We have been talking about the Council wide spring camporee, Salute to Service for several weeks.  This will be a premier event at Griffiss Business and Technology Park featuring exhibits from several branches of the military, law enforcement, fire departments and DPWs.  There will be drones, robotics, canine units, fire rescue and more. We will be camping in tents from Friday PM through Sunday  AM.  The Troop will cover the $20/person registration.  Food will cost each person $15.  I need to get the troop registered after our meeting this Wednesday, so please let me know if you are planning to attend. 

Any non- registered parents who would like to camp out will need to be registered with the BSA.  This includes completing the Youth Protection Training on line and completing an Adult Application.

1. We will be holding a Court of Honor for 1 Merit badge and 2 rank advancements next Wednesday.
2.   We will also be conducting an Order of the Arrow election. Order of the Arrow is the honor program for Scouts. We have 3 Scouts who are eligible this year.  We need to have the majority of our Scouts in attendance to complete the election process.
3. We will be conducting a leaders/parents planning meeting to complete the calendar through August.
4. We will be conducting our annual Friends of Scouting Campaign.  This is our opportunity to support then Scouting program financially. It may interest you to know cost to bring the Scouting program to the youth of our community is approximately $1000/ year.  About 40% comes from the Council’s endowment.  The remainder comes from camp revenues, special fund raising events, grants from local foundations and the Friends of Scouting campaign.

We ask that at least one parent from each family attend and of course the entire family is welcome to attend.

We need to have a final head count on the Spring trip May 11-12 to Albany.  Early bird payment for summer camp is due at Seneca Waterways council by April 19.  I will be out of town April 10-14, so I would like to have final payments next Weds.  If you don’t know how much you owe, call me.

We have reserved 20 spots on the USS Slater for Saturday May 11-12.  I need to send them a final roster next week, therefore I need to know who is going.  This is our Spring Trip.  We will also be visiting the State Museum in Albany on Saturday.  The cost is $15/Scout/Leader to cover the food costs.  Any parent wishing to go must be registered as this is an overnight event.  Any questions??

Paul O.

We will not have a meeting this week do to the Open House at Myles School.  Our next meeting is March 27.  All Whitley Peanut orders are due.  As a reminder this fund raiser goes toward summer camp fees.  Please check the order forms for accuracy before turning them in.

I need to know if you are going with us to the eclipse at CK on April 8.  Please let me know ASAP as I need to have an accurate headcount.

Our spring trip to Albany is May 11-12.  I need a headcount for this as well., so that the folks on the USS Slater know who to expect.

Leatherstocking Council is having an Eclipse Viewing Event from 2-5 PM on April 8.  Preregistration is required.  The cost is $10/person. Scouts and registered leaders will be paid of the Troop Treasury. All others will need to pay out of pocket.  Please let me know if you are planning to attend before next Wednesday so that I can register everyone.  Special glasses, snacks and a patch will be provided to those registered.  Let me know ASAP.

Thanks

Paul O

If you are going to attend the campout this weekend, please bring $15/person this Weds for food.  We will be staying in the Dining Hall.  All adults staying overnight must be registered with the BSA. 

Paul O.

We are holding our annual Parent/ Scout weekend at Kingsley March 8-10.  We will be using the Dining Hall which is heated and has flush toilets.  This is a great weekend to spend time with your son(s).  With the new Youth Protection requirements, all adults staying over night must be registered with the BSA.  This means you need to have filled out an adult application and complete Youth Protection Training for this year.  Parents who are not registered may come up for the day.  I will need your completed BSA Adult Application on Wednesday to give time for reference checks and the required background check.

The cost for food is $15/ person.  I would like this in cash this week for all who will be attending.

All:  First Happy New Year.  This Wednesday will be a Court of Honor to present advancements.  As part of the opening, we will be formally inducting Luke and Shane into the Troop. Following the ceremonies, we will be having our monthly leaders/parents meeting to discuss upcoming events, recruiting, finances, etc. Scouts will work on skills for the Klondike Derby.  See you at 7 PM on Wednesday.

Paul O.

All: We have been asked to help with Wreaths Across America sponsored by the DAR. The event is this Saturday at 10 AM at the Old Burial Ground on Kirkland Ave in Clinton, (across from the Clinton Arena). There will be a short presentation followed by placing wreaths at veteran’s graves. Wear your uniform and dress warm. This can count toward service hours.

We will be planning our next campout Dec 8-10 at this week’s meeting.  Younger Scouts will be working on Tenderfoot, 2^nd Class and 1^st Class outdoor skills. Ben will be doing the ILST for all Scouts who are 2^nd Class, 1^st Class or above.  ILST is the introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.  It is a prerequisite to NYLT, National Youth Leadership Training, which our Council is hosting in August.  The troop has historically paid ½ the tuition for 2 to 4 Scouts for NYLT.  I will be available to answer questions about all of these programs on Wednesday.

The cost of food for the campout is $15/person.  Please have in cash this week.

Paul O.