Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Years! What a busy 2011!  Wow! Kudos to all of our Scouts, Scouters, parents, and adult volunteers for making 2011 truly a year to remember…. THANK YOU!

Our highlight since the last committee meeting (8 Dec) was our end-of-year winter Court of Honor (COH) and Family Pot-Luck Dinner.  This annual event was held at the Pace HS cafeteria on Monday, 12 December.  Plenty of camaraderie, Scout fellowship, and great food for everyone! Alex A served as MC, and did a nice job. Many Scouts received their respective, well deserved ranks (Life- John S; Star-  Jack N; First Class-Daniel W, Tony G, Robert M; Second Class-Casey D, Zach P, Keith T, Sean O; Tenderfoot-Gavin W, Keeler B, Casey D, and Kevin D), and many merit badges, including Geocaching! We also had Webelos II Scouts and their parents from Pack 400 come as our special guests. Thank you again to the many, many adults and parents who made this event a memorable one for Troop 400!
The troop’s theme for January is Winter Camping.  So far, we’ve had one meeting for Winter Camping; on 23 Jan the troop leadership wants to have a troop trailer clean-out and complete inventory to prep for our trip to Huntsville, AL in Feb.
At our first meeting back from the Christmas break (2 Jan), we held OA elections. Congratulations to the following Scouts who were elected by their fellow Troop 400 peers:  Alex A, Shawn C, Andrew H, Augie L, Robert M, Jack N, Daniel W!  Also, Gil M is our troop adult nominee…OA Ordeal is 23-25 March at Camp Euchee.

Charlie L – will have his Eagle BOR in P’cola on 19 Jan;  John S – will do the WUMC fire ring/pit/benches idea for his Eagle project;  Bryant M – looking into the Ft. Pickens snorkeling artificial reef idea, had a meeting on 29 Nov. Stephen R is considering doing a ramp conservation project on the Escambia River. Need our other Life Scouts (Donald, Zach, Riley, Joe, and Spenser) to discuss with me their ideas for Eagle projects.

PLC met on 2 January 2012 with planning for the month of Jan., which the theme is Winter Camping.  PLC discussed the various activities for the month, including the ski trip at Cloudmont ski resort, al, 14-16 Jan.,  and the meeting nights of 9 and 23 Jan. There is no scheduled troop meeting for 16 Jan, but we will offer patrol meetings from 7-8pm and a parent meeting also.  Next scheduled PLC is on 30 Jan 2012 at 6pm….PLC ONLY.  Theme for February 2012 will be Business.

Monthly Outing Plans.

14-16 Jan 2012:  Cloudmont Ski resort, AL, near Ft. Payne, AL.  Need tour permit (Ron has submitted to council office), notarized parent consent forms, physical exam book.  Limited to 18 Scouts and 6 adults. See clipboard and flyer for cost and travel information.

18-20 Feb 2012:  Monte Sano State Park at Huntsville, AL.  Campout plus tour of Space and Rocket Center. Need tour permit, notarized parent consent forms. Cost, etc. TBD.

17 Dec:  Mistletoe fundraiser.  Troop earned $648!  Thanks to all adults who helped, especially Leah Moore for organizing the event! 
 
Will start preliminary work to see if we can go to Northen Tier/Somner Canoe Base next summer in either early June or mid-July 2012…more to follow.  UPDATE:  will discuss with parents at the 16 J an meeting.

We qualified at the “silver” level for the 2011 Journey to Excellence award!  Thanks to Gil for submitting the paperwork to the council…recommend the troop purchase enough of the patches ($1.59 each?) for each rechartered Scout, and adults who have a uniform.

Philmont – we were selected to attend in 2013!  Day one is 5 July 2013, last day is 17 July.  Sign-up sheet started on 9 Jan; two crews with 4 adults (ages 22+) and 8 youth (ages 14-21) per crew.  Planning meetings TBD, need $100 deposit from each adult or Scout going by 13 Feb….must make first payment to Philmont by 29 Feb.

Troop van – dropped off at Andrews Transmission on Fri., 6 Jan.  Contacted by the owner (DeLane Andrews) on Tues., 10 Jan. DeLane said the transmission needs replacing.  She further stated that their business would donate free labor to repair; parts will cost approximately $1000. 

NEW Troop 400 Leadership--
Bugler -                                                                 Kevin M (e), Shawn C (s)
Librarian –                                                             Augie L
Historian -                                                             Jack N (e), Alex A (s)
Scribe -                                                                 Ryan M
Chaplain’s Aide -                                                  Tony G
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster  -                           Tanner H
Instructor(s) -                                                        Tyler Moser
Troop Guide)        -                                                Bryant M and Joe W
QuarterMaster -                                                    Spenser G
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL-Logistics) -    Stephen R
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL- Planning) -    John S
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL)  -                               Donald C

    Patrols also elected new patrol leaders:

Exploding Pigs Patrol       - 
Ninja Bunnies Patrol         -  Daniel W
Wasabi Monkies Patrol     -  Sean O
M.S.A.  Patrol                   -  Shawn C
Flying Moles                     -  Keith T


(Hopefully I didn’t miss anyone…let me know for record if so.)

In Scouting,   

Moni Boling  
SM, Troop 400

Troop 400 adult positions status (as of: 8 August 2011) to help troop (SM specific)

ASM(s) to work with ASPL (Logistics):   Ron N., Gil M.

ASM(s) to work with Troop QM, also trailers and van:  Don B., Ron N., Mike McW.

ASM(s) to work with ASPL (Planning):  Wade W., Jim R.

ASM(s) for monthly PLC and weekly meeting coordinator:  Wade W., Jim R.
[Note: can be the same person(s) working with ASPL (Planning) above]

ASM(s) to work with Troop Guide (and with new Flying Moles patrol):  Todd E., Ben B.

ASM(s) to work with each patrol-

•  M.S.A.:  Scott H., Don B.
• Wasabi Monkies:  Paul L.
• Ninja Bunnies:  Lewe C., Michelle E.
• Exploding Pigs:  Wade W.

ASM/TC(s) to work with the Troop Librarian:  Adrienne McW., Robby McC.

ASM/TC(s) to work with the Troop Historian:  Kathy D., Nancy B.

ASM/TC(s) to work with the Troop Scribe:  Gil M., Theresa J.

ASM(s) to work with Troop Instructors: Jim R.
[Ex. – classes needing instruction during meetings, ie. map and compass skills, setup orienteering course
for First Class requirement, pioneering/knots and lashings, first aid, etc.]

ASM(s) to coordinate/conduct SM conferences for T’foot, 2nd Class, 1st Class:  Wade W., Jim R., Lewe C., Ron N.

ASM(s) for “Life to Eagle” coordinator:   Jim R.

ASM/TC(s) as Pack 400 W- II dens coordinator/liaison:  Sam S.

ASM/TC(s) as Transportation Coordinator:  Scott H., Ron N., Tony T.

ASM/TC(s) as monthly activity/event planners:  Ron N., Donna L.

ASM/TC(s) as troop awards coordinator:  Adrienne McW., Amanda A.
[Note: adult awards and troop awards…not individual Scout awards]

ASM/TC(s) as “Leave No Trace” instructor/coordinator:  Todd E.

ASM/TC(s) as religious awards instructor/coordinator:  Robby McC.

ASM/TC(s) as Troop Games Coordinator:  Scott H.