Recharter

Due: March 10, 2009

It's time for the Troop to recharter, which means Yearly Dues are due. At the February 10th Troop Meeting, we handed out “recharter packets” which include an biographical information sheet, an individual advancement sheet, and a new medical form. You don't have to fill out a new application -- just update the biographical information sheet and return it along with the yearly dues of $36.

Dues are due back to the Troop by the March 10, 2009 troop meeting.

Scouting for Food & Swimming Pre-Test

March 21-22, 2009

Our March outing will start with Scouting For Food and distributing the bags (P163 will pick them up the next weekend). We'll then head for an overnight camp at Camp Indian Trail near Janesville. The Swimming Pre-Test for Summer Camp will be on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at the Whitewater Aquatic Center beginning at noon and will include safety instruction.

Meet: 9 am Saturday at ETC (Lear Gear at ETC while we distribute bags)
Return: Late Sunday afternoon to ETC
Cost: $20 / person

Court of Honor

March 24, 2009

We'll be holding our spring Court of Honor on March 24, 2009 at the Troop Meeting. At the same time, we'll have our Friends of Scouting presentation and OA Presentation and Elections. We'd like to see as many scouts as possible and their parents at this meeting.

Turn in any Merit Badges or Rank advancement by March 17, 2009 to be included in the Court of Honor ceremony.

April Outing

April 18-19, 2009

The Council has cancelled the Scouting without Tents event that was our April outing. We are looking into alternatives. The dates for the outing might be pushed back to April 25-26, 2009.

OA Spring Conference

May 29-31, 2009

All OA Members are invited to the OA Spring Conference, held at Camp Long Lake the weekend of May 29-31, 2009. If you were called out at Summer Camp last year, but haven't had your Ordeal this is your last chance to do so -- if you don't have your Ordeal now, you'll have to be Elected again.

Cost for Ordeal Candidates: $50 (includes OA book, sash, lodge bolo and other materials)
Cost for Brotherhood Candidates: $40 (includes OA sash and other materials)
Cost for all others: $28
Sign up by May 15 and get a $10 discount. (Sign up at the door and it costs an extra $10).

See Liz if you'd like to sign up.

National Jamboree

July 26 to August 4, 2010

You can only attend as a part of the Council Contingent. Applications to attend are ALREADY being taken by the Council. There are only 72 spaces for scouts, so you need to sign up NOW if you want to go. For more information: http://www.pacbsa.org/documents/JamboInformationSheet082008.pdf

Medical Forms

The medical forms have been radically changed! Based on input from Scouts, the OA, Councils and others, National redesigned the medical form.

The new forms are REQUIRED starting January 1, 2010, but can be begun to be used immediately. Any Scout (or Adult) that needs a new medical form MUST use the new form. The troop is not going to accept any old forms unless they are already on file. The new forms will be handed out as part of your recharter packet at the February 10th Troop Meeting. You will notice they are quite different.

The biggest changes? There is now only ONE medical form. For less than 72 hours, Parts A and C are required. For longer than 72 hours or for high adventure activities, Part B is also required. Also, the new medical forms are only good for one year. Each year, a new form will be required -- this includes Part B (the doctor signed part).

A good suggestion? If you are in sports and will have to get a doctor's signature for the sport (or the school provides a health fair for sporting exams) -- take the BSA medical form with you. Doctors are usually pretty good about signing multiple forms and saving you a second trip.

If you have any questions, please contact Liz. New medical forms are available through the Troop or through the Council or through National.

Pine Tree NYLT

June 28 - July 3, 2009

What is Pine Tree? Pine Tree is National Youth Leadership Training -- strengthen your skills, improve your knowledge and become a better leader! Scouts describe it as Fun, Challenge, Adventure, Learning, Excitement.

Who's eligible? Scouts must be 13 years old by Jan 1, 2009, be First Class rank, and have at least one year of Boy Scout summer camp.

How much is it? $220 if paid in full by March 16. Otherwise it's the same as Camp Long Lake summer camp ($280 if paying at the door).

See Mr. Danner if you're interested!