Livingston, Montana October 2000 Volume 3 Issue 9
Fall District Camporee:
The coldest weekend in the last 6 months was spent at the OTO
Ranch 10 miles north of Gardiner. During the annual September
event the boys participated in eight skills sessions, hiked around
the ghost town of Aldridge, viewed a slide show of the OTO Ranch
and had an overall good time. Seven boys spent two nights in
their tents earning a total of 40 frost points each. Since we
have so many points already, we are going for 100 degrees of
frost on the Celsius scale. That means we have to accumulate
180 Fahrenheit degrees! Wahooee!
October Troop Campout:
We will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Lincoln School on Saturday,
October 28th for our monthly Troop Campout. We are heading to
the Triangle 7 Ranch where we will scope out the trees and cutting
strategy for this Christmas Season. We plan to go for a hike
and make some great food. We would like to see all of the boys
participate on this one night campout! The cost is $7 for food.
Please call Mrs. Lester if you can assist in driving or wish
to spend the day or night supervising the trip. We will return
to the Lincoln School at 2 p.m. on Sunday, October 29th.
Troop Committee:
Our new Troop Committee Secretary is Mrs. Moody. She will be
responsible for the Troop Committee Minutes that are sent with
this newsletter every month. Our new Troop Committee Outdoor
Activity Coordinator is Mrs. Lester. Remember to call her no
later than Wednesday evening before a trip if you can not attend.
If you do not notify her in time, food will be purchased for
you and you will be obligated to pay for your share of the trip
cost.
October Merit Badge Focus:
During the month of October two Assistant Scoutmasters of our
Troop will introduce two Merit Badges to our Scouts. Mr. Hughes
has 
started by discussing
Auto Mechanics Merit Badge for the past two meetings. There are
11 requirements in total and about half of them have been introduced.
If any boys wish to pursue this badge they should contact Mr.
Hughes. Any parents of Scouts that wish to have their vehicle's
oil changed, radiator flushed or tires rotated should let Mr.
Hughes know. Boys need to perform these maintenance functions
under his supervision to complete the Merit Badge. During the
last two meetings of the month, Mr. Carlson will introduce Railroading
Merit Badge. There are a total of 7 requirements 
for this
badge which includes a combination of model railroading, the
railroading industry and passenger travel.
During the October 30th meeting we will have a guest speaker
that will display and discuss model railroading.
Incentive Program:
During the fourth quarter of this year, October, November and
December, Scouts will keep track of their incentive requirements.
I believe this will help them to create goals and better realize
what needs to be accomplished to reach these goals. I will create
a document for the Scouts to use that they will bring to all
of their Merit Badge counseling sessions and to Troop Meetings.
If this works well, and the incentive program is reapproved by
the Troop Committee next year, then I will continue to use this
system.