Monthly Theme - Resourcefulness

The core value highlighted this month is:

Resourcefulness: Using human resources and other resources to their fullest. Through participating in Cub Scout activities, boys will learn different ways to solve problems using various methods and means.

Closing Thought

Pinewood Derby Race
Peggy Porter
http://www.usscouts.org/

My son Gilbert was eight years old and had been in Cub Scouts only a short time. During one of his meetings he was handed a sheet of paper, a block of wood and four tires and told to return home and give all to "dad".

That was not an easy task for Gilbert to do. Dad was not receptive to doing things with his son. But Gilbert tried. Dad read the paper and scoffed at the idea of making a pine wood derby car with his young eager son. The block of wood remained untouched as the weeks passed. Finally, mom stepped in to see if she could figure this all out. The project began.

Having no carpentry skills, I decided it would be best if I simply read the directions and let Gilbert do the work. And he did. I read aloud the measurements, the rules of what we could do and what we couldn't do. Within days his block of wood was turning into a pinewood derby car. A little lopsided, but looking great (at least through the eyes of mom). Gilbert had not seen any of the other kids' cars and was feeling pretty proud of his "Blue Lightning", the pride that comes with knowing you did something on your own.

Then the big night came. With his blue pinewood derby car in his hand and pride in his heart we headed to the big race. Once there my little one's pride turned to humility. Gilbert's car was obviously the only car made entirely on his own. All the other cars were a father-son partnership, with cool paint jobs and sleek body styles made for speed.

A few of the boys giggled as they looked at Gilbert's lopsided, wobbly, unattractive vehicle. To add to the humility, Gilbert was the only boy without a man at his side. A couple of the boys who were from single parent homes at least had an uncle or grandfather by their side, Gilbert had "mom".

As the race began it was done in elimination fashion. You kept racing as long as you were the winner. One by one the cars raced down the finely sanded ramp. Finally it was between Gilbert and the sleekest, fastest looking car there. As the last race was about to begin, my wide eyed, shy eight year old asked if they could stop the race for a minute, because he wanted to pray. The race stopped.

Gilbert went to his knees clutching his funny looking block of wood between his hands. With a wrinkled brow he set to converse with his Father. He prayed in earnest for a very long minute and a half. Then he stood, smile on his face and announced, 'Okay, I am ready."

As the crowd cheered, a boy named Tommy stood with his father as their car sped down the ramp. Gilbert stood with his Father within his heart and watched his block of wood wobble down the ramp with surprisingly great speed and rushed over the finish line a fraction of a second before Tommy's car. Gilbert leaped into the air with a loud "Thank You" as the crowd roared in approval.

The Scout Master came up to Gilbert with microphone in hand and asked the obvious question, "So you prayed to win, huh, Gilbert?" To which my young son answered, "Oh, no sir. That wouldn't be fair to ask God to help you beatsomeone else. I just asked Him to make it so I wouldn't cry when I lost."

Children seem to have wisdom far beyond us. Gilbert didn't ask God to win the race, he didn't ask God to fix the outcome. Gilbert asked God to give him strength in the outcome. When Gilbert first saw the other cars he didn't cry out to God, "No fair, they had a father's help!" No, Gilbert went to his Heavenly Father for strength.

Perhaps we spend too much of our prayer time asking God to rig the race, to make us number one, or too much time asking God to remove us from the struggle, when we should be seeking God's strength to get us through the struggle. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13.

Gilbert's simple prayer spoke volumes to those present that night. He never doubted that God would indeed answer his request. He didn't pray to win, thus hurt someone else; he prayed that God supply the grace to lose with dignity. Gilbert, by his stopping the race to speak to his Father also showed the crowd that he wasn't there without a "dad", but he also went away a winner that night, with his Father at his
side.

May we all learn to pray this way.

Cubmaster Minute

"Do Your Best"

When you give the Cub Scout Promise, the words “Do your Best” are often lost among all the other very important words. Let’s stop for a minute and carefully consider these words.

Best describes effort and action above our usual performances. You are the only person who can possibly know whether or not you have done your best. Every time you repeat the promise, you agree to do your best. Your best is just that: The very best that you can do. Think about the meaning of the promise that you repeated at the beginning of the Pack Meeting. Decide that you will always do your best, no matter what the job is that is facing you.

Pinewood Derby Set-Up!

Set-up for the Pinewood Derby will be Thursday, January 27, 2011 beginng at 7:00 PM.

We'll get the track out of storage and transport it to the site. Set-up the track and finalize any last minute tweaking of the track. This should take about 3 - 4 hours total.

Monthly Theme - Positive Attitude

The core value highlighted this month is:

Positive Attitude: Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all situations. Through participating in a derby, boys will see the importance of having a positive attitude, regardless of the outcome of the race.

Closing Thought

It was the coldest winter ever - many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, understanding the situation, decided to group together. They covered and protected themselves; but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions even though they gave off heat to each other.

So they began to distance themselves from each other and began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or
disappear from the Earth.

They decided to go back to being together. This way they learned to live with the little wounds that were caused by the close relationship with their companions, and appreciate the warmth; this way they were able to survive.

Moral of the story:
The best relationship is not the one that brings together perfect people, but the best is when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.

