Troop 4 - Grapevine, Texas

NEW TROOP 4 EAGLE SCOUT -- Daniel B. successfully passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review on Feb. 26. His service project was the rebuilding for the playground at our chartered organization, Colleyville Christian Fellowship. Drew Sc.'s Eagle Scout Board of Review will be Thursday, March 25.

NEXT EAGLE SERVICE PROJECT -- Michael L. has had his Eagle Scout service project approved by both the Troop 4 Committee and the Lakeview District. His project is to rebuild and paint the playground equipment at Sparger Park. The City of Colleyville's Parks and Recreation Board also previously approved the project. He plans on holding the project work days on Thursday and Friday, March 18 and 19. To volunteer to help on Michael's project contact him at the troop meetings.
MARCH 18 AND 19 2004
March 18 (Thursday):
First shift 9 a.m.-1p.m.
Second shift 1:30p.m.-5 p.m.
March 19 (Friday):
Third shift 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Fourth shift 1:30pm-5:30pm
Lunch will be provided
The project will take place at Sparger Park. We will be sanding the rust off of rusted areas of the equipment, priming exposed portions of the metal, and repainting the equipment and pavilion. There will be 4 shifts, feel free to attend all three, or come for any ten minutes you can spare, or anywhere in between. Appropriate clothing: long pants, t-shirt, close-toed shoes, may want a hat. (all of this should be clothing you do not mind possibly getting paint on).
Directions to Sparger Park from the Church: take a right out of parking lot, then take a right onto Glade, follow Glade until Bedford Rd., take a left onto Bedford (there is an old house at this intersection), going down Bedford you will cross a bridge and the park will be on your left.

NEW EAGLE PROJECT APPROVAL PROCEDURES EFFECTIVE FEB 26, 2004 by Bruce Elliott, district advancement chairman --District Eagle project reviews will be held the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month. This might change in the summer months, but we'll give advance notice of any deviation from this schedule. The first reviews under the new process will happen on Thursday Feb 26, and will be held at the same time, and same place as the Eagle Boards. Scouts should call Mr. Gene Alviz (817) 421-8871 or E-mail: Lakeviewadvancement@hotmail.com at least 7 days before the review date to get an appointment (space permitting). Scouts will need to bring two (2) copies of their well organized project workbook complete with all documentation to hand over to the board; they should also have their original available to be signed. The plans will be evaluated based on whether it addresses all the applicable items in the checklist, and if it is detailed enough for another scout to lead the project. The review board will consist of 2 scouters well versed in the project checklist, and the district standards. The scout should plan for about one-half hour for the project approval board. At the conclusion of the meeting the project will be both approved and signed; or the project concept will be turned down; or the project concept will be acceptable, but specific deficiencies in the write-up will be addressed and scout asked to return when the shortfalls have been corrected. Scouts should attend the Eagle Project Approval Boards in complete scout uniform. Additional details about Eagle Scout requirements and service projects can be found at:
http://www.longhorncouncil.org/advancement/eagle_policy.htm Troop 4 Life scouts should also download and print the council's Eagle policy and procedures manual (in pdf format) at:
http://www.longhorncouncil.org/forms/eagle_projects/eagle_policy_and_procedures.pdf
Longhorn Council information can be found at: http://www.longhorncouncil.org/default.htm
Please see attached pages from the Lakeview Lanyard and the Eagle Scout precert checklist.

NEWEST TROOP 4 SCOUT -- Ryan M. was officially welcomed into Troop 4 Saturday, February 21, 2004, during a ceremony in which he also received his Arrow of Light Award. Welcoming Ryan were Committee Chairman Roger Hallstein and ASM Terry Stephens, as well as scouts SPL Kevin M., ASPL Michael B. and Nic S.. Two nights later, Ryan proudly received his Scout Badge at the Troop 4 COH. Ryan is a 5th Grader at Grapevine Elementary and will be bringing along
several of his Webelos II friends from Pack 817 in the next few months. His parents are Linda and Patrick of 516 Blair Meadows Dr. Grapevine 76051.

