Meeting Tonight

All,

We usually have meetings unless school is not in session. The Senior Patrol has elected to have a meeting tonight so I will be there. We can plan for our upcoming Sarnoff campout.

Happy Halloween.

Kent Allenby

Ross Merkin's Eagle Project

On Saturday, October 15th Ross Mirkin marshalled the efforts of a small army of volunteers to complete most of the work on his Eagle Scout project. Ross chose a project designed to beautify the entry way and parking lot of the Zaitz Soccer Fields in West Windsor where Ross lives. The project involved planting over a dozen large trees and over two dozen day lillies.

Ross had the very good fortune to get the only sunny, non rainy day in what was the rainiest October on record in New Jersey. Not only was the weather good, but the ground was soft, easing the job of digging the holes for the trees.

88 Updates

A reminder that Ross Mirkin's Eagle project is this Saturday, October 15 at Zaitz Field in West Windsor starting at 8:45 am. We will be planting trees and flowers and the ground should certainly be soft enough by now. Wear appropriate clothes and boots (your feet will get sore kicking a shovel all day in tennis shoes).

Fishing Trip: At the last meeting the time was set for Sunday afternoon, October 23 for the 2:00-6:30 trip on the Norma K out of Point Pleasant. The cost is $30 per person (includes bait), rod rental is $5, and if you want your fish cleaned, the cost is $1 per fish. Bring some extra money for food and to tip the deck hands. As Point Pleasant is about 60 miles away we should meet at the church at noon (bring a lunch if you want one). I will drive and can carry 4 Scouts. We should return around 8:00 pm. Parents and siblings are welcome. If you want to bring a non-Scout friend, they will have to be accompanied by a parent. In order to see if we have enough Scouts to make the trip worthwhile, either email me or be at next Monday's meeting and be able to definitely commit to coming.

Enjoy the weather and I will see everyone either Saturday for Ross' project or Monday evening.

Kent Allenby
Allenby.Kent@kyowa-kpi.com

Fishing Information

I have heard from the Point Pleasant marina. They have two 1/2 day trips; 8:30-12:30 and 2:00-6:30. The cost is $30 per person which includes bait. Rod rentals are $5.00. They have a snack bar on the boat to buy food. They will also clean your fish for $1.00 per fish.

Kent Allenby

Forestall Clean-Up Tomorrow (Saturday) at 2:00 pm

Just a reminder to everyone that we have a Forestall clean-up tomorrow, October 1, at 2:00 pm at the usual place. If we get a decent number of Scouts, it should take an hour or less.

See you then.

Kent Allenby

Troop 88 Matters

Troopers:

In case you missed the announcement at Monday's meeting, I have stepped down as the Scoutmaster for Troop 88. Kent Allenby has taken over the mantle of Scoutmaster. I am once again an Assistant Scoutmaster for the Troop.

While I've enjoyed the role over the past three years, I, the other Scoutmasters, and the Troop Committee all agreed that it was a good time for a change. I am very glad that we have a person of Kent's caliber willing to step in and take over, that the Troop remains in very good hands.

What does this mean for me and my relationship with the Troop? Other than changing the patches on my shirts, I plan to remain active in the Troop for some time to come. I was AS for several years before becoming SM, and figure I'll stick around as AS for several more. Along with Ron Logory, David Wertz, and Kent, I will continue to assist with Scout advancement, attend campouts and other activities, and generally help with Troop affairs. I will be at all the Troop meetings.

The green pickup and its driver will continue to serve the Troop as best
they can.

Our current Scouts are a great bunch and I hope to see all of them through their Scouting careers. We've a lot of Eagles coming through while sorely needing new Scouts. It is my wish that I will help to keep Troop 88 strong and viable.

I thank you all for your help and assistance during my tenure as Scoutmaster and I also thank you for your continuing support of Troop 88. Special thanks to our Scout leaders...you guys were and remain a tremendous asset to the Troop. You and your fellow Scouts make it all
worthwhile.

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Dabbs, AS
BSA Troop 88, Princeton

Monday 12 September

Troopers:

I am sorry that I never got back to you all about a planning meeting prior to our first meeting...I've been ill the past several days (ruining a particularly fine Labor Day weekend!) and just not feeling very Scout-like. Lots of things left dangling.

Anyway, because I'm still under the weather, I doubt I'll be in condition to hold a meeting before our First Troop Meeting on Monday 12 September.

