Boy Scout Troop 648 Scottsdale, Arizona

High in the sky, it’s a bird, it’s a plane – no, it really IS a bird….  This week young Mr. Frank became Troop 648’s 36th Eagle Scout as he sat for and passed his Board of Review.  Mr. Frank really earned this award – the week before his well-planned Eagle Project, the  board member he had been working with left the charity, and the board chairman decided to take the Luv Shack Horse Rescue in a different direction than what the former board member had planned with our young Mr. Frank.  After an evening of frustration and desperation, Mr. Frank steeled himself and went back to work with his new contact, the chairman.  In less than a week, he developed and then executed a completely different, and equally impressive project.  This past week the Eagle Board agreed that young Mr. Frank has  exhibited the characteristics required in an Eagle Scout – and we in Troop 648 heartily agree.  Congratulations!  Many thanks go out to the adult leaders who sat on other Eagle Boards Thursday night, as well as the adult members of our troop who invested in themselves and the troop by attending Woodbadge training at R-C scout camp this week.  The tremendous on-going support provided to our youth by such a large number of committed adult leaders is amazing!

This Tuesday night we have patrol leader training at 6PM, followed by the Troop meeting at 7PM.  Please have your 2012 recharter dues payments for Mr. Benyi, who will be given a reprieve from Nogales and be joining us to answer any questions you may have.  We will be heading out for Parson Springs on an 8 mile roundtrip backpack this coming weekend, so part of Tuesday’s meeting focus will be on outing preparation.  Please see a boy leader or an adult if you have questions about the trip, or about equipment, clothing or food required for the outing.  On backpacks, everybody packs for themselves, but items such as tents, water purification and stoves can be shared to lighten individual loads.  For those of you new to backpacking, we also have a limited amount of loaner equipment.  The weather looks to be outstanding, and the hike will be of moderate difficulty, so everyone of all ages should have an excellent time.

Stay tuned for a number of upcoming events – the Crime Prevention merit badge is still scheduled for this Thursday night.  Mr. Conrad may have a conflict, so if you are planning to attend, please stay tuned – there is a possibility of needing to reschedule.  We also have the troop trip to the Musical Instrument Museum hosted by young Mr. Harness on the 22nd and the 2010-2011 Royals Honor Patrol trip to California on 11/4-6.  The next adult meeting will be an all-troop adult meeting to present the development of a more formalized committee framework, and this is currently targeted for early November.

See you at the Troop Meeting!

Mr. Cole

Good afternoon,

For those of you still hanging around the valley for Scottsdale Fall Break, we have our normally scheduled troop meeting this evening.  Patrol Leaders please finish your prework, and come early to meet with Mr. Butler, followed by the general meeting at 7PM.  Many thanks to a number of our older scouts who helped with the Knights of Columbus social dinner last weekend.  And my congratulations as well to a number of scouts whom I have heard are taking full advantage of their time off from school and are working on advancements and scout skills this week.  No moss is growing on these rock and rolling future leaders!

For planning purposes, please remember we have begun rechartering with the BSA Grand Canyon Council.  Payment of dues for 2012 are due in the next two weeks, as outlined on the website posting last week.  Leverage scout accounts, if appropriate, or checks are gratefully accepted!  Upcoming troop opportunities include an outstanding crime prevention merit badge taught at FBI HQ next week by Mr. Conrad, followed by a backpacking outing into red rock canyon country to Parson Springs in a week and a half.  The hike is to a clear, cool desert stream in the center of a riparian wilderness area outside of Prescott/Sedona.  This backpack will be a relatively easy 8 miler roundtrip, so I would encourage even our novice backpackers to give it a try!  There is no better time of the year to be out of doors in our fabulous state than during fall colors in canyon country!

See you at the meeting tonight!

Mr. Cole

Greetings!

With October here, it is time for our annual recharter effort. Over the next few weeks, we will be collecting the annual dues in order to confirm that each registered family/individual wishes to continue with the Troop next year.

