No. 127 March-April 2009 March 2009 TROOP 108 UPCOMING EVENTS 2 nd Pizza Orders Due 5 th Committee Meeting at the Scout Hall 7:30 pm 7 th Paper Drive East Greenville Fire House 8:00 am 16 th Pizza Order Pick-up, Gordon H. Baver Inc. after Scout Mtg. 20 th -22 th Camping @ Scout Cabin 2 nd, 9 th, 16 th, 23 th, 30 th Scout Meeting at the East Greenville Scout Hall 6:45 pm April 2009 2 nd Committee Meeting at the Scout Cabin 7:30 pm 5 th Paper Drive East Greenville Fire House 8:00 am 17 th -19 th Pre-Camporee, Scout Cabin 6 th, 13 th, 20 th, 27 th Scout Meeting at the East Greenville Scout Cabin 6:45 pm Upcoming Camping Events March 20 th -22 nd Scout Cabin April 17 th -19 th Pre-Camporee, Scout Cabin May 1 st -3 rd Cradle of Liberty Jambo, Green Lane Park June 26 th -28 th Whitewater Rafting, Poconos August 2 nd -9 th Summer Camp, Camp Horseshoe August 21 st -23 rd Troop 108 Father & Son Camping Trip No. 51, Camp Bashore, Lebanon County, PA (www.campbashore.org) Similar to last year at Resica Falls, we have run of the Camp! September 18 th -20 th TBD October 16 th -18 th TBD
55 th Annual Friendship Dinner East Greenville Troop 108 and friends gathered on Saturday night February 7th at New Goshenhoppen Church Fellowship Hall for the 55 th annual Friendship Dinner. Highlights of the evening included a slide show presented by Ernie Scardecchio and the Eagle Court of Honor held for two scouts, Frank Bittermann and Cody Mauer. Paul Frey was voted Most Active Scout for 2008. The top camper for the year was Frank Bitterman who registered a total of 40 nights. Scouts and Leaders who received a trophy for perfect camping attendance were Frank Bittermann, Robbie Jenkins, Jason Ritter, Tyler Scardecchio, Paul Frey, Vince Landis, Bill Bittermann, and Jim Ritter. Thank you to everyone who contributed to make the banquet a success. Special thanks to our Committee Chairman, Mr. Hofke. Reverend Royer, and the New Goshenhoppen Church. 56 th Annual Friendship Dinner Planning The troop committee would like your feedback and input on making next year s Friendship Dinner a continuing success while at the same time, keeping it affordable for families and friends. For the last five years we have had the entire meal catered. Previous to that the troop had taken care of the main dish, dessert, and drinks and all the side dishes were prepared and brought by the families. Options that we have explored include: Continue with the current format, the price is OK. Continue with the current format, but change the food selections to reduce the price. Continue with the current format, but have families bring a dessert. Return to the old format. Please submit your suggestions to our committee chairman Mike Hofke at 610-966-9393 (mchofke@ptd.net). You can also let any committee member know your thoughts or just reply to the e-mail that you received for the newsletter. We look forward to hearing everyone s opinion. Pizza Sale Thanks to everyone who helped out with the Pizza Sales. Orders may be picked up in the evening after Scout meeting on March 16 th at Gordon H. Baver Inc., 187 West 8th Street in Pennsburg. Special thanks to Mr. Mauer for organizing the effort. New Patrol Under the leadership of our esteemed Scoutmaster, Mr. Tomlin and his capable assistants, Mr. Mauer and Mr. Jenkins, we welcome a new patrol to our Troop, the Apache Patrol.