So...let's plan on making that our Planning Meeting. Bring suggestions and dates as to good places to go during the year. We'll go in stages, but have some ideas for upcoming events and we'll get going on the planning and what-not.

Also, bring your Merit Badge information from the Summer (blue cards) so we can get these entered into the Book. Anyone working on Eagle: this is a good opportunity to review your MB records and ensure you have what you need.

I hope I'll see you all at the Church on Monday.

Dan Dabbs, SM
BSA Troop 88, Princeton

Troop 88 in the News

Troopers:

Well, we're getting close to the start of another Scouting Season. Lots of things to get together, like our calendar! Our first Troop meeting is Monday September 12--can we plan on an earlier meeting for all interested Scouts and Scouters to start getting our ducks in a row?

I always liked that phrase. Anyway, I am out all next week (emptying the nest; I'm heading off to Wisconsin to get Zach and Sarah to school), but the week after is good for me. We don't have to meet on a Monday or in the evening--I ask that all Scout and Adult leaders let me know when they are available and we'll have that Green Bar meeting...

In other news, check out the story on http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=14981312&BRD=1091&PAG=461&dept_id=346950&rfi=8
regarding Rinku's bid for Eagle. I'm happy to say his application for Eagle has been submitted to Council and we await word on scheduling his Board of Review.

Also, if you get the Town Topics, look for the stories on local Scouting, Girl and Boy, in the Educational Supplement in the August 17 issue. There is a particularly dashing picture of our Eagle adviser and Committee Member, John Johnson, plus his and other leaders' pithy comments on Scouting.

Remember, we need members! Get your friends, relations, strangers on the street to come to our first meeting on Monday 12 September. And I hope to see you all there too.

As always, Yours in Scouting,

Dan Dabbs, SM
BSA Troop 88, Princeton

Some Creative Ways to Repel Mosquitoes

Thought everyone would be amused by some ideas on how to repel these pests. Received these suggestions in one of those chain emails. Who knows, they may actually work!

• Use Bounce Fabric Softener Sheets ... Best thing ever used in Louisiana . just wipe on and go ... Great for Babies.
• Bob, a fisherman, takes one vitamin B-1 tablet a day April through October . He said it works. He was right. Hasn't had a mosquito bite in 33 years. Try it. Every one he has talked into trying it works on them. Vitamin B-1( Thiamin Hydrochloride 100 mg.)
• If you eat bananas, the mosquitoes like you, - something about the banana oil as your body processes it. Stop eating bananas for the summer and the mosquitoes will be much less interested.
• This is going to floor you, but one of the best insect repellents someone found (who is in the woods every day), is Vick's Vaporub.
• Plant marigolds around the yard, the flowers give off a smell that bugs do not like, so plant some in that garden also to help ward off bugs without using insecticides.
• "Tough guy" Marines who spend a great deal of time "camping out" say that the very best mosquito repellant you can use is Avon Skin-So-Soft bath oil mixed about half and half with alcohol.
• One of the best natural insect repellants that I've discovered is made from the clear real vanilla. This is the pure Vanilla that is sold in Mexico. It works great for mosquitoes and ticks, don't know about other insects.
  
  When all else fails--get a frog
  
  

Pictures from KMSR Posted on Troop 88 Blog Site

All:

Mr. Mickey has posted pictures from the Troop's recent excursion to KMSR on the Troop 88 Blog site. I've attached his email from June 27 describing the blog site to this note just in case you've mislaid your copy of the original.

Scouts: please post your comments--positive and negative--about the camp and your experiences there. If you have pictures please post those as well.

This is such a great idea! I strongly recommend all Scouts, Scouters, and parents link to and register for this site. Mr. Mickey has already posted several items of interest, and you can be sure that the other Scouters and I will be using it to post useful (and perhaps some not so useful) materials in future.

[Be sure to check out the picture of the rather good-looking individuals taken at the last Court of Honor (also on the Troop 88 website)].

Yours in Scouting,

Dan Dabbs, SM
BSA Troop 88

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Troop 88 Blog Site
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 03:39:14 +0000
From: prm1@comcast.net
To: ddabbs@Princeton.EDU

Dan, I have created a blog for Troop 88 scouts and scouters to share troop communications, event news, photos, etc. I have sent out invites to join the blog to all Troop 88 scouts and scouters that I had emails for. Could you forward this email to your distribution list? When I sent out the invites I did so under the name Blog Meister, not Pat Mickey, so most recipiants probably deleted the invite along with the regular flow of email spam we all get.