I wish we could all make the same choice as these porcupines. None of us is perfect, we all have flaws or differences but that is what makes the world go round. Instead of all the hate we should make the choice to accept everyone for who they are, there are always lessons to be learned if we only open ourselves to learning them.

See you next month.

Cubmaster Minute

Respect yourself and respect other people. This means that you should realize that everyone is unique, and everyone has his or her own ideas and abilities, and that this is a good thing, rather than a bad thing. Celebrate diversity! The fact that people are different and possess different talents means that when you work as a team, together you can achieve more than any one of you could alone.

2011 Pinewood Derby Build Rules

[Note: these are the rules for participation in the District Super Derby which will take palce on Saturday, March 12, 2011 at Saint Timothy's Church in Walkersville, MD - Stay tuned for more info! Pack 195 will be using the same rules to build, qualify and race our own derby cars at our Pinewood Derby Race which will take place on Saturday, January 29, 2011.]

Derby cars are small pinewood models of specified dimensions, designed and carved by Cub Scouts under parental guidance, and raced by the Cub Scout under Scout Leadership supervision. The pinewood derby cars are gravity powered and run unaided down a regulation racetrack to a finish line. A strip placed down the center of each lane guides the cars in a straight path.

• 1. Pinewood derby cars must be built and qualify at the Pack Derby during the same program year as the Catoctin Mountain District Super Derby race.

• 2. Any Pinewood Derby Kit may be used as long as BSA(Boy Scouts of America) Wheels and Axels are used. (This year there is two different wheel sets from BSA, see attachment for more information.)

• 3. Only the axles (nails) contained in the official pinewood derby kit can be used as the pinewood derby axles. However, the axles can be sanded or polished, and affixed (glued, etc.) to the underside of the pinewood derby car. (How to check BSA nails. Leave Nail tips exposed)

• 4. No magnets are allowed to be used on or in the Pinewood Derby Car.

• 5. You may not change the wheel dimensions. Wheels may not be rounded, pointed, concaved, shaved or otherwise modified. You may, however, sand the tread or tire contact area of the wheel to smooth out the rough spots. Wheel bearings, washers, and bushings are prohibited. The car will not ride on springs of any type. Wheel covers or hub caps are prohibited, the head of the nail must be viewable for inspection. The axels (nails) maybe polished and stamping imperfections removed but the shape and size of the head may not be altered. The recommended wheel and axle lubricant is dry, powdered graphite.

• 6. EXTENDED WHEEL BASE/ CAR BODY:
The axel grooves provided in the block of wood do not have to be used. The wheel base may be altered. The total overall length of the car may not exceed 7 inches.

• 7. The only acceptable lubrication is dry powder lubricants. Oil, grease, silicone spray, or other lubricants are not permitted on the pinewood derby car’s axles or wheels.

• 8. No loose materials or liquid of any kind are permitted on or in the pinewood derby cars. (Loose material used for weights is the most frequent violation of this rule. If the car rattles it fails)

• 9. The overall pinewood derby car width shall not exceed 3 inches. The overall pinewood derby car length shall not exceed 7 inches. The overall pinewood derby car height shall not exceed 4 inches.

• 10. The unobstructed clearance of the pinewood derby car must be 3/8 inch or more from the total underside of the car to the base of the wheels. (This is for track clearance)

• 11. The pinewood derby car shall not exceed the standard 5.00 ounces (Avoirdupois ounces, not troy ounces) or 141.75 grams. The weight of the pinewood derby car should be close to 5.00 ounces prior to coming to the derby; however, the pinewood derby car weight may be adjusted during registration at the Pit Table.

• 12. Direction of Travel will be marked on car and easily identifiable. (On bottom is fine)

• 13. Cars not meeting the official derby rules will be disqualified from racing. Alterations may be attempted during the registration time before the start of the first heat. There will be a workshop area with some tools and supplies to make modifications.

A complete set of rules, build guidelines and open class rules can be found on the District web page: http://www.boyscouts-ncac.org/openrosters/ViewOrgPageLink.asp?LinkKey=20672&orgkey=2009

Thursday, Dec 16, 2010 - Frederick County Schools Closing Two-Hours Early

Schools will dismiss students 2 hours early Thursday, Dec 16 due to the weather. AM pre-k students remain at school for dismissal with full-day students. PM pre-k and Career and Technology Center (CTC) classes are canceled. PM CTC students remain at their home schools. Flexible Evening High, Adult Ed and Heather Ridge Twilight programs are canceled. All FCPS afterschool and evening activities are canceled or postponed. Daycare centers in FCPS schools independently make decisions about their schedules and communicate their decisions directly to the media, principal and families they serve.

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Cubmaster Note: If this weather develops we will reevaluate our options and make a determination on canceling the Pack Meeting, however, at this time we will be holding our Pack Meeting tonight as scheduled.

When: 7:00 PM
Where: St. Paul's Church, Basement Social Hall.

Monthly Theme - Respect

The Core Value highlighted this Month is:

Respect: Showing regard for the worth of someone or something.
Through interacting with pack families, Cub Scouts will develop appreciation and
respect for different families and traditions. Through pack service projects, they will learn to treat the environment with care.