VIEW FROM A SCOUT MOM by Linda Mitchell --As many of you know, one of the earliest and proudest moments in a scouts career and, therefore, for his parents, is when he receives Cub Scouts highest award - The Arrow of Light. I recently was doubly blessed and proud to participate in my son Ryan's A.O.L. ceremony as not only his Mom but as his Den Leader as well. His Dad, Patrick, and I escorted Ryan to the front of Pack 817's Blue and Gold Banquet and watched as Den Leaders from each of Cub Scout's ranks painted different colored stripes on his face representing his accomplishments in Cub Scouts and his journey to come in Boy Scouts. As the Den Leaders did
so, each congratulated Ryan and us as his parents on his accomplishments and wished him well in Boy Scouts. I was then presented with his badge, which I pinned on his uniform and he was given the parent's pin, which he pinned on my "Proud Parent" ribbon. Naturally, we stood beside him beaming with pride (and misty eyed). But an even prouder moment was yet to come. The Cub Master called all of the boys from the pack to create a human bridge by forming two lines. The significance of the Arrow of Light badge was explained. There are 7 rays on the sun, one for each day of the week, each new chance to follow the Scout Law. The arrow points to the right, to always lead you in the RIGHT direction and also signifies that, in accordance with the Cub Scout Motto "Do your Best", nothing within you power should ever be LEFT undone. On the left side of the bridge, Cub Master, Brent Blum, removed Ryan's Webelos Scarf and the blue epaulets that signify Cub Scouts on a Khaki scout shirt and then presented him with an arrow to guide him and a walking stick to help him on his journey along the path to Eagle Scout. Troop 4's Committee Chair Roger Hallstein shook his hand and started him on his way. Ryan walked through the human bridge and was greeted on the right side by Troop 4's SPL, and his big brother, Kevin, who put on his Boy Scout scarf while ASPL Michael B. and Nic S. put on his red epaulets, to signify that he is now a Boy Scout, and then ASM Terry Stephens officially welcomed him to Troop 4 with the Scout Handshake. Words cannot adequately convey the parental pride of seeing your youngest son welcomed into a Boy Scout troop by your oldest son who was just recently elected Senior Patrol Leader of that troop and knowing that in two days he'll receive his Life Scout badge and begin taking the final steps on his path to Eagle Scout.

VICKSBURG MILITARY PARK HIKE AND CAMPOUT -- Eight scouts and three adults will leave CCF at 7 a.m. Saturday. and return Tuesday for a four day hiking adventure at the Vicksburg National Military park in Vicksburg MS, nearly 400 miles east of Fort Worth. Adults going include Dick Cureton, Linda Mitchell, and Jeff Carter. Scouts are Ryan M., Michael C., Caleb B., Robert L., Morgan S., Joseph S., Michael L., and Tim G. See http://www.nps.gov/vick/home.htm for additional information.

NEW TROOP 4 COMMITTEE MEMBERS -- Troop 4 Committee Co-chair Roger Hallstein has decided to take advantage of Troop 4's liberal retirement benefits and has passed the committee leadership torch to Dick Cureton, father of Spencer and Michael Cureton. Vice-Chair will be Greg
Cassaday, father of Ken. Former Co-chair John Flynn, father of former Troop 4 Eagle Scout Sean, is continuing with the troop as an assistant scoutmaster, where the troop badly needs additional ASM's. Asasko Fertitta is also taking retirement benefits as co-chair of the Hospitality Committee, as her son Matthew, advances from Eagle Scout to life as a college freshman at the University of Texas in the fall.
Mindy Stricklin, mother of Drew, Jon, and Ben, is continuing on the Hospitality Committee and is joined by Helene Kilianski, mother of Joey Kilianski, and Kathy Urenda, mother of Bobby. Donna Stephens, mother of Nic, is retiring as troop treasurer, while Linda Mitchell will succeed her. There are still plenty of job assignments and responsibilities for parents to serve the troop.

PHILMONT UPDDATE -- There are currently four adults and four scouts signed up for the Philmont trek in July. We must have one more scout as Philmont requirements specifiy there must be more scouts than adults on a trek. Contact John Flynn at (817) 481-7908 or Ken Schiller at (817) 545-7828. In addition, Michael L. has been nominated for a "St. George's Trek" at Philmont this summer through the Fort Worth Diocese of the Catholic Church.

TWIN ARROWS LEADERSHIP CAMP -- Troop 4 scouts Kevin M., Nathan S., and Cameron W. will be attending the Twin Arrows junior leadership training camp this weekend at Camp Shuman in Fort Worth. The Twin Arrows Troop works as an ideal troop using the patrol method and rotating leadership responsibility among youth troop leaders. Twin Arrows is not designed to teach basic Scout skills, which participants should already have, it strives to develop in a Scout the leadership techniques to "keep the patrol together and get the job done right".
http://www.longhorncouncil.org/training/twinarrow/default.htm

SHOOTING DAY TRIP --The troop rifle and shotgun day trip will be March 20. PARENTS NOTE: permission slips will have to be filled out that morning before your son may attend. Contact Roger Hallstein at (817) 283-7988 for additional information.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER --- April 1, and June 3 Youth Protection Training at Lakeview District Roundtable at Crown of Life Lutheran Church 6605 Pleasant Run Rd (online YPT is available at: http://www.longhorncouncil.org/training/youth_protection/youth_prot.htm.
March 13-17 Vicksburg National Military Park camping and hike;
March 20 shooting day trip;
April 3 Longhorn Council Scout Show at Bedford Boys Ranch;
April 16-18 Lakeview District Camporee (Troop 4 scouts must sign up for the camporee by March 29);
June 8-14 summer camp at Camp Tahuaya near Belton TX. see attached copies of troop calendar with the printer version and check the troop website
http://www.troop4grapevine.com

Michael B. is Troop 4's newest life scout.

Please see the printed version of the newsletter for additional information.