Boy Scouts of America Troop 354

Troop 354 is located at Georgetown United Methodist Chruch, in Jenison, MI. We meet on Monday evenings from 7:00 until 8:30 whenever Jenison Public Schools are in session.  If the schools close for weather or for any other reason, we automatically cancel our meetings unless otherwise notified. 

We are members of the Lakeshore District of the Gerald R. Ford Council. Our sponsoring organization is Knights of Columbus Couuncil 7487 at Holy Redeemer Parish. Our Scoutmaster is Mark Courtade and our Committee Chairman is Joseph Vig. Our troop is composed of boys living in and around Jenison, Hudsonville and Grandville in Ottawa County Michigan. 

MACKINAC ISLAND HONOR SCOUT CAMP (MIHSC) INFORMATION IS UNDER "CAMPS" ON TOP BAR!

MEETING ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE

FOR COMPLETE CALENDAR INFORMATION, CHECK THE SCOUTING YEAR-AT-A-GLANCE IN THE SIDEBAR UNDER NEWS AT THE RIGHT!

Earlier this month ASM Paul Flesser was accorded a high honor by the Eagle Spirit District when he was awarded the District Award of Merit.  This is the highest award a district can bestow upon an adult volunteer and recognizes his stellar dedication and support to scouting and all the youth in Kent and Ottawa Counties.  Only a limited number of such awards can be given out by a District or Council in any given year and most adult leaders never get this one.  Look for the new blue knot on his uniform.  Congratulations!!!

David Knol and Gil Fisher were also recognized at one of our meetings earlier this month by the Lakeshore District for thier role in running the most successful Spring Camporee to date.  Two members of the Lakeshore District committee came to our meeting and commended them in front of the scouts!  Good Job, men!

Mr. Messer continued to present information needed for the Personal Management Merit Badge and we completed requirements 6-7-8 (I think).  His assignment will be e-mailed to all Life Scouts.  Continue to work on your financial spending chart, complete requirement  number 1 with your family.  Additionally, as an exercise in investing in the stock market each scout is to pretend he has $1,000 to buy stock this month.  Seclect a stock, research it, pretend to buy as many shares as you can with $1,000.  You can either keep the stock for the month or sell it.  If you sell it and buy another stock, pretend it cost you $10 to do so.  Monitor your stock weekly and record wether it has gone up or down in value.  Report at next month's meeting how you have done.  Remember, even a 1% gain for the month is very good.

For our next meeting, Scouts are expected to either decide on the type of Eagle Project you want to do or to at least narrow it down to one or two.  We will discuss each Scout's project, the pros and cons, and begin the process of drafting the required write-ups for the Project Workbook.  If you are one of the 3 scouts at this meeting who had a firm idea, then begin to write up your proposal.  Pay a visit to the place your project will be located and take digital pict ures, prepare price estimates and supply lists and take a stab at writing your proposal.  You do not have to wait the full month to bring it to a Committee Member -- most of your ASMs will be happy to look it over for you and offer suggestions.

DUE TO MR. COURTADE'S DAUGHTER'S WEDDING ON JUNE 6, THERE WILL BE NO FIRST SUNDAY MEETING IN JUNE.  IF YOU WANT TO MEET TO DISCUSS YOUR EAGLE PROJECT, FEEL FREE TO CALL HIM.

Troop 354 Leadership stands out!

In 2010, the Gerald R. Ford Council will send 3 troops of scouts to the National Jamboree celebrating 100 years of scouting in the United States.  These three troops form the Council Contingent.  It has been five years since the last Jamboree.  More than 75,000 scouts are expected to attend the 2010 event.

Local practice would prohibit more than one leader from a regular troop being involved in a Jamboree Troop, hence the maximum number of scout leaders any troop could provide would be three. No troop has had the honor of having more than one adult leader selected to lead a Jamboree contingent, until now.

Troop 354 is proud to boast that Mark Courtade has been selected to serve as Scoutmaster of a Jamboree Troop while Joe Vig ang Paul Flessner have been selected to serve as Assistant Scoutmasters.  Ours is the only troop in the Gerald R. Ford Council with more than one adult leader selected to participate with the council contingent at the Jamboree.  This is quite remarkable and is an honor that recognizes quality leadership in our troop.  Congratulations to all three!

The Patrol Leaders Council met last week and made several important decisions concerning troop operations during the summer.

SPL Kevin Courtade will be working at Gerber Summer Camp during the week that our Troop is in camp.  The PLC agreed that Chris Zamarron and Caleb Knol would serve as SPL and ASPL during summer camp week.  Next year's calendar planning will begin at summer camp.

SPL elections will take place when school resumes.  The first meeting will include nominations, the second will be the election of a new SPL.  Current officers will remain in place and will also assist the new slate in the fall. 

The Troop elected to attend the Jackson Muster again as the August event, but also agreed to send up to 3 scouts and 2 adults to the Pennsylvania Camporee at troop expense.  In return, any scout attending must prepare a written report of his impressions of the event so that the troop may consider whether or not to attend as a unit the following year.