New Britain herald., 1928-01-21

acted as camp doctor and assistant camp director: James Beach acted as handiclaft instructor and assis- tant water man. A new member CT the staff was F. c. Converse. who had charge of the water and recre- ational activities. To these men is largely due the success Of oui camp"
 Camp receipts, including an ap- propriatipn of s70o. were @e,34:.6:. and expenditures were $2.131.0S. ef- fecting a saving of $211.5S on the budget. The camping committee consisted of Logan Page. chairman: Sherwood Raymond. Ralph Vain wright. P. F. King. Dwight Skinner, and Dr. Joseph Potts.
 Scouting Advancement
 The court of honor committee re- ported a gain in the number of boys advancing in rank but a de- crease in merit badge awards. Tests passed in 1927 were as follows: fen- derfoot 315, second class 61, first class 21, merit badges 165, star rank :. eagle rank l, bronze palms 1. gold palms 2. Firemanship was again the most popular merit badge and was won by 16 scouts. with IS winning personal health, IF public health. and II swimming. The rare badges were automobiling. bee keep ing, chemistry. craftwork in metal. electricity. interpreting, leather working. pathfinding. photography. seamanship. and signaling, only one of each being earned.
 The above record shows a gain in tenderfoot. second class. and first class over last years record. The fact that fewer merit badges were awarded we believe is due to the new group of merit badge examiners who are on the job" says the com mittee's report. "The board of re- view also held monthly sessions and reviewed scouts in second and first class tests. The following members served on the court of honor dur ing the past year: Raymond Catlin. Arthur Anes, Neil McDougal, E. M. Harwood, Ralph Wainwright, Charles Morgan, G. B. Taylor. and W. w.. Bullen."
 Commissioner Report
 Commissioner Charles E. Morgan reported a successful season in the council. Extracts from his memo randum follow:
 "The past season has been a very successful one. The growth in scouts and troops as set forth in the ex- ecutive's report is very gratifying and the coming year has already shown signs of a more healthy in- crease.
 .'The camp of 1927 at Jobs pond was again successful in spite of the fact that the site was unsuitable for a large camp. During the past year I have made . personal study of camping, both winter and summer, and have been firmly convinced by that study that the camp site to be of greatest value should be easily accessible at all times of the year. find that the summer camp is not alone what counts, but that winter camps and weekend camps during the entire season are becoming more attractive to scouts and leaders throughout the country.
 There is a large percentage of our scouts who find it impossible to attend the summer camp. but who would be able to attend week. end camps and derive great bene- fits therefrom, both in recreation and in scout work. feel very keenly the need of a new site and consequent expansion of camp pro- gram.
 Perhaps our most difficult prob lem at present is leadership for our Catholic troops, and we hope that the coming year will see the solution thereof.
 Leaders Biggest Need
 "Our biggest need as council is trained leadership" the training committee stated in its report.
 "One approved certified course for leaders was conducted from March 1 to April 30 with ten ses- sions. The enrolment was 51 men. of whom 4s attended sessions and 35 qualified for certificates. Prac- tically every man receiving a cer- tificate is lined up for service. It takes rank as one of the most suc- cessful training courses ever held in New Britain.
 An elementary course for new leaders was also conducted by the council. Four sessions were held at the Trade school and four sessions in Plainville in the Brook Barnes Legion post rooms The enrolment was Fl men, of whom 19 attended sessions. This course is preliminary to another approved training course which will begin its session in Feb ruary."
 The committee members were Rev. J. J. Keane. Dwight Skinner, and William J. Kelley.
 Council Membership
 The council now has 25 troops with 25 scoutmasters and 21 assis- tants. compared with IS scoutmas- ters and 15 assistants for 20 troops last year, while the number of scour. has increased from 46S to 542. New troops have been organized at the Stanley Memorial church, Y. NJ. C. A., Nathan Hale Junior High school Emmanuel Gospel church. and Church of Our Saviour and Brock. Barnes post rooms in Plainville. Ii is expected that New Britain will have 30 troops by the end of 1928 The troop organization committee reported the loss of seven scout masters and seven assistants but said that 16 new scoutmasters and 13 assistants had been commissioned This committee consisted of John. 2 Black Arthur Pagan, J F.. stone