We will continue with the First Aid Module on Thursday with Dr. Lanken, be prepared by reading the First Aid Chapter of the Scout Handbook.  We will also make final preparations for Ingersoll Campout.

Please turn in Checks for Summer Camp made payable to Troop 24 in the amount of $300 unless you have popcorn credits.

• BRING SCOUT BOOK TO ALL MEETINGS
• MEETING OPENING 7:00
  •   New Scout Patrol BLACK JACK is responsible for meeting set-up, FLAGS, and clean up. Report at 6:45 in Full Uniform.
• SKILL INSTRUCTION
  • Trail to First Class:  First Aid Advancement/Merit Badge in Scout Handbook.  Be Prepared.
  • Troop Guides and Instructors responsible for working with Dr. Lanken on First Aid module.
• QUARTERMASTERS: Prepare trailer for Ingersoll Campout.
• MERIT BADGE: [First Class & Above]   
• TROOP ACTIVITY: First Aid Baseball
• CYBER CHIP:
  • Scout Rank and Star Rank need to acquire the Cyber Chip for your age. Go to http://www.netsmartz.org/scouting to review the requirements.  Once you have completed the Read, Write and Watch requirements, please sign up on the Troop 24 website to schedule a meeting to complete the Teach and Talk requirements.  We have the Cards.  The chip expires after one year, see Scoutmaster Flaherty to “Recharge” or renew the Chip.

Welcome back after your Spring Break.  We hope everyone had a relaxing week.  We are in our home stretch to the end of the Scout year and our last meeting will be May 31.  We are working hard to finish First Aid and have many exciting outings, service opportunities and fun events coming up.  Don’t miss out!!!

RETURN ALL TROOP TENTS and EQUIPMENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

• BRING SCOUT BOOK TO ALL MEETINGS
• MEETING OPENING 7:00
  •   New Scout Patrol DUCKS is responsible for meeting set-up, FLAGS, and clean up. Report at 6:45 in Full Uniform.
• SKILL INSTRUCTION
  • Trail to First Class:  First Aid Advancement/Merit Badge in Scout Handbook.  Be Prepared.
  • Troop Guides and Instructors responsible for working with Dr. Lanken on First Aid module.
• QUARTERMASTERS: Prepare trailer for Ingersoll Campout.
• MERIT BADGE: [First Class & Above]  Personal Management.  Be prepared. Have your parent sign off on Requirement #2.  
• TROOP ACTIVITY: First Aid Baseball
• CYBER CHIP:
  • Scout Rank and Star Rank need to acquire the Cyber Chip for your age. Go to http://www.netsmartz.org/scouting to review the requirements.  Once you have completed the Read, Write and Watch requirements, please sign up on the Troop 24 website to schedule a meeting to complete the Teach and Talk requirements.  We have the Cards.  The chip expires after one year, see Scoutmaster Flaherty to “Recharge” or renew the Chip.

Welcome to all 15 new scouts, we look forward to many fun events together.  Thursday’s meeting will begin the First Aid Module.  Please read the First Aid chapter in the Scout Handbook.  Please read and be prepared for Dr. Lanken and the Troop Instructors.  We will also begin the Personal Management Merit Badge with Mr. Jerz and Mrs. Murphy.

Bring any School Supply Donations for the Aidan Flaherty Eagle Scout Project to Thursday’s Meeting.

• BRING SCOUT BOOK TO ALL MEETINGS
• MEETING OPENING 7:00
  •   New Scout Patrol DUCKS is responsible for meeting set-up, FLAGS, and clean up. Report at 6:45 in Full Uniform.
• SKILL INSTRUCTION
  • Trail to First Class:  First Aid Advancement/Merit Badge in Scout Handbook.  Be Prepared.
  • Troop Guides and Instructors responsible for working with Dr. Lanken on First Aid module.
  • To Be Completed at Home: Second Class 8c & 8d; see the form from the Forms & Documents link on the Troop website.
• QUARTERMASTERS: Prepare trailer for Cantigny Campout.
• MERIT BADGE: [First Class & Above]  Personal Management.  Print out the worksheet from MeritBadge.org and be prepared. Have your parent sign off on Requirement #2.  
• TROOP ACTIVITY: First Aid Baseball
• CYBER CHIP:
  • Scout Rank and Star Rank need to acquire the Cyber Chip for your age. Go to http://www.netsmartz.org/scouting to review the requirements.  Once you have completed the Read, Write and Watch requirements, please sign up on the Troop 24 website to schedule a meeting to complete the Teach and Talk requirements.  We have the Cards.  The chip expires after one year, see Scoutmaster Flaherty to “Recharge” or renew the Chip.

