BSA Troop 191

The March 29th meeting will feature Order of the Arrow Elections and the Civil Rights and Duties Speech.  Both are extremely important.  We need at least half of the troop for OA elections, and the Civil Rights and Duties speech only happens about once a year.  Attendance this week is important!  Scouts who already have the Civil Rights and Duties requirement will be reviewing first aid.

At the April 5th meeting Nick will be teaching Tenderfoot requirements 12a (choking) and requirement 10a (the 30 day physical fitness requirement). All new scouts should attend to start the fitness requirement.  Fred will be teaching Second Class requirement 2 (leave no trace).  Ryan will be teaching First Class requirement 7a.

There is no meeting April 12th during Spring Break.

At the April 19th meeting we will be reviewing every swim related requirement in preparation for the rafting trip.

At the April 26th meeting we will be doing Tenderfoot requirement 5, Second Class requirement 7c, and First Class requirements 8a and 8c.

Remember to sign up for Whitewater Rafting!

For those scouts attending summer camp this year, Mrs. Zalewski will be at the troop meeting on Thursday March 29, 2012 to start collecting your schedules and to answer any questions parents or scouts might have.  For the first year scouts, she will have a separate session to talk about camp with you at a later time in April.

The troop will conduct swim tests for scouts that have not previously taken the test or have advanced their swimming skills. Scouts planning to attend the White Water Rafting Trip or interested in a canoe camping trip discussed at the March PLC and being planned now must complete a swim test before any water activity event.

The tests will be held at Raritan Valley Community College beginning at 7:00 PM and running through completion.

Parents and Scouts should plan to meet at the Ethel Hoppock Middle School at 6:15 PM on Wednesday April 11, 2012.

We are almost there!

A week ago it looked like we might fall short of our goals.  But due to the many flyers left behind by your scouts, a strong mail/call-in for orders and the extra weekend push, it looks like we will come very close if not surpass last year's numbers. We thank you all. However, it is not quite over. This is where we will need more adult help along with the scouts.

This Saturday, March 31, will be fertilizer delivery day.  From 9 AM until about NOON, we will send out adults and scouts with order forms and fertilizer.  If you are available for even a short time, we could use your help, especially if you have a van, truck or SUV.

Please use the troop website to sign up for Saturday delivery. I will use those names to create a schedule of times so that everybody does not show up at the same time.  Email Mr. Schwab if you are only available for a certain period of time. An email will go out Friday. We will pull orders based on your availability and neighborhood for you to deliver with your scout or scouts.

Parents and older scouts.  This is where I need your help.  We need to be able to make sure all orders pulled are accurate when you leave and delivered to the proper addresses and checked again at delivery. In some cases -COD's- payment needs to be collected. It is important that the deliveries are checked for accuracy. Please note: All forms need to be returned. Original order forms are needed for confirmation of order, delivery and payment.

The hours that you and your scout participate will count towards their scout accounts.  Please sign in when you arrive. While all scouts are welcome, keep in mind that someone in the car needs to be able to handle 40-50 pound bags. An older scout may need to help out with the younger boys.

Also, please be patient with this process.  We have sold over 400 bags of fertilizer and it can get backed up and hectic counting out orders. If you are available to come earlier than 9 AM to help get started, let Mr. Schwab know.

Racing Schedule (times may vary based on # of participants)

Tiger Rank- 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Wolf Rank- 10:00-11:30 a.m.
Bear Rank- 11:30-2:00 p.m.
Webelos 1- 11:30-2:00 p.m.
Webelos 2- 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Siblings- 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Grand Finals- 4:30-5:00 p.m.

*Note-  All races and results will be decided by electronic timing/computer software.  Each car will run a total of 6 heats (one per lane).  The top 3 cars from each rank will advance to Grand Finals where the Grand District Champion will be determined.  Keep in mind finalist cars will be subject to a second inspection prior to the Grand Finals.  The scheduled race times above may vary based on the actual number of participants the day of the event.

Those participating in Saturday sales should meet at the Bethlehem Township Municipal Building lot at 11 AM.  This is a different time than was on the website sign-up.  The Hoppock School play will make it difficult to meet at the school parking lot.

Thanks to all participants in the 2012 fertilizer fundraiser.  This is the last weekend.  Watch for an email regarding the March 31 delivery.

Scouts attending the Robinson Observatory Trip on Friday March 23^rd must have this permission form completed and signed by a parent or guardian. When completing the form parents must be sure to list an emergency contact number where they can be reached during the trip.

Order of the Arrow Elections will be held during the regular troop meeting on Thursday March 29 at the Ethel Hoppock Middle School. At least 50% of the troop scouts must be present to conduct OA Elections. Scouts are strongly encouraged to make every effort to attend this meeting.

Scouts that hold the rank of First Class and above are eligible candidates for the OA and all scouts should consider who they believe would make excellent candidates to vote for based on their character and application of the scout oath and law in their daily lives. Reminder that this is not a popularity contest.

Reminders since the last troop meeting:

1. Tonight we’ll welcome several new scouts to the troop that recently crossed over from Cub Pack 191.
2. We have several event and activity signups that are being handled online through the troop website:
   • The first is regarding the annual fertilizer fundraiser sale. Additional selling opportunities have been added this weekend
   • Second is the trip to the Paul Robinson Observatory at Voorhees State Park Friday. This signup will close tonight following the troop meeting
   • Next is the Whitewater Rafting trip at Jim Thorpe PA on Sunday April 29^th.
3. Summer Camp is the week of July 15^th this year. Signups are online however you must also print a signup form and submit to Mr. Tufaro at the weekly troop meeting with payment. Costs for summer camp can be paid by scout account and/or check made payable to Troop 191.

Thanks to those that made it to last week’s meeting expecting to participate in OA elections; apparently there was a mix-up in scheduling with the council and elections were not held. OA Elections are now scheduled for March 29^th.

We have 12 scouts and 6 adults confirmed to go this Friday. There is room for more if signups are confirmed by the Thursday Troop Meeting. The cost is $6 per scout as the Troop is picking up $6 per scot – again this troop subsidy is funded by our fund raising including the fertilizer sale.

We will meet in the Municipal building parking lot at 6:30 in order to arrange drivers and leave by 6:45 so we can be in the observatory parking lot by 7:15 PM (approximately 13 mi = 26 minute ride). Any parent who planned to drop their scout off at the observatory please confirm to with Mr. Garvey that is their plan so we will not be waiting at the municipal building.

Note this visit will start the scouts on the Astronomy Merit Badge requirements.