BSA Troop 373 Smoke Signals

SCOUTMASTER’S MINUTE
by Bill Neidt

EAGLE SCOUTS PAYING IT FORWARD

In the recent movie "Pay it Forward," Kevin Spacey plays a seventh-grade teacher who challenges his class with an unusual homework assignment: "Think of an idea that could change the world and make it a better place," he idealistically charges. One of his students, played by Haley Joel Osment, proposes a simple but effective plan. He will personally help three people in significant and challenging ways. In return, each of them will "pay it forward" by similarly helping three more people, thus creating a multiplier effect that will spread across the community, state and nation. At first, Osment is optimistic about his plan as he invites a homeless man to stay at his house, becomes a matchmaker for his divorced mother, and stands up to some mean-spirited bullies to help his friend. Unfortunately, Osment becomes discouraged because he does not see immediate results and believes his idea has failed. Over time, however, it does work as individuals across the western United States benefit from his singular actions.

I believe that Scouting is all about paying it forward. The Scout Oath, Law and Slogan remind Scouts of the importance of helping others in order to make the world a better place. This is particularly true when a Scout reaches the Eagle rank. The most demanding step toward Eagle is to create and carry out a service project to benefit a non-profit organization. Typically the project involves about 100 total hours of planning, organizing and leading a weekend event with many people. Finally, at the Eagle Scout Court of Honor, the new Eagle Scout is asked to pay it forward by demonstrating Scout Spirit for the rest of his life. In particular, he is charged with the goal of giving back to Scouting as an adult Scout leader, thereby helping new Scouts and prospective Eagles continue the Scouting movement. (By the way, did you know that Scouting is the largest youth movement in the world today?)

During the last year, we have had five Scouts in Troop 373 complete their Eagle service projects. Matt Alfano organized a neighborhood blood drive; Andrew Davis constructed a gazebo for blind students; Rob Edmiston surveyed a South Suburban trail; Chris Strom collected and repaired used musical instruments for an elementary school; and Matt Klingler lead a COMPA field gleaning of crops to benefit the homeless. During the next few months, as you receive individual invitations for their Eagle Courts of Honor, I encourage you and your families to attend these special recognition ceremonies. In my mind, there is no better example of what "pay it forward" truly means.

The preparation began the month before we left for the weekend. For two consecutive meetings, we met at Gart Sports for gun safety training. Mr. Larson took time show the scouts different types of guns and ammunition. He also demonstrated the proper way to handle and clean the guns.

Armed with new training we were ready for our weekend. On Saturday, October 30^th, about 15 scouts went down to Peaceful Valley for a day of rifle and shotgun shooting. We all a chance to shoot clay pigeons with the shotguns and targets with the rifles. Some of the scouts were working toward their riflery and shotgun merit badges. To earn that honor you had to get five shots on the target within the size of a quarter. Mr. Alfano said, “Don’t feel bad, it takes a lot of practice. You have to be pretty big to handle the size and kickback of the shotgun.”

Mr. Neidt, Mr. Alfano and about five scouts camped out in a cabin that night and we were back in Denver before lunch.

It was a lot of fun, and the food was great. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who would like to give it a try.

A day of helping the less fortunate at COMPA Food Bank helped kick off another fantastic year of community service during the holidays for Troop 373. Despite awaking before most scouts normally would on a Saturday morning, the majority of us seemed cheerful, willing and enthusiastic to travel to the Stock Show Complex downtown to help out. COMPA is not only a great opportunity for scouts of all ages to receive community service hours but an enjoyable (and cold weather but warm hearted) way to help the people in our community who might not have the wonderful thanksgiving experience most of us do.

The group gathered at Homestead Elementary School at 7:30am to journey with some willing adult drivers to the pick up site. The main task of the Troop 373 scouts was to direct the volunteers that were bringing food to the families as to how they should get the large number of bags to their cars. Many people who seemed very astonished at the number of bags they actually were transporting were very glad for the help from the scouts.

All in all, it was a very gratifying experience to know that our efforts helped make someone’s Thanksgiving Day more memorable. All the scouts in Troop 373 look forward to more community service during this holiday season to lend a hand to those less fortunate in our community.

On Friday November 17, 2000 our troop organized a camp out at the Air Force Academy. Unfortunately cold weather and other activities like COMPA kept the turnout low. 50 tickets were sold for the Air Force Game on Saturday. Cold weather and snow on the ground kept many from camping overnight. Nikko G., Ryan K. (and Dad), Patrick F. (and Dad) and Matt W. (and Dad) managed to sleep through the night outside even though the temperature dipped to –10 degrees.

On Saturday the campers had a tailgate party and barbequed hamburgers and hot dogs for the scouts that didn’t stay overnight. The football game was great. We had excellent seats because many people didn’t show and the Falcons beat San Diego State 45-24. As usual, the Air Force cadets not on the football field also put on a good show with lots of cool flyovers, parachutists, and lots of pushups on the field.