News
April 2008
Lots of things happening this month. At the recent OA Spring Ordeal, our member Jonathan acheived his Brotherhood status. Congradulations. Eagles from the troop attended the second "Gathering of Eagles" at the New Orleans Museum to see beautiful Norman Rockwell art and to meet our Cheif Scout Executive, too.
If that weren't enough...our ASM and Vigil member of OA Chalantakoba 397, Matt Mims, was in charge of the the kitchen and all food services for the Ordeal and the Conclave held the weekend of 4/18. (He fed over 500 at the Conclave!).
At the same time, the troop took a day trip down by the riverside to tour Carnival Cruise Lines' "Fantasy". The group got to see all the diiferent rooms, the discos, the main showroom, the video arcade, casino and all the other shops. Then they got to EAT, and in true form, they did. The word locus comes to mind watching them accept Carnival's hospitality in the buffet !!
March 2008
Our troop continues to grow and mature. And with these things comes change. We have a new Senior Patrol Leader. From now on, Jonathan will lead Troop 45 in a positive direction. He has served us well as ASPL, so now he gets his chance to show us the real deal. Our past SPL, Jordon, will take on a new duty. He will become a Troop Guide, and as such will work very closely with the new incoming Webelos Scouts as they cross from Cubs into Boy Scouting and Troop 45! I'm sure Jordon will do a very good job in this position, one we have not filled in a while. Good luck to both of these Scouts!
We are on course for a number of big happenings. First, soon we will welcome new scouts into the troop from the Cub pack. This is always an exciting time for the boys, both old and new. Second, we are popping at the seams with Life to Eagles. Within the next year we could have FIVE new Eagles. This is very good news for the troop because quite a few of these scouts are nowhere near 18, and will remain in the troop contributing in making the troop stonger. What a befitting manner to enter the "One Hundred Years of Scouting", going on now through 2010.
Stay tuned for more news.
February 2008
We attended Merit Badge Camp at SSR. Our seven scouts earned 21 merit badges, with alot of "required for Eagle" included. We also got our first look at the brand new swimmig pool which will be there waiting for us this summer. We did some really good skits at the campfire. Maybe they'll be replayed at a meeting. Thanks once again to Matt Gattuso, Matt Mims, and Jimmy Pratt for help out so much as they all work very hard to help our guys move forward in Scouting. Thanks also to Mr. John Rohr, who participated as a Music merit badge counsulor.
December 2007
Our Court of Honor came off without a hitch and now we officially have one more Eagle in the troop.
It's a shame not all families could be with us, but the Saints are to blame...they changed their game time, then they LOST. You missing families should have been with US. We were in a room full of winners, and Mr Dudley and family made sure we were well fed, too!
We saw three new Life scouts, added to the two we already have which means we could have FIVE Eagles by next Christmas. We gave troop neckerchiefs to new Tenderfoot(s), which means we have enough new scouts to see us into the future. Also in attendance were Eagles from the 50's, 60's, 70's, 90's, and 00's. It was good to see all our "old' Friends come back and also know a few of them will be helping out on a full time basis real soon.
Not to slight our newest Eagle. Parker struck a very good profile and will now benifit the troop in many ways, since he won't be 18 anytime soon. He can render his advice and consule to many scouts in the troop. Shake his hand personally when you see him.
November 2007
Thanks to efforts of alot of different people, we had another successful Pancake Breakfast. Chaired, once again by Mr. Bill Rice, our adult group made up of Bill RIce, Pat LeBlanc, Bobby Brouillete, Paul Jackson, Oscar Sorbrino, Chuck Griffin, Matt Gattuso, and Eric Rice helped our scouts serve what seemed to be an endless line of hungry patrons. Our scouts made fruit cups, flipped pancakes, made omellettes, cooked bacon and sausage, mixed batter, and served plate after plate of breakfasts.
Thanks to Scouts Brandon B, Jonathan, Liam, Hamb, Brandon J, Jordan, Wonka, Ian, Gio, Oliver, and John. Thanks for gettin' up early to do this service fundraiser for the troop. We had fun doing it, too.
And last but not least, a big thank you to Ms Patty McMann, who has put this entire event together as a co-shared fundraiser between Pack 30 and Troop 45.
Late September 2007
Congradulations to Parker, who has finished his work for Eagle, and successfuly completed his Board of Review.
And if that weren't enough scout action for one week, the troop took a weekend trip to Five Lakes. The swimming was great, the weather cooperated and the food was plentiful....all prepared and cooked by the patrols! Our "new guys" got thier first trip as Boy Scouts and they all did well. From hiking in, well after dark, to setting up camp, getting a camp fire going, lashing a flag pole and raising our Stars and Stripes and much more. Thanks to the ASM's Matt Gattuso, Jimmy Pratt, and Matt Mims, as well as Mr Chuck (as always)! Check out the pictures.
September 2007
The year is off and running. We're back in gear and the scouts are advancing in rank
very strongly. It's safe to say almost everyone has move up a rank or will advance by
one rank by the end of October. Our "new boys" aren't new anymore. They're boy scouts
just like everyone else in the troop!
Brandon ran a very successful Eagle project. His task was to collect personal products
(soaps, shampoos etc) and cleaning supplies for needy Katrina victums in Port Sulphur.
The count is not official, but the estimate is 1500 items !!! Thank you Brandon, as well as
the crew of scouts and adults who came out and helped.
May 20 2007
Well it's official. We've grown by six, and will be stronger still n the Fall.
