Tomorrow, at my place, we'll be working on Citizenship in the World and First Aid. We'll do 1st Aid from 12-3 and Cit in the World from 3-6. Who is eligible? Anyone who is 1st Class or above and can BEHAVE for 3 hours. We'll have a couple of breaks but we want to pound through a lot of stuff, so don't come if you don't want to work. Lightning Lanz is making his newest surge for his next rank and I thought it would be nice to see if anyone wanted to accompany him on his journey.

Let me know if you're coming ahead of time if you can. If you can't, just showing up is ok, though you'll get the Furrowed Eyebrows of Sonnick for a period of time determined by whether (a) you have brought chicken lips to supplicate me and (b) whether you do a funny interpretive dance for all present once you arrive.

If you come, please bring a notebook and something with which to write.

See some of you tomorrow!

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick

Good evening, one and all, just a couple of short notes this week.

The Notes:
(1) PLC
(2) Meeting Plan
(3) Mansfield Campout
(4) Committee Meeting

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PLC
*****
Tomorrow (Tuesday, February 7th), 6:30 - 8:00 at my house. Make sure you bring stuff on which and with which to write and come ready to brainstorm.

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Meeting Plan
****************
It's an advancement month. Non-MOBsters, y'all will continue working on the merit badges you chose at last week's meeting. If you weren't at last week's meeting, you can choose between Personal Management, Communications and Photography. MOBsters will be working towards first class.

Make sure you come prepared.

**********************
Mansfield Campout
**********************
As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, we're planning to take a contingent of gents up Mansfield on Friday night and do a full hike to the summit and a ridge walk on Saturday for interested boys. This is limited to guys who are Star or 14 and who have winter camping and hiking experience. Please let me know if you're interested.

For those of you who aren't up for a full weekend of high-speed, low drag adventure fun or who do not yet meet the prerequisites for that group, we'll have the normal overnight Mansfield campout with the option of hiking to the exposed part of the Sunset Ridge trail. Permission slips will be out soon.

***********************
Committee Meeting
***********************
To avoid any confusion I'd like to remind people that the committee meeting is not this Thursday but next Thursday.

That's all folks. See you soon.

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick

We still need one more adult for the Uncle Henry's campout to happen on the weekend of February 18th. Please let me know by early afternoon if you are willing to help out--otherwise we'll have to cancel.

Cheers,

JMS

Good evening, everyone,

This Wednesday being the first of the new month, we're making the switch from the winter sports theme to advancement. More information below.

Hot Topics:
(1) Meeting Plans
(2) PLC Next Tuesday
(3) Parents for Uncle Henry's
(4) Permission Slips for Uncle Henry's
(5) Gmail invitations

*****************
Meeting Plans
*****************
As I mentioned, we're headed into an Advancement month. If you are either Colin Watts, the Potomoid or any non-MOBster, come prepared with paper, pencil, and knowledge of whether you would like to work on:
(a) Photography (not Eagle required)
(b) Communications (Eagle required)
(c) Personal Management (Eagle required)

If you would like to check out the current requirements for these merit badges, you can do so here:

Photography: http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/083.htm
Communications: http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/005.htm
Personal Management: http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/011.htm

If you're in the MOB and you're neither Colin nor Nick, then you'll be working on your under-1st Class advancement. EXCEPT FOR THIS WEDNESDAY. This Wednesday you're going to be working with a couple of the older guys to show the Webelos from Westford a good time when they come to visit us and decide whether they'd like to cross over into our ranks. Make sure you come dressed accordingly.

**********************
PLC Next Tuesday
**********************
Next Tuesday, February 7th, is the first Tuesday of the month. PLC at my house from 6:30 - 8:00. Do not be late. Do not forget paper/pencil/supplications.

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Parents for Uncle Henry's
******************************
We still need two, that's right, TWO parents to sign up to supervise the winter campout at Uncle Henry's on the weekend of February 18th. Since the permission slips need to go out this week if we're going to keep this on the calendar, I need to have those volunteers before noon on Wednesday or we'll have to cancel.

****************************************
Permission Slips for Uncle Henry's
****************************************
If we get the adults, the permission slips for our first full-on shelter-building winter campout will go out at the coming meeting and will be due back next week. The fires that we build on this campout are legendary. The Cogleys will have it no other way. That's why I like them.

*******************
Gmail invitations
*******************
For anyone out there looking for a great, free web-based email account, I have a ton of gmail invitations that I can give away. If you're a kid, I'll need a parent's ok before I send you the invite.

Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat's all for now. See you Wednesday.

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick

Good morning, everyone,

Here's the latest and greatest for Troop 635:

(0) Important
(1) Fleury Review
(2) Meeting Plan
(3) Need Adults for Uncle Henry's
(4) OA Dues Due
(5) New Adult!

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Important!
**************
The meeting tonight is going to be in the library which is upstairs. Please make sure you're quiet as you're going through the cafeteria as there will be a concert going on.

*****************
Fleury Review
*****************
How great was that? Since half the troop was there I won't go into it too much but from the moment I showed up on Friday night and the ice nearly caused me to slide a mile down the road when I tried to cross it to the ginormous "scenario" snowball fights to the Magic marathons to the Zombified Potomoid, a good time was had by all. We were sustained with the excellent cooking of Master Colin Watts (thanks Colin) and entertained in great part by Chris Fleury who, it seems, wants to be a gangsta. Personally, I think Esteban might have the player edge but these things will most likely sort themselves out in time.

