Turtle Express: December 2018

December 2018 was home to two important Troop 150 events. Members of Troop 150 planned out their activities for the next year at the Annual Planning Meeting and also received many merit badges at the Court of Honor. Unfortunately, our day trip that was going to happen ended up getting canceled! Nevertheless, it was an amazing month.

The Annual Planning Meeting took place in AUMC’s media room. There were three sessions in this meeting, and they all went well. For the first session, Scouts shared their ideas for potential events that the Troop could do. There were many suggestions given and lots of pizza eaten in this session. As for session 2, Scouts above the rank of Second-Class joined together to receive a short and intuitive leadership training.

For session 3, members of Troop 150’s Patrol Leaders Council (PLC), adult leaders, and the Troop Scribe stayed to decide what events to put on the calendar for the upcoming year. With a bit of debate, they finally came to the following draft:

February 2019	Mariners Museum on the 23 – 24 PLC on the 25th BSA’s 109th Birthday and Scout Sabbath on the 8th Scout Sunday is on the 17th Presidents Day is Feb 18 (No Meeting)
March 2019	Fort Building/Pioneering on the 30 – 31 PLC on April 1st ODD Merit Badge Jamboree on the second Intro to leadership skills & new scout orientation OA Elections is on the 4th Webelos Crossover – March 11 AUMC Men’s Breakfast is on the 9th ILST is also on the 9th
April 2019	Patriot Spring Camporee on the 26 – 28 PLC on the 29th SPL Elections on the 8th
May 2019	Peddle and Paddle 18 – 19 PLC on the 19th Court of Honor on the 20th New SPL and Staff begin the 1st Patrol Elections on the 6th Mandatory Leadership Training for youth leaders on the 13th ODD Touch A Truck
June 2019	Goshen (Week Two [June 29 – July 6]) & Old Rag Hike on the 8th Goshen Pre-Swim on the 17th SCOUT STRONG 5k Run/Walk on the 1st
July 2019	Whitewater Rafting on the 25 – 28 PLC on July 8 From July 22 to August 2, the 24th World Scout Jamboree will be occurring
August 2019	Beach Fishing Campout on the 17 – 18 PLC on the 19th Troop Summer Pool Party on 26 Stop Hunger Now!/Community Service at ACCA (25th)
September 2019	Caving on the 28 – 29 PLC on the 30 Court of Honor on the 16th
October 2019	Shooting Sports on 19 – 20 PLC on the 20th SPL Elections on October 7 Oct 26 – Annandale Fall Parade
November 2019	Sports and Thanksgiving Campout on the 23 – 24 PLC on the 25 New SPL and Staff begin the 1st Nov 1, 2, and 9 – Lock-In and Scouting For Food Nov 4 – Patrol Elections Wreath Selling Begins November 11 – Mandatory Leadership Training
December 2019	Great Falls Trip on the 14th Court of Honor on the 16th Annual Planning Meeting on Sat 7 Wreath Sales!
January 2020	Ski Trip on the 24 – 26 PLC on the 27th Webelos Night on the 13th Inventory Day on the 11th Wreaths Across America Pick Up Day

– This calendar has not yet been finalized but it should be as of the end of January 2019.

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This year’s Winter Court of Honor was a great success! Forty-six merit badges were earned by 35 different Scouts and two Scout Spirit Coins were bestowed. The Scout Spirit Coin has never been given to two Scouts in Troop 150 at the same time. Other rewards consisted of the Cyber Chip, Totin’ Chip, NYLT Reward, Gunston Hall Ribbon, and Historic Ship Patches.

This Court of Honor’s Scoutmaster’s Moment was more than special. It revealed the sad fact that Scoutmaster Wood will be retiring from the Troop. He claims his time has come as he has been Scoutmaster for a long time.

After the COH, Scouts and adults chose from a large variety of cookies that were available to eat. There was also a gift exchange between Scouts in this time period. This Court of Honor was very enjoyable despite receiving some very sad news. The new Scoutmaster has not yet been decided.

Happy new year from Troop 150!

View Scoutmaster Wood’s Scoutmaster Moments:

– Part 1

– Part 2

Credits