Art Show, Wilderness Survival, COH, Wreath & Tree Sales

As we know, the Cumberland Caverns Trip was canceled due to too few boys and leaders wanting to make the trip with a resultant rise in trip fees that would make it cost prohibitive at this time. We will make the trip in the future when the interest is higher.

The cave trip is being replaced with "Wilderness Survival." This is a merit badge driven trip which we do every two or three years to speak to the subject and familiarize the Scouts with it's importance now, or anytime in the future.

Dr. Frank Nelson has facilitated the course many time in the past for us. This year we will go to Oak Mountain State Park (October 17-19). The scout should go ahead and get the merit badge book and complete all he can at home, the pass the rest off at the camp site. P Kidd and others can advise him on seeing the merit badge requirements on line..the book is also available at the Scout Service Center...and all of the requirements will be spoken to by Dr. Nelson in the Hut and in camp if the Scout wants to wait.

If he is going, he will have to be at the Oct 6 and Oct 13 meetings for trip preparation and information. They the cost is less than $25.00 and will be announced once a final count is made on the 13th for our numbers.

On this coming weekend at the Bluff Park Art Show.....

This is an important weekend for us....we need participation for all that we do..and shouldn't be written off...First of all we earn service credit to he Bluff Park Community and our Charter Organization for being there and assisting in anyway. The Scouts who were present at the last meeting have signed up for the hours they are going to work. Leaders in uniform are also required to help out, so spend some time with the Scout here.

What do we do? We sell water, ice cream, wreaths, and Pop Corn at our table from the beginning to the end. We have to set up our own area, plus help with the Bluff Park United Methodist Church Woman's Bake Sales by setting up a tarp and putting up tables. We pick up litter as we come across it, and carry the bags of trash from bag size box containers though out the park. We need the most help at the peak hours of 11:00 PM to 4:00 PM, for setting up and taking down.

The Scout gets credit for this for our annual service project, and himself for service to the community for the year, as required.

Since we are high profile during the day, he needs to be in his tan shirt, scout belt, Scout shorts, and Scout socks. He should bring a bag lunch unless he wants to buy a bar b que sandwich. The Hut will be open for guests all day also.

As stated this is important, we have done it for the past twenty years and will be doing it for the next twenty we are sure....unless he just can't be there..he needs to be there and sign in with the rest.

We will need some leaders to help us break down starting at about 4:30 PM..it takes about thirty minutes.

The Court of Honor is coming on Oct 27.

This is a family affair for recognizing the work the Scout has done for merit badges and rank advancement since the last Court in April. The Scout will dress in his Class A Plus uniform, or tan shirt, neckerchief, , Scout belt, Scout shorts, and Scout socks. Leaders who have uniforms should also wear them. If he will be late from sports or other activities, he needs to bring his change in a bag and change into them at the Church.

It starts at 6:30 PM, though the Host Patrol (to be announced on the agenda) will be there at 6:00 PM to set up the Room. Families bring Pot luck dinners and and additional dish to be announced. Scouts and leaders will make presentations regarding highlights on past trips and coming events, as well as important Troop business. We only have these twice a year, so please encourage attendance.

The Location is the Reid Crotty Fellowship Hall located in Bluff park United Methodist Church just off of Valley.

Host Patrol: Venture II consisting of the former Grizzlies and Hawk patrols. The Court's agenda will be emailed to you and posted on the Troop Web site..please make a copy and bring it as an agenda..also elected and appointed troop leadership positions will be accompanying the Court's agenda...please make a copy of that so you will know your son's responsibilities for the next six months and what if any responsibilities assigned leaders have in the Troop also.

Wreath Sales and Pop Corn Sales: Wreath sales are a major factor in our survival as a troop with a healthy budget. We have set the goal for selling 6 wreath per Scout (family)..please make a concerted effort to help out with this. Gas prices are not going down and maintaining the Troop's equipment and regular operations are not getting less. Each Scout is aware of the sale, call Dr. Hamilton for more details, and the orders are due on the Day of the Court of Honor.

Tree Sales: We do this every year as our major source of funding for the Troop. A schedule will be posted with all Scouts and family members posted on the days and time they are supposed to be at the lot along side the Bluff Park United Methodist Church. A mon or Dad is expected to be there with the Scout to assure we have the numbers to sell trees. The hours are evening hours and weekends.

We will receive the trees after the Shiloh Trip and set up the lot before thanksgiving in order to start sales the day after Thanksgiving. Please make sure we hwave help to set the lot up as announced; the more Scouts and family present, the faster it goes. If the family is supposed to be there on a date and time to sell trees, they should be there , and if not, they need to call another family to trade with them, at the same time advising the shift leader(s) of the change.

Scout Uniforms are not worn on the lot. He should dress for the weather, bring a pair of work gloves, and bring something to drink and snack on while he is there. The sales area will be heated with lights if he has time to study.

We needs to get the word out to buy our trees. Last year all of our out door signs (an accumlation of about $1800.00) were taken by unknown persons and some were donated back to us. During the first week we are going to need volunteers to put the signs up in high traffic areas and watch them for a couple hours to let the community know we are there. This is referring to all the new homes in the Oxmoor Valley below us, the Tyler road intersections in bluff Park, and the tri sign area in the vicinity of our trees. Simply: if we don't watch them they'll be taken and we cannot afford that. the volunteers can read a good book, or a listening tape, while sitting in your car. Please think about helping out with this. The first week will be critical to assure that the community knows we are there.

Finally, it will be announced when the Lot Take Down will take place....we will need full support on this also.

Thanks in advance to Dr. Hamilton, and those assisting him, for making all these sales possible and for Mr. Win Jones for completing the Tree Schedule and certainly to Mr. Simon for making this all available on the Troop Web Site.

Normally, the PLC (Patrol Leaders Conference after the Trip) decide who brings what, but we will be short on prep time once the PLC get here:

Venture I Pot luck meal and extra bread dish
Venture II (Grizzlies and Hawks) Pot luck meal and extra salad dish
Indians Pot luck meal and extra desert dish
Penquins Pot luck meal and exta salad or desert dish
Foxes Pot luck meal and extra bread or rolls
Host Patrol: Venture II (Grizzlies and hawks)

Thanks for all your support

YiS

Dan s "Delivering the Promise"