TROOP 464

TROOP TRIBUNE

JAN/FEB 2004

Scoutmaster's Corner
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO TROOP 464. I hope you all had a great New Year and enjoyed the holiday safely. It will be good to see all of you guys again. My days were getting quiet and I need some noise. The month of January will give our new leaders a chance to get organized and plan for the year, so no major activity is planned. They will need your input, though, at the meetings so they can plan activities you want to do. February, however, will make up for January's relative inactivity. We have something going on just about every weekend. First, there is the Cal Poly Merit Badge Day for those Scouts who signed up (Saturday, Feb 7th). We also will be having our Troop's annual skiing/snowboarding trip to Big Bear Lake. I am in charge of this and need to know as soon as possible who is going. Summer Camp 2004 is at Camp Whitsett which is in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It is about 4 hours away and is one of the council's best camps. There are limited spaces so we need all Scouts to sign up as soon as possible with their deposit. Please see Judy Osborne to sign up. Well, I guess that is enough considering this is just the first of the year. To all Scouts…please stay active in your Troop and remember, you are what make Troop 464 great. Your Troop needs your participation.
Yours in Scouting,
Alex Balian, Scoutmaster

Outings
Jan 18       Backpack Hike
      31       Lunar Parade Feb
        7       Cal Poly Merit Badge
      14-15 Silhouette Shooting
      20-22 Ski Trip

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Lunar Parade - See attached flyer for information on this fun event. Best if each Scout is driven by their parent, to allow maximum flexibility. We need the boys there between 9:30 and 9:45. Parents are welcome! Free parking passes will be available. Full Class A uniforms required, the boys will be on TV. We had a blast last year and those who participated received a great bag with goodies.

Outings - In order to manage cash flow and assist the planning (food & transportation), we are going to enforce the rule that in order for a Scout to participate in an activity, the trip slip and payment must be turned in no later than 10 days prior to the event. So, no more last minute decisions, let's all plan ahead to make the outings a success.

In-Box

The majority of the guns we ordered from Turner's are in and available for pick-up at the Reseda store on the corner of Vanowen and Tampa. You will have to pay the $25.00 registration fee to Turner's and remember there is a 10 day waiting period. You fill out all the paperwork and then 10 days later you can pick up your gun (you actually have between 10 and 30 days to pick up). If you have any questions, call Jo Ann Burkhart at (818) 342-5557.

LIFE A Scout Master stood before his troop and had some items in front of him. When the meeting began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the Scouts if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
So the Scout Master then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the Scouts again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

Upcoming Meetings
Jan   7 No Meeting
      14 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      21 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      28 7:30 Shadow Ranch
Feb 4 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      11 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      18 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      25 7:30 Shadow Ranch
      26 7:30 Parent Meeting

Birthday Corner
Happy Belated Birthday to:
Scouts - James M 12/1, Marc C 12/6, Ryan O 12/24, David E 12/27
Adults - Dave Rozelle 12/30
Happy Birthday to:
Scouts - Kyle N 1/11, Mike E 1/11, David B 1/17, Kyle B 1/29
Adults - Matt Weintraub 1/7, Larry Monson 1/21, Carol Cloud 1/24

Judy's Stuff

Cal Poly - If your Scout has committed to this event, see attached info. Please remit the $20 fee ASAP and have your Scout complete the prerequisites prior to 2/7.

Summer Camp 2004 - This year it will be Camp Whitsett, see attached for a short introduction to the camp. See me ASAP to sign up. I have to remit the initial $75 per Scout by 2/1. Estimated cost $260-$280. Camp will be 6/27/04 - 7/3/04.

Ski Trip - Planning this event is a major undertaking, please show Alex some consideration by signing up early. This is one of the most fun events our Troop has each year, don't miss out!

The Scout Master next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The Scouts responded with a unanimous, "yes." The Scout Master then produced a bottle of apple juice from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, filling the empty space between the sand. The Scouts laughed.
"Now" said the Scout Master, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things-your family, your health, your friends, your favorite passions-things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. "The pebbles are the other things that matter like your school work, your Scout projects, your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else-the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all of your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play and spend time with your family. Take time to get medical checkups. Go out to dinner with your parents and your family. There will always be time to do the smaller, less important things."
"Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the Scouts raised his hand and inquired what the apple juice represented.
The Scout Master smiled. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for something sweet or fun." (Derived from a similar story, not about Scouts)
"Corky" Straus, ASM