Hello and welcome back to ‘The Troop 457 Scoutmaster Minute.’ I’m Mr. Maloney, your host and Scoutmaster, and I’m excited to share with you the latest news and updates from our Troop. Let’s jump right in!
First off, a big congratulations to our Scouts who’ve recently earned ranks and merit badges. Last night we awarded patches to the following Scouts in recognition of their achievements:
- Jack F. completed the Chess merit badge.
- Landon achieved his Scout rank and the Swimming merit badge.
- Patrick H. earned Cooking, Pottery, and Welding merit badges.
- Luke received his Scout rank, along with Swimming and Archery merit badges, and
- Orion completed the Citizenship in the World merit badge last week.
Congratulations also goes out to Solomon and Eddie who successfully completed boards of review last night earning their Second Class Ranks.
Great job, everyone!
Now, for some important training news. Our ‘Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops’ event is confirmed for Saturday, December 2nd. The location and start time will be announced on TroopTrack later this week, so stay tuned but please remember to RSVP so we know you can attend. Remember, all our members are encouraged to attend, even if you’ve taken the course before. We’ll cover troop leadership positions and structure, leadership skills, and leading teams. Parents, you’re especially encouraged to attend the first module to learn more about our troop positions and responsibilities.
Onto our service projects – a big part of what makes Scouting so rewarding:
- This Saturday, November 18th, we have our Santa’s House service project, now starting at 9 AM, not 8:30 AM, at Four Corners Park. Dress warmly, and remember, pizza at Goodfellos follows the event.
- Timeslot to help with Salvation Army bell ringing are still available. Please let me know if you are interested in participating.
- Also, mark your calendars for the Miracle on Main Parade on Thursday December 7th at 6:30 PM, where we’ll march alongside Scouts from our Cub Scout Pack.
- Finally December 16th offers two volunteer opportunities: the Reindeer Race and Wreaths Across America.
Check TroopTrack for additional information about all these events and please RSVP so we know who will be in attendance.
Looking ahead, our December 12th Troop meeting is our annual holiday party. Look for the invite from TroopTrack and please RSVP so we know how much pizza to buy. Scouts who would like to participate in the white elephant gift exchange should also plan to bring a wrapped gift (max $15).
We have a number of meetings happening next Tuesday starting with our Patrol Leaders Council at 6PM. All Scouts holding leadership positions (including newly elected leaders) should plan on attending. The general meeting will start at 7 PM and include patrol meetings and the parent’s meeting. During the Patrol meetings, I’ll be talking about how to plan effective meetings and events and my expectations for these.
That’s a wrap for this week’s ‘Scoutmaster Minute.’ Remember, the Santa’s House project is this Saturday at 9AM, and next week’s meeting starts at 6PM for Scouts in leadership positions. Stay engaged, stay prepared, and let’s continue to embody the principles of Scouting in everything we do. Until next time, this is Mr. Maloney, signing off. Happy Scouting, everyone!