PACK 673 NEWS

Cub Scout Pack 673 Website
http://www.westfieldnj.com/pack673/index.htm

JANUARY PACK MEETING

“SCIENCE NIGHT”

Welcome to the “Science Night” Pack Meeting. A special “Thank You” goes to Dan the Science Man for keeping us entertained tonight with many neat and interesting tricks. Thanks to the Webelos I Den 3 for carrying out the flag ceremony, Wolf Den 5 for their flag folding demo, and Bear Den 9 for their fun performance.

Pinewood Derby 2007

The Pinewood Derby is fast approaching. You should be working on your derby cars. Be sure to read the rules for the race which are posted on our website. There are several additional websites with helpful hints. As always, we’re still looking for more volunteers to fill in a variety of positions which will help in running the Pinewood Derby much smoother. Remember, without volunteers’ help we cannot run the Pinewood Derby. Please consider volunteering by contacting Steve Bonina.

Race Day is Wednesday, February 14, 2006. There are no regular pack activities scheduled for this day. All racers should plan to be at the Jefferson Gym for the official weigh-in no later than the time posted below for each group.

We encourage everyone to arrive on time and follow the directions of the volunteers. Once we start the race, we cannot stop. Please do not distract the volunteers directly running the race. Pinewood Derby night is one of the longest pack meetings, particularly for the volunteers. Please be considerate!


Race Schedule

Tiger Cubs @ 6:00 p.m. (weigh-in)

6:15 p.m. (race)

Wolf and Bear Cubs @ 7:00 p.m. (weigh-in)

7:15 p.m. (race)

Webelos I & II @ 8:00 p.m. (weigh-in)

8:15 p.m. (race)

A preliminary weigh-in will be held on Wednesday, February 7th from 7-8 p.m. at Jefferson, in the glass corridor by the gym. This early weigh-in will give you an idea of whether your car meets the weight requirement for the race will ample time to make adjustments. From here you still have enough time to make adjustments to the weight of the car. Scales are available at the local hobby shops and the post office. The scale will be available from 5:30 p.m. on the day of the race but the official race weigh-in will take priority. The OFFICIAL WEIGH-IN will be just prior to the race.

The race is electronically timed. Each car will have the opportunity to race at least three times against different cars. The winner is based on an overall time and not individual races. Awards will be given for the top three finishers in Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos I, and Webelos II ranks. Awards will be given at the Blue and Gold dinner on March 15th.

Parents and siblings are encouraged to participate. A special award will be given in this category, as well.

Immediately following the race there will be a judging of all cars based on a variety of categories such as; most original, best looking, and best design, etc. This judging will be conducted by parent volunteers. The cars will be available after the final judging.

Winners of the Pack Pinewood Derby will be eligible for the District Pinewood Derby. We will communicate the details of this to you as we receive them from the District.


Blue & Gold Dinner

SPECIAL NOTE

The Blue and Gold dinner has been scheduled for Wednesday, March 21st in the Westfield High School Cafeteria starting at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will begin at 6:30 and the entertainment will start about 7:30 p.m. You will be receiving invitations in the mail in the near future.

As in the past, “Friends of Scouting” will be at the Blue and Gold this year. They will be collecting donations for the group in support of our scouting efforts. Please give them your attention during the meeting.

Maria Valles is the chairman of the Blue and Gold Dinner Committee. She has a list of volunteers already but can always use more help with the evening’s activities. Please contact Maria at 654-8287, if you would like to help out.

Pack Committee

There was no Pack committee meeting in January due to MLK holiday weekend. The next meeting will be held Sunday, February 11th at Kostyack’s, 403 Poe Ave. We will be covering final preparations for the race, Anna Macik will share some hightlights from the Webelos specific training meeting held on 1/25, and we will also address Pack committee transitions, as the new leadership joins the committee.

Planning for summer activities is beginning. We need your input for our June, July and August activities. Traditionally we have had a picnic, a pool party and a minor league baseball game. We could use some new ideas for this year. Activities will be discussed at the February and March committee meetings. Don’t miss it!

Volunteers are needed to help plan and run the Pack meetings. Please help the pack go! Join the Pack committee by calling Ray Kostyack @ 908-317-4994.

You can find more information on scouting and our council at www.ppbsa.org. This site will have fast track training online and the schedule of advanced training. Be sure to check it out.

Training

Training is a very important part of the scouting program. Both the scout and the parent gain with scout Leader training. Ray Kostyack and Mike Vicido completed Leader Specific training.


Committee Positions

With the start of the New Year, it’s time to think about the committee positions that will need to be filled. Are you thinking about volunteering for a committee position opening? You need to, if we want to keep this Pack going. Please Volunteer! Every position needs to be filled in the spring 2007 so that the individuals can be trained and assume all responsibilities of the position.

