Boy Scout Eagle Project – Little Angels

Original Letter in PDF

Arthur Jacques
36 Deer Meadow
Tolland, CT 06084
(860)870-1158
jabd.jac@sbcglobal.net

May 27,2009

Kevin Bouley, President
NERAC
One Technology Dr.
Tolland, CT 06084

Dear Mr. Bouley,

My name is Arthur Jacques. I am a member of Boy Scout Troop 61. Although I am only 14 years old, I am beginning work on an Eagle project this summer. I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about my project and how it will help our community. I would also like to ask for your help which will ensure the project is a success.

In addition to my strong commitment to Boy Scouts, I am an avid cyclist.(I have completed five 100-mile charity bike rides and a number of shorter ones to date.) I will be holding bike drives to collect used bicycles. With the help of Dave Barrow and the staff of  Tolland Bicycle, my Scout Troop and other volunteers, I plan to repair the bicycles and donate them to the Little Angels Bikes.   Little Angels is an organization in Willimantic that collects bicycles to donate to needy
individuals in our community. Some of the bikes are given to children in foster care. Others are donated to individuals who need transportation that cannot afford to own a car.  You can learn more about Little Angels at http://www.littleangelsbikes.com

You can help make this project a success in several ways.  I plan to collect at least 75 bicycles, but hope of collect enough so that I will have 100 repaired bicycles to donate. If you have any bikes that are not being used (any condition), they can be donated at Tolland Bike shop.

I would also like to ask if you would be willing to make a donation to my project.  Funds raised will go toward purchasing replacement parts that cannot be salvaged from the irreparable bikes.  Excess funds will be used to purchase helmets to go with the bicycles.  Please make checks payable to BSA Troop 61.

Finally, if you wish you can also volunteer to participate in bike repair sessions.

Thank you for your time and generosity.  I hope to hear from you soon.

Sincerely,

Arthur Jacques

Monday Lunch Ride

Riders: Skip, Nick, Dave F., John, Sue, Lisa, Jill

John suggests the Coventry High/Eastview route today. This route has some killer hills in the neighborhood that leads up to Coventry High. I haven’t ridden this route in quite some time because yes, I think I am a hill hater. Harsh but true. Sue has to be back at 1pm for a meeting so she, Lisa and I head out while the boys wait for Dave who is running a little late. So the chase is on! The three of us get into a steady rhythm until we get to Eastview. Sue parts from us here as she is on to her meeting and Lisa and I follow her up the hill. I decide to conquer both hills in one shot and try to chase Sue as far as I can. About ¾ of the way up the 2nd hill she disappears never to be seen again… I scoot back down the hill to meet Lisa and I’m surprised that the boys haven’t caught us yet. This lights a fire and when Lisa gets to the top of the hill we bang a right, then another quick right onto 31. We’re pretty fast on the downhill so I think we can stay ahead for a little longer. I bang another right at the church until Lisa rounds the corner and give her a short breather to recover after the hill then we start pedaling like fiends when we realize the boys still haven’t caught up with us. We cross 44 and get almost all the way to Goose Lane before Skip and John catch us with Nick and Dave not too far behind. Not too shabby! As we take a right onto Merrow I let the boys know we are skipping the 1st neighborhood and will meet them on the other side. As soon as they are out of sight I get Lisa on my wheel and we start hammering again to try to get to Goose Lane before they do! At Goose Lane there is no sign of them so we’re not 100% sure if they hammered too and are in front of us or if we were able to get in front of them. So not taking any chances we gave it all we had and they didn’t catch us until the last climb up Anderson to 195. This was hard work but great fun. -Jill