Headlands Trip Jan 15,16 2016

We have 3 adult chaperones for the Headlands trip on January 15 and 16. We still need at least one more driver who can pull the troop trailer and another chaperone who can drive and take up scouts. This is a super easy trip for a new volunteer if you haven't camped with us yet. It is indoors, and you get to sit on a couch and take in the beautiful view of Lake Superior in a heated home that the scouts like to call the mansion. The scouts are allowed to bring gaming systems and board games to keep them occupied. It's an indoor slumber party! 
Please contact me asap if you would like to attend as a chaperone. Additionally, please let me know if your scout plans to come. We need to get a count of people for food and transportation. Thanks!

Committee Meeting tonight!

Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a great holiday.

It is the first Sunday of the Month, so it's time to get back to business and plan some boy scout fun for 2016. 

Most urgent on the agenda is getting volunteers to go up to Headlands for the scheduled trip on January 15 and 16.  This is a super easy trip for a new volunteer if you haven't camped with us yet.  It is indoors, and you get to sit on a couch and take in the beautiful view of Lake Superior in a heated home that the scouts like to call the mansion.  We need one person to pull the trailer and 2-3 additional people to chaperone and drive up scouts.  The scouts are allowed to bring gaming systems and other things to keep them occupied and it's an indoor slumber party.  Please contact me immediately if you would like to attend.

Plan to attend tonights meeting to participate in decisions being made for the upcoming year.  6pm for scouts and 7pm for adults at Bagley hall.  

Service time opportunity today!

Don't forget to help out the Kiwanis Club of Gaylord, Michigan  by giving an hour or two of your day to help carry Christmas food baskets for families in Gaylord. Today!
December 12 Saturday 9-4pm and December 13 Sunday 10-3pm. Located at: Elementary School Annex or more commonly known the building between the Middle School & South Maple

Next week Scout meeting after school, swimming and Holiday party.

Next week is the last time we meet before Christmas break. Our meeting will begin at 3:00 pm at the sportsplex. Scouts should bring $3.00 for the admission to the pool (unless they have that available in their scout account) Scouts should bring their swimsuit, and if they plan to do requirements for a rank advancement they should bring their book.

Parents: The troop will provide sloppy joes, pop, ice cream. I would like a few parents to volunteer to bring something to add to the snack, but we don't need a lot of food. It's just a snack after swimming and a little Holiday cheer. If you can bring something, please comment on Facebook, or email me what you are bringing. (I'm thinking chips, cookies, veggies, or other sides.) Thanks!

Committee Meeting tonight and Best of the Best in Otsego County

 Don't forget the committee meeting tonight, 6pm scouts, 7pm leaders.  

Get your votes in for the Best of the Best in Otsego and surrounding counties!  There are a lot of categories worth voting for, including best non-profit and I think BSA Troop 1 or the Kiwanis Club sure qualify as Best of the Best! ;)

Best of Best in Otsego County

Dec 5 activities

Free movie 10:00 to 12:00pm tomorrow for kids at the Gaylord Cinema. Kids can be dropped off adults will be charged to watch the movie. Scouts in uniform can volunteer time for service hours. If you are coming for service the arrive 9:30. Eric Clink and some Troop 14 leaders will be supervising. Scoutmaster will not be there.
Don't forget to walk in the parade at 5:30 and help out with canned food drive and visit Santa immediately following.
Sunday is committee meeting.

Dec 12-13 Sign up for Kiwanis Christmas baskets - Service Time!

Almost Every Scout Needs Service time to rank up, especially the new scouts!

 

December 12 Saturday 9-4pm and December 13 Sunday 10-3pm, Kiwanis needs help to load Christmas baskets into cars. Located at: Elementary School Annex or more commonly known the building between the Middle School & South Maple

You wanted a sign up sheet, you got it!

Sign up for Kiwanis Basket

December Troop Schedule:

Meeting tonight is the Communications Merit Badge. If your scout is working on this badge, make sure to remind him to bring his blue card, worksheet and complete his assignments.

All Scouts should bring their book for signing if needed.

December Schedule:

2 Communications Merit badge (James Lake)

5 Saturday–Gaylord Santa Parade, meet 5:30 pm normal parade lineup. Service Time. Canned Food Drive.

6 Sunday 6pm Scouts, 7pm Leaders,

Committee Meeting Bagley Hall

9 Patrol Leaders Training, merit badge completion, working on rank advancement, miscellaneous

12,13 Saturday and Sunday, Service time: Kiwanis needs help to load Christmas baskets into cars. Located at: Elementary School Annex or more commonly known the building between the Middle School & South Maple

16 After School Christmas Party- Pool Party meet 3pm at Sportsplex. Swim 3:15-4:30. Christmas party in lobby after. No evening meeting. Some opportunity for rank requirements, but it's only an hour swim time.

Christmas Break December 19-January 3 No meeting.

Missing wreaths!

If anyone has any extra Wreaths with their orders, to please contact Sharon ASAP. She is missing wreaths and will need to order a couple more. Thanks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As I think over the past year, and all the blessings that Boy Scout Troop 1 has to be thankful for, one blessing comes to mind in every activity that I remember. That is the dedication and volunteer spirit of our leaders and parents. Each camping trip is planned, driven, and chaperoned by caring parents and leaders. Every day outing, every service project, each meeting, each group merit badge class, each fundraiser, etc has someone behind the details. Every time I look around, I see jobs getting done that I might have forgotten or didn't have time to do. Someone always has my back! I'm grateful to every leader and parent who give up time with their family to give to the scout family. I'm thankful to the leaders and parents who supported scouting in the past and still come around occasionally to help out even though their scout is full grown. Our scouts benefit from the talents and personalities of the different leaders and parents that give their time.

I spoke to a young scout yesterday about service time. He had volunteered at the Cub Scout Open house, but said his time didn't count because he didn't work, he only played with the cub scouts. He was surprised to hear that the time he spent play and entertaining the scouts is service time! Just being there with a friendly face and a smile is sometimes all the encouragement that a young scout needs to succeed. Look at the smiles on our scout's faces and know that you played a role in that happiness.

Thank you all again for the excellent work that you did at the Kiwanis Open House. I saw all the nice things that you did that evening to help the scouts host a great evening for the Kiwanis Club. Today I will think of you all when I count my blessings.

Yours in Scouting,

Julia Bushong, Scoutmaster

Religious patches available to earn

Troop 1 always encourages scouts to enhance their Duty to God by earning a religious emblem. In addition to the religious knot or medal that can be worn on the uniform, there are also series of fun patches that can be earned as well. The Footsteps of American Saints program sponsored by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting is one way for you to earn some patches and learn about the saints.

Recently Bishop Steven Raica, of the Diocese of Gaylord, attended the National Catholic Youth Conference and brought back some beautiful patches as an example of what can be earned in scouting. Contact your scoutmaster or your religious coordinators Mrs. Engel and Mrs. Sharkey to find out more information. Any Boy Scout or Cub Scout can earn these patches.

http://www.nccs-bsa.org/activities/FootstepsOfAmericanSaints.php

Design the Lock-in Patch!

Our 20th Annual Sportsplex Lock-in will be March 19, 2016. As always, we need to create a customized patch for the lock-in. Would you like to help? Please submit your ideas to Scoutmaster by January 6th. Your initials (or your name if it's short) could be included inconspicuously in the patch as a credit to your ideas. See the attached flyer and put your artistic talents to work!