Red Lantern - January 2010

Announcements

Philmont payment reminder: The next Philmont payment in the amount of $300 is due on Feb 8th.

100th Anniversary of Scouting: There is now a link on our website that will give you information on this celebration.  There are many activities in the coming year that you may be interested in following or participating in.  Thanks to Mark for getting this included on our site.  We will add new information as it is available.

Adults need to help with summer Camp. Summer camp is July 3rdt to July 10th, 2006. Believe it or not, we need to start planning for the week already. We need 5 - 10 adults to run summer camp. Adults, If you are planning to be at summer camp for all or part of the week, please email Mike Aeling at maeling@troop294.net with what dates you will be there and if you want to work in a specific area - kitchen, 1st year scouts, merit badges or others.

Friends of Scouting Campaign: "Friends of Scouting" (FOS), is the annual Boy Scout fundraiser, which directly sustains the year-round activities of the Northern Star Council supporting the volunteer leaders who deliver the scouting program to its youth members. Without FOS we would not be able to have all our great weekend campouts or weeklong summer camp. There is still time to donate. Please contact Ellen Aeling (738-9095) for a pledge card. Let's try for 100% participation!

Strudel Fund Raiser will start in mid to late February. Rita S. is in charge. More information to follow.

Now is the time to ask a friend to join Troop 294 - Recruit a new scout! Do you have a friend you think would have great a great time in Troop 294? Now is the best time to ask your friend to join!!! February is when the troop starts a new group of scouts. New youths must be in 5th grade or above.

Men's Club Fish Fry Starts February 19 come and have a great meal at a great deal - (Feb 19 thru March 19.) The St. Pascal Men's Club holds their Fish Fry every Friday in Lent. Come and support them. The St. Pascal Men's Club provides monetary support (thru wreath sales at their Christmas tree lot and help the troop buy equipment yearly) for our troop's activities. Please support their efforts in this fundraiser coming and by bringing all your family and friends to the dinners. Scouts and family members are welcome to come and help out.

Anne R is the editor of the Red Lantern and Mark M is the webmaster of the Troop web site - If you have information like patrol activities, youth leadership reports, Eagle project fliers, Pack 294 activities - including the troop, Crew 294 activities, troop fundraiser information or other troop related news please give this info to them. The Red Lantern is usually published the second week of the month, although this can vary a bit.

Parents - We have a door bell - The doors to St Pascal's will be locked between 7:30 and 8:00 pm, on Monday nights. We have a wireless door bell that we will put at the outside door near the gym. E-mail addresses - If you are not receiving email please sent an e-mail to ellen@troop294.net and to Anne R. We will get you added to the list.

Upcoming trooop calendar

18-Jan	7:00-8:00 pm	Scout Meeting at THE AELING'S - Session 3-2
25-Jan	7:00-8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 3-3
30-Jan	11:30 am - 6 pm	Venture Crew snowshoeing see end of Red Lantern
1-Feb	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 3-4
1-Feb	at meeting	Red Lantern articles due from Youth Leadership
4-Feb	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Adult Leader Roundtable
8-Feb	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 3-5
Feb 12-14	Leave at 6 pm	Campout at Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp - Valley View Lodge
15-Feb		Patrol Activities
19-Feb	4:30 - 7:00 pm	Men's Club Fish Fry
22-Feb	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Start new Merit Badges
25-Feb		Cub Scout Pack 294 Blue and Gold Dinner
26-Feb	4:30 - 7:00 pm	Men's Club Fish Fry
1-Mar	7:00 - 8:30 pm	Scout Meeting at St. Pascal's - Session 4-2

Troop 294 Patrol News

Congratulations to those who obtained new leadership positions on January 11th. The new leadership positions are as follows:

Leadership

Senior Patrol Leader	Charles P
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader	Darius M
QuarterMaster	Matt S
Historian	Anthony M
Scribe	Eliot W
Patrol leader	Joseph K
Patrol leader	Spud B
Patrol leader	Ben P
Patrol leader	Andrew H
Bugler	Open Position
OA Representative	Open Position

Den Chiefs: Ian Bu: Pack 217 Webelos II Den Chief; Caleb Bu: Pack 217 Wolf Den Chief; Jonas Bu: Pack 217 Tiger Den Chief

Attention Parents: Responsibility for Advancement: Leadership positions are required for advancement. Your sons have signed a contract addressing what each youth needs to do to get credit for their leadership position. Discuss these commitments with them.

