Annual Calendar Planning Meeting
Saturday, August 28, 2010
12 Noon - Kevin Sigward's House

The end of August heralds three truly significant events:  Riverfest and the fireworks; the Nativity festival; and most importantly, the annual Troop 6 planning meeting!  All scouts and interested parents are invited to participate in the planning meeting this Saturday, August 28, from noon until 3 p.m. at my house at 6401 Grand Vista Avenue.  Last spring, we began work on the Bicycling merit badge with a ride on the bike trail to Loveland, and began planning for a 50-mile ride in September; so, with Peterloon in October and the Turkey Campout in November, we have a good start on planning the year’s outings.  We’ll enjoy hot dogs on the grill and snacks beginning at noon, and get down to business at 12:30 p.m.  If we get done early, we might have time to roast marshmallows.  Here’s what we need:

1. If you plan to come, send me an e-mail at klsigward.pe@fuse.net, or call me at 351-2603 by Friday.
2. If you are in the Wolverine patrol, please bring lemonade, a soft drink or similar beverage to share.
3. If you are in any other patrol, please bring a snack or dessert to share.
4. All scouts:  Be sure to bring your school calendar so we can put school holidays/vacations on the troop calendar.

There is a very good chance that Troop 399 at St. Cecelia in Oakley will merge with Troop 6 this fall, so if you see a scout you don’t recognize at a troop meeting, remember the 4^th point of the Scout Law and make a new friend!   

Other important dates to add to your home calendar include, but are not limited to, the following:

§  First Troop meeting of the school year:  Monday, August 30.  Dave Jackson has arranged for Jay McKillop from Jim's Bicycle Shop to cover four of the requirements pertaining to bicycle maintenance for the Cycling Merit Badge.  Due to the need for two troop meetings to prepare for the September outing, we need to postpone the final summertime outing to Climb Time or Rock Quest until after Peterloon.  We need to start right at 7 p.m., so please be on time!  This would be a great time for the troop, including leaders like me, to turn over a new leaf and begin arriving at troop meetings five or ten minutes early instead of late.  Are you up to the challenge?  On my honor, I promise to do my best. . . .

§  Labor Day, Monday, September 6.  No troop meeting scheduled at this time.                          (over)

§  OA Root Beer Float Sale, Saturday, September 11.  We will discuss the details at the planning meeting and have sign-ups at the planning meeting and at the August 30 troop meeting.

§  Second Troop meeting of the school year:  Monday, September 13.  This meeting will start at 6:00 p.m. so that we have time to assist the members of the church with moving items for the Fall Rummage Sale.  The assistance the troop gives to the church with rummage sale and Christmas bazaar set-ups is hugely important to PRPC, so please plan to come early.  We will also take an urban bike ride down Lester Road led by Chuck Kohl, Cycling Merit Badge counselor, to fulfill some of the requirements for the Bicycling merit badge, so bring your helmets and bikes.  Remember:  No helmet, no ride.  Finally, this is the final turn-in date for Peterloon release forms, so if you want to go to Peterloon in October, turn in your form by September 13.

§  September Outing:  50-mile bike ride from Loveland to Yellow Springs, September 25 – 26.  We will develop plans for this outing at the planning meeting and subsequent troop meetings.  In order to make the 50-mile trip, scouts need to complete a series of shorter rides; check the requirements in the Cycling merit badge book or find them online through the Dan Beard Council website.  The 50-mile trip can be used as the two required 25-mile trips for scouts who have not completed the 25-mile trips.  If you haven’t been riding your bike this summer, find time to take those shorter rides on the weekends between now and the end of September so you’ll be ready for the big trip.

§  PLC (Patrol Leaders’ Council) – Monday, September 27.

§  Troop Meeting on Monday, October 11.  This is the beginning of IHN week at PRPC, so we will not be in the Scout Room.  We will need to do a lot of Peterloon planning the week before and tie down loose ends on the 11^th.

§  October Outing:  Peterloon Camporee, October 15 - 17, Camp Lower Craig (near Friedlander)This is a councilwide camporee that draws troops from other states; over 5,000 scouts and adult leaders are expected to attend.  Held every other year, the camporee involves competitions, exhibitions and activities for scouts of all ages, including adult leaders.  The scouts from the troop who went two, four and six years ago had a memorable experience.  All scouts really should plan to go to Peterloon; unless you attend the National Jamboree, it’s probably the best chance you’ll have to see a massive encampment.  There are activities at Peterloon that aren’t even at summer camp, so make plans to go.  With a little planning, it is possible to go to Peterloon and still play in the weekend’s football/soccer games.

§  PLC (Patrol Leaders’ Council) – Monday, October 18. 

Remember, this is not an all-inclusive list of important dates.  Come to Saturday’s planning meeting and help shape the troop’s calendar, and be sure to come to the first troop meeting on August 30.  Be sure to let me know if you’re coming this Saturday.