Troop 108 Participates in Klondike Derby By Logan Mauer, Troop Scribe East Greenville Troop 108 and several other troops from the Continental District participated in the Klondike Derby, held at Camp Hart, from January 9-11, 2009. Saturday morning the troops gathered for opening ceremonies and then started the competition course of thirteen stations. Several stations were timed events, where your patrol competed against the times of the other patrols. Those stations were sled inspection, rifle shooting, log sawing, sled racing, nature, knot tying, first aid, tire throwing and flipping, and fire building. Additional timed events were sled surfing, where your patrol had to balance yourselves and the sled for 10 seconds on a wooden pallet that sat on top of a pipe; dander chasm, where your patrol had to hoist the sled up on a pulley and pull it across two logs; and mango madness, where your patrol had to make your way through a rope path blindfolded and drop a tennis ball into a bucket. Another station, called turtle hunt, required your patrol to catch turtles with a rope attached to a stick; and an alien spacecraft station, where your patrol had to carry a spaceship along a course without tipping it. One of the more difficult stations was mango madness because you were blindfolded but still had to find your way around the obstacles. The emphasis of these stations was team building and improving our scouting skills. Saturday evening all of the troops gathered for a campfire with songs, skits, cheers, awards, and a slide show. The senior patrol won the medicine man, turtle hunt, and tire flipping stations. They also came in second overall. Sunday morning we gathered for a church service and broke camp. Scouts who attended the weekend from Flying Eagle Patrol were Robbie Jenkins, Logan Mauer, Vincent Landis, Conrad Detweiler, Alex Ruppert and Cory Burkhart. Cobra Patrol was represented by Tyler Scardecchio, Lucas Snyder, Chris Limbert, and Nick Camarata. Seniors attending were Paul Frey, Cody Mauer, Dylan Belmont, John Zeigenfuse, Jason Ritter, John Merkle, and Frank Bittermann. Leaders attending were Scout Master Matt Tomlin, Dave Mauer, Rob Jenkins, Jim Ritter, Mike Snyder, Chuck Tomlin, Preston Clyde, Gus Belmont, Dave Burkhart, and Bill Bittermann. Troop 108 Attends Pilgrimage By Logan Mauer, Troop Scribe East Greenville Troop 108 attended the Pilgrimage at Valley Forge National Park from February 13-15, 2009. Scouts 14 years and older tent camped at the park while the younger scouts camped at their cabin in East Greenville.
Saturday morning those who slept at the cabin traveled to Valley Forge to meet up with the rest of the troop. We attended eight different educational stations throughout the course of the day. This year s focus at the Pilgrimage was Baron Johann dekalb. Baron Johann dekalb was born in Germany; later joining the French army, then came to America to help train George Washington s army at Valley Forge during the American Revolution. The first station attended was an informational pep-rally telling us the history of Baron Johann dekalb. Next, we attended a station where three Indian Re-enactors explained what the Indian tribe s role was during the Revolutionary War. We boarded a bus for the third station where we were treated to hot chocolate. At the fourth station we learned about the artillery used in the war and the different types of ammunition used in a cannon. We learned about the musket, how it was used, and the commands to fire or charge with it at the fifth station. Marching like the soldiers during the American Revolution was the focus of the next station. The seventh station taught us about the food the soldiers ate during the war and the rations they received. Lastly, we listened to a history lesson on other events that happened during the war. We also learned about the battles and cities that were taken. The younger scouts departed from Valley Forge to go back to the cabin while those over 14 remained at the encampment for another night of tent camping. Upon arrival at the cabin there was time to relax and play card games. We were served chili for dinner followed by cupcakes for dessert. The older scouts were served their dinner and participated in a campfire. Sunday morning we packed our gear, ate breakfast, and headed home. Scouts who attended the encampment at Valley Forge were Robbie Jenkins, Alex Ruppert, Paul Frey, Cody Mauer, John Zeigenfuse, Frank Bittermann, and Jason Ritter. Leaders were Scoutmaster Matt Tomlin, Dave Mauer, Jim Ritter, and Rob Jenkins. Those who camped at the cabin were Logan Mauer, Conrad Detweiler, Vincent Landis, Tyler Scardecchio, Chris Limbert, Lucas Snyder, Nick Camarata, and Chris Storrick. Leaders attending were Jason Scardecchio, Mike Snyder, Bill Bittermann, and Harry Storrick. Order of the Arrow Unami Lodge 1 March 28- Community Service day in the North Field April 17-19- First Spring OA Weekend at Camp Hart May 1-3- Council Jamboree May 15-17- Second Spring OA Weekend at Resica Falls June 12-14- NE-5B Conclave at Resica Falls Frank Bitterman is our Order of the Arrow Troop Representative Have a question? Ask Frank. Unami Lodge Website www.unamilodge.org
TRAIL THE EAGLE Troop 108 Courts of Honor were held for the following individuals. TENDERFOOT: SECOND CLASS: Nick Camarata FIRST CLASS: STAR Jonathan Ziegenfuse LIFE: Logan Mauer EAGLE: Cody Mauer, Frank Bitterman PRESIDENTIAL QUOTES "I welcome this opportunity to express my pride and deep sense of gratitude for the outstanding example and enviable reputation for human understanding and fair play which have throughout the productive life of your organization been hallmarks of Scouting everywhere. Your conduct, both individually and in your group activities, has been worthy of admiration by all the young citizens of our land. Today, as we face the challenges of an increasingly complex and frequently disturbing world, America needs an alert, responsible, and energetic youth to provide her with a vital resource in a hopefully happier and fuller future for all. As I applaud your past, I also urge you to rededicate yourselves to the ideals of the Scout Oath, and to reaffirm your obligations to your God and to your country. In so doing, you will contribute to the strengthening of America's heritage and thereby to the realization of our common goals in the Great Society." President Lyndon B. Johnson President Johnson was an active Scout leader with the Capitol Area Council at Austin, Texas, serving on its Exploring committee. He was a member of the National Capitol Area Council from 1959 through 1963. In 1963 he helped to organize Post 1200 in Washington, D.C., which was chartered to the House of Representatives for page boys working in the U.S. Congress.
