Congratulations to our own Jeannie Pastrano on receiving the Silver Beaver Award. The national award is presented by the local council in recognition of noteworthy service of exceptional character to youth in the council's area. Well deserved Jeannie!!
Congratulations to the Rio Hondo Scout Day organizers on a successful day of promoting Scouting in our district. The cook team provided hotcakes and sausage for breakfast and several units put on displays including Troop 688's own very popular craft project basketball game. Thanks go out to Jerry for the project and to Yolanda and crew for the equally successful water and soda booth.
Troop 688 would like to thank and acknowledge the recent donation in memory of Robert Klems, former Scoutmaster of St Gregory's Boy Scout Troop 931 of the 1960's (see the History page), who passed away recently. Our prayers go out to Mr Klem's family.
Eagle Project
February 25, 2006
Andy M completed phase one of his Eagle project this weekend as he led volunteers to distribute flyers on Friday and return Saturday to collect donations for the Orangewood Children's Home. Andy's grandparents provided soup, salad and desserts for the volunteers after this phase of the project was complete.
Reverent Scouts
March 28, 2006
Congratulations to Nick and Cody who earned their Pope Pius XII religious emblem and attended the Interfaith Banquet along with their parents and committee chair Yolanda and her children.
Hike
April 8, 2006
Four Scouts and four Scouters enjoyed a great hike to Strawberry Peak from Red Box Junction off of Angelus Crest Highway. It was a great hike, though the yucca was quite pointy. We met a friendly group at the peak who shared strawberry nectar and made a strawberry pie to celebrate the peak.
Service to Others
April 15, 2006
Eight Scouts and several adults took place in a service project at St Gregory's church. There weeds had overtaken several of the planters around the trees in the upper level overflow parking lot and it seemed unacceptable for the Easter masses, so the Troop made a morning of it and it now looks much better. Thanks to the Yolanda, Irene and crew for arranging the carne asada lunch for the volunteers.
Races
September 28, 2006
Troop 688 took a night off from our regular meeting and visited the Irwindale Speedway to watch some drag racing. Although due to some communication problems only four Scouts made the trip, they got to see a lot of fast cars, trucks and motorcycles in various type of competition. Mr McIntosh was in attendance to race his Mustang.
Eagle Project
September 28, 2006
Congratulations to Chris W on completing his Eagle project recently. The project involved removing a lot of plants and weeds from the front of the former convent at St Gregory's and replacing them with grass and a new statue as well as a lot of weeding, trimming and plumbing to make the front area of the convent look great.
Eagle Project
September 28, 2006
Congratulations to Matthew T who completed his Eagle project for St Gregory's school. The project included rebuild all of the benches around the school as well as the bleachers, painting and repairing the fence around the field and much much more.
New Eagle
October 5, 2006
Congratulations to Nick G. who passed the Eagle character board. Thanks to Paul Gardiner and crew for holding the character board.
Scouting For Food
November 4, 2006
Troop/Pack/Crew 688 joined forces and collected 1512 cans, jars, boxes of food from the generous neighbors of St Gregory's. The food from our annual Good Turn was delivered to a very grateful Neighbors Helping Neighbors. Thanks to all who helped.
New Eagle
November 20, 2006
Congratulations to Chris W. who passed the Eagle character board. Thanks to Paul Gardiner and crew for holding the character board.
We bid a fond farewell to the only Eagle Scout to date to be President of the United States, Gerald R Ford who earned the rank of Eagle in Troop 15 of Grand Rapids Michigan. President Ford treasured his Eagle rank as one of his "proudest accomplishments" and I think I can safely say that we are all proud to have had this man represent the Boy Scouts in the White House.