In order to join the Troop 88 blog site, each invitee must respond to the invite email I sent by clicking on the link in the invite email. This will take them to the Blogger web site where you have to enter a user name and email address to register as a member to the Troop 88 blog site. I will need to resend a new invitation to anyone who deleted the original invite email. Anyone who needs a new invite should send me an email requesting a new invitation.

The web address of the Troop 88 blog site is http://troop88.blogspot.com/. I will need to make you, several scouters and a scout or two administrators of the site. I will also show you how to set up your account so that you can automatically post to the blog site all emails you send out to the Troop. (You will simply have to add troop88.princeton@blogger.com to your distribution list.)

Call or email me with any questions.

Pat Mickey

Photos from KMSR Summer Camp

Below are a few pictures taken at Kittatiny Mountain Scout Reservation last week when Troop 88 attended summer camp. Aside from some uncomfortably warm weather earlier in the week, a great time was had by all.

(click on photos to enlarge)


Entrance to KSMR Camp


Camp HQ & Store


Mess Hall from the Parade Grounds


Entrance to the Mess Hall


Inside the Mess Hall


Camp Rocky Mountain
Home of Troop 88


Home of Assistant
Scout Master Wertz


Troop 88 Privy


Scouts DelCol & Fuchs


Assistant Scout Masters
Wertz & McHugh
& Scout Mickey


Senior Patrol Leader Alenby


Tee Pee Grounds by
Lake Kittatinny


Canoes on
Lake Kittatinny


Kayaks on
Lake Kittatinny

Mercer Area District 2005-2006 Main Events

Troop 88 Scouts and Scouters,

The Mercer Area District Calendar highlights of the upcoming District and Council events for 2005-2006 has been posted in Word format at the link below.

http://mad-bsa.org/calendars/quick_2005_2006_15jul2005.doc

Summer Camp at KMSR 7/17 to 7/23/05

Campers:

Summer Camp at Kittatinny Mountain Scout Reservation is here!. The Scoutmasters will be meeting at the Church on 10:30 Sunday morning to gather Troop gear. Anyone needing a ride should hitch up with us there--please be prompt. I anticipate leaving no later than 11:00 for KMSR.

It will take about 2 hours to get there; bring a lunch or lunch money.

The Troop needs to check in as a unit. Anyone coming up separately needs to arrive at KMSR no later than 1:30PM.

Wear your Class A uniform or have it ready to throw on when we get to camp. Remember, your Class A is required to be worn at all meals. Also be ready for your swim test, done as part of the check-in.

And I hate to say it, but be prepared for RAIN and WET conditions.

Finally, MEDICAL FORMS...if you don't have the paperwork, you won't be allowed into camp -- so if you show up at the Church without all your forms you won't be able to go up with Troop. Make at least one copy of your Class 2 (or 3) to give to KMSR...they won't return your forms and you will want to have the original available for future trips.

Below is a list of this years summer camp attendees at KMSR:

Scouts

Brian Allenby
Dan Schloss
Nolan Mickey
Alan Wertz
Steven Fuchs
David DelCol

Scouters

Kent Allenby
David Wertz
Dan McHugh
Dan Dabbs
Pat Mickey

Maurio Ingato and Shane Schoepfer Achieve Rank of Eagle Scout

Eagle Scouts Maurio Ingato, second from left, and Shane Schoepfer, fourth from left, were honored at Troop 88's Spring Court of Honor held June 13, 2005, at the Mercer County Park. Maurio built and installed park benches in the Ron Rogers Arboretum, West Windsor. He will be attending the University of Delaware in Fall 2005. Shane built a hiking trail through the arboretum. He attends Brown University, also beginning in Fall 2005. With the new Eagles are, from left, Scoutmaster Dan Dabbs, Assistant Scoutmaster Ron Logory, and former Scoutmaster John Hagaman.

Welcome Message

Welcome to the BSA Troop 88 web log. This site was created for the scouts and scouters of Troop 88 in Princeton, NJ to share troop communications, event news, (random thoughts?) and ... well, whatever members of the Troop want to post.

To start, the blog is open only to members of Troop 88 who accept an invitation. You can then customize your profile and begin posting to the site. Please remember that whatever you post can be read by anyone with a computer, so please use good judgement. Do not post personal information or anything offensive. But feel free to post anytime and as often as you like.

I hope you find the site useful and expect all those invited to accept and post a hello to your fellow scouts.

Yours in Scouting,
Pat Mickey, Troop Committee
BSA Troop 88
Princeton, NJ