Pack 24 will hold its Blue & Gold banquet, and the crossover of the Webelos scouts into the Troop this Sunday, February 24. We need 12 scouts to assist with the crossover. The event will be held at the same place as it has been for several years: Park Place banquet facility, 6240 Joliet Road in Countryside. Scouts who are able to assist, please sign up here:
http://troop24riverside.com/2013/02/crossover-sign-up-form/

Thursday night’s Scout Meeting is the deadline for turning in the Pancake Breakfast ticket money. Each Scout is expected to turn in the full payment of $75. Checks should be made out to Riverside Troop 24. At this meeting, each scout will receive a copy of the work schedule as well as a set of instructions. Parents, please be sure that your scout has reviewed these instructions prior to the breakfast day. Any scout that has a conflict with their scheduled time is responsible to find another scout to switch with and then to inform Sue Jones of the change. Thank you for your support of this important fundraiser!

TICKET SALES — All Boy Scouts are required to sell their entire packet of tickets and to turn in their $75 by Thursday, February 21. Sue Jones, Pancake Breakfast Chairman, will be at the meeting tomorrow night to collect scouts’ envelopes with their payment and then again next Thursday as well. The envelope with payment may also be dropped off at 150 Southcote (push envelope all the way into the mailbox).

BREAKFAST WORK SCHEDULE — Each Scout is also required to work at either the set-up night (Thursday, February 28) or the Breakfast Day (March 2). If your scout has a conflict on one of these dates, please email Sue Jones at Sue_Jones@DesignPac.com as soon as possible. The schedule will be finalized by 2/17 so any emails regarding conflicts must be sent by 2/16.

THANK YOU ALL for your support of our troop’s main fundraiser!

Scouts and parents interested in learning about possible high adventure outings this summer are invited to a meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday in the Westminster Room (downstairs) at RPC. We have two opportunities: a week-long scuba outing in Florida for scouts and leaders/adults. All participants must be scuba-certified before the outing. The second possibility is a backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains in Michigan. Both outings are for older scouts (at a minimum have graduated from 8th grade this spring). If you are not able to attend the meeting, but want more information, please contact Jim Ringbloom at jrringbloom@sbcglobal.net

Parents: Announcements at Troop meetings will be made at the END of the meeting, not at the beginning. You are free to drop off your scout, but if you want to hear the announcements, please come up to the gym at the end of the meeting.

Our scouts will have the opportunity to work on several merit badges (all Eagle-required) at our Troop meetings in February and March.

Scouts will attend one of these three merit badge sessions: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Family Life. All scouts taking one of these merit badge classes will need to read the appropriate merit badge book. We have many in the Troop Library (see our Librarian, Jack Lu.). Scouts can also borrow a book from another scout who has completed the merit badge, or purchase a book at the Scout Store in LaGrange.

Scouts currently in sixth grade, as well as scouts who have not yet earned the First Aid Merit Badge, will be working with Dr. Stephanie on First Aid, as well as completing 2nd Class and 1st Class requirements relating to first aid.

Scouts who have already completed First Aid, and are 1st Class and above, will have the opportunity to work on Citizenship in the Community with Mrs. Lulich.

Scouts who have already earned both the First Aid AND Citizenship in the Community merit badges will be working with Mr. Andersen on Family Life. Generally, Family Life is recommended for 8th graders or older.

If you have any question about which class is appropriate for your situation, please discuss it with Mr. Hartwig.

For Citizenship and Family Life, there will be work requirements beyond the time spent at the meetings. (For Family Life, help from the “family” is needed as well). Specifically, for Citizenship in the Community:

Prior to 2/7:
Review Requirement 7:
a. Choose a charitable organization outside of Scouting that interests you and brings people in your community together to work for the good of your community.
b. Using a variety of resources (including newspapers, fliers and other literature, the Internet, volunteers, and employees of the organization), find out more about this organization.
c. With your counselor’s and your parent’s approval, contact the organization and find out what young people can do to help. While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, discuss what you have learned with your counselor.

On 2/7:
We will discuss and complete Requirements 1 and 2.
We will discuss Requirement 3. You will pick a meeting to attend.
We will discuss Requirement 7. You are to choose your charitable organization and begin your service hours.
You will begin working on Requirement 8 to be completed at home.

On 2/14:
Please bring completed Requirements 4 and 5 (done at home).
We will complete Requirement 6.
We will discuss Requirement 3, if completed.

Requirements to be done outside of the meetings:
Requirement 3, attending a meeting
Requirement 4, 5 to be done at home
Requirement 8 to be completed at home
Service hours (Requirement 7)