Troop 5, Middlebury, CT

FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE PATROL LEADERS’ COUNCIL:

At the PLC tonight, it was decided that Troop 5 will be making sandwiches for the St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen/Merriman Culinary School at the February 26th meeting. We decided to do this for two reasons: the soup kitchen is in dire need of both sandwiches and supplies; the scouts of Troop 5 understand the importance of community service. In that vein we are requesting that all Troop 5 members bring a $5 contribution to the Troop meeting this coming Thursday, 2/12, to pay for the ingredients for the sandwich making. Mrs. Shannon has agreed to shop for the ingredients we need to make the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. We are also requesting that each scout bring one non-perishable food item to the 2/26 meeting, so that we will provide supplies for the soup kitchen as well as the sandwiches. Also, we are looking for an adult volunteer who can transport the sandwiches and food donations to the soup kitchen on 2/27 sometime between 8 am and 1
pm.

Yours in Scouting,

PLC

FROM MAUREEN MARCUCCI, CHAIRMAN:

Just a quick reminder that the deadline for early registration for the University of Scouting is next Friday, February 20th. So far, two Troop Five adults have registered. After 2/20 the fee goes up from $25 to $35, so please go to www.ctrivers.org to review the courses available and consider whether you will be attending. You may register on-line and the Troop 5 committtee will reimburse your $25 fee to attend.

Assistant Scoutmasters, many important courses will be taught at the University of Scouting including:

New Leader Essentials
CPR – extra $27 fee
Safe Swim Defense
Safety Afloat
Weather Smart
Climb on Safely
Dutch Oven Cooking

It is an all-day program on Saturday, March 14th. We encourage Scoutmasters, Committee Members, and those of you considering an adult leadership role to attend.

Yours in Scouting,

Maureen

FROM MAUREEN MARCUCCI, COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN:

Hello Troop 5 Parents, Scoutmasters, and Scouts,

Thursday night we will be holding a Court of Honor to recognize the Scouts who are advancing in rank, as well as the many boys who earned merit badges and participated in campouts. It should be a special time.

We will also have a presentation by our own Chris Dibble regarding Friends of Scouting, the Council’s annual fundraising campaign. Each year, besides registration fees, it costs an additional $150 per Scout to make this wonderful program operate. The money comes from many fundraising opportunities in the corporate world, local communities, and in Scouting families.

Where does this money go?
1 – supports summer camp, keeping our Boy Scout camps an amazing bargain!
2 – subsidizes the cost for all the many training opportunities for adults. Many from Troop 5 take part in Council training programs.
3 – supports the cost of professional staff at the E. Hartford office.
4 – ScoutReach for Scouts in need and for camperships. Scouts from our own Troop have benefitted from Campership support. When times are tough, camperships are vitally important to keep boys in Scouting.

If you are in a position to contribute to Friends of Scouting, please consider bringing your checkbook, cash, or credit card to contribute Thursday night. ALL contributions, big or small, are appreciated.

Yours in Scouting,

Maureen

FROM DAVE REDLINE, SCOUTMASTER:

Hi all,

Just a follow-up from the merit badge counselor request for Troop 27 in Prospect – in checking with Faith and district procedure you can sign up to be a counselor for Troop 5 only or the entire district (which includes Troop 27). We will give only Troop 27 our contact list and the odds of being called by a scout in another troop are there but slim. I would encourage you to sign up and help these scouts if possible. Please let me know by the end of Thursday’s Court of Honor so I can compile a list and go to a Troop 27 meeting to extend our offer.

Yours in Scouting,

Dave

From Nancy Pelczar, Court of Honor Chairman:

The Court of Honor is this Thursday, February 5th at 7:00 P.M. at the church. We will be doing drinks & desserts – Families with names ending in A-L should bring some kind of dessert. Families with last names ending in M-Z should bring a cold beverage.” Hot coffee w/fixings will be provided.

From Karen Curry, Treasurer:

Registration time is here again! The $75.00 registration fee is due February 5th at the Court of Honor. This money allows the Troop to pay for its recharter in April. The money is due no later than February 12th, so that we can prepare for the recharter. Unfortunately, anyone who does not pay the registration fee in time will not have their name on the Charter for the upcoming year and will not be able to participate in any scouting events until it is paid. We are all looking forward to a great year in scouting!

Any questions or concerns, please call me.

