As many of you enjoy “Spring Break” with a return to eLearning, next week, the Troop merit badge counselors have been meeting to establish virtual merit badge opportunities for you [via Zoom] during BSA National’s ruling to refrain from in-person unit activities during April.

Please note the first offerings below. Registration isn’t required, but it will help the counselors check the list and communicate with you in advance as needed. We will post and email Zoom Video Conference Codes when available. You may Google the Merit Badge Class Name plus “pamphlet” and “worksheet” to be able to read and print useful information.

Also, please let us know on the sign up form if there are merit badges that you would like to pursue that have reasonable “indoor” content.

Stay tuned for possible weekly meeting programming – we’re still sorting out a good virtual strategy.

Finally, note that while State Parks are currently closed, County parks are not. So if you’d like to find fresh air and exercise with your family, click here.

Citizenship in the World* – TUE 3/31 @ 7:00 PM. Mr. Flaherty and Mrs. Murphy
Personal Management* – THU 4/2 @ 6:00 PM. Mr. Flassing and Mr. Friend
Electricity – Date and Time TBD. Mr. Hartwig and Dr. Lanken

* Eagle-required

Sign up for Merit Badge Classes and suggest other Merit Badge Subjects HERE.

Since we’re all at home practicing shelter in place, we thought it would be a good idea to get our records updated in our rank advancement website, Scoutbook.com.

We would like each scout/parent to take pictures of the scout’s rank pages (in their scout books) and text it to Alice Enochs: 708-567-5921, or email it: enochsalice@yahoo.com

Alice is our Rank Advancement Chairperson and she will check each scout’s rank advancement page (on Scoutbook.com) to make sure everyone is up-to-date.

Troop 24 Families:

In the spirit of caution and Scout Safety, Troop 24 will temporarily cease Scout activities that take place at Riverside Presbyterian Church, most notably, the weekly Thursday meetings.

This is in line with Pathway to Adventure Council recommendations, which you can review via this link, and Village of Riverside recommendations, which you can review here.

During the hiatus, your Scouts can continue to work at home on requirements for ranks and in-progress merit badges – practice knots & lashings, map & compass principles, first aid techniques …!

Finally, if a school Spring Break falls during this hiatus, enjoy your time together as family.

** Stay tuned for future Troop Posts over the next few weeks **

Tomorrow the Troop holds its annual Order of the Arrow [OA] Elections!

GATHER IN THE SANCTUARY.

Takhone Lodge Order of the Arrow representatives will be present to conduct the elections.

Please take these elections seriously.  It is an honor for both the Scouts and the Troop.  Below are some guidelines.

• Select the candidates who, in your opinion, have set the best examples of brotherhood, cheerfulness, and service.
• Vote for those you believe will continue in unselfish service to your unit.
• If you are new in the unit and do not know the candidates well enough to vote wisely, you may abstain by not turning in a ballot at all; this will not affect the final result.

ADJOURN TO THE SOCIAL HALL: After the election ballots are collected, we’ll adjourn to the Social Hall, where we’ll assign Troop jobs and review rank requirement status before heading to the gym for a game.

TROOP JOBS: Seeking … Quartermaster(s), Instructor(s), Den Chief(s), Outdoor Ethics Guide, Librarian, Historian, Chartered Organization Aide, and a Bugler

ITEMS OF NOTE

CAMP SULLIVAN CROSSOVER CAMP-OUT coming up [MAR 13-14-15].  Troop participants will leave Friday late afternoon; Crossover Scouts will arrive at the camp on Saturday morning.

SCOUTS NEEDED!  The annual Hauser Food Drive is in its 50th year! The “Feed Our Community Day” (meal packing event) takes places on Saturday, April 4th from 9:00am-5:00pm in the Hauser cafeteria.  Details forthcoming.

Summer camp at Tesomas [July 12-18] is around the corner!  Click here for information.

SERVICE PROJECT AT THE BOULEVARD

Our troop’s chartered organization, the Riverside Presbyterian Church, prepares, transports and serves a hot meal for 45-75 residents of The Boulevard (Chicago) on the last Sunday of every month. This our chance to help.  Click here for details.

Don’t forget – Troop 24 will be holding a Family Night at Michael Anthony’s restaurant this Sunday, February 9th from 5 to 8 pm. Come and enjoy dinner and an evening out with your family and Troop 24 friends. We will have board games, card games, big screen TVs, and pizza or other great food from their menu. The restaurant will donate 15% back to Troop 24. At 6 pm, Assistant Scoutmaster John Flaherty will give a brief presentation about the Friends of Scouting program. The restaurant is located at 6434 Ogden Avenue in Berwyn, we will be in their Party Room.