Annual Dues:
$100 per Non-O/A Scout
$110 per O/A Scout
$17 per Non-O/A Adult
$27 per O/A Adult
(Note: O/A = Order of the Arrow; if you are not familiar with what O/A is, then you are not O/A and should not worry about this.)

Dues Schedule:
We would like to ask that all families turn in their dues checks no later than Tuesday, 10/18/11.

Mrs. Traynor will be assisting me with the recharter effort this year; please give checks made out to “Troop 648” to either Mrs. Traynor, Mr. Runberg, or myself. If you would like to pay for your dues out of your Scout Account, please let us know that is your intention.

Training: (Adult Leaders)
As has been announced throughout the year, training is now required by BSA for adult leaders. Please continue to work on finishing up training requirements; Mr. Traynor (Training Chair) will be distributing an updated training matrix shortly. – If you have completed training courses in the past that are not reflected in the matrix, please let us know about those items.

Thank you for your continued participation in Troop 648. We look forward to many great adventures in 2012!

Mr. Benyi

What an amazing amount of honor exhibited during our Court last Tuesday eve!  While I was not able to convey appropriate thanks for the meal due to the somewhat abrupt ending to the evening – I believe we all would have turned into pumpkins at 9PM – the Italian themed buffet coordinated by Mrs. Andrews and Mrs. Scaramella was an outstanding start to a wonderful evening.  Numerous rank advancements, 260+ merit badges (70 unique), reviews of summer camp and a once in a lifetime trip to Philmont, and the bestowing of the last two coveted Stieg awards by Mr. Stieg in person were highlights of the night.  Thank you to the extended T648 family for coming out in all of your glory to celebrate our outstanding young men and their accomplishments.

Last weekend a dozen members of our troop went down to St. Vincent de Paul on a service project.  We were assigned to the bike shop, and spent a fabulous time taking donated bikes, and fixing them up with tools and parts from their exceptionally equipped shop.  The best part of the morning was testing out each of the 15 or so bikes that we finished, which will be transportation for their clientele who will either be looking for work, or using the bikes in commuting to new jobs.  Thanks for everyone who gave of your time and talents!

Tomorrow night we will have PLC at 6PM followed by the troop meeting at 7PM.  Honor Patrol for 2012 begins this month, so make sure you remember your complete uniform and scout book, and continue participating in meetings and events to contribute honor points for your patrol.  Looking further ahead we have a Musical Instrument Museum tour being developed by young Mr. Harness, a scenic backpacking trip into Secret Canyon outside of Sedona, and an incredible opportunity with Mr. Conrad at the Phoenix FBI office to earn the Crime Prevention Merit Badge.  What a troop, what a country! 

Mr. Cole

Good morning T648!

Thank you to the many who braved our less than fall-like 108 degrees to wrestle rocks and dig holes to develop a park-like atmosphere around the Ashurst cabin at Pioneer Village on Saturday.  Mr Lara’s Eagle Project had a somewhat sluggish beginning as we were greeted by locked gates at 6AM, but thanks to cell phones and T648 muscle, the 1800’s vintage village was a much better place once we were done with it by noon.  Amazing what approximately 40 motivated scouts and scouters can do all working in concert!  Congratulations to Mr. Lara on finding an excellent organization for us to help, and in coordinating an effective effort to address their needs.

For a bit of a change of pace, we also have a community service oppportunity coming up next Saturday the 1st at St. Vincent de Paul.  Our troop has helped prepare meals for the homeless and needy for this organization before, and it is always a fun process and gratifying at the same time to realize that with a little effort on our part, those who have so little will be better off because we care.  Contact young Mr. McFetters with any questions, but further details and logistics will be forthcoming.

