[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1987]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF BOY SCOUT TROOP 243, FOUNDED 
                        IN LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. ELLEN O. TAUSCHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 9, 2005

  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the present 
and past members, leaders, and sponsors of Boy Scout Troop 243, founded 
in Lafayette, California, on the 50th Anniversary of the Troop.
  Boy Scouting touches us all at some point in our lives--as troop 
members, parent volunteers, civic supporters, or simply as residents of 
our communities where we see the achievements of local Boy Scouts as 
upstanding models for our youth.
  If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a platoon of parents 
to serve a Boy Scout troop. Nationally, there are close to one million 
Boy Scouts served by over half a million adult volunteers--on average, 
more than one adult for every two Scouts.
  Troop 243 has a rich history of local leadership. The founding 
sponsor was a committee of the Burton School, St. Mary's Orchards, and 
St. Mary's Estate Home Improvement Association. The first Scoutmaster, 
H. T. McBride, was followed in 1959 by J.J. DuFosee. In 1965, Harry 
Wiser served as Scoutmaster when the Lafayette Christian Church became 
Troop sponsor.
  Troop growth took off in 1988 when John Coleman, a 1974 Troop 243 
Eagle Scout, took over as Scoutmaster, initiating numerous outdoor 
activities including 50-mile hikes, snow skiing, summer camping, river 
rafting, and a 100-mile bicycle trip over Mt. Lassen.
  The program of varied outdoor activities, including canoeing in 
Minnesota, continued under Scoutmaster Terry Campbell in 1994. Then in 
1996 John Coleman returned, adding new Troop experiences, including a 
sailing expedition to Catalina Island.
  Throughout the 50-year life of Troop 243, generations of Boy Scouts 
have taken on Good Deeds projects as good community members and civic 
representatives. Scouts and parents donate many hours cleaning up local 
creeks and trails. This year the Troop raised over 22,000 pounds of 
food for the local food bank!
  Mr. Speaker, I honor the 50 years of accomplishments of members, 
leaders, and sponsors of Troop 243. I am very proud to represent Troop 
243 in Congress and I congratulate them on their achievements.

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