Our new scouts will be at thier first troop meeting this week and from the looks of it, they will fit in just fine!
We completed our weekend to Five Lakes, and it was perfect. The weather was really great...cool in the night and hot in the day. Some scouts even slept out on hammacks instead of in tents. ASM's Jimmy and Matt and Matt are really having fun showing the guys tricks they learned as T45 scouts (only a few years ago). The scouts swam till they couldn't go any more. Menu highlights were Five Lakes Steak on Friday night and Troop 45 Hunters' Stew on Saturday, complete with the coldest (and seedless) watermelon we could find. And if that weren't enough there was fishing, too. We are really lucky to be scouts!
May 2007
In a few weeks Troop 45 will accept the newest crop of Webelos Cub Scouts into the brotherhood of Boy Scouting. As I was looking over the list of names the thought struck me that somewhere in this list of current
members is our ONE HUNDREDTH Eagle Scout. Who will he be? Ofcourse it's only a number, as every Eagle is as important as the last and next, but it does strike a very nice mark in our history and will no doubt be enough of a cause for an extra special party. Keep watching. That Eagle could be someone you know!
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Troop 45 attended Merit Badge camp at Camp Salmen in early March. Our eight scouts earned a total of 34 merit badges. Excellent work, guys. The planning and advance work paid off. Congrads to Michael T who earned SIX merit badges.
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Dear Jim,
My name is Randy Collette. I am not sure if you will remember me but I was a member of both Pack 45 and Troop 45 with you a long time ago. Your sister Nancy might also remember me as I went to school with her.
I was in the troop back in the mid and late 60's and made Eagle in November 1963 at the age of 12 1/2. I was in the troop with Wayne Grass, Steve Kent, James Bush, William Holden, James Remont, Wayne Nicosia, Mike McNeese, and a bunch of others. It was a great time in scouting back then and I still have some great memories from those times.
When I was in Cub Scouts I believe our den met at your house and your mother was the den mother.
I was thrilled to see the troop was still in existence and still going strong.
Well, I hope to hear back from you and maybe if I get back over to the area I can stop in at a troop meeting.
I now live in Tallahassee Florida and am retired from the Air Force and from the State of Florida. I am an attorney and serve as Senior Legal Counsel for a large medical malpractice insurance company.
Randy Collette
.....Thanks, Randy, for the kind words and thoughts about the troop. Keep up with us as often as possible. Maybe we'll hear from some of the others guys you mentioned.....Jim
We spent a weekend at Mr. Hotard's Magnolia Glen and it was perfect! The air was warn, cool and cold depending on the time of day. The land was dry so we had all the fire wood we could use. The menu worked well and no food was wasted or burned! Our Webelos guests all seemed to have a good time and we look forward to welcoming them to the troop in a few months. ...Mr Jim
Our pancake breakfast (11/5) was a great success due to the efforts of the entire troop and loyal parental help! See the pictures.. Thanks to all, especially Mr's Brouillette, Cranfield, Tortorich, Neitzer, and last but not least, Mr. Chuck and I would like to thank Mr. Bill Rice for chairing this event and to Eric Rice for coming in to man (and teach) the Omelette Station !! ...Mr. Jim
We had a very nice trip to Camp Salmen in October. Chilly Friday. Warm Saturday. Rain overnight, then partly sunny on Sunday. The troop hiked around the lake and had a lunch of MRE's on the far side. Saturday's evening meal was hunter's stew. I didn't hear any complaints and there was no food left over! Nachos rounded out both evenings. Thanks to Matt Gattuso and Matt Mims for being there for the boys. It makes life for Mr. Chuck and I alot easier, and the scouts enjoy the young leadership. Everyone came home more confident and able to withstand wet weekends. Thanks to Wil for the photos of the hike. Two cameras are better than one! ...Mr. Jim
There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Jordan....our new SPL.
Meanwhile, we also have a new Junior Assistant Scoutmaster named Parker. We haven't had a JASM in quite a while, so this is a very good thing. To round out things, Jonathan becomes the new ASPL and Brandon got the nod to be our Quartermaster. Our leadership corps also consists of Stephan as Patrol Leader and Wonka ( in a place where one can't use last names, nicknames are GREAT) is the APL. Our Chaplins' Aide continues to be Matthew, who is presently defending the BroMart football tream against all comers! We miss Matthew and will see him in November. ...Mr. Jim
We had a really good trip to Five Lakes in September. It rained on us Friday while we set up and again on Sunday morning as we slept, but in between we had fun. The troop planned a good menu and carried through with all cooking and cleaning. The scouts were in the water from 8:30am till 5:30pm with a short time out for lunch. And we left the camp cleaner than when we arrived (if that's possible since it ewas SO clean. I'm sure we'll be going back to Five Lakes as soon as we can!
After the Board of Review At the Court of Honor
Our Newest Eagle!!
Mark has advanced on two levels. On the first, he has attained Eagle.
On the second, he has reached his 18th birthday.
So, we lose a scout, but gain an Eagle leader.
We had a very nice Court of Honor.
Thanks to Mr. Chuck for arranging the program, the stage,
and the awards.
And thanks to the Buchert family for the great dinner!!
We are always looking for a few good members and the present
members will be looking to close friends and extending invitations
to a few to join us.
We're always open to welcoming back young men who were once
members in their youth. Present members would learn a lot from your
stories and experiences in scouting. ...Mr. Jim