But first, we will have an opportunity tomorrow night to honor our scouts!  Please bring your bragging ribbons, and also your potluck contribution as coordinated by Mrs Andrews (type of food by first letter of your last name).  If you could arrive between 5:30 and 6:00PM in the social hall next to our meeting room, we will get the meal set up to begin by 6:00PM.  That will allow for beginning the ceremony by 7:00PM, which is important as the effort by our youth has been outstanding, and the awards and rank advancements will be many.  This is always a highlight of our troop year, and I hope that the majority of our troop family can attend.

See you tomorrow night for our Summer Court of Honor / Potluck!  All friends and family are welcome.

Mr. Cole.

Good day T648!

A very fine weekend was enjoyed by the bikers who returned yesterday from up north in Ft. Tuthill.  From the brilliant crystal clear skies, to cold lips in the 42 degree mornings, to the Blue Grass festival occurring less than a mile away, blue was certainly the theme for the weekend.  And nary a soul was left feeling blue after both a morning and an afternoon ride (one cracked helmet, no cracked bones), a rousing 3-3 basketball game, a bit of Tekken and billiards in the officers’ lounge, and a roaring campfire to finish the day.  Mr. Cole even found a moment alone with a stray guitar.  Many thanks to Mr. Grisa for the use of his vehicle to tow the bike trailer, and for Mr. Martin’s pull in getting us access to the facility.  It was mighty fine to drift away every evening with the smell of pines and the faint sound of picking and grinning filling the air.

This coming week we have plenty of troop opportunities.  The patrol leaders will begin their 6 week training session ahead of tomorrow’s troop meeting.  We will be making the Pioneer Village an even better place through assisting in Mr. Lara’s Eagle project next weekend.  Make sure you are on his list for the event.  The senior boys will be doing their high adventure trip to the Grand Canyon Rim Trail next weekend as well, as we continue the biking theme for the month.  And we culminate a busy month with our annual family Court of Honor / Potluck a week from tomorrow.  Mrs. Andrews has asked that we celebrate an Italian dinner theme, and has assigned each family to an appetizer/salad, main dish or dessert by first letters of your last name.  Please see the separate email regarding logistics, and come prepared to eat, enjoy reminicing about the good times at summer camp and Philmont, and most importantly, to send a few huzzahs toward the boys who have accomplished so much in the preceding months.

Looking ahead, we will have a nifty opportunity to assist St. Vincent de Paul in October, and will be backpacking in the Sedona area, just about the time the leaves are turning in Oak Creek Canyon.  Don’t forget to finalize your patrol names, patrol yells, patrol flags, and get your patrol patches – Honor Patrol begins again October 1st!

There are always happy trails ahead in Troop 648!   Mr. Cole

E. Lara’s Eagle Project

When: Saturday September 24, 2011 from 6AM-Noon

Where: Pioneer Arizona Living History Village –

(3901 Pioneer Road, Phoenix, AZ 85086)

*Follow the 17 North on Black Canyon Fwy.

Take the exit that is W. Pioneer Rd. It is the exit right after Carefree Hwy.*

Who: You, and as many friends or family members as you want.

What to bring: Work gloves, Closed toed shoes, Pruners, Wheelbarrows, Shovels, Rakes,

(These are highly needed).

About: The project will consist of moving river rock to various locations to enhance the

appearance of the area.  We will also be clearing some debris from previous construction work.

Additional:

-Breakfast, Lunch, and refreshments will be provided.

-Bottled water will also be provided.

-It’s about a 30 min drive from the church so please be on time!

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 18^th 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

—Sam Frank’s Eagle Project—

CHANGES:  We are now starting at 7AM and going until noon. Breakfast lunch snacks and water are still provided.

Also, because of a change in leadership at the organization and various zoning regulations that we’ve recently become aware of, the goat shelter project is scrapped. We have 4 smaller projects lined up that should take up most of the morning however. Horses and small animals will be there for us to feed and play with should we finish slightly early.

When: September 10, 2011, 7AM-Noon

Who: YOU and as many friends/parents/neighbors as you want!