Troop 24 will be holding a Family Night at Michael Anthony’s restaurant on Sunday, February 9th from 5 to 8 pm. Come and enjoy dinner and an evening out with your family and Troop 24 friends. The restaurant will donate 15% of our orders back to Troop 24. Michael Anthony’s is the same great restaurant that makes the delicious pizza for our 4th of July booth. The restaurant is located at 6434 Ogden Avenue in Berwyn, we will be in their Party Room. Hope to see you there!

At this event we will also have a brief presentation from Assistant Scoutmaster Flaherty about the Friends of Scouting Program. Please read the letter below about this important program.

To the parents of Troop 24:

A Scout is Prepared. As such, I want to prepare you for a special presentation. On February 9th, we have our Friends of Scouting (FOS) presentation. This is the one time each year when parents are asked to financially contribute support to the Pathway to Adventure Council. I am oftentimes asked “Why should I contribute to FOS?”, so I wanted to send information to you ahead of time so you understand what Friends of Scouting supports and why it’s important.

As a Troop we ask you to pay Troop dues that covers a National Registration fee, Boys Life fee and supports our Troop. Friends of Scouting dollars go to “behind the scenes” expenses that support our unit and that we never “see”, but are incurred by our local Council. These expenses are things like:
• Operating costs for Camp Napowan, Camp Betz, Camp Owasippe and Camp Lakota.
• District and Council programs such as Pinewood Derby’s, Training Events, Winter Klondike Derby’s, Merit Badge Days, Haunted Hikes, and more.
• Important items such as Adult Leader Training and Accident and Sickness Insurance coverage for all registered youth and leaders, and Camperships for Scouts whose families would not otherwise be able to afford to send their child to camp or join Scouting.
Contributions vary going all the way up to $5000 and even more! It takes about $240 per Scout per year to support the services and programs provided by the Pathway to Adventure Council. That’s only $20 a month. A target amount of $240 will cover all expenses incurred by our Council for your Scout this year. If you can afford more, fantastic! Your donation will help support Scouts who are less fortunate. If you cannot give at that amount, I hope that you will give whatever you can. Please consider the benefits received by your child and other youth when making your decision. In 2019, only 11% of families participated in FOS. We hope to have 100% participation this year, but we need your help!

At the presentation you will receive a Friends of Scouting pledge card. I ask that you be prepared at that time to donate/pledge. You can write a check for the full amount, spread it out over the year, or even make a pledge via online resources, there is also a text to give option as well.

I am ready to make my pledge to FOS and believe that supporting Friends of Scouting is important. I ask you to thoughtfully consider helping us reach our goal of 100% participation.

Thank you in advance for your consideration and your support of FOS.

Troop 24 Committee Chair, Unit FOS Coordinator
Carrie Staubus

Thursday, November 21st, 7:00,

Drop off at RPC

Pick Up at The Tomek House – 150 Nuttall Road, Riverside. 

This week, we will embark on our great Riverside National Historic Registry/Landmark hike.  The itinerary includes the Coonley Estate, Hofmann Dam, Arcade Building, Riverside Historic District plaque, and the Tomek House.

This week, we will share our thoughts about last week’s Village Hall meeting [continues our work on the Eagle-required Citizenship in the Community Req #3b], and prepare for the November 21st architecture hike – a tour of Riverside landmarks.

ALL SCOUTS who attended last week’s meeting should be ready to speak briefly on the topic below.

TOMORROW – Thursday, November 7th, 7:00, MEET AT THE VILLAGE HALL!

This week, we will attend the first part of the monthly Village Board meeting.  In addition to fulfilling our collective civic duty, this will fulfill Eagle-required “Citizenship in the Community” merit badge Req #3a.

Be sure to wear your Class A with neckerchief or bolo tie, and khakis or jeans [no athletic pants]!

The Village Trustees include: Ben Sells [President], Cristin Evans, Alexander Gallegos, Edward Hannon, Wendell Jisa, Elizabeth Peters, and Douglas Pollock

We will then adjourn to Room 22 on the second floor for an insightful overview of Riverside architecture by our own Mr. Randall [Lincoln’s dad], in anticipation of our November 14th evening architecture hike!

Parents should pick up Scouts at Village Hall around 8:30 in room 22, on the second floor. You may use the elevators or steps to gain access to the second floor.

ITEMS OF NOTE

POPCORN PICK-UP: at Colonel Pecis’ house, SATURDAY.  426 Kent, Riverside.
VETERAN’S DAY – November 11th
Boards of Review – November 21st
“1000 Trees” Conservation Project – November 23rd
NO MEETING on November 28th

REMEMBER YOUR CUB SCOUT ROOTS!

Pack 24 would like a few Scouts from our Troop to conduct a flag-retirement ceremony at their weekend gathering at the Scout Cabin. This is a great opportunity to participate in what is a solemn and important ceremony and to meet some of the Cub Scouts who may be joining us in the years to come.

AND, it fulfills Second Class Requirement 8a.

The ceremony would take place this Saturday [the 5th] at the Scout Cabin at around 6:00.

Click here to sign up.