Thank you,

Karen Curry

From Jeff Lukens, Assistant Scoutmaster:

Hello Troop 5,

It’s time to start thinking about Summer Camp. We will be going to Camp Mattatuck the week of August 9th – 15th. Please put this on your calendar now. Please note the change in payment due date from previous years.

Deposit payments of $50 will be due to me by February 12th to ensure your spot at camp. A mailing is going out this week with all the information you need at this time. The total camp fee (including camp patch & troop photo) will be $340.

NO SCOUT in Troop 5 should stay home from camp for financial reasons. There are many sources of campership funding available to us. Attached is an application for a campership from the council if you need financial assistance. Please fill out and return to me with your $50 deposit by February 12, 2009. You will not have to pay the balance of the camp fees until after you have received notification of your campership. At that point, talk to me if additional funding is needed

Our goal is to have all of our troop members attend summer camp with the troop. It is a week filled with fun activities and presents opportunities for growth and advancement. Talk to any of the boys who have gone in past years — they will tell you how much fun it is.

Jeff Lukens
Assistant Scoutmaster
———
jeff@troop5middlebury.org

From Steven Zembruski, Assistant Scoutmaster:

Hello Troop 5,

I will be offering Emergency Preparedness, SATURDAY, January 10th, 2009 at 6:00 P.M. at the MIDDLEBURY CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Any scouts interested can contact me via E-Mail or cell phone. This merit badge is EAGLE REQUIRED and you must have completed First Aid. For all those who took my First Aid class, you can all participate. (Yes I know I still have your Blue Cards).

Thanks and Happy New Year!

Assistant Scoutmaster
Steven Zembruski

From Patrick M., Senior Patrol Leader:

There will be a Patrol Leaders’ Council at the church on Sunday, January 4th at 6:30 P.M.

Hello Troop 5:

The Troop 5 Committee is hosting a Troop Committee Challenge course on Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 6-9:00 PM at the Middlebury Congregational Church. All parents, Scoutmasters, and committee members are invited to attend as the course is beneficial to all Scouting participants. The committee will pay for the cost of the training.

Troop Committee Challenge: “This fun and interactive training serves as a vital tool for new troop committee members as well as for veterans. The mission of the Troop Committee Challenge training is to help each troop committee work as a team to improve the Scouting experience for adult and youth members. It helps build the commitment of individual members as well as cultivates a better troop committee team.” – District website

Please RSVP as soon as possible to committeechair@troop5middlebury.org

Thanks!!!

Maureen Marcucci, Committee Chair

Don’t forget: We have a holiday party tomorrow night, Thursday, December 18th, at 7 PM at the Church in the Social room (where we have Courts of Honor). All family members are invited.

Families with names ending in A-L should bring some kind of main course (pizza, wraps, etc.). Families with last names ending in M-Z should bring a dessert and drink. Thank you, Nancy Pelczar, our Court of Honor chairman for rising to the occasion and supplying the paper goods. The committee is here to support and help make the boys’ ideas reality.

From Jackie Mulhall, Popcorn Chairman:

Scouts – we still have some remaining popcorn that we can sell. If any scouts want to sell any additional popcorn, they will get additional camp credit for any popcorn sold. You can either sell door to door or do a show ‘n sell. If you are interested in selling more pocorn, please contact Jackie Mulhall

Thanks ~ Jackie Mulhall

Hello Troop 5:

The Committee is looking for a mom or dad to take on the role of Committee Secretary. This role can be big or small, depending upon what you would like to do, but the main requirement is for you to attend committee meetings and prepare the minutes on Microsoft Word. You do NOT need to have attended committee meetings in the past.

Please contact commiteechair@troop5middlebury.org as soon as possible, if you are interested or would like to discuss.

Thanks very much,

Maureen

From Patrick Dooling, Assistant Scoutmaster:

Troop 5:

Emailed today you will find the details and permission slip for the 2009 Bromley Ski Weekend in Manchester, VT. This year the event takes place January 30-February 1 but all permission slips and checks (made out to Patrick Dooling) are due to Patrick Dooling no later than December 31, 2008. There will be NO last-minute sign-ups this year and all reservations are final and mostly non-refundable. Those of you that have attended the trip in the past know that it’s truly one of the highlights of the Troop 5 calendar and not an event to miss!

Thanks,

Patrick