Don’t forget–we do NOT have a Troop meeting on Thursday. We’ll be at the Scout Cabin on Friday, May 7. Scouts will be working on Emergency Preparedness with guest speaker, Riverside Fire Chief Kevin Mulligan.

Parents:  If you are able to bring something, we are in need of food (desserts, fruit, or appetizers) at Thursday’s Court of Honor.   We will supply coffee and lemonade.  Please e-mail Michael Payne and let him know if you are bringing something.  Thanks!

Next week, on Thursday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m., Troop 24 will hold a Court of Honor in place of our usual troop meeting.  Scouts who are advancing in rank should have a parent present.  All scouts should be in full uniform for the Court of Honor (shirts; neckerchiefs; olive, tan or khaki pants; and sashes for those who have them).

All family members are invited to attend.

This week our Troop meeting will be held on Friday, February 5, at the Scout Cabin at 7:00 (NOT on Thursday at RPC). The Webelos 2 scouts will be joining us for their official visit to a Boy Scout Troop in preparation for their crossover. On the agenda is a demonstration by a firefighter on the use of an AED (automated external defibrillator) as well as pizza and a movie. Because we’ll be meeting on Friday rather than a school night, scouts can stay later than our normal meeting time. You may wish to send your scout to the meeting with a cell phone. We have the Scout Cabin until 11:00.

For scouts who are ready for a Board of Review, we are planning to offer Boards of Review on February 11 (rather than the usual 3rd Thursday, which would be February 18). If necessary to accomodate all scouts, some Boards may be held on February 18 as well. Please let Mr. Payne know if you are ready for a Board of Review.

This week our Troop meeting will be held on Friday, January 8, at the Scout Cabin at 7:00 (NOT on Thursday at RPC). On the agenda is a fire safety demonstration by a firefighter, a video about the luge outing planned for January 30 in Muskegon, followed by popcorn and a movie. Because we’ll be meeting on Friday rather than a school night, scouts can stay later than our normal meeting time. You may wish to send your scout to the meeting with a cell phone. We have the Scout Cabin until 11:00.

1. Beginning with this Friday’s meeting, the first meeting of each month (the first Friday following the first Thursday of the month) will be held at the Scout Cabin. Special events or presentations will be held at the first meeting of the month.

2. The second meeting of the month (second Thursday) will be held at the church at 7:00 (following a Patrol Leader meeting at 6:30). We will cover a requirement for new scouts (Joiner or Tenderfoot), and separately work on a 1st Class requirement. Scouts who are 1st Class or above will have the option of working on individual merit badges (assuming they have set up an appointment with a Counselor), or have the opportunity to give back to the Troop by helping teach the younger boys or work on their troop jobs.

3. The third meeting of the month (third Thursday) will be a Troop merit badge meeting, working as a group on Eagle-required merit badges. We’ll be wrapping up Personal Fitness and will begin Emergency Preparedness in February. The youngest scouts will work on Tenderfoot requirements. Also at the third meeting 15 minutes will be designated for Patrol meetings. Boards of Review can be scheduled for the third meeting of the month, if the scout has notified the Scoutmaster in advance that they are ready.

4. The fourth meeting of the month (fourth Thursday) will follow the same format as the second meeting.

Please join us for the fall Court of Honor on Thursday, November 12, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Riverside Presbyterian Church Social Hall. Refreshments will be served after the ceremony – stay and visit a while! NOTE: Scouts, please arrive at 6:45 P.M. in FULL UNIFORM.

The first Troop meeting for the year will be Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the gym at Riverside Presbyterian Church. (September 3 is Hauser Fall Parent Night.)

Just a reminder that our final Court of Honor for this school year is Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m. All scouts should be in full Class A uniform, and a parent needs to be present for those boys who are advancing in rank.