Troop 227

February 2009 Newsletter

Introduction

Welcome to the sixty-third edition of our Troop 227 Newsletter. To learn more about Boy Scouts, please visit us at any troop activity, speak to a troop leader, or visit one of the following websites.

http://www.bsatroop227.org

http://www.mtcbsa.org

http://www.scouting.org

Kroger Gift Cards – The cards that KEEP ON giving…to Troop 227!!!

WE’RE HALFWAY TO OUR FIRST CHECK!!!! But we need more people on our “bandwagon” so we can move faster. The more the merrier in this scenario! Here again are the specifics.

When you pay $5 for a gift card registered as supporting Troop 227, you get your $5 back ON the card. Then you can recharge it up to $500 and use if on groceries, medicines or gasoline and our troop gets 4% of your purchases from the card. If you’d like more information, please contact Mellie Brackett at 793-5462 or mbrackett@mac.com. Let’s get these cards in place quickly and with as many friends and family members as possible. It’s a way for them to support us financially THROUGHOUT the year with very little effort and NO extra expense. What could be better than that?

RADNOR LAKE Service Day

On a cold but clear January day, scouts from Troop 227 worked with 30 other volunteers in maintaining the hiking trails at Radnor Lake. Radnor Lake is minutes away from the scout house and is considered one of the crown jewels of Davidson County. Last year, this state park had between 850,000 and one million visitors! With this many visitors coming to the park, you can understand why volunteers are needed each month to help maintain the 6 miles of hiking trails. The special volunteer days are scheduled the 4th Saturday of each month 8AM-Noon. Scouts can earn service hours at these events. The park service provides all the tools, work gloves, and water bottles. All you need to bring is a good dose of scout spirit! www.radnorlake.org

Oak Ridge Nuclear Science Merit Badge Class Trip

It was sleeting as we left before 6AM for Oak Ridge. Wow! That was early. We arrived with a few minutes to stretch our legs before diving into class. Donovan, Ben, Benjamin, Hunter, Andrew, Jacob and Seth took the class with 6 scouts from NC. The class was very interesting and we worked through our booklets. Most importantly we learned how to lessen the effects of radioactivity with distance, time and shields. We had time after class to play around in the museum. We particularly enjoyed the Plasmasphere. But Benjamin gets the prize for best hairdo from the Vandegraff generator…what fun when electrons are leaving your body!

Meeting location

Regular troop meetings will continue to be in the Crieve Hall church building until we're given clearance to return to the scout house.

Upcoming Troop Events

Upcoming Troop Outings:

• February 28th - March 1st – Tenn. National Guard Army Base @ Tullahoma, TN

• March 20th - 22nd – Long Hunter State Park

• April 4th – Dan Beard District Camporee

• May 8th - 9th – Grimes Canoe Base

• June 21st – 26th – Boxwell Summer Camp

Troop Leader Contacts

Scoutmaster

Tommy Primm

Assistant Scoutmasters

Truman Bean

Phillip Brackett

Chris Jones

Chris Paul

Andy Richter

Troop Committee

Randy Boyd

Mellie Brackett

Scott Burner

John Hammond, Chairman

Mike Vantrease

Charter Organization Rep

Ray Frizzell