Advancement – Bernadette Tivenan

Charter (roster)– Bernadette Tivenan

* Recruiting – Fall and Spring — OPEN

* Training Coordinator - OPEN

* Beginning of year Tiger and Wolf planning meeting — OPEN

Tiger coordinator (Current Wolf) — OPEN

Scout coordinator (Wolf & Bear) – OPEN

* Webelos coordinator – Bernadette Tivenan

Treasurer – Dave Collum

* Cubmaster – OPEN (May replacement)

Assitant Cubmaster – (target 4 to 5) Steve Bonina, ______, ______, ______, ______.

Committee coordinator (committee chair) – Anna Macik

* Popcorn chairman – OPEN

Scouting for Food — OPEN

Quartermaster — Steven Lee

Newsletter — Anna Macik

* Service Night Coordinator – MaryEllen Delaney

*Denotes open positions


Achievement Awards

All award information MUST be submitted by the Den leader to Bernadette Tivenan no later than Tuesday, one week before a Pack meeting in order for the scouts to receive their awards at the upcoming Pack meeting. This is necessary to provide Bernadette with sufficient time to be able to purchase and organize the awards for distribution.

Anyone with any Den photos and brief story about a service or an activity they did or attended, should forward them to Ray Kostyack so that we can get them published in the local paper. We need these stories in order to get a service award for our Pack.

Tiger – Achievements
Den 2 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Zachary Composto / Bobcat /
Bowling (L)
Collecting (L)
Quint Heyder / Bobcat /
Astronomy (L)
Bicycling (L)
Collecting (L)
Ice Skating (L)
Roller Skating (L)
Tennis (L)
Zachary Kronheimer / Bobcat /
Art (L)
Swimming (L & P)
Michael Paglialunga / Bobcat /
Chess (L)
Matthew Viscido / Bobcat /
Chess (L)
Marbles (L)
Den 4 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Darien Abaya / Bobcat /
Teddy Diamatopoulos / Bobcat /
Thomas Han / Bobcat /
Cory Hiltz / Bobcat /
David Liang / Bobcat /
Joseph Lotano / Bobcat /
Henry Ohlig / Bobcat /
Den 7 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Will Collum / Bobcat /
Christian Consales / Bobcat /
Kevin Garrity / Bobcat /
Alex Kingsley / Bobcat /
Jake Obsgarten / Bobcat /
Art (L)
Basketball (L)
Bowling (L)
Collecting (L)
Computers (L)
Christopher Wagner / Bobcat /
Christopher Witzel / Bobcat /
Wolf – Achievements
Den 5 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Nicholas DePinto /
Bowling (L)
Collecting (L)
Jaret Gold / Bobcat /
Sean Latter / Bobcat /
Den 10 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Conor Gillespie / Bobcat
Den 15 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /
Belt Loops/Pins
Nicholas Maher /

Baseball (L & P)

Basketball (L & P)
Roller Skating (L & P)
Soccer (L & P)
Swimming (L & P)
Webelos I – Achievements
Den 8 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /

Belt Loops/Pins

Christopher Nicholls / Bobcat
Webelos II – Achievements
Den 12 / Completed Badges/Arrow Points /

Belt Loops/Pins

Eric Cantor / Geologist /
Dimitri Costa / Athlete
Family Member
Readyman
Craftsman
Handyman
Compass Point /
Gideon Lee / Geologist


Nine Purposes of Scouting

1.  To positively influence character development and encourage spiritual growth.

2.  To help boys develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.

3.  To encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.

4.  To improve understanding within the family.

5.  To strengthen the boys’ abilities to get along with other boys and to respect other people.

6.  To foster a sense of personal achievement by helping boys develop new interests and skills.

7.  To show boys how to be helpful and do one’s best.

8.  To provide fun and exciting new things to do.

9.  To prepare to become Boy Scouts.

2007/’08 Registration and Dues

To get in line with BSA March to March Charter (3/07 - 3/08). Completed forms and registration dues will be collected in March ’07. Forms will be attached in the February Newsletter and/or handed out at the February Pack meeting. If you are unsure whether your child is going to continue with scouting or have any questions regarding registration and dues, please send Ray Kostyack an email at Pack673.

*****ABOVE INFORMATION DOES NOT APPLY TO WEBELOS 2 SCOUTS*****

Mark Your Calendars

·  February 7th, 7-8 p.m. – Preliminary weigh-in, Jefferson glass corridor

·  February 11th 7:30 p.m.- Pack Committee meeting at Kostyack’s

·  February 14th 7:30 p.m. - Pinewood Derby

·  March 21st, 6:30 p.m. - Blue and Gold Dinner, Westfield HS Cafeteria

Next Pack Meeting: February 14th

There will not be a Flag Ceremony, Craft, or a Performance