2023-09-10 This Week: Troop Meeting, Car Wash, Registration, OA Fellowship, Annual Fees, Backpacking, Service Projects, Parents Meeting, One Month Look-ahead

TROOP MEETING

We will have a Troop meeting at 7:30PM at Immanuel Church on the Hill this Monday.

The meeting will focus on Backpacking and meal prep.  If you are going on the backpacking trip and are below the rank of First Class, then please bring your pack to the meeting for review by the older scouts.  We just want to make sure you have everything you need and none of what you don’t.  There will also be a demonstration on how you use the water purification equipment.

CAR WASH/FUNDRAISER

Thank you to all the Scouts and adults that came out on Saturday for the Car Wash.  Our accounting firm of Dewey Cheatem and Howe (your parents will get the joke) is still doing their audit and I don’t have the exact tally, but I can confirm that we raised over $1,600!  A record amount! Thank you again to Mr. Mills who organized the activity and efforts this weekend.  The money goes a long way to help replenish our coffers.

ORDER OF THE ARROW FELLOWSHIP

Three of our scouts made the long trip to Camp Olmstead this weekend for the OA Fall Fellowship. They helped maintain the camp, did a few service projects, participated in fun activities and generally had a great time.

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

BACKPACKING AT MUDHOLE GAP

This is the last meeting before the backpacking trip.  Please see information below from Mr. Mulvaney and please sign up if you have not already done so!

Who: Everyone with a sense of adventure who loves the outdoors (i.e. SCOUTS!!!!)

What: Backpacking trip
When: Fri 15 Sept – Sun 17 Sep 2023
Where: Mudhole Gap
Why: All Scouts Love to Backpack!  

Cost: Just $20 for Scouts

Adults are Free Free Free

Register here: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeroUYgi9tESqCdLBBxMTGBmhaK3xbuTvDziFnhjAnv_G29ug/viewform

ACTIVITY PAYMENTS

Just a reminder on how to make payments for Dues or other Outdoor Activities.  They can be made in several ways:

• Checks delivered at the Monday Meeting to the Treasurer or Committee Chair- they should be made payable to “BSA Troop 131.”  Please put in the notes the activity you are paying for.
• Zelle Account Transfer:

                 Name: TreasurerT131

                 Email: Treasurer@T131.Org  

                 Please put in the notes what activity you are paying for.

Zelle is the easiest and most seamless.

SERVICE PROJECT- ALIVE

We have filled the slots for this event.  Thank you to Jay Setliff, Theo Ramirez, Will Lacey and Ben Moore who volunteered to be the Scout helpers.  Also, a big thank you to Mr. Tom Lacey who has volunteered to be the Adult Helper!

SERVICE PROJECT- The National Public Lands Day Service Project

Troop 131 Scouts & families,

Please see the announcement below regarding another service opportunity available this month.

The National Public Lands Day Service project is detailed below, please consider participating.

Of note, it is the same date and time as the ALIVE service project on Saturday 9/23/23. If you’ve signed up for the ALIVE project, I’ve already sent confirmation that you will support that so please keep your commitment.  If this is not possible, please let me know ASAP!

We invite any available scouts to consider participating on this additional service opportunity.   Details below. Please note pre-registration is required no later than TUESDAY 9/12/23!

Samantha Mulvaney

 & Shelby Workman

Troop 131 Service Coordinators

S’more Outdoor Scouting (SOS) Adventures is celebrating National Public Lands Day on September 23rd! We’ll be joining the Potomac Appalachian Trail Club on a trail maintenance project in Prince William Forest. All GSCNC Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors are invited to join us (plus GSCNC-registered adults with DIY experience). This is a rain-or-shine event.

The project is in Prince William Forest, about 35 miles South of Washington, DC, right off of Interstate 95. It is on Saturday, 9/23 from 8:15auntil approximately 3:00p. No experience is required. We will help renovate the High Meadows Trail by demolishing and replacing a rotting footbridge. This will require hiking in about 1/3 mile on sloping but moderate terrain with our tools, lumber, and daypacks, plus carrying out the debris for disposal. Scouts should come prepared to work!

Registered adults with DIY construction experience are especially welcome on this trip. We’d love to teach the cadettes the skills for their Woodworker badge at the same time we’re building the bridge, plus many hands make light work!

This event is FREE to all participants.

This event counts for community service hours. If you are working on the Silver Trefoil award, your service can be credited either as government hours or as green hours.

IMPORTANT: There will be no walk-up or day-of-event registration. You must RSVP by 9/12 to attend. If you are a parent who’d like to volunteer at the event, you need to RSVP separately from your scout.

LOGISTICS: We will meet at the Prince William Forest Visitor Center at 8:15am on Saturday, 9/23. Participants will be dismissed from the Visitor Center around 3:00pm the same day.

TO BRING: All participants will need to bring a daypack including a bag lunch plus snacks, hiking essentials (info in the RSVP email), and at least 2 liters of water. Closed-toe shoes suitable for hiking and working outdoors are required. Necessary tools will be provided. 

FORMS: Permission and medical forms will be gathered via email from all who RSVP at https://forms.gle/F4mfhwi7eF2qK2do7 by 9/12.

QUESTIONS: Email Tom (event coordinator) at tomko…@gmail.com

PARENTS MEETING

Parents, see note below from Kevin Jahns, note the day and time change.

Parents, 

Due to the ACHS Back to School nights, we are moving the date of our upcoming Parent Meeting. I apologize for any inconvenience. 

New Date – Thursday, September 21st at 7:30 PM

All parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. This is your chance to find out all that is going on with the troop, get any questions you may have answered and maybe find a way you can help. 

Link: https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72120332669?pwd=GSCAcMiNmxKMpRUYyfwx2SxqWzNvfL.1

Passcode – T131

Hope to “see” you then.

Thanks! 

Kevin Jahns

SCHEDULE: One Month(ish) Look Ahead

Monday, September 11^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Friday September 15^th – 17^th – Backpacking Trip – Mudhole Gap

Monday, September 18^th – Troop Meeting – 7:30 PM (BoR) – Immanuel Church on the Hill

Thursday, Sept 21^st   Committee and Parents Meeting- 7:30 – Virtual

Saturday, September 23^rd– Service Project – Alive Warehouse & The National Public Lands Day

Sunday, September 24^th – Sean Mulvaney Eagle Court of Honor- First Baptist Church

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)

 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