December 6

Quality District for Taughannock

I'm very pleased to report that the Taughannock District is officially a Quality District for the first time in its history!!

Just recently I delivered, to the Council Office, the final registrations that we needed to make this goal a reality. We have now met all of the criteria to be recognized as a Quality District for 2006 by the National BSA. Also, not only are we a Quality District for the first time ever, but we are one of the first (perhaps even the first) Districts in the entire Northeast Region of the Boy Scouts to reach this prestigious level this year.

Thank you to all of you for your hard work, dedication and leadership in making this possible. Realizing a goal such as this requires the hard work and dedication of many. It has been my distinct privilege and honor to work with each of you on achieving this goal. Together we have and will continue to make an important difference in the lives of our area youth.

Our local youth need the Scouting program now more than ever and it is up to us to make sure that they get the opportunity to be a part of the greatest youth program going!!

Thank you for all that each of you has done for the youth of our area this year. On a more personal note, thank you for your support and kindness to me. I look forward to the future and to realizing our vision of "A Scout on Every Corner."

Yours in Scouting

Gary A. Decker
Taughannock District Executive, Camp Barton Staff Advisor
Baden-Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America gdecker@bsamail.org

Bell Ringing on Ithaca Commons

We will be set up for our annual bell ringing in support of the Salvation Army close by Mansour Jewelers on Saturday 16, from 10:00am until noon. Remember to wear your uniform, dress warmly and bring your best singing voice.

This must be our Thanksgiving newsletter given the timing. On behalf of the Troop 2 family, let me wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving seems to resonate with a scout is Friendly and Cheerful, and often with Reverent as well. It is certainly a time to pause and reflect upon what is important to us in life.

Let me give a short update on the troop. Things are going well this fall. Benjamin Miller and the other troop officers are providing a great program, which has included Auto-mechanic, Alcohol stoves, Backpacking equipment, Bike history, and make-your-own Neckerchief Slides. Outings included two camporees, two bike trips, and a backpacking trip to FoxFire Lean-to. And, as the mud on scout clothing demonstrated last week: playing capture-the-flag was awesome.

We have a number of great programs coming up, and we are looking forward to the Klondike Derby Friday-Sunday January 19-20-21. Please put that date on your calendars as the big scouting event of the year. We are the defending champions.

I am really looking forward to our trip to Rochester on December 2nd for a troop game of lasertag, the planetarium show, and the Rochester Museum of Science. Then we have bell ringing on Dec. 16th from 10 am to noon.

The troop has also grown this fall with new scouts joining, including Alan, Mark, Alden, Aidan, Aseem, and Miles. We welcome all of them and their families to our Troop 2 family. Our special thanks to the scouts who invited their friends to join Troop 2. We are also lucky to have such a great set of supporting adults: scoutmasters and committee members, including new scoutmasters Alison Morris and Phil Lutzi.

Scouting is a great adventure, and it is wonderful to have so many friends with whom to share the fun and experience.

Yours in scouting,
Jery Stedinger, Scoutmaster