Troop 353 Putnam Valley

The Merit Badge Program has been attended by a number of our scouts in the past couple of years. It is a great way of picking up badges besides what can be earned in summer camp or on your own.

The class is not mandatory, but HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. Scouts should discuss this date with their parents and email Mr. Mark Drexel at drexelj@coned.com to reserve a seat in each individual class. The cost $20 is minimal for the amount of time and effort the leaders put in, and lunch is included.

This is an excellent way to meet new scouts from various troops around our area and participate in scouting.

Troop 911 Yorktown will be hosting a Merit Badge Day on Saturday,
January 30th from 8:00AM to 4:00PM at Temple Beth Am on Church Street in
Yorktown Heights, NY.

* The program will consist of two sessions (morning & afternoon)
with at least 12 merit badges being offered.

* Pre-registration is required. You must bring a copy of the MB
book.

* The morning session will be 3 1/2 hours in length and run from
8:00 - 11:30 AM.

* The afternoon session will be 4 hours in length and run from
12:00 - 4:00 PM.

* The cost is $20 for the day and lunch (pizza/beverage) will be
provided.

Scouts interested in attending should send an email to DrexelJ@coned.com
with:
1. Morning choice and /or Afternoon choice from the list below.
2. Troop Number and Community
3. Current Rank
4. Age & Grade Level

Directions and pre-requisites will be forwarded with registration
confirmation.

Morning Session
Citizenship in the Community
Citizenship in the Nation
Citizenship in the World
Electricity
Engineering
Law
Railroading

Afternoon Session
Archeology
Communications
Energy
Family Life
Fingerprinting
Personal Management (must be in High School)
Personal Fitness

NOTE: If all requirements are not met, you can get partial credit and
finish it up when you finish the remaining requirements.

See Flyer Below For Additional Info
2010 Flyer Email Merit Badge Day

Last evening a number of our scouts joined Mr. Gorniak to learn a portion of orienteering and how to follow compass settings. Some of our scouts assisted in counting and tabulating what is necessary for our upcoming Annual Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale.

At next week’s meeting, we will be decorating wreaths and making signs advertising our sale.

Our Annual Christmas Tree & Wreath Sale will be on Saturday and Sunday, December 5th and 6th; 12th and 13th at Adam’s Corner beside the Grange Building (Mill Street & Peekskill Hollow Road). We sell from 9AM to dusk.

Attached are two items to help our scouts pre-sell our wreaths. One is an order sheet to keep track of whom wreaths are sold to and to help track in the collection of money. The other is a sales form, that you can print and left with your prospective buyer or email to friends. (Do Not Place In Mailboxes – this is not mail and you will be fined.)

Remember, $2 from the sale of each wreath goes to that scout, into a “scout account” which can be used for future activities or scout related purchase (i.e. knife, tent, sleeping bag).

Our wreath prices have remained stable at $15. This is the only fund raising event Troop 353 currently does.

INCENTIVE: This year, the scout who sells the most wreaths will win two passes to a movie in the Cortlandt Town Center.

THANK YOU to those scouts; their parents, brothers and sisters who were able to participate in the fall clean up at the VFW on Sunday. Your time and hard work is appreciated and the place really looks good. THANK YOU.

As a reminder, we will NOT have our regular Tuesday meeting tomorrow.

On Wednesday, November 11th a Veterans Day Parade is being held at our Town Hall. Veterans Day is a day to thank all veterans who have served and who are serving to protect our great Nation. This is a federal, state and local holiday - all schools, post offices and banks are closed. We look forward to seeing each and every scout participate in this event.

Mr. Gibbs has asked, if a couple of scouts could show up at the VFW at 9:30am to help load chairs into his truck and bring them to Town Hall. Please call Mr. Gibbs at (845) 821-8823 to let him know you will help.

The Troop must appear at Town Hall by 10:30am in full dress uniform. The parade will begin at 11:00am; there will be a number of noted speakers, wreath presentations and a final cannon salute.

Thank you all for your help in making our Community shine, I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday.

Our VFW needs to have OUTSIDE fall clean-up prior to Veteran’s Day. This is our meeting place and we appreciate having it. Come out and do some community service.

We need ONLY one hour of your time.

We will meet SUNDAY at 11:00AM - Bring a rake and gloves. We will cut the grass, rake the leaves and remove any trash that has gathered.

The rest of the day will be your’s to enjoy. I will see you there.

Last evening’s Boy Scout Troop 353 meeting was a special one. Cub Scout Den 1 from Putnam Valley’s Pack 53 joined our Troop at the VFW and was introduced to the art of proper knife handling.

Under the direction of Andrew, we were taught the proper handling, use and care of a pocketknife, ax and bow saw. Every scout listened and watched as they learned how to sharpen each tool by file and stone. We then demonstrated our newly learned skills on a fallen tree outside the VFW. We felt what it was like to drag a bow saw and feel it cut and swing an ax and develop a “v” notch in the wood. Upon completion of this evening, the Webelos earned their Whittling Chip and our newer Troop members received their Toten Chip.

Congratulations!

This night proved to be a fun and informational evening. Thank you Packmaster Tarrant for bring Den 1 and THANK YOU Andrew for your patience and knowledge.

Scouts - please remember tomorrow’s meeting is the FIRST MEETING of the month, which means full uniform, neckerchiefs, slides and sashes.

We are teaching KNIFE SAFETY to the Webelos of Pack 53. We will demonstrate the proper handling and sharpening of knives and other sharp tools (i.e. bow saw, ax…).

While at the VFW, the Webelos will earn their Whittling Chips and our new Troop members will earn their Toten Chip. We are privileged to have Andrew (a Life Scout with Troop 353) who teaches up at Camp Read, head up our Knife Safety Program.

Remember to bring your Pocketknife or a few to share. Remember NO fixed blades.

Hope to see you Wednesday, 7pm at the VFW.