Eagle Nation

Good morning!

The brilliant blue sky was filled with eagles this past weekend around Troop 648.  The weekend began with the news that our own P. Huston had passed his Eagle Board of Review.  Those of you who know Mr. Huston well, are aware of his great dramatic flair, and he was in rare form with this monumental event as he returned from college in the month of his 18th birthday to ‘get ‘er done.’  Please join me in sending your congratulations to Mr. Huston on this excellent achievement, as he joins the T648 Eagles Lair as our newest Eagle Scout.

My thanks to all of you who joined Mr. S. Frank at his Eagle Project this past weekend at the Luv Shack.  Almost 40 volunteers joined millions across our nation in volunteering in our community on the anniversary of 9-11-01, and accomplished four critical sub-projects for a charity which rescues abused and abandoned horses.  It was a glorious day and an excellent project in which we trenched and buried a line to provide lights and power for their tack sheds, moved a barn, built a shade awning to keep hay dry, and relocated a scrub tree to provide extra parking.  Congratulations to Mr. Frank on a project well done, and best wishes as he now prepares for his board.  Mr. E. Lara was also out there with us getting pointers for his Eagle Project which will be at a local Pioneer museum in two weeks.  Please plan on joining Mr. Lara for another fun service project opportunity.

This week the youth leadership has a terrific trip planned up north to the cool pines.  There have been a few changes in logistics by the boys in order to facilitate a better outing.  We are now staying on-base at the Ft. Tuthill campground south of Flagstaff, and will be biking and hiking in that area.  Since last month was a backpacking outing, this will be the first opportunity for our new patrols to function as units on an outing, so please plan to come and support your patrol – we especially need all troop guides and patrol leaders to attend.  Tomorrow night there is no early tenderfoot training, and the meeting will include a bike check for those of you biking, and meal planning for the outing.  For those of you who will be hiking, bring a small pack to carry snacks and water.  Looking further ahead, upcoming dates of importance include 9/24-26 High Adventure to the Rim bike trail for those boys 14 and older, 9/24 E. Lara’s Eagle Project, 9/27 Summer Court of Honor and pot luck, and 10/1 service project at St. Vincent de Paul.

Congratulations again to our Honor Patrol – the Royals – off to an adventure at Disney Club 33 on  November 4-6!  Our next year’s honor patrol competition will officially begin 10/1/11.  What an awesome time to be in scouting, and a member of T648!

Mr. Cole