Troop 1396, A Scout is Reverent and a Scout is Helpful

Scouts, Scouters and Parents:

As we approach Thanksgiving and on this Giving Tuesday, it is important to reflect on the bounty of our blessings for which we give thanks and what we provide to our community.

 

In this month's 2020 Scouting for Food campaign, Troop and Crew 1396 harvested 1393 pounds of non-perishable food and delivered it to ACTION in the Community Through Service (ACTS) where it can be distributed to the less fortunate in our community.  Despite the challenges of COVID-19 and the prohibition from going door-to-door, we still managed to collect over 200 pounds more than last year.  Hats off to our community and the Scouts and media who spread the word.  Also, let's give a special thanks to the Waldman family for leading our event again this year.

 

Over the past year, Scouts and adults in the Troop have recorded 1764 service hours to date, 1643 of which were in eight Eagle Projects.  To put that in perspective, that is nearly 74 days of service hours.  Note that a ninth Eagle Project is ongoing, with the Eagle Candidate Nicky Malich expecting completion tomorrow.

As we pause this week to offer thanks to God for our many blessings, let's also be thankful for the capability to give to others.  Many associate giving with money, but sharing some of what we have from our pantries and closets, and giving our time and labor are also gifts to be counted.  I encourage you to continue to look for ways to serve your community; continue to be someone for which others are thankful.

A Scout is Reverent.  A Scout is Helpful.

 

Yours in Scouting Service,

Doug Henry, Scoutmaster, Troop 1396

Tom Bortner, Committee Chairman, and Chartered Organization Representative, Troop 1396

Chartered by St. Matthew's Lutheran Church

 

"The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law."

 

Scoutmaster Minute -- 17 November 2020

 This past week when we were putting up the Christmas tree sales stand, I noticed someone tied a granny knot instead of a square knot.  It is an easy slip-up, all it takes is taking a wrong turn with the last bight.  Very simple error, but very big consequences, as we know that a granny knot will not perform like a square knot – pull on the standing ends and it will fall apart.  Like choosing the wrong foothold when rock climbing or stepping out into a crosswalk too soon, this is a small mistake that could have serious consequences if someone is counting on the knot to hold.  Imagine the consequences of a tree falling off the roof of a minivan on interstate traffic because one of us was not paying attention and tied it to the roof rack with a granny knot.

 

Like the wrong turn in the knot, sometimes we choose the wrong turn in life.  Whether it is simple negligence and lack of attention to detail or a willful choice tied to taking an unnecessary risk or shortcut, it is not hard to find a person with the story of "I wish I could take that decision back and do it again." 

 

Do not be lackadaisical.  Make conscious decisions based on attention to detail.  When you do this, others find value in your work and deeds, and trust that you are providing a quality service or product. 

 

A Scout is Trustworthy.

Happy Veterans Day -- National Park Service Drops Entrance Fee for Veterans and Gold Star Families, Year Round

From the National Park Service's website:  "Beginning on Veterans Day, November 11, 2020, Gold Star Families and U.S. military veterans receive free access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, wildlife refuges and forests. The free access program is a way to thank America's veterans and Gold Star families for their support of our country and to encourage them to explore recreational opportunities on their public lands and waters."

In national parks that charge an entrance fee, a veteran will need to present one of the following forms of identification where entrance fees are collected:

• Department of Defense Identification Card (CAC Card)
• Veteran Health Identification Card (VHIC)
• Veteran ID Card
• Veterans designation on a state-issued U.S. driver's license or identification card

https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm

Scoutmaster Minute -- 10 November 2020

On this day in 1938 was the first radio performance of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America."  It is notable that Irving Berlin donated all royalties garnered from the sale of records and broadcast of the song to the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America.

On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty, to God and my country.

Scoutmaster Minute for 3 November 2020

Webster's Dictionary defines the word 'opinion' as a belief or idea held with confidence but not substantiated by direct proof or knowledge.  The difference between a fact and an opinion is that a fact can be verified, whereas an opinion cannot.  We develop opinions as statements of belief where we do not have facts available.  We all have opinions.  I have mine and you have yours.  Through discussion and sharing why I have a certain opinion, I may be able to influence your opinion, or you may be able to influence mine.  Yet, in the absence of the discovery of new facts, we could be each be left with our separate opinions.

The First Amendment to our Constitution gives us freedom of speech.  Therefore, we are free to voice our opinions.  Arguably (as it is my opinion), that nowhere is this more evident than in politics.  With the goal of making this Nation a better place for all citizens, we have political parties that develop a platform based on opinions on how to best steer our Nation's government towards that goal.  Too often, we see people attack others and call them names based on these opinions.  The response to an attack is always a defense, and in the case of an attack on an opinion, the defender throws up as many facts as he or she can muster to bolster the rationale behind that opinion.  It is often messy business and particularly today with social media, the result is a greater and greater divide between camps.

Converse to an attack is persuasion.  Through respectful discussion and the earnest objective to understand, we are able to see the perspective of those who hold different opinions than we do.  By calmly discussing the facts that support our opinions, we either influence others or agree to disagree.  Sometimes, when we put as much effort into listening as we do with talking, we find that our opinion changes.  Either way, discussion leads to an understanding of others' viewpoints and their understanding of ours.  When we truly care about others, we want to understand the basis of their opinions and help them meet their needs.  I encourage you to show patience, take pause, and listen.  Do not be afraid to state your opinion, but also be tolerant to the opinion of others.

A Scout is Courteous and A Scout is Kind.