Parents & Scouts Information Center Please be aware that scouts are not permitted to bring cell phones, any other electronic equipment or electronic games to scout functions. Parents, even if you allow your son to have a cell phone, they ARE NOT to be brought to a scout function. There is always an ample amount of leaders with phones in case of emergencies. If you have an e-mail address and have not given it to Mike Snyder please do as soon as possible. There are quite a few scouts that we do not have record of e-mail address. To save money on postage please send your e-mail address to (troop108news@gmail.com). Your e-mail address is not given out and is used strictly for scouting updates and information. Scouts are NOT to leave campouts before the patrol is checked out of their sites. Scouts leaving early just cause the rest to be later because there are less scouts to do the work. If 1 scout needs to leave early then the whole patrol needs to get going and make sure they are checked out. Parents do not come and expect to take your scout home before the patrol is checked out just because you are there early. IMPORTANT NOTES: Reminder! Class A uniforms are always required for meetings at Scout Hall. Only trained patrol members can light stoves. Should no patrol members be qualified, please see a senior or leader for assistance. Parents Please Note: Be certain that there is always two deep Scout Leadership on-site before leaving your son. Safety is our primary concern!! Note: Permission slips are always required when individual Scouts have alternative activities or transportation needs. Slips must be presented to the Camping Leader upon arrival Friday night! Troop 108 has its very own Web site. Check it out at http://troop108eg.org. Ernie Scardecchio is the webmaster. E-mail him through the web site with your suggestions.
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: Web Site http://troop108eg.org TROOP 108 SCOUTMASTER Matt Tomlin 610-972-8787 (mtomlin@amroc.us) Assistant Scoutmasters: Rob Jenkins 215-679-5255 (rbjenks@comcast.net) Dave Mauer 215-679-8832 (mauer42@verizon.net) Troop Committee Chairman: Michael Hofke 610-966-9393 (mchofke@ptd.net) Troop Committee Secretary: Ernie Scardecchio 215-679-8694 (ernie.scar@juno.com) Troop Committee Treasurer: Bill Bittermann 215-541-9174 Bill.Bittermann@planco.com Board of Review Chairman: Ron Rodenberger 215-679-6777 (rrody@comcast.net) Troop Chaplain: Jim Ritter 215-679-7059 (jimbo4499@netzero.net) Troop Quartermaster: Jason Scardecchio 610-845-9898 Newsletter Editor: Mike Snyder 215-679-5354 (troop108news@gmail.com) Senior Patrol Leader: Paul Frey 215-679-6213 Asst. Senior Patrol Leaders: Cody Mauer 215-679-8832 Troop Quartermaster (scout): Cory Burkhart 215-679-5680 Troop Scribe: Logan Mauer 215-679-8832 Patrol Leaders: Apache Robbie Jenkins 215-679-5255 Cobra Alex Ruppert 215-541-1546 Flying Eagle Conrad Detweiler 215-679-9751 The spirit of Maughhongsink is the official publication of the East Greenville Troop 108 B.S.A. The Newsletter is mailed free of charge to all Scouts, Troop Committee Members and Friends of the Troop. It is intended to be a source of information on upcoming events, troop activities, and items of general interest. Article contributions are welcome from any Scout, Parents, or Friends of the Troop.