THANK YOU to every scout and adult volunteer that made the Pancake Breakfast a huge success.  We had a great turnout and it was a wonderful community event.

Cantigny Campout March 16, 17, 18:  Wednesday is the last day to sign up for the Friday Night Cantigny Campout. https://troop24riverside.com/2018/02/st-patricks-day-campout-at-cantigny-park-two-outings-one-awesome-weekend/

• Scouts will camp Friday night to Saturday afternoon with the opportunity to explore the Cantigny grounds.  This is an excellent opportunity to complete those camping and cooking requirements for rank advancement!
• All those signed up to Camp on Friday night are REQUIRED to attend the Troop Meeting on this Thursday, 3/8 to plan their campout and meals.  We will meet in the Westminster Room.
• All our new Troop Guides, Carl L, Daniel W, Thomas J, Ryan L, Colin G, & Christopher C are needed to camp on Saturday night with the new crossovers.  It is the responsibility of the Troop Guide to teach our newest scouts the ways of camping with Troop 24.  You will all be treated to the best Corned Beef & Cabbage dinner you have ever had courtesy of the Leaders.  Please sign up for the Saturday campout or join us for the entire weekend!
• All new Scouts have the first Boy Scout campout on Saturday afternoon to Sunday, March 17-18 at Cantigny.  Please register for the Saturday Campout at the link above.  Scouts will only need their personal gear including sleeping bag and mat, clothes, and mess kit.  The Troop supplies the tents and food.

Thursday Meeting March 8:  Three Meetings in One!

• New Scouts shall attend the Thursday meeting at 7:00 pm in the third floor gym, enter on the south side door.  Scouts should be dressed in the full uniforms and prepared with pen and paper.  We will be forming New Scout patrols, electing patrol leaders, and introducing the scouts to Troop procedures.
• Troop Guides: Carl L, Daniel W, Thomas J, Ryan L, Colin G, & Christopher C are required to attend the Thursday meeting to guide and introduce the New Scouts to the ways of Troop 24.
• New Scout Parent Meeting: We will hold a Parent meeting for all our New Scout parents at 7:00 pm in the Social Hall.  We will discuss all facets of Boy Scouts, Troop 24 procedures, Summer Camp and Campouts.  Come prepared to take notes and we will answer all your questions.  Please bring your completed registration forms to the meeting and $40; see Mrs. Staubus email to you on March 1.
• Cantigny Friday Campout Planning Meeting: All those signed up for Friday night Cantigny Campout will report to the Westminster Room to plan meals and activities for the Campout.
• First Class and above scouts must register for a Troop Job with Mr. Flaherty.  If you haven’t already chosen a Troop job, see Mr. Flaherty on Thursday.  We are in need of Troop Instructors and Quartermasters!

Thursday’s Election resulted in New Scout Leadership for Troop 24.  After a spirited two person race for Senior Patrol Leader, the election results were determined to be a tie.  The candidates met with the electoral college of Scoutmasters and determined a winner.  Congratulations to the new leadership and patrol leaders who will lead the troop for the next six months until August 31.  The new leadership had its first Patrol Leaders Council meeting last night and have planned a new and exciting agenda moving forward.  We trust that all the scouts will embrace the ideas, activities and enthusiasm of their scout leaders.

• Senior Patrol Leader:  Michael R
• Assistant Senior Patrol Leader:  Ewan P

It’s Election Day at Troop 24!!!  It’s time to elect new scout leadership to lead your troop for the rest of the scout year through August 31.  The Senior Patrol Leader and his administration is responsible for planning meetings and outings, setting the tone of the future of your Troop, and leading the Troop at Summer Camp.  The SPL should be a First Class or higher Scout, at least a high school sophomore or equivalent age, and had previous leadership experience as a Patrol Leader, Den Chief, or ASPL.   The troop will accept nominations from the floor; each candidate will be given two minutes to make his campaign speech; and the vote will be conducted by secret ballot.  We look forward to our senior scouts stepping up to give back to the Troop that has given so much to you.  Each patrol will elect a new Patrol Leader.  In addition, all First Class and above scouts must meet with Mr. Flaherty to select or renew their troop jobs.

