NEW REIMBURSEMENT PROCEDURES by Treasurer Linda Mitchell -- The Troop 4 Committee has formed a Finance Subcomittee consisting of Treasurer Linda Mitchell, Committee Co-Chair Dick Cureton, Roger Hallstein, Julie Carter, and Dirk Stricklin. At the first meeting we discussed the need to change some of the current accounting procedures due to the size of the troop and amount of money being handled. Effective immediately, we will be requiring separate checks for each event (one check for multiple scouts ins still ok). We will also need to pay for scouts and be reimbursed for patrol food as opposed to either the troop of the scout's family writing a check for the difference between campout food and food purchased. Cash payments will still be accepted. If you have any questions please check with Linda Mitchell. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

TWENTY MILE HIKE by Camping Coordinator Dan Berry -- On Saturday, October 29th 5 scouts (Kyle C., Joseph L., Robert L., Kevin M., and Ryan M.) and 4 adults (Dan Berry, Jeff Carter, Jim Lippert, and Jim Logue) completed a 20 mile hike.

The purpose of the hike was two fold. First, a 20 mile hike is a requirement of the hiking merit badge. For a couple of the scouts, this was the only hiking requirement remaining. The second purpose was preparation for the Philmont trek next year.

We hiked the Knob Hill Trail which has a trail head on RT 377 just south of FM 1179. This trail is open to mountain bikes and hikers. The trail is moderate and includes both wooded as well as open areas.

We left the church parking lot a little after 7:00 am and arrived at the trail head at about 7:30. The sun was just coming up and the air was still pretty cool. After tying boots and checking water, the group headed out. We hiked about 5 miles to the end of Knob Hill Trail and took a break by what should have been the shore of Grapevine Lake. What we found was dried, cracked lake bed with water being seen in the distance.

We then continued hiking on Cross Timbers trail which conveniently starts where Knob Hill trail ends. This trail is open to equestrian use as well as hikers but not to mountain bikes. We completed a total of 7 miles total before turning around and heading back to eat lunch.

After lunch, we hiked 3 miles back over the same trail and then returned to the trail head. Jim Lippert has his GPS so we were sure we completed the full 20 miles. While hiking a section of the trail twice is not ideal, the location of the trail made up for it.

Overall the hike was great. We had good weather, a short drive and a good start time. We did share the trail with mountain bikers but there were not many out so we didn't need to step aside often. We even got an extra hour of sleep that night (which I must admit, I needed).

NEW FIRST CLASS REQUIREMENT -- Please read the following regarding the new First Class requirement effective January 1, 2006.

TROOP 4 BOR's -- Troop 4 boards of review are held the first and third Monday meetings. Scouts are required to fill out a BOR request form available from the troop scribe. Also all scouts are requested to bring their scout handbooks to each meeting so rank advancement requirements can be checked off. Scouts should report merit badge completions and rank advancements as soon as possible to Advancement Chairperson John Flynn in person, e-mail-- johnlflynn@yahoo.com  or phone (817) 481-7908.   It is the scout's responsibility to make sure Mr. Flynn is aware of their rank advancement.

SUMMER CAMP 2006 -- Troop 4 will be going to summer camp in 2006 at Camp Hale, east of McAlester, Oklahoma at Talihina, OK, near the Ouachita Mountains. Camp will begin May 29, 2006. Fees and other information will be announced later.