Da Boss Patrol: Members: Charles P., Peter M., Sal R., Gideon K., Daniel M., Stephen K., Tyler E., John H., Regis H., Darius M., Andy M., and Joseph M. This month we had a capture the flag game at the December campout. The Personal management merit badge will be continuing for another session, and many members are taking it. On Friday we had our second patrol activity. We saw the new Sherlock Holmes movie. We had fun and we had a good turnout. Submitted by Joseph M

Leroy Jenkins Patrol: Patrol Leader: Joseph K. Patrol Members: Matt S, Adam S, Jonas Bu, Caleb Bu, Ian Bu, Eliot W, Ignatius B, Andy M

Black Dragons Patrol: Patrol Leader: Spud B Patrol Members: Ricky L, Galen D

The Papayas Patrol: Patrol Leader: Ben P Patrol Members: Charles P, John H, Regis H, Peter M, Joseph M, Darius M, Sal R

DX Army Patrol: Patrol Leader: Andrew H Patrol Members: Tristan L, Anthony M, Ben L

Campouts

February Campout: February 12 - 14 at Fred C. Andersen Scout Camp - Valley View Lodge - ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

March Campout: March 19-21 at Phillippo Scout Reservation - Seeonee Shelter - ADULT CHAPERONE'S NEEDED!

January Campout this last weekend was outstanding!! -. There was more then a foot of snow on the ground and sunny and beautiful. The scouts played laser tag and went tubing on the Phillippo tubing hill. Ricky made an amazing menu and the chicken wings were superb. Fifteen scouts and 4 adults enjoyed Phillippo. Thank you to the adults that came along and made the campout a breeze - Ama A, Jim C, Mike and Ellen Aeling. Thank you to Dave L for driving.

Weather and Packing for Camping: Weather can change quickly at this time of the year..be prepared for inclement/cold weather. Layers underneath water repellant outer clothes are a must! Hats and gloves/mittens and boots for changeable conditions are also necessary. Scouts and parents please stop and think before you head out on a camping trip - DO I HAVE WHAT I NEED TO HAVE A GREAT Warm WEEKEND??? On the January campout, everyone was out of door on Saturday for more that 6 hours hiking and exploring in a foot or more of snow.

Activities

THANKS TO EVERYONE Thank you everyone for your donations of food and socks, hats and mittens at the Holiday Party.  The food was brought to Second Harvest Heartland and the outerwear was brought to the Listening House downtown St. Paul.  The Listening House is an organization that provides services for the homeless, disadvantaged or lonely.  They service over 200 adults each day.  Backing comes from a variety of sources and includes financial contributions, in-kind donations, professional services, and over 6,000 hours of volunteer assistance.  The woman that welcomed us as we delivered the donations was very appreciative and she said that they hand out at least 100 pairs of socks everyday.  She said to say "thank you" to all the scouts and that the donations would be put to good use.  Second Harvest Heartland is the Upper Midwest's largest hunger-relief organization, striving to end hunger through community partnerships. They work with other community organizations to efficiently alleviate hunger in 59 counties throughout Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. The donations that we delivered were also greatly appreciated. - Rita S

Merit Badges and Religious Award

Merit Badges: Check the Scout Handbook for MB requirements for advancement to Eagle Scout or check the troop website for more information on specific merit badges and requirements.

Merit Badge Session #3: Started January 11, 2010 The Merit Badges being offered are: Personal Management - taught by Sharon M
Space exploration - taught by Tom B
Skating - taught by Paula M

Additional Merit Badge Options: Youth have the opportunity to pursue other merit badges through the Northern Star Council and the Northstar Museum of Scouting. Check out these websites through links from the Troop 294 website. Scouts pursuing Merit Badges outside of Troop 294 should talk to Mike or Ellen first to confirm need and approval.

Venture Crew News

Venturing is a youth development program of the Boy Scouts of America for young men and women, 14 (and have completed 8th grade) through 20 years old.

REGULAR MEETING SCHEDULE: Questions - call or email Amy Bu Meetings are held on the following Tuesdays at the Mounds Park UMC from 6:30 - 8:00 pm Regular meetings: Tuesdays from 6:30 - 8 pm at Mounds Park UMC (Earl & Euclid) Bring a friend!

January 26 6-8 pm Watch a movie!
February 9
February 23
March 9
March 23

Saturday, January 30: Snowshoeing at Fred C. Andersen Camp - Cost $5
Meet at 11:30 am at Mounds Park UMC for soup & sandwich lunch. Bring $5, water bottle, warm clothes & boots to be outside all afternoon. Return at 6 pm. We will have lots of fun! Join us & let us know who is coming so we know for food count & vehicle transportation! Open to 8th grade & older.

Friday, February 26: Progressive Dinner starting at 6:30 pm. We will eat our way from house to house as we have games & fun!

Friday, March 26: Movie Night/ Dinner & Possible lock-in overnight

Troop 294 Website

Check it out! Mark M does a wonderful job of keeping the website updated daily so everyone can keep current on all Troop 294 activities. The yearly calendar, the latest issue of the Red Lantern, pictures, and lots of information and links can be found. You can email your pictures, ideas, eagle scout projects, etc to: webmaster@troop294.net.