Where: Rockaway Hills Ranch –

6206 E Rockaway Hills Dr, Cave Creek AZ 85331

 MAPQUEST LINK: http://mapq.st/pUjSOa

Directions: NORTH on SCOTTSDALE RD

LEFT on Cave Creek Rd

Right on School House Rd

Left on Rockaway Hills Ranch Dr. – There will be a sign

There will be directions for traffic to the actual build site from the entrance to the ranch.

What to bring: *Work gloves, *closed toed shoes, post diggers, wheelbarrows, tape measures, picks, shovels, pruners(THESE ARE IN HIGH NEED) and ladders.

*PLEASE BRING THESE FOR YOURSELF

What we’re doing: Small projects for a non-profit no kill animal shelter called Luv Shack Horse Ranch Rescue

Additional notes:

• Breakfast and lunch will be provided

• We should be finished with the project by lunchtime

• Contact fellow scouts/parents if you want to carpool(about 40 minutes from church)

• Bottled water will be provided

  Please be careful driving in the Cave Creek area, the speed limit around that area is 25-30mph even though its pretty much a desert area. Cops love to hide on Cave Creek rd.

Good day T648,

Happy September!  It is hard to believe that we are already 2/3 of the way through 2011 – and much of the best is still yet to come.  We have tons of scout-related activities heading our way in upcoming months.  Tomorrow is Patrol Leadership Council at 6PM,
with the troop meeting at 7PM, and no Tenderfoot training before the meeting this week.  Mr. Harness has also indicated that there will be no bike check tomorrow, so please do not bring your bikes to the meeting as originally planned.  We will be changing the September outing due to advance scouting done by the Harnesses last weekend.  Starting this next weekend, we will have special activities every week during September, beginning with Mr. Frank’s Eagle Project.  Please join our troop the morning of 9/10 as America as a country dedicates tremendous amounts of volunteerism this weekend during the 10^th Anniversary of 9-11-01.  Specific details have been announced in previous meetings, and will be finalized by Mr. Frank at tomorrow’s troop meeting, then posted on the troop website later in the week.  As mentioned, our outing on 9/16 will not be a bike outing to Dairy Springs, but instead a caving, summiting, biking outing to the Lava Tubes and Mt. Humphreys in the Flagstaff area.  We also will have a busy weekend on 9/23-25 as the scouts 14 and older will be heading for high adventure along the Rainbow trail on the rim of the Grand Canyon, and Mr. Lara is aiming to nail down his Eagle Project for the 24th as well.  For those of you ready to receive your well-deserved advancements along with the many merit badges you have earned during the summer, our Court of Honor pot-luck has been scheduled for Tuesday, September 27^th from 5:30-8:30PM at the church.  Please come for an evening of celebration and great eating in what is traditionally one of the most fun events of the year!

Mr. Benyi of Price-Waterhouse-Coopers-Butler has announced that the results are in for T648 Honor Patrol for 2010-2011.  It was a tight and hotly contested race, but there is in fact a clear winner, a patrol that distanced themselves from the pack.  As was not totally unexpected, it was not the Pirates patrol who finished #1, but one of our younger patrols who best supported their patrol through active participation in meetings, events and completeness of uniform.  The results will be given to the PLC tomorrow night, and announced by leadership in the troop meeting.    The honors trip to Club 33 for the patrol and wild card winners is being tentatively scheduled for early November.  Improvements in the process for next year include a more regular publishing of interim results to allow patrols better insight into when they need an extra push towards the finish line.

We are putting together adult and senior boy leadership support for the new patrol structure to support our new youth leadership
positions.  I am extremely encouraged by the prospects for an exceptional year in our troop.  Many thanks to the adult leaders, without whom little could happen within the troop, to the parents who ensure that our youth stay connected through participation and study, and of course each and every boy who has made it a priority to better themselves and have fun through scouting.  It is a great time to be a member of T648!

Mr. Cole