[Troop139] Troop 139 Notes - 20131118

[J.Gordon Beattie, Jr., W2TTT]

Hi Folks!


We will have a meeting on Tuesday, November 19th as we do most other
Tuesday's starting at 7:00 PM.  

 

Initially, we will be working on finishing the cleanup of one of the garages
from the CARNIVAL so that Fr. Jonathan can get his card inside before the
snow flies!  

 

Once that is done, we will be working on some of the Citizenship and
Communications Merit Badges.  Scouts interested 

in finishing any of these or others in the next two or three weeks, please
get hopping.  The requirements are listed online and we have merit badge
books for those who need guidance.   

 

Boards of Review for rank will need to be done during the EARLY part of
December.  The Court of Honor is scheduled for Tuesday December 17th.
Please SCHEDULE your Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review now, so we
are not in a "mad rush" on December 3rd and 10th!  :-)

 

We will be working the Turkey Dinner as a service project this Saturday,
November 23rd starting at about 5:00 PM.  Full uniform is required including
your neckerchief, if you have earned one.   There is also a Merit Badge Fair
on Saturday morning and you are welcome to participate, but you must go
online to schedule a meeting with your Counselor.  Go to www.nnjbsa.org
<http://www.nnjbsa.org/>  and go to the Three Rivers District page under
"Districts".  You will see the registration information for the event.  I
can provide you with a Blue Card if you decide to participate.

 

Our December trip is a one-nighter, to the Project Diana site at the InfoAge
Science Museum.  We will gather at St. John's on Saturday, December 7th at
7:30 AM.  We will be returning on Sunday for Mass.  We need to finalize
arrangements for this trip tomorrow and next week.  This is a tent weekend,
but we will have access to indoor facilities and bathrooms.  We will also be
going to see a huge model train layout that is being displayed for this and
another weekend in December.  It should be great fun!  

 

The InfoAge Science Museum is in Wall Township.   <http://www.infoage.org/>
http://www.infoage.org/
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infoage_Science/History_Learning_Center>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infoage_Science/History_Learning_Center   They
have a lot of interesting exhibits and it is where Marconi had one of his
Wireless Stations and where NASA and the US Army had the "Project Diana"
site at Ft. Monmouth's Camp Evans.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Diana>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Diana  It was also where there is a now
retired, Tiros weather satellite tracking station with its 60 ft dish that
is currently being restored by Princeton University and others.
<http://www.campevans.org/_CE/html/tiros1-2.html>
http://www.campevans.org/_CE/html/tiros1-2.html  There, you will learn a lot
about various aspects of science, technology, history and politics.  The
staff, for instance is going to spend some time with our Scouts talking
about the espionage background of both the Marconi station and the Project
Diana site during WWII and into the 1960's and 70's.  Those with an interest
in Amateur Radio will also have an opportunity to use a wonderful station!  

 

We have a Flea Market Fundraiser on Saturday, December 14th in Conlon Hall.
Please plan to attend and sell some of your "old stuff" and perhaps buy some
items for Christmas from the various vendors that come to sell!  We need
help with moving merchandise and with the kitchen.

 

On Friday, December 27th, I will once again run a one day Amateur Radio
License Review Class.  It is free to Scouts and to Troop family members,
though there is a $15 fee for the test which is administered at 7:00 PM.
Outsiders are asked to provide a $20 donation to the Troop.  We start at
8:00 AM in the church basement.   I hope to see a number of our Scouts and
family members there!    I can provide you with free online study resources
if you are interested.

 

Yours in Scouting!
Thanks & 73,

Gordon Beattie, W2TTT

201.314.6964