2023-09-25 This Week: No Troop Meeting, Pumpkin Patch, Annual Fees, One Month Look-ahead

Unfortunately, the Alive service project was canceled on Saturday, but thank you to the Scouts and Adults who volunteered to help.  I am sure it will be rescheduled!   Please see information below concerning the Pumpkin Patch and let’s make sure we support our Sponsor!

It was great to see so many Scouts and Families today at Sean Mulvaney’s Eagle Court of Honor.  It was a wonderful time and I know I keep saying this, but we are so fortunate as a troop to have so many Eagle Scouts and the ability to celebrate their success.

Last Thursday we had a very productive Committee/Family information meeting.  Thank you to everyone who participated and/or listened in.

 NO TROOP MEETING

With ACPS closed we will NOT have a Troop meeting this Monday.  The next meeting is on Monday October 2^nd. Please note, this is the LAST meeting before the Climboree.  If you need a blue card for the event, then that would be the time to ask me or one of the other Assistant Scoutmasters!  For the scouts that already asked me for Blue Cards, I will have them ready to hand out to you.

 SERVICE PROJECT- PUMPKIN PATCH

More information will come later in the week, however the first drop off for the pumpkin patch is this Saturday. Immanuel Church on the Hill has been an amazing sponsor and we could not exist without them generously letting us use the church grounds for meetings, the shed, and other outdoor activities.  Their members were also huge supporters of our recent car wash.  Now is the time for us to give back.

See note below from Jamie Conrad, please come out in your uniform, and help unload the pumpkins.  Not only will you earn service hours and help our sponsor, but it is also a ton of fun!  There are three drop off dates, however, October 21^st is the Camporee and I know most of us will be away for that, so we need to make the most of the first two.  Even an hour or two will be a big help!

 Greetings!  We corresponded last year when I was recruiting local young people to help unload pumpkins at the Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill Pumpkin Patch — our annual festival to raise money for the charitable ministries that we support.  Troop 131 very helpfully supplied a bunch of scouts and parents to help last year.  This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Patch, and so I’m writing you again.

As in the last several years, pumpkin unloading will be on Saturday mornings, and will involve pallet-sized cartons of pumpkins being taken off trucks with a forklift.  The main work consists of moving pumpkins from the cartons to various places in the patch, using wheelbarrows and wagons.  Scouts could come as early as 8:30 am, but can come later—we will likely be busy till noon each day.  We’ll get two trucks on Sept. 30 and one each on Oct. 14 and 21.  So scouts will have multiple opportunities to pitch in.  Folks should bring gloves.  If they have extra wheelbarrows or wagons, that would help, too.

Finally, if you’re so inclined, we would love for your volunteers (and you!) to promote the Pumpkin Patch on social media, including:

Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=pumpkin+patch+near+alexandria+va&sca_esv=563715971&rlz=1C5GCEM_enUS912US912&ei=Ih_7ZJjtKZ6u5NoP6KGxkAE&oq=pumpkin+patch+alexandria+va&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiG3B1bXBraW4gcGF0Y2ggYWxleGFuZHJpYSB2YSoCCAEyChAAGIoFGLADGEMyCRAAGAgYHhiwAzIJEAAYCBgeGLADMhYQLhiKBRjHARivARjIAxiwAxhD2AEBMhYQLhiKBRjHARivARjIAxiwAxhD2AEBMhQQLhiABBjHARivARjIAxiwA9gBAUjHE1AAWABwAXgAkAEAmAFZoAFZqgEBMbgBAcgBAOIDBBgBIEGIBgGQBga6BgQIARgI&sclient=gws-wiz-serp.

 Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/immanuel-church-on-the-hill-alexandria-2

 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/immanuelchurchonthehill/

Thanks,
Jamie Conrad
703-405-1660

ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES

See message below from Mr. Baldwin, our treasurer concerning our Registration Fees and Dues.

 As mentioned by Kevin (Jahns) at the picnic last week, we are now starting the annual rechartering process for the Troop and collecting the annual registration fees as part of that. The amounts due are as follows:

 Scouts 

Troop 131 Youth Annual fee $200 (up from $120 last year) broken down as follows:

• $80 National BSA Fee (Up from $75)
• $80 Participation Fee for NCAC (New fee this year) 
• $15 for Scouts Life magazine
• $25 stays with Troop 131 

Notes –

 – You can opt out of receiving Scouts Life and deduct the $15 from the fee amount due.

 – Among other things, the $25 portion that stays with the troop helps pay for advancement recognition (i.e. merit badges are $3.59 each, ranks $2.99), camp gear replacement and upkeep, subsidizing some trips, meals for camping and our courts of honor

 Adults

Troop 131 Adult Volunteer Annual Fee – $60 (Up from $45 last year) which is our cost to the National BSA 

  Notes –

 – The Adult fee is due even if a parent is only attending one overnight event. This is a change from previous years.

 – If an adult wishes to subscribe to Scouts Life, please include an additional $15

 We recognize this is a large jump in the annual fee, and we do not want this fee to preclude any Scout from participation. As a result, scholarships are available if needed – please contact Mark or Kevin for details.

Please make payment to the Troop Treasurer by October 23^rd as we need to send payment for the entire Troop when we submit our charter on November 1^st.

Payment can be made in several ways:

• Zelle: This is preferred.  Name: TreasurerT131

                                                          Email: Treasurer@T131.org  

                 Please include a note to summarize what is being covered.

• Personal check: These can be given to me or Kevin at one of the weekly meetings
• Scout Account: Full or partial payment can be made from your Scout’s Scout Account if they have a positive balance.
• Fallingwater reimbursement: If the Troop still owes you any reimbursement, feel free to adjust your balance accordingly.

If you’re using a Scout Account or reimbursement to adjust your fee amount, please send me an email and/or include a note in Zelle so I can confirm what you’re doing.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks!

Andy Baldwin

Troop Treasurer

SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead

Monday September 25^th – No Troop Meeting- (ACPS- No School)

Saturday, September 30^th– Immanuel Church on the Hill Pumpkin Drop Off 1 (8:30 – noon)

Monday, October 2^nd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (PLC) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday Oct. 6^th-9^th – NCAC Climboree (long weekend)

Monday October 9^th – No Troop Meeting – Federal Holiday – Columbus Day

 Saturday, October 14^th – Immanuel Church on the Hill Pumpkin Drop Off 2 (8:30 – noon)

Sunday, October 15^th – Ryan Mulvaney Eagle Court of Honor- TBD(May be moved to Dec)

Monday, October 16^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (PLC) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

 Friday Oct. 20^th-22^nd   – Colonial District Camporee- Cheltenham, MD

 Saturday, October 21^st – Immanuel Church on the Hill Pumpkin Drop Off 3 (8:30 – noon)

 Monday, October 23^rd – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill