Scoutmasters minute
Levi Trout’s Eagle ceremony was a great moment for North Baltimore Scouts. Levi’s speech was so heartfelt and noticing the scouts being so attentive during it was all I needed to know , we are a big family. He spoke of brotherhood, family, mischievous moments and milestones while being a Boy Scout. Noah Pelton, Kyle Gerdeman, Billy Trout and Aiden Gore were also in attendance. Such a great gift to see my older scouts return for these things. Gosh , we miss them.
During the month of December, we will work on winter survival topics during the meetings. The leaders have notice that scouts are forgetting basic Tenderfot items like whipping rope and nots. so we will include these topics during survival training. All of this in in preparation for Camp Alaska and a Klondike camp in January at Camp Lakota in which we will be camping outside, not cabins..
Recharter December 30
All scouts and parents, The dues for scouts have increased to $60.00 and are due by December 30,2019. If your scout has the money in his account, We will deduct from that. I will notify all scouts needing dues this month. .
2nd Meat Stick Turn in
December 15 will be the second meat stick turn in so if any scouts have orders. That will be the last date we can order and have in before Christmas.
Sea Base
The next installment for Seas base is approaching and below are the dates for the next payments. Cost for Sea Base is 960.00 per scout / leader. After the first of year. Mr Boes will be looking for the best deal on plane tickets so be ready for that info as we find the discounts.
Plane tickets will be added later but we will look for deals throughout the year for best price.
Third payment of 270.00 is due by January 15,2020
Final Payment of 270.00 is due by April 15,2020
Video Game Night December 28
Here is the schedule for this event
2pm Saturday, unlock scouthouse for game setup
3pm Leave for Reset Pizza shop 27250 Crossroads Pkwy, Rossford, OH 43460
7pm head home to scouthouse
8pm to 7am Sunday lock in – if there is snow we may go sledding at the reservoir
7am cleanup and all leave no later than 8am Sunday
Calender Dates looking forward
January 19-20 Klondike at Camp Lakota .. link https://www.blackswampbsa.org/event/klondike-derby/2279472
January 31 – Feb 2 Winter Camp at Miakonda
Feb 19 Court of Honor, Scout ranks. Location TBA
March 7-9 Camp Alaska at Doc Roberts woods
The Christmas Scout Story
In spite of the fun and laughter, 13-year-old Frank Wilson was not happy. It was true he had received all the presents he wanted. And he enjoyed the traditional Christmas Eve reunions with relatives for the purpose of exchanging gifts and good wishes. But, Frank was not happy because this was his first Christmas without his brother, Steve, who during the year, had been killed by a reckless driver.
Frank missed his brother and the close companionship they had together. Frank said good-bye to his relatives and explained to his parents that he was leaving a little early to see a friend; and from there he could walk home. Since it was cold outside, Frank put on his new plaid jacket. It was his FAVORITE gift. He placed the other presents on his new sled. Then Frank headed out, hoping to find the patrol leader of his Boy Scout troop. Frank always felt understood by him. Though rich in wisdom, he lived in the Flats, the section of town where most of the poor lived, and his patrol leader did odd jobs to help support his family.
To Frank’s disappointment, his friend was not at home. As Frank hiked down the street toward home, he caught glimpses of trees and decorations in many of the small houses. Then, through one front window, he glimpsed a shabby room with limp stockings hanging over an empty fireplace. A woman was seated nearby . . . weeping. The stockings reminded him of the way he and his brother had always hung theirs side by side. The next morning, they would be bursting with presents.
A sudden thought struck Frank : he had not done his ‘good deed’ for the day. Before the impulse passed, he knocked on the door. ‘Yes?’ the sad voice of the woman asked. ‘May I come in?’ asked Frank. ‘You are very welcome,’ she said, seeing his sled full of gifts, and assuming he was making a collection, ‘but I have no food or gifts for you. I have nothing for my own children.’
‘That’s not why I am here,’ Frank replied. ‘Please choose whatever presents you would like for your children from the sled.’
‘Why, God bless you!’ the amazed woman answered gratefully. She selected some candies, a game, the toy airplane and a puzzle. When she took the Scout flashlight, Frank almost cried out. Finally, the stockings were full.
‘Won’t you tell me your name?’ she asked, as Frank was leaving.
‘Just call me the Christmas Scout,’ he replied.
The visit left Frank touched, and with an unexpected flicker of joy in his heart. He understood that his sorrow was not the only sorrow in the world. Before he left the Flats, he had given away the remainder of his gifts. The plaid jacket had gone to a shivering boy.
Now Frank trudged homeward, cold and uneasy. How could he explain to his parents that he had given his presents away? ‘Where are your presents, son?’ asked his father as Frank entered the house.
Frank answered, ‘I gave them away.’
‘The airplane from Aunt Susan? Your coat from Grandma? Your flashlight? We thought you were happy with your gifts.’
‘I was very happy,’ the boy answered quietly.
‘But Frank, how could you be so impulsive?’ his mother asked. ‘How will we explain to the relatives who spent so much time and gave so much love shopping for you?’
His father was firm. ‘You made your choice, Frank. We cannot afford any more presents.’
With his brother gone, and his family disappointed in him, Frank suddenly felt dreadfully alone. He had not expected a reward for his generosity, for he knew that a good deed always should be its own reward. It would be tarnished otherwise. So he did not want his gifts back; however he wondered if he would ever again truly recapture joy in his life. He thought he had this evening, but it had been fleeting. Frank thought of his brother, and sobbed himself to sleep.
The next morning, he came downstairs to find his parents listening to Christmas music on the radio. Then the announcer spoke: ‘Merry Christmas, everybody! The nicest Christmas story we have this morning comes from the Flats. A crippled boy down there has a new sled this morning, another youngster has a fine plaid jacket, and several families report that their children were made happy last night by gifts from a teenage boy who simply called himself the Christmas Scout. No one could identify him, but the children of the Flats claim that the Christmas Scout was a personal representative of old Santa Claus himself.’
Frank felt his father’s arms go around his shoulders, and he saw his mother smiling through her tears. ‘Why didn’t you tell us? We didn’t understand. We are so proud of you, son.’
The carols came over the air again filling the room with music: ‘. . .Praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on Earth.’
