting team can come when it wants, but you need to stay until the job is done. If you leave before the job is done, you will be required to return the following weekend to help the other team.
One approach that works for many teams is to arrive at noon and stay until the Transfer Station closes (at 3PM) or later, if needed. You can remain at the Transfer Station after hours, just make sure to close the gate securely when you leave. Similarly, you might choose to come on Sunday if your team can’t make it on Saturday. The Troop has permission to be at the Transfer Station when it is closed to the general public.
One approach that seldom works is for the team to work separately (one member/parent in the morning, another member/parent in the afternoon) as it is difficult to anticipate, for the morning crew, how many bottles and cans were left during the week (the Transfer Station is open on Wednesday and Friday), or, for the afternoon crew, how many bottles and cans came after the morning crew left or will come during his shift.
The bottom line is to work as a team. Stay until the job is done. If you can’t make a Saturday work, Sunday is a valid option.
Redeemable bottles and cans aren’t the only items that get left at the shed. People also mistakenly (it is presumed) leave other glass items (empty jars, wine bottles, and so on) and plastic items (milk containers, for example) and other recyclable but not redeemable containers. Thankfully, the Transfer Station has large bins for recyclable items, and as Scouts, we should take advantage of them.
The following items should be set aside during the sorting process and recycled/trashed accordingly:
Plastic bags should go in the trash. No sticker is required for trash collected by the Scouts during the sorting process. Scouts should use caution if walking to the recycling bins.
Take an inventory of the shed supplies – specifically, check the supply of gloves and plastic bags. Report this information to the Bottles and Cans coordinator, and make sure to mention it at the following week’s Troop meeting.
You also need to count the number of bags and case boxes that are ready to be hauled to the redemption center.
Hauling is done, typically on Saturdays, by assigned Scouts and parents. When the shed is full of sorted and bagged/boxed bottles and cans (as reported at Tuesday’s meeting), the assigned hauling team should haul at the earliest opportunity. This ensures that the Troop gets the money that it has worked for, and that Scouts have room to work in the shed while sorting.
In attendance -
Ed Sterling, David Bosselait, Norman Thibault, Don Cole, Bharat Nair, Paul Casco, Wes Durant, Jeff Buffum, Fred Bowe, Bob Czekanski, Joe Crowley, David Foster
Meeting rumbled to a start at approximately 7:20; it wasn’t clear to the Secretary where the PLC meeting ended and where the Troop Committee meeting started. It is suggested that we formally start future meetings.
Becket Trip -
Dave B. summed up trip as a good time had by all; opted out of the Big MOE owing to the rain Sunday and forecast for worsening weather throughout the day.
Bob C. brought up the issue of the time-consuming nature of meal preparation and clean-up. This kicked off a wide-ranging discussion that included: adherence to patrol schedules; menus; adult participation; current processes; kitchen gear (pots, pans, utensils, stoves); cooking by patrol vs. troop.
Action items from this discussion:
Minutes -
No minutes available for discussion.
Wes – Scoutmaster
Nantucket trip: We settled on a reduced fee for Scouts ($60 from $90 with the troop picking up the difference) and full fee ($103) for adults. While discussing the trip, the Committee came to agreement that earlier committment was required for people wishing to go on trips to allow for adequate planning.
Annual troop dues will be increased to $45 from $40 to compensate for National’s $5 increase this year.
Ed – Eagle
Reminded us of August’s Committee discussion of an “Eagle Guidance Committee” — a group designed to help Life Scouts progress to Eagle by periodically meeting with the Scout (three times a year) to check status, progress, and remind the Scout of dates/milestones. What the Scout does with that information is up to them. The purpose of the Eagle Guidance Committee is not to drag the Life Scout across the Eagle finish line. Committee members are: Ed Sterling (chair), Bob Czekanski, David Foster.
Sam Buffum is on target. James Porteus’ project has been approved.
All work party notifications need to be distributed to the troop as far in advance as possible to ensure as much Scout participation as possible.
Fred – Advancement
Current Life Scout candidatesL Ben Czekanski, Nick Casco, Kevin Connelly, Dan Enders. Court of honor planned for later this fall.
Don – Finance
Fiscal year end wrapped up. Working on a budget for next year. Distributed financials. Upcoming cash outlays anticipated for Nantucket, kitchen equipment, and (regrettably) tents. Brief discussion of consideration of fund raisers tabled until next Committee meeting (bring ideas).
Bharat – Web
Presented new group mailing lists (committee at troop1bolton.org and parents at troop1bolton.org). Settled on WordPress as the engine for the website project he is undertaking. Asked for volunteers to assist with ideas for general website design and content.
David B. – Trips
Wautucket – (OK, that’s what I wrote down, but the google machine can’t find it….) Trip to Christa McAuliffe Planetarium. $16 per person based on 20 participants, but could go up with fewer folks. The usual $10 fee for a trip still applies.
Klondike – No adult leader coverage for January 22-24 Klondike (location TBD, but it’s local). Joe Crowley volunteered.
Chocorua – Jeff Buffum agreed to lead this off-season trip if the Committee agreed, which they did. Tentatively planned for sometime in July.
Fred – Bottles and Cans
Moving along pretty well recently. Discussion about requiring adult participation and the ongoing need for sorters to provide boxes. (David B. recommends 25 per person.)
David F. – Secretary
Work on Handbook revisions is winding down. Planned review copy to be distributed by Tuesday’s troop meeting.
Miscellany -
Meeting sort of dissolved by consensus around 9:30pm. The Secretary suggests we formally end meetings.
Submitted by David Foster Wednesday September 30, 2009
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