The campout also provided us with the first certification of insanity for two of our members. Scott Turnbull and Andy Watts both slept outside and insodoing were the first to earn the 2005-2006 Polar Bear award. I always told you they were trend-setters!

****************
Meeting Plan
****************
The plan for the meeting was to have been wrapping up our athletics/physical fitness month with one last night of snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. It seems *very* unlikely that that will come to pass and so SPL Scott will be connecting with me to come up with an alternative today. Once again we do not have use of the cafeteria due to a middle school concert, so come prepared to spend the meeting outside. It is very likely that at least the MOB will *not* be outside but come prepared nonetheless.

***********************************
Need Adults for Uncle Henry's
***********************************
We have a winter campout scheduled for the weekend of February 18th/19th. I will not be able to attend until late on the evening of the 18th if at all, so we need two adults who are willing to supervise the event. Please contact Scott Kelley and me as soon as possible if you're interested so we'll know we can move forward with planning for this event.

****************
OA Dues Due
****************
All members of the Order of the Arrow need to have their 2006 dues of $8 to me by this Wednesday. Please make sure you do so.

************
New Adult
************
Matthew Turnbull, a long-term 635er has officially made the leap from yute to adult. As an Assistant Scoutmaster he can now sign off books, register as a merit badge counselor and have coffee served to him by young scouts wishing to curry favor with him. I look forward to having him remain involved in his new capacity. w00t!

That's a wrap, folks. See you on Wednesday.

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick

Good morning, 635ers,

First a note from the estimable Mrs. Moldovan, president of the local Meals on Wheels:

~~~~~~~~~~
Hello,

Once Again, Essex Meals on Wheels is looking for help from the Boy Scouts. This is a unique request, aren't they all?

Anyway, we have an opportunity on Feb 7 only from 9-6 pm (yes, it is a school day) for individuals aged 16 and up to earn money to be donated to our organization by packing and dressing teddy bears a VT Teddy Bear Company. We need 20 volunteers (we already have 10-12 committed) in order to do this event. We will receive $1600.00 from Teddy Bear.

Any chance older boys or Eagles that might be able to take a day off for community service might help? The National Honor Society at Essex High School is asking their local members also.

It was just a thought, so I asked. If not possible , I truly understand.

Chris M
~~~~~~~~~~

I told her I'd be happy to send it along and mention that the troop would be happy to count it as community service hours for all participating scouts.

See you this evening,

Sonnick

Folks,

The "no school = no meeting" rule is in effect. This is just awful. How can I go out for chicken lips *after* the meeting if there isn't any meeting to begin with? Woe is me (shouldn't that be "woe is I?"--I mean with the verb "to be" the first person should still be in the nominative, right?. But who has ever heard "woe is I?" Whatever. The important thing is that you know I'm woeing.)

We'll have a phone tree going around to all of those who are headed for Belvedere this weekend to ensure you're dialed in.

Your Scoutmaster,
Sonnick

Good evening, everyone. Just a quicky for this week. Much, much more next week.

(1) Meeting Plan
(2) Permission Slips Due
(3) Committee Meeting

***************
Meeting Plan
***************
Allllllllllrighty. We're gonna be snowshoeing and cross country skiing. If you have your own gear, bring it. We have the use of the Middle School's gear but if you have your own you would be well-served to bring it.

*************************
Permission Slips Due
*************************
Wanna go to Fleury Camp? You should. If you don't want to, there's something wrong with you. If you do want/intend to go, bring your permission slip. We'll have extras.

***********************
Committee Meeting
***********************
This Thursday is the monthly committee meeting. 6:30 - 8:00 at Chez Cogley. If you're on the committee and can't make it, kindly let either me or The Lovely Susanna Cogley know.

See you soon!

Your Scoutmaster,

Sonnick

Good morning, and Happy New Year one and all,

This is a quicky because I realize it's a day later than normal and I'm at work (and therefore should be working.)

(1) Scouting Canceled for Foreseeable Future
(2) Except for PLC Tonight
(3) And Meeting Tomorrow Night (Come Dressed Warm)

*************************************************
Scouting Canceled for Foreseeable Future
*************************************************
The Irish have lost. At the hands of the OSU Buckeyes, the Boys in Blue foundered, leaving the multitudes wailing and gnashing their teeth. I don't think I can enjoy myself again until the University of Notre Dame wins a BCS Bowl game and since I know we're all on the same page as this, I think it's best to cancel all scouting activities until that happens. Tune in this time next year to see where things stand.

***************************
Except for PLC Tonight
***************************
Of course, one way of dealing with tragedy is to try to rebuild your life, one brick at a time. It gives us a feeling of routine and permanence. In order to help with the healing, I suggest we continue to have the regularly-scheduled PLC meeting at my house, tonight, from 6:30 to 8:00. Please remember to bring paper, writing utensils, and an homage to Charlie Weis.

*************************************************************
And Meeting Tomorrow Night (Come Dressed Warm)
*************************************************************
And since so many of our fine scouts aren't in the PLC, it wouldn't be right for me to leave them hanging. So we'll go on with Wednesday's meeting as well. Everyone should be prepared to spend the meeting outside after inspection, so come dressed accordingly.

Finally, a quick word about one of our leaders who, along with his family, is making a sacrifice for the betterment of those in need. Assistant Scoutmaster Bob Thompson has left his family and comforts of home back in Westford to go down South to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. He'll be gone for the next month and would appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

See you all soon and GO IRISH (Basketball),

Sonnick