^{TROOP 96}
Co-sponsored by Vietnam Veterans of America Big Bend Chapter 96
and American Legion Sauls-Bridges Post 13

241 Lake Ella Drive
Tallahassee, Florida 32303-5572

15 February 1998 BATTLE OF OLUSTEE REENACTMENT This is NOT a camping trip. Scouts who attend will eat breakfast at home or on the way to the Hootch and will meet at the Hootch at 6:30 on the morning of Sunday, 15 February. There is no equipment to be organized and loaded. The time from 6:30 to 6:45 will be spent collecting permission forms and gasoline money and assigning seating . To assist with speedy departure, parents may also bring permission forms and gasoline money to the scout meeting on 11 February. The Troop will depart for Olustee at 6:45 a.m. on 15 February. Anyone arriving at the Hootch after 6:45 a.m. is not going to Olustee. All scouts must wear their "class A" scout uniform, bring a bag lunch and beverage (not in a glass bottle), and bring a canteen or plastic water bottle. Scouts should dress very warmly and carry a rain coat or poncho. No ice chests or coolers are allowed. Because driving time will be extensive, scouts may bring CD players or games which do not make sounds audible to the drivers. Money should also be brought as follows: (1) Gas money - $7.00; (2) Supper money - approximately $5.00 (for fast food on the road); (3) Whatever amount of money parents allow for souvineers [scouts will NOT be allowed to buy whips, knives or similar items unless parents give written permission ]; (4) and [subject to confirmation] an admission fee estimated to be $1.00. Return to the Hootch is planned for 6:30 p.m., however, parents should not leave for the Hootch until called appoximately 30 minutes before arrival time.

February is RECHARTER MONTH Registration fees for all scouts who sold at least $100.00 in Christmas wreathes will be paid by the Troop. Those scouts selling no wreathes are required to pay $22.00 for membership renewal and Boys Life. This money can come from scout accounts if funds are available there, otherwise the scout's parents must pay the registration fee or any portion thereof not covered by wreath sales income or scout account money.

Now TROOP 96 PLANNING CYCLE With the February camping/day trip, the current Troop 96 planning cycle has ended. This is the time for all scouts and parents to come forward with ideas for special activities to incorparate into a new plan to be adopted by the Patrol Leaders Council. If you have an idea, it's time has come. Speak now while the time is ripe.

Now VENTURE CREW The older scouts are now eligible to participate in a new Troop 96 Venture Crew. The basic idea is for them to begin to spread their wings with more venturesome hiking and camping experiences. This group also needs to begin its planning cycle, with a goal of putting together a venture event to occur approximately once every three months.

SCOUTMASTER'S  MINUTE Troop 96 will reach its third anniversary, not just of existence, but of growth and change, in February 1998. Where do we go next? What do we become? The answers to these questions will come with the amount of inspiration and effort that is put into answering them. I don't have the answers. I don't have an agenda for the rest of you to follow. I plan to go with the flow. I won't say that the sky is the limit. There are real and practical limitations on what the troop can do, based on time and resource limitations. But within those limitations the ideas and accomplishments are open to everyone's initiatives.

Remember the Scout Motto: "BE PREPARED".

Richard White
Scoutmaster

Published 6 February 1998