Welcome back from vacation. I know we had families in Italy, Mexico and all over the country. I hope you're all safe, happy and well rested.

First, I'd like to congratulate Chris Fleury on being elected the new Senior Patrol Leader at the meeting on April 26th. After following the 1-2 combination of Mike Kling and Scott Kelley he has some huge shoes to fill but given the number of email messages and telephone calls at work, home and on my cell that I've been receiving, I gather that he's up to the job. So, here is our first troop email in the Age of Fleury.


(1) New SPL, New Tag Line
(2) PL Elections
(3) Meeting Plan
(4) Scouting for Food--Need Parent Drivers
(5) Camporee Permission Slips
(6) Summer Camp Sign Up
(7) Adults Needed for Event Supervision
(8) Backpacking
(9) Service Opportunity
(10) Eagle Courts
(11) Congratulations

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New SPL, New Tag Line
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This is kind of funny. Almost every person I've run into, upon learning Chris Fleury is our new skipper wanted to know what the new tag line at the end of each email from this account would be. Given that the masses are much more original and interesting than I am, I am turning this into a contest. Tell me how you think our emails should close, extolling (or something) about Chris. Make 'em good (but remember that Chris will see all of them and is either your boss or your boss' boss for the next year. Heh.)

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PL Elections
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Since most of the patrol leaders weren't able to make it to last week's meeting, we are having the patrol leader elections and the end of the meeting this week. Please let me know if you're interested in running at the beginning of the meeting. The requirement is that you be at least first class and in eighth grade to be eligible.

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Meeting Plan
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This is the final week in our advancement month, so you all should know what you're doing. A couple of general notes:

Psychotic Monkeys: You're taking your second physical fitness test whether the sunshine is of the genuine or liquid variety. Be prepared!

Personal Management: Boys in Personal Management--make sure you bring your budgets with you along with anything else Mrs. Sharp has asked you to have. Don't let three months of hard work be for naught because you forgot to bring that stupid folder. GAH!

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Scouting for Food--Need Parent Drivers
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Scouting for Food is this Saturday and we still need adult drivers to help us collect the food. Please contact Andy Watts at ajwatts@us.ibm.com or Maureen Fraser at sleepyhollowmoe@pshift.com to volunteer.

In addition, please remember this is the only required event of the year for all of the boys. The only valid excuses are things such as first communions, familial obligations and hospitalization (i.e. sports are not covered, so don't even try.)

If you don't make the event, you need to make up the service before your next Scoutmaster Conference can take place. Since this is a 3-hour project, if your absence is excused, you only have to make up those 3 hours. If your absence is unexcused you have to make up 6. And remember, it has to be done *before* your next SM Conference and if it's unexcused, it doesn't count as service towards your rank requirement.

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Camporee Permission Slips
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Permission slips for the camporee next weekend are due at the meeting. Remember that we need scouts to help with the tomahawk throwing and tower building. If you can make it, even for a short time, please do!

If you need the permission slip, you can download it here:
Spring Camporee Permission Slip 2006

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Summer Camp Sign Up
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The cutoff for the early bird discount is next Wednesday's meeting. In order to qualify we need to have your full $255 by that time. Otherwise, the cost of camp is $285. We strongly encourage all boys to attend. It's a week of fun in the sun and provides the boys with tremendous opportunities for advancement.

Additional information for summer camp can be downloaded here:
2006 Mount Norris Info
2006 Mount Norris Info page 2

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Adults Needed for Event Supervision
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We still need adults for all of the events we have scheduled this spring and summer. These events are:

Spring Camporee (May 12-14)
Bike Hike (June 3-4)
Indian Brook Canoeing and Lifesaving (June 24-25)
Summer Camp (July 30 - August 4)

Please let me know if you're interested in helping us out.

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Backpacking
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This summer our Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Thompson and ASPL Leo Gauthier are putting together a series of backpacking hikes for those boys who are interested in that sort of thing. The current plan is to do a one-nighter that covers about 10 miles, a two-nighter that covers about 20 and a 6 or 7 nighter that will qualify for the 50-miler award. We will have more information soon--if you're interested in this, keep your eyes peeled.

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Service Opportunity
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If you're not able to make the camporee next weekend and are interested in volunteering to help with a children's event from about 11:00-2:00 on Church Street Marketplace, we have just the thing for you. Head on over to the web site to check it out.

Additional infoation can be found in this download:
Go-Kart Event Job Descriptions

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Eagle Courts
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When it rains it pours! Matt Turnbull has announced the date for his Eagle Court of Honor. It is going to be on Sunday, June 18th at Memorial Hall. Please add it to your calendars. In case you've not yet gotten to it, pen in Mike Klings on Sunday the 11th (same venue) as well.

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Congratulations
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Congratulations to Adam Watts for being on the winning 8th grade debate team a couple of weeks ago. I believe the topic was "Resolved: That the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame are the most storied team in the history of collegiate sports." Though it's true Adam had the easier argument to make in that he was on the "pro" side, it's still a notable accomplishment.

And yet another feather in the well-plumed cap of our JASM Michael Kling. Mike won the algebra and arithmetic categories in the 2006 math team competition. He was the linchpin of an EHS sqad that went undefeated this year. You think I'm kidding? You think I'm exaggerating his importance? Then how do you explain that he won the Scott Memorial Award for being tops in the state? Aha! Didn't think you could. I hear he's just returned from a weekend of touring college campuses, one of which was MIT. Heh. MIT. Mike, with a record like yours you should hold out for a visiting professorship...

That's it for now, folks. See you on Wednesday.

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick