With 2006 Scout Bucks “Line of Credit” cards firmly grasped in their hands, T11 scouts intently watched as each “cool stuff” item was pulled out of Scoutmaster Santa’s red pack, duffle and well…unloaded off of the over-burdened, and reportedly, grossly under-paid elf (aka ASM Bunn).

They then, with no scout sign required, intently listened to each item descripton.  The “Ooohs” and “Ahhhs” began, then with eyes widened, brainwaves began firing as their young minds processed the internal relative value of each item to be auctioned. Decisions were made, strategies were formed, as they set their minds on that ONE item that was going to be THEIRS by the end of the night.

For some it was the backpack or perhaps the cyclops camp light.  For others the Indiglo watch and still others the camp chair or perhaps the Leatherman multi-tool.  First up, a 1GB MP3 player with a 1.2″ color display & FM tuner.  The bidding started at 50,000 Scout Bucks (SB’s) setting the tone for the First Annual T11 Scout Bucks Auction.  By the end of the night, an insulated lunch bag…I mean an “all purpose thermo-protected trail hike sustenance storage device” went for around 200,000 SB’s. All elf labor laws aside, oh what a night!

A fitting end to an evening of scout fellowship including a pot-luck feast and Court of Honor celebrating a great year of change, growth, activity and advancement at Troop 11. 

For those who were along for the ride in 2006, it was great having you with us.

For those helping to lead the way…Thank You! 

Now hold on tight and get ready for 2007!  It will be another great one!

Yours in Scouting,

Mr. H

How Y’all Are?  Last weekend we held the 2nd Annual Troop 11 Iron Chef Competiton / Webeloree.  Now, with two of these great events under our belt, I officially declare this event a T11 “First Weekend in December ” Tradition.  What a great time we had!

We ended up with three patrols for the competition and a hoard of adults showing up, especially around supper time…funny how that works.  For those who don’t know how this weekend flows, allow me to enlighten you.

During the day there are several program areas including fire building, the making of box ovens, firestarters, buddy burners and vagabond stoves, Dutch oven cooking, food prep and handling, menu planning, duty rosters, food pricing and oh yeah, outdoor stoves; that’s where Pyro Joe comes in.  Note to self…when a boy volunteers WAY too quickly to lead a program area, somethings up!  Such was the case with Pyro Joe.

Add a MSR Simmerlite Stove which has a “priming” flare up and Pyro Joe and you have a match (no pun intended) made in heaven.  Especially when you can take the white gas bottle off and knock it over onto a flaming buddy burner.  Ahhhh, the Assistant Scoutmaster meeting was getting WAY too boring anyway, thanks for the exciting intermission Joe, and congratualtions on earning the first ever “oval” firem’n chit…no corners to tear off from the git go!

Oh, well truth be told, I lit the whole corner of the wooden picnic table up earlier with the same stove, so MSR stove training needed all around lest the Philmont Crew gets blown off of Mt. Baldy next year.  Gonna have to break down and read the directions, I guess.

I DO, however, know my way around a Dutch Oven and after the adults wake up from their post meal nap, they will tell you…we had a FINE dinner!  This year I had a lot of help from my friends.  I delegated dinner (imagine that?) and had Calico Chicken and Byron’s Potatoes going on in one corner, in the other corner Barbecue Corn-on-the-Cob and my specialty for the night a Spicy Cajun Chicken and Sausage served over a bed of white rice with that green stuff in it AND in the middle we had the making of Jalapeno Corn Bread and that Cream Cheese Icing for my “Death by Insulin Shock Strawberry Pecan Cake!  OOH LA LA, dem sum gooood stuff there…I Garontee!!!  Afterwards, I whipped up a couple of Lemon Raspberry Tarts just for good measure.  I’m telling you, eat’in with Troop 11 is a veritable culinary delight!

Now on to the competition.  The boys (T11 scouts teamed up with Webleos II) did fine in their own right.  They must use the cooking techniques taught earlier in the program areas, they all have the same ingredients, plus “community” spices, sauces, etc. and their task is to ”wow” a panel of judges (aka – adults who don’t know any better) with a plate of their specially prepared fix’ins.  I am pleased to announce that all three judges are in stable condition and can now receive visitors between the hours of…just kidding!  We had a winner, and I think the key ingredient was grease with a hint of chicken and potato!  Congrats to all for a FINE job!

The highlight of the evening however was a Flag Retirement Ceremony for several worn and tattered “Symbols of Freedom” given to us by Langley Air Force Base.  Always a touching moment for sure.  It’s amazing how hot ”those” flames can get, there has got to be a reason for that!  God Bless America and those who defend our freedom!!

Well, another event for the Troop Historian to archive.  All’s well that ends well, they say.  Y’all come join us next year…hear??