Order of Arrow elections will also occur on Thursday.  It is extremely important that the entire troop be on hand for the elections otherwise Pachsegink Lodge will not accept the results.  All current OA members should wear their sashes.

Pizza Party immediately following the elections and patrol meetings.

Thursday is our bowling outing at AMF Forest Lanes on 47th Street in Lyons from 7-9pm in lieu of our regular meeting.  Please sign up and pay here:  https://troop24riverside.com/2018/02/troop-24-patrol-bowling-tournament/

A few reminders for those who were not at last Thursday’s meeting:

• Order of Arrow:  If you were elected to the OA last year, you have one last opportunity to complete your Ordeal at the OA Spring Fellowship.  If you were elected last year and do not complete your Ordeal this spring, you have not been inducted into the OA and will need to start the process/election over again.  See the Pachsegink Lodge website for more information and to sign up for the Ordeal.
• Pancake Ticket money ($75) is due this Thursday.  Bring it to the meeting/bowling event or contact Mr. Hosek to make arrangements to deliver to him.
•  MANDATORY meeting next Thursday 2/22 for Troop and Order of Arrow elections and pizza party.  All current job assignments will end and you must meet with Mr. Flaherty to sign-up for a new troop job after the election.  Also, Board of Review will be in session, please sign up on line.
• Pack 24 Cross Over is 2/25, please sign up to help with this important event.
• Thursday meeting 3/1 will be for Pancake Breakfast set up.  Only those scouts signed-up for the Thursday set-up need attend.
• Thursday meeting 3/8 will be the first meeting for the new crossovers Only.  We will need a few Troop guides and instructors to help the new scouts set up their patrols and teach the scout basics.

The scouts had a fantastic Luge weekend and are ready for the Winter Olympics.  At this week’s meeting, we will continue to work on any unfinished advancement requirements.  This is your opportunity to catch-up on those requirements we can do at the meetings and be poised to advance rank after our first campouts in March and April.  We reviewed and worked on every module except First Aid which we will begin in March.  Review your unfinished requirements, practice, and come prepared to demonstrate your proficiency.

Ski Outing sign-up deadline is tomorrow, Wednesday, February 7.  This is an action packed weekend with skiing at Granite Peak on Saturday and Tesomas winter activities of Cross Country Skiing, Ice Fishing, Quinzee building, and Snowshoeing on Sunday.  We will return on President’s Day Monday in time to shop the mattress sales.   Don’t miss out.

MANDATORY MEETING on Thursday, February 22 for Troop and Order of Arrow elections.  All job assignments will end on February 28 and you must see Scoutmaster Flaherty for a new troop position.  The following Thursday, March 1 is pancake breakfast set up; don’t forget to turn in your pancake ticket money.

• BRING SCOUT BOOK TO ALL MEETINGS
• MEETING OPENING 7:00
  •   ZULU patrol is responsible for meeting set-up, FLAGS, and clean up. Report at 6:45 in Full Uniform.
• SKILL INSTRUCTION
  • Catch-up on unfinished requirements
  • To Be Completed at Home: Second Class 8c & 8d; see the form from the Forms & Documents link on the Troop website.
• QUARTERMASTERS:
• MERIT BADGE: [First Class & Above]  First Aid Merit Badge will begin in March.
• TROOP ACTIVITY: Tug-of-War
• CYBER CHIP:
  • Scout Rank and Star Rank need to acquire the Cyber Chip for your age. Go to http://www.netsmartz.org/scouting to review the requirements.  Once you have completed the Read, Write and Watch requirements, please sign up on the Troop 24 website to schedule a meeting to complete the Teach and Talk requirements.  We have the Cards.  The chip expires after one year, see Scoutmaster Flaherty to “Recharge” or renew the Chip.

Troop 24 welcomes the Cook County Sheriff K-9 unit on Thursday to demonstrate their abilities and talk about the dangers of drugs and alcohol.  Thursday’s meeting will satisfy Second Class 9a, so don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to see a drug dog up close and get all your questions about police work answered.  Meeting starts promptly at 7pm in the Social Hall.

Thursday is also Boards of Review, so sign up on line if you are completed with all your requirements.  We will start Family Life merit badge next week with Mr. Jerz.

PLC  Meeting is January 30 at 6:00 pm at RPC.

WE ARE STILL MISSING ONE TENT!!  PLEASE RETURN IT ASAP!!!!