This week the Troop meeting will be on Friday, November 4, at the Scout Cabin, NOT on Thursday. If you have a tent or other equipment out from White Pines, please wait until the following week, to return it; do not bring it to the Scout Cabin.

Thank you to scouts and families who have brought in canned goods for the Riverside Food Pantry. This is the last week we will be collecting food, so if you have not already done so (or even if you have), you are invited to make a contribution of any non-perishable foods.

The semi-annual patrol re-organization will be done on November 17. Any scouts who are interested in having a leadership position as a patrol leader should talk to Mr. Payne.

All popcorn orders are due to our Popcorn Kernel by Thursday, October 27. Scout can bring the orders to the meeting, or orders can be dropped off at Anne Kodama’s home. Please contact Anne at amkodama@sbcglobal.net to get directions to her house. Orders must be accompanied by full payment (in other words, if your scout took any orders without getting payment, you will need to pay for the popcorn and get paid when it’s delivered). Anne would prefer to receive checks only, so please keep any cash collected and write a check instead, made out to Troop 24

The Troop will conduct our annual Orienteering outing at Waterfall Glen on Saturday, November 12. On this outing scouts will have an opportunity to complete Requirement 2 for the 1st Class rank: Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.). Scouts can also use this outing to complete 2nd Class requirement 1b: Using a compass and a map together, take a 5-mile hike approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.

According to our records, 30 scouts need 1st Class Requirement 2, and 23 scouts need 2nd Class Requirement 1b. Please check your books to see if you/your scout need this requirement.

Unfortunately, our November outing is usually the only time during the year that scouts can complete the orienteering requirement, so any scout who has not already done this should plan to attend. (Even those still working on lower ranks can earn requirements for 1st class.)

To prepare for this outing, scouts should plan to attend the next two Troop meetings (Thursday, October 27, and Friday, November 4). Because we expect many scouts to participate, we will need drivers, and could also use adult participation. (Adults who are not familiar with orienteering can come to the two training meetings, or you will be paired with an older scout who has done this before.)

There is no cost for this outing, but you must sign up in advance. The registration form can be found here: http://troop24riverside.com/2011/10/waterfallglen-orienteering-outing-form-november-12-2011/

For those scouts working on the American Heritage Merit Badge, Mr. Robertson will be available in the Westminster Room (downstairs) at 6:30 p.m. this Thursday, October 27, to work on the badge.

Boards of Review will be held this Thursday, October 27. This will the scouts’ last opportunity to have a Board before the fall Court of Honor on November 10. Please ask your scout if he needs a Board of Review, and let Nancy know so we can schedule them for Thursday.

Don’t forget that the Troop is collecting canned foods for the Riverside Food Pantry during the month of October. Please bring any contributions to the Troop meeting tonight or next Thursday.

The Boy Scout Coin Collecting Merit Badge Program will be held at the West Suburban Coin & Collectibles Expo in Countryside, on Sunday, November 13 beginning at 10:00 a.m. The show is located at Park Place Banquet Hall, 6200 Joliet Rd, Countryside. To reserve space, please RSVP to Kevin Wasmer at 630-399-9060 or kwasmer@comcast.net. (This is a very well-done program, and the scouts come home with a lot of neat stuff.)

Scouts who are done selling popcorn can turn in their orders at the Troop meeting on Thursday, October 20. ALL orders are due by Thursday, October 27. Parents: please check the totals and be sure the money turned in equals the amount ordered. Our Popcorn Kernel would appreciate receiving checks rather than cash, so if your scout collected cash, can you please keep the cash and write a check to the Troop for that amount? All popcorn orders have to be paid in advance (so the scouts should not have sold with an I.O.U.). If you have any questions, please contact Anne Kodama.