News

Scoutmaster Minute: One down, eleven to go or 1/12th of the way thru 2021. Not that I am counting, but certainly hoping the balance of the year is better than most of 2020. Before we get there, we are going to have to continue to apply alternative approachs to advancement. Many of you have already taken the time to sign up for merit badge classes, if you missed it please see the prior email from Mr. Taylor and the info below. We are also working on elective merit badges on Tuesday's that can be applied toward a new award celebrating [...]

Scoutmaster Minute The past week is loaded with history for multiple reasons. First, I want to inform everyone that we have two new Eagles in the Girls Troop, Elana Taylor and Megan Staton. Major history as they are among the first young women to earn the Eagle rank. That was Sunday, on Monday we celebrated the hopes and dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. This day will also be remembered by David Fall as the day he became an Eagle scout.  Wednesday we observed the wheels of the American Experiment turn yet again and transfer authority to a new administration. I [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: I am happy to report that we have locked in 2 outings for the spring, 1) the New Scout Campout (NSC) will be April 16-8 and 2) the Annual Family Canoe trip over Memorial Day weekend. We are using a new location for NSC in Maryland that is just around the corner from Camp David where US President's hang out now and then. Troop 893 was the first group reservation with DownRiver Canoe company in 1974 and we have only missed a few years due to high water or pandemics. This is a treasured family outing and I [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: Number 1 - We need all Scouts to participate and complete the tasks listed below. Active engagement matters, no response means no progress. Number 2 - Much like #1, a democracy requires active engagement. However, the vilolence last week at the Capitol and the destructive acts in many cities over the summer are simply inexcusable. Number 3 - The success of a bridge requires both sides to come together as one. True for #1 and #2. There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that's your own self. - Aldous Huxley This [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: Welcome to 2021! We would like to take this opportunity to recalibrate and get all the Scouts in a position to monitor and track their progress...literally put responsibility in the plam of thier hand. The tasks outlined below are designed to support that activity and will help leadership make some informed decisions about how to stucture this years Merit Badge University (MBU). Given current limts on meetings @CUMC, we will seek to replace Tuesday meetings with MBU type offerings and/or weekend outings that are under consideration by the PLC. An individual step in character training is to put responsibility [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: It's the most wonderful time of the year.  Enjoy and be well. NOTE - No Meetings at CUMC until further notice. The honey doesn't taste so good once it is being eaten;  the goal doesn't mean so much once it is reached;  the reward is not so rewarding once it has been given.  If we add up all the rewards in our lives, we won't have very much.  But if we add up the spaces *between* the rewards, we'll come up with quite a bit.  And if we add up the rewards *and* the spaces,  then we'll have [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: Today marks 79 years since the attack on Peal Harbor. "December 7, 1941 – a date which will live in infamy," President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously proclaimed. It brings to mind the actions taken by many young men and women in the follow days and weeks - duty to country. To be clear this commitement in the Scout Oath does not mean your expected to join the service, but rather it reflects of the selfless acts taken by the collective we to defend and promote our liberty and freedom. This includes a commitement to our fellow citizens, which as [...]

Scoutmaster Minute: While you may all still be in a turkey and stuffing coma, it is my sincere hope you were all able to enjoy Thanksgivng this past week. I am looking forward to a successful Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) this week as we makw plans for the coming weeks, including the beginning of 2021...yep its almost here. Viligance must be our watch word and we must maintain our guard from an invisible enemy embodied in the COVID-19 virus. Being humble means recognizing that we are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much difference we can make in [...]

Scoutmaster Minute:   In 1620, a group of men, women and children braved the North Atlantic in search of freedom. They landed at Plymouth Rock and signed the Mayflower Compact, which was "the foundation of liberty based on law and order" for what would become the United States of America over a 150 years later. As a desendent of those passengers, I am grateful for their courage and give thanks for their perseverance. The year 2020 has been a rough ride, but we still have much to be thankful for as families and as Scouts. Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: [...]

DFall Eagle Project FlyerScoutmaster Minute: It was great to see the teamwork at this last meeting to make sure your campout cook gear is in good shape and ideally not a public helath risk. We will take a look Tuesday evening to see what it looks like after a week of storage to calibrate your effectiveness. If then one does not succeed, try try again. We will turn our sights this week toward a slightly different skill, requiring a bit of dexterity and focus, while supporting the future of Troop 893 and current Scouts. So bring your patience and good [...]