September 1 Meeting  

Welcome to the 2016-17 Scout year.  The Patrol Leaders Council has been meeting throughout the summer to plan a fun and rewarding year.  The first meeting will be Thursday, September 1 at 7:00 pm and a lot of changes and updates are in store.  We will be reorganizing the patrols and electing new patrol leaders.  We will be selecting new senior leadership and assigning troop jobs.  We will be collecting books and updating our records to identify the advancement requirements still needed.  There will be many announcements and a lot of information concerning High Adventure trips, Popcorn, Camp Outs, and meeting plans.  Your attendance at the September 1 meeting is required to participate in the patrol selection process, patrol and senior patrol leader elections, and to choose a troop job.  We are still accepting nominations for Senior Patrol Leader, September 1 – March 31 term; please submit your name to Scoutmaster Flaherty (JEF2004@msn.com).

Minimum eligibility for Senior Patrol Leader as established by the Patrol Leaders Council:

• The SPL shall hold the rank of Star, Life or Eagle at the time of selection.
  • The SPL shall be at least a high school sophomore or 15 years of age or older.
  • The SPL shall have held the position of Asst. Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leader, or Den Chief in the past.
  • The SPL must make Scouting his primary commitment and commit to attending every Thursday meeting throughout the year.
  • The SPL must commit to attending, planning and leading every Patrol Leaders Council meeting throughout the year.

Thank you to all the families that attended the organizational meeting for this trip on Monday evening (August 22).  Registration for this trip has now begun, and note that our maximum crew size for this high adventure opportunity is 20 people, which includes adult leaders.  Registration will take place on a first-come, first-paid basis, with a registration and initial payment deadline of Thursday, September 22. 

• Who:
  • Scouts must have graduated from the eighth grade and at least 14 years old
  • Must swim 100 yards (official BSA swimmer test), and stay afloat for one minute.
  • Minimum 4 adults as certified BSA leaders (max 50% of participants 18 or older)
  • First class rank
  • Crew size of 18 minimum to 20 maximum

• What is a Sea Exploring Adventure
  • Designed for larger groups, offering your crew the opportunity to experience a sailing adventure of yesteryear. These are large vessels, 75 feet or more, normally gaff-rigged topsail schooners, fully equipped and prepared to provide an unforgettable adventure snorkeling the beautiful Keys’ reefs, fishing, and hands-on sailing as well as a port-o-call in Key West.
  • During the weeklong odyssey, you will snorkel several reefs as you sail among the fabulous Florida Keys.  Along the way, you will troll for mackerel, barracuda, and mahi-mahi, hoping to supplement the ship’s stores.
  • Among the highlights of your adventure are sailing to a small archipelago of islands, fishing, snorkeling, and maybe even catching some lobster (in season). If you’re expecting a “cruise” and someone serving your meals, this is not the adventure for you. It is a rugged extended voyage on a large vessel. Everyone pitches in with the sailing and cooking chores. You’ll do on-board navigation, star study, and lots of snorkeling and fishing—but you won’t be waited on.

• When:
  • Sunday, June 25 to July 2, 2017; eight days & seven nights
  • Troop 24 has made a $100 deposit for a group of 18. Per person deposit of $415 ($7,475 total) due on October 1. Balance due in early spring 2017.  The initial payment is due to Troop 24 by Thursday, September 22.  We ask that families make checks to troop 24 for the $415 by this date, and Troop 24 will remit a single payment to Seabase.  Scouts can apply popcorn credits to cover the cost of this event.
• Where:
  • Islamorada Florida, mile marker 73.8 in the Florida Keys 90 miles from Miami Airport
  • Seabase Website: http://www.bsaseabase.org/Adventures.aspx
• How: 
  • Fly from Chicago airport (TBD) early morning, connect with local charter bus to the Sea Base
  • Return from Seabase to Miami on bus, then fly to Chicago for evening arrival.
• Cost Estimates:
• Sundry is an estimate to cover meals in transit, commemorative item (t-shirts, sun hat, patch, etc.)
• Ground transport is group charter bus to/from Miami airport to Islamorada
• Excludes spending money for on-site camp store, etc.
• Does not include airfare to / from Chicago, but Expedia shows the following (as of 8/22):
  • $284 base fare direct from ORD to MIA on United for a 7:30am departure
  • $258 base fare direct from ORD to FLL on United for a 7:50am departure
  • Note – Southwest can currently only book into April 2017

Questions? – email Jim Jerz: jiminov AT hotmail DOT com.

Click here for scout registration.  Click here for adult registration

Troop 24 will soon begin its annual popcorn sales fundraiser. Sales forms will be available to scouts at Thursday meetings in September. You should have received a postcard about Star Wars themed training events which the Council has scheduled for scouts and their parents to help you “join the force” and become popcorn sales masters. The one–hour trainings will take place this Saturday from 9:00 until noon. Please pre-register at https://scoutingevent.com/456-9143. Thank you to Vince Pecis for volunteering as our new Popcorn “Kernel”. Questions about the popcorn sale can be sent to him at vrpecis@gmail.com.

Troop 24 is planning an weekend camping outing to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan Friday, September 9-11.  This is our first camping trip for the fall!

Scouts will camp, hike dunes and beaches, and have an opportunity to work on rank advancement and participate in the First Aid activity with Pack 24 who will be camping at Warren Dunes as well that weekend.

Logistics:

• This outing is limited to the first 20 scouts that sign up (and pay) for the outing.  We have a small campsite and therefore must limit the number.
• Scouts signed up for this outing should be dropped off at RPC at 5:00 p.m. on Friday. We will return late morning on Sunday.
• Deadline to signup and pay for the outing is Sunday, September 4.
• The Scout cost for this outing is $40.
• Scouts must wear their Class A uniform while traveling.
• An email confirming participation, communicating packing list and providing an update on the weekend weather will be sent to all scouts a few days prior to the outing.

Please fill out a form for each scout and each leader/chaperone. Scouts and Leaders must register Sunday September 4.

Scouts Register here

As always,  we need leaders and adult chaperones to participate and drive.

Leaders/Adults Register here 

For questions contact Susan Lynch

Congratulations to our newest Eagle Scout, Kit Kodama!

All scouts, leaders and Troop 24 family members are invited to attend the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Casey Gomorczak, William Gmitro, Killian Klotz and William Flaherty. The ceremony will take place this Sunday, August 14 at 3pm at the Riverside Presbyterian Church, with a reception to follow the ceremony. Scouts and leaders who have signed up to participate in the ceremony should arrive at 1:45 for a rehearsal.