Trailhead

Aims of Scouting         Character Development          Citizenship  Training          Mental and Physical Fitness

A   NEWSLETTER FOR TROOP 287, PORTAGE,MICHIGAN Volume III Issue         3        DECEMBER 2001

TROOP MEETINGS:

THE AIM OF SCOUTING

Themes      December - Hunter   Safety      January - Winter         Survival       February- Athletics

The aim of the Scout training is to improve the  standard of our future citizenhood, especially in Character and Health;         to replace Self with Service, to make the lads   individually efficient, orally and physically, with the object of using that efficiency for service for their fellow-men.

12/3/01 Meeting/BOR

1/7/02 Meeting/BOR

12/10/01 *PLC/Meeting

1/14/01 *PLC/Meeting

12/17/01 Meeting

1/21/01 Meeting/BOR 4

12/24/01 No Meeting

1//28/01 Meeting

12/31/01 No Meeting

Citizenship has been defined briefly as  active loyalty to the community. In a free country it is  easy, and not unusual, to   consider oneself a good citizen by being a  law-abiding man, doing your work and expressing  your choice in politics,  sports, or activities, leaving it to George to worry about  the nation's welfare. This is passive citizenship. But  passive citizenship is not enough to uphold in the world the virtues of freedom,  justice, and honour. Only active citizenship will do.

;*Bring $3.00 for pizza and         pop for PLC BOR - Boards of Review

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Nov 30 Webelo Camp-In

Dec 3 Boards of Review Meeting (s-sviking,         p-cobra, g-moose)

Dec 7-9 Campout at RotaKiwan, Tamarack Cabin

Dec 8 Pickup popcorn order at the Bleasdale's

Dec 9 Committee Meeting

Dec 10 PLC Meeting (s-conifer, p-dragon, g-sviking)

Dec 17 Boards of Review Meeting (s-cobra,         p-moose, g-conifer) -Deposit due for Feb 16 YMCA Lock-in -Popcorn money         due in full

Dec 24 No Meeting - Christmas Eve Dec 31 No         Meeting - New Years Eve Jan 12 First Aid Merit Badge Course Location -         TBA

AIDS TO SCOUTMASTERSHIP, A Guidebook For         Scoutmasters On The Theory of Scout         Training LORD BADEN-POWELL OF GILWELL

Jan 13 Committee Meeting

Jan 19 Klondike Derby, Warren Camp, Grand         Junction, MI Jan

25-27 Polar Bear - Rota Kiwan (Tamarack Cabin)

GANDER         MOUNTAIN Meetings on December 3rd and 10th Will take place at Gander         Mountain On S. Westnedge. Meeting times are 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. The PLC         on Dec 10th will take place from 5:30-6:30 at CHUM and those scouts will         be transported by the leaders present at the PLC.

VENTURE         QUALIFIER Congratulations to our newest Venture Crew Member - Tom         Chodl.

PHILMONT 2003 A $50.00         deposit is due by January 14th, to reserve a spot on the Crew for         Philmont 2003 Dates are August 4-19th. See Mr. Ekola for more details.

POPCORN SALES Popcorn booth         sales totaled $1,754, with 12 scouts working a total of 55 hours. Each         scout will receive $8 credit for each hour worked. Troop policy will be         that scout individual profit from popcorn sales is 25% of sales

SUMMER CAMP COORDINATOR         Needed - New Summer Camp Coordinator - Jim Chodl has done a great job         for 2 years in a row. It is now time for someone else to pitch-in. Jim         is offering his experience and advice. See Mr. Hayden if you are         Interested.

TROOP BUCKS All scout         profits earned from Popcorn Sales and other fund-raisers will be tracked         on a new Troop Buck Balance Sheet. See Mr. Hayden for more details.

WINTER COURT OF HONOR A         Celebration of Moms. This years Court of Honor scheduled for March 2002         will be in honor of our Mom's. All moms will receive special awards.

FIRST AID MERIT BADGE What:         First Aid Merit Badge Course When: Saturday, January 12th Time: 10 am- 4         pm Where: CHUM (hopefully) Who: All Storm Vikings and Any Scout that         needs to Earn the First Aid Merit Badge (Eagle Required) For more info         contact Mr. Ekola

CHRISTMAS TREES/WREATHS         Troop 218 (Parchment) is selling Christmas trees, Troop 205, wreaths,         and 265 of Galesburg, trees.

Maple Street YMCA Lock-In February         16-17 Overnight Exact times to be determined. Basketball, Volleyball,         Swimming Pool (limited time), Racquet Ball, Movies, Tennis (extra fee)         and much more.

YMCA LOCK-IN Deposits due by         December 17th. We need a minimum of 20 Scouts Pre-registered to make         this event a GO. At present only 4 Scouts have signed up.

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? Please   contact: Scoutmaster- Tim Ekola home 616-329-2430 e-mail t_ekola@hotmail.com

"If a man cannot make his         point to keen boys in ten minutes, he ought to be shot !"    Baden-Powell