TROOP 243
March 1st, 2009
Boy Scouts of America
Chartered by St. Barnabas Catholic Church
3044 Hikes Lane           Louisville, Ky  40220
							http://www.iglou.com/troop243
Dear Parents and Friends of Troop 243, 

Troop Outings & Activities – We start March with a pocket full of merit badges thanks to Merit Badge University!   March is patrol outing month so there is no troop wide organized campout or activity.  Each patrol is encouraged to make arrangements to do something as a patrol.  We will however, as is tradition, organize the Scout-o-Rama push mobile races and follow that up with a trip to Gattiland and another activity.  Troop 243's bus will provide transportation for the day.

Troop and Patrol Meetings on Wednesdays - All are welcome.  Scouts in Class A uniforms are expected.  Except where noted, all meetings are held at St. Barnabas.
March 4th, 7:00 PM – Troop Meeting - Environmental Science #2 (Louisville Water Company visit
March 11th, 7:00 PM – Patrol Meeting - Don't come to Gallagher Hall!
March 18th, 7:00 PM – Troop Meeting - Environmental Science #3
March 25th, 7:00 PM – Troop Meeting - Hobbies #1

Religious Awards – Steve and Judy Crush are organizing a group of scouts to pursue the Ad Altare Dei award.  This is the 3rd of 4 scouting religious awards that can be earned as a Catholic.  It is very rare that a scout achieves all 4 awards so we should wish luck upon those scouts who sign up.  It gives parents yet another opportunity to share their faith with their son.  Please contact Judy or Steve Crush at 297-9987 or steve@insightbb.com if you are interested in this award.  You will be recognized during the Catholic Awards ceremony in January of 2010 if the award is completed by then.

Flower Sale 2009 – Flower sales are off and running.  As is normal the first turn in week was light but we are looking forward to coming Wednesdays.  The merry band of sales processors are just waiting for sales so bring them in!    If you can help take in and double check sales please come to any of the troop meetings to help.

Troop Leadership meetings – The January PLC meeting will be at 4:00 March 22nd.  The ASM and Committee meetings will be held on March 23rd at 7:00 and 8:00 PM respectively.  These dates are a week earlier than normal due to spring break.

February’s Campout – February's campout was great.  With a gourmet kitchen, huge room in which we could dine and play together, indoor toilets (with showers), a large field for capture the flag and even snow at the last minute Saturday night, the YMCA's Camp Piomingo was definitely up to the task of replacing camp Tecumseh.  Our returning Eagle Scouts and Cullen Bilyeu did a wonderful job of cooking and serving up food.  All the scouts, lead by Michael Berger and the patrol leaders, participated in the clean up.  We've been assured that we can use the facility again next year if we are so inclined.  March is a patrol camp out month so there is nothing planned as a troop.  Each patrol should plan their own outing.  Talk to your patrol leader for details about your patrol's outing!!

Kroger & Thornton Gift Cards – Transportation the day of Scout-o-Rama and other outings is free to our scouts and leadership but it is not free.  Maintenance, fuel and insurance for our wonderful bus is paid by the Friends of Troop 243 which is funded by the Kroger and Thorntons gift card programs.  We encourage all parents, members, relatives and friends to use Troop 243’s Kroger and Thorntons gift cards.  Whenever you see Frank Hulsman at any function it is likely that he has a few gift cards with him.  Please stop Frank at any time and ask him for one of these cards and he will give you one on the spot.  Tom Kennedy may also have a couple in his briefcase

Scout Account Fund Use - Troop 243 is very active and those activities cost money.  Many troops have fund raising events and of course we have our flower sale.  Even with a troop this active, a scout who aggressively sells flowers can pay for virtually all of his scouting expenses, especially in the younger years.  The net profits from the flowers sold by each scout are given in its entirety to the scout that sells the flowers for use with scouting expenditures.  Scouting expenditures include camp out fees, dues, high adventure fees, uniforms, scouting equipment and others.  Camping fees will come directly from the scout's account if authorized.  Money can be withdrawn via check from the scout's account when a receipt for a qualified expenditure is provided to our treasurer, Amy Gartner.  These funds are available to the scout, for these uses, as long as they are a member of troop 243.  When a scout leaves the troop prior to their 18th birthday, the value of the account can be passed to another member of that scout's family or it will be deposited into the troop's general account.  It can not be withdrawn as a cash withdrawal.  When a scout turns 18, he can use the money to pay for Venturing activities (if he's a member of the Crew) or give his funds to a younger brother who is a troop member..  If the scout leaves the troop after age 18, the money can be withdrawn as a scholarship, in support of his education.  A cash withdrawal is never permitted either prior to or after the age of 18.

Pancake Breakfast – The Venture Crew's first pancake breakfast was huge success in several ways.  First, it raised funds for our venture crew.  It also served as a great parish activity that gave parishioners a nice opportunity to get together and enjoy each other's company.  Thanks to all of the scouts who supported the crew by working the pancake breakfast and to all of our customers, placemat advertisers and donors.  We also want to thank the St. Barnabas Parish for its wonderful support of not only the Venture Crew but their ongoing support of the Troop.

Yours in Scouting,
 Bruce Bohn
Bruce Bohn
Troop Secretary