Troop 306 Weekly Newsletter- 10/25/2020

Troop 306 Weekly Newsletter

Celebrating our 108th Anniversary serving youth in Catonsville and beyond . . .

CALENDAR

Here are some important upcoming dates:

OCTOBER

29 - Outdoor Troop Meeting at Catonsville Presbyterian Church at 6 pm

NOVEMBER (Busy Month Ahead)

5 - PLC and Troop Committee Meeting via Zoom

12 - Outdoor Troop Meeting at Catonsville Presbyterian Church

(14 - 15) - Backpacking Camping Trip (additional info will be sent out soon) 

19 - Mandatory Parent Meeting via Zoom (will be going over tree sale schedule and logistics)

27 - Christmas Tree Stand Set Up (Scouts in 8th Grade and Up, plus any available adults)

28 - CPC Grounds Clean Up and Tree Delivery/Sorting (AM)

28 - Christmas Tree Sale Begins (PM)

We hope all of you continue to be safe and well.  We recently learned that most activities and meetings inside the Catonsville Presbyterian Church building will remain suspended through the month of December.  Troop 306 is cautiously holding some outdoor events and activities, primarily at Catonsville Presbyterian Church.  Please see the schedule above.  For any outdoor activity, the Scouts will be separated by patrols or small groups.  Social distancing and face masks are required, and hand sanitizer will be available.  We also will be using a non-contact forehead thermometer to check the temperature of any Scout or adult participating in a Troop meeting or activity. We ask that anyone who is not feeling well or suspects recent exposure to Covid-19 to refrain from attending in-person Troop meetings or activities.  

If there are any changes to the schedule, we will update you as soon as possible. 

RESPONSES ARE DUE FOR CHRISTMAS TREE SALE!

We are moving forward with our largest annual fundraiser, which is the Christmas Tree sale.

Last Sunday an email was sent asking families to let Krystal McCormick, this year's schedule coordinator, know which dates or times you are not available to work during the Christmas Tree sale.  As of yesterday morning, only four families had responded.  If you have not done so, please take a few minutes today to send your availability to Krystal.  Remember, the cutoff date for responses is Sunday, November 1.  

Here is some other key information about the sale:

• The sale runs from the Saturday after Thanksgiving until we sell out (which is usually a week or so before Christmas).
• Every Scout family is responsible for covering shifts during the sale.  A parent, guardian, or older relative must remain with the Scout. 
• There will be a mandatory parent meeting via Zoom on Thursday, 11/19, to discuss the Christmas tree sale logistics.

Set-up for the Christmas tree sale and the church grounds clean up occurs on the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving.  This is an annual event and an opportunity for everyone to get involved.  More information will be shared in November.

RE-CHARTERING

It's almost time to complete the re-chartering process.  For several years, the internal reregistration cost for Scouts in Troop 306 has been $100.  As discussed during the recent parent meeting, the BSA registration fee for Scouts has increased twice within the past year due to the challenges the organization is facing.  The current National registration fee for Scouts is $66, which is almost double the previous amount of $35.  Last year, because information had already been sent out regarding reregistration fees, the Troop absorbed the increase.  This year some of the additional cost must be shared with the families.  Therefore, the reregistration fee this year will be $125 per Scout.  The cost for adult registered members will be $45.  Payment is due no later than Thursday, 11/12.

If any family has a financial need that would prevent payment of the registration fee, please speak in confidence with Cynthia or Jeff about obtaining assistance from the Memorial Fund.

Parents:  Please remember that funds in your son's Scout account may be used to cover reregistration fees.  You may give your Scout's reregistration fee to Cynthia at one of the in-person Troop meetings, notify Cynthia that you want to use your son's Scout account to cover the fee, or submit your payment electronically to Jeff via Zelle or PayPal (please inform Cynthia of any electronic payments).

Adult Members:  Almost all of you have YPT dates that expire next year, so you must complete YPT again this year.  Please try to have this done no later than Thursday, 11/5.  If possible, please email me a pdf copy of your certificate.  You also may give your payment to me at one of the in-person Troop meetings, or submit your payment electronically to Jeff (but please inform me).  Background forms are only required for new adult members or those changing positions.

All:  Please also inform Cynthia of any changes to your contact information.

HIKING MERIT BADGE

We are having so much fun with the Hiking Merit Badge, which is being coordinated and led by Hope Riley.  We completed the first 5-mile requirement yesterday.  YAY!!!  Hope will be sending out information later this week for the next adventure scheduled for Saturday, October 31.

FOOD/TOILETRIES COLLECTION PROGRAM @ CPC

Catonsville Presbyterian Church is still working with other churches in the area to gather non-perishable food items.  At CPC, there is a direct food collection program every FRIDAY evening (4 - 6 pm) in the small parking lot on Frederick Road.  Food collected there is then delivered to the Knights of Columbus on Saturday morning.  If you are able/willing to participate in this worthy cause, please consider doing so to help those in need.  All non-perishable items are welcomed, and also may be dropped off at the Knights of Columbus on Saturdays from 8 - 10 am.  Additionally, both locations are accepting toiletries -- these are going to CEA for the homeless population.  Please package any toiletries separately.

THANK YOU!

Many thanks to all of the parents have volunteered for a role or responsibility within the troop over the past year.  I want to give shout out to the parents of the Scouts who joined Troop 306 in the spring.  Your participation (camping, hiking, being a guest presenter during a Troop meeting) is very much appreciated.  

Parents, we need you in order for the Troop to continue to thrive.  Please consider ways in which you can get involved now or in the new year.

SCOUTING IS IN HIGH GEAR !!!!!  LET'S HAVE A GREAT SCOUT YEAR !!!!

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