Troop 353 Putnam Valley

Please be advised this coming Tuesday our weekly meeting will be held at the Putnam Valley Grange Building - arrive around 6:30PM. This is where we sell Christmas Trees & Wreaths in December - Mill Street & Peekskill Hollow Road.
The good people of the Grange have requested our Troop to take part in a clean-up. During the past winter numerous limbs have broken and fallen from surrounding trees and a “general spring cleaning” would greatly be appreciated.

Bring your gloves, a rake, a shovel, clippers, a tarp, a large, thick garbage bag for trash…. anything that can be use to refresh their grounds. Please dress appropriately as you know the area has pricker bushes. Should you have any questions, please contact Troy, your Senior Patrol Leader.

Those of you who have started collections or parents/grandparents interesting in providing a collectible for your child, please read the following on a BSA Centennial Silver Dollar.

This could spark your child’s interest in saving, investing, collecting and more importantly scouting. Have fun.

Launching the BSA Centennial Silver Dollar
Since the law was signed in the fall of 2008 authorizing the minting of 350,000 silver dollar coins in recognition of the BSA’s 100th Anniversary, there has been almost nonstop interest in when the coins would be available, and how to order one. Now, the time is here!

On March 23, the United States Mint will make available for sale the BSA Centennial Silver Dollar. Proceeds from the coin surcharges will benefit the BSA National Foundation in efforts to bring Scouting into underserved communities. If every coin is sold, $3.5 million will be generated for this very worthy cause. Are you ready to get yours? Beginning at noon ET on the 23rd, coins can be ordered through the U.S. Mint at www.usmint.gov or at 1-800-USA-MINT. For the first thirty days, the proof coin will be offered at $39.95 and the uncirculated coin will be offered at $33.95, after which the prices will be $43.95 and $35.95, respectively.

Be sure to visit the coin webpage on the 100 Years of Scouting website. There, you’ll find information about the coin, its honorary chairman Judge William S. Sessions, and promotional materials.

We expect this limited quantity of coins to sell fast! What a beautiful keepsake to commemorate our historic 100th Anniversary, while furthering our ability to extend Scouting to every eligible youth in the nation.

This weekend’s cabin camp out at Agatha A. Durland Scout Reservation (Clear Lake) will include working on three Merit Badges - Wilderness Survival, Nature and Emergency Preparedness. There will also be a hike during, which we will perform tree identification, discuss animal tracks and orienteering. It will be an action packed weekend.

The scoutmaster has many new and exciting events and we look forward to seeing you there at the White Pine Cabin starting Friday night - please stop at the CampMaster’s cabin on your way in. Please contact Scoutmaster Eliopolous for any last minute questions or concerns.

During last evening’s Committee Meeting we discussed summer camp at Curtis S. Read Scout Camp located at Brant Lake in the Adirondacks. We currently have four adult volunteers to assist the Troop. Those scouts who are interested need to return to Mrs. Gallo their Camp Scholarship Form and a check in the amount of $50 made payable to TROOP 353 to secure your place at summer camp. The full fee for summer camp is $330. The Troop will forward to Council all forms simultaneously for their review and consideration. Your information will remain confidential.

You can go to www.wpcbsa.org (their website) and view this information
Medical forms (attached) will be collected the week prior to camp. All forms are reviewed again up at Read by their staff to make sure all information has been provided. All medications taken by scouts and adults have to be indicated and provided to the camp medical staff for distribution as required.

Your sons have expressed an interest in going to The Cliffs in Valhalla. This firm teaches climbing at their Indoor Rock Climbing School. Our scouts will not only learn intricate knots required for climbing, but also learn to rappel and free-climb by experienced climbers who provide instructions to earn the Boy Scout Climbing Merit Badge. The cost for the two-day course is $60. A minimum of 10 scouts per class is required. The Troop Committee has agreed to split the cost with the scouts. Those interested in attending need to make a check payable to Troop 353 for $30. The date is still being worked out.

The Putnam Valley Grange has contacted our Troop to assist them in cleaning up the storm damage around their building. They are planning for an outdoor event and would like us to assist. Our April 27th meeting will be held at the Grange at 6:30PM (corner of Mill Street and Peekskill Hollow Road) where we sell our Christmas trees. Please bring rakes and gloves. They are also asking our help to erect a tepee. This is especially helpful for those scouts and students who are required to provide community service and interesting.

We have been invited to attend Pack 53’s May 21st meeting at Town Park. They will have a variety of events happening, including an exhibition with a wolf and it’s handler. The time is tentatively 5PM - 8PM.

Parents have expressed an interest in obtaining sweatshirts for scouts who just recently have joined the Troop, or who have outgrown their existing ones. We are currently reviewing the minimum amount required to place an order. Our Scoutmaster is also looking into up-dating the look of our troop cap. Please let us know your thoughts and ideas.

Any questions or thoughts can be sent to my email and I will obtain answers as quickly as possible. Thank you.

All parking will be done in designated locations. There will be no vehicular access directly to the cabins. Units are permitted 2 or 3 cars in parking areas along main road near cabins. Additional vehicles will be parked in either the Campmaster lot or the Sperling Center lot.

Last week we had a Board of Review for one of our scouts and discussed having a Committee Meeting during the Boy’s meeting this week. I should have sent out an email early, sorry for such short notice.

All committee members and PARENTS are requested to come to the VFW at 7PM to discuss upcoming events - especially Summer Camp. This invitation is being extended to ALL PARENTS who can attend, listen and participate. With you, our Troop runs that much smoother and your input is greatly needed and appreciated.
Thank you and I hope to see you this evening.

Just a Reminder:

At our Troop meeting this evening we will have a presentation by Council regarding summer camp. Please be prompt and in full dress uniform. They are our guests and we would like to show them the respect they deserve. Bring your parents.

Thank you - Hope to see you.

On Tuesday, March 2nd we are expecting visitors from Council to address our Troop and give a presentation on attending summer camp at Read Scout Reservation. We expect them to be at the VFW at 7PM.

Ms. Lauren Conciatori, a new addition to our Manitoga District, is now heading up our Boy Scout Camp Promotions. She and her team will speak about summer camp at Read located on Brant Lake in the Adirondacks.

As we have done in the past, we have already reserved Week #2 – July 11th – 15th at the “Sunrise” site at Camp Waubeeka, which has proved to be enjoyable.

It is important to come in FULL DRESS UNIFORM and bring our parents.

Coffee and light refreshment will be served.

I look forward to seeing everyone and hope to get a chance to speak to our parents and sign up those interested in participating. The necessary forms will be on hand for your convenience.

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.