Is it spring when the snow starts to melt or is it spring when the daylight gets longer? Is it spring when you can start to see the flowers come up or is it spring when you can see the grass again? Is it spring when you can go out without a heavy coat and not freeze or is it spring when you can clean your car's carpet and realize how much junk is on it. All of these questions and more will not be answered in tonight's letter. I just ask these questions because I have writer's block and need a filler and opening.
So lets get to it.
Monday meeting 3 - 8 P.L.C & C.M
This month's Patrol Leader Council and Committee Meeting will be held at Saint Marks Church. The P.L.C will begin at 6p and the C.M will start directly following it at 7p.
For those of you who can't attend in person we will have the live stream running on our zoom channel. The P.L.C video will begin at 6 o'clock or shortly thereafter. The committee meeting video will begin at 7 o'clock or shortly thereafter. Both meetings will be streamed on the same link. The link will be attached to the bottom of this letter and I will send out a reminder an hour before the meeting tomorrow.
Topics for each meeting may include but are not limited to
New fundraising possibilities
New meeting events and locations
camping, when, where, how.
March Camp-out - Camp Indian Trails / update
There are two major updates for our March camp out. It is confirmed that the cabin in Gilberts WILL NOT be able to host us this spring. Therefore, we will be switching the location to camp Indian Trail's just north of Janesville WI.
The cabin that I was able to rent sleeps 28 and has plenty of room both inside and outside if you would prefer tent camping. Please note: Most of our 3rd years need at least one night in a tent that they have pitched in order to qualify for 2nd class. This would complete that requirement. As of now(3-7) we will be the only troop in the camp on that weekend.
We all know our March camp out will most definitely be different than any that we've had in the past. This year it will be a combination of our electronics camp-out and our spring kick off camp out. We will be allowing scouts to bring any games they want with them on this camp-out. Any electronic, board or card games they would like to bring is fair game. The weekend will be a mixture of scout skills and games. I believe everyone will be able to get something done and if I am correct could qualify for a rank advancement by the end of the month. I will need a volunteer to pull the trailer for us.
Spring break - repost
Because this year will be still tight on traveling I would like to know if each family is going to be around for spring break. If a majority of our families are going to be local for spring break a suggestion that was made was we have a field meeting at the Museum of Science and Industry. The museum in trying to reopen has done some very ingenious things to get themselves back in business. Last year when we went to the field museum the boys in attendance were able to earn a rank by the end of the day.
Who is the wise guy that ordered the snow? Come on now who did it?
Troop One and troop 10 teaming up this season
Last Wednesday Mr.Browne and Mr. Wolfgram had a meeting with three of the leaders from troop 10. They discussed joining together on some of their meetings and outings for the spring and summer. The end goal may be for troop 10 to merge with troop one and pull our resources together for the fall season. Most of this is still up in the air as of now. The idea does have a lot of promise. Sometime in April we hope to be holding a few joint meetings or outings to see how things pan out
Dinner with the Legion
Veterans Hall, 311 n 2nd street
Mar 13th 6p - 7p
Join the troop this month as we dine in with the American Legion at the veterans hall.
Help serve dinner and join in the fellowship. Set-up will begin at 5:45ish with dinner to follow at 6p.
Troop Meeting
Veterans Hall, 311 n 2nd street
Mar 13th, 7:00 - 8:15p
This Monday we will be taking a night hike downtown St.Charles. It has been a while since the last time we did this and with "spring" in the air this is the perfect time to get back outside. Immediately following the dinner we will start the hike from the vet's hall and end back there too.
Cyber-Chip
EVERYONE needs this!!!!
In order for the scouts to be able to use their phones or tech on meetings or outings they need to have this certification. The class material can be found at
We have a few options this year for anyone who is not going away for spring break. The Theater badge, the Railroading badge and the Crime Prevention badge are just three of our options for Monday the 27th.
Recruiting New Members
If you have a family member, a friend, an acquaintance, a Cub Scout, or someone wishing to join you as a transfer from another troop please let us know. We all know that the only way for the troop to survive is for more people to join over the long run. If you know of anyone that could potentially be interested in joining, please have them come to a meeting, outing, camp-out or just for a visit.
Casey’s Safe Haven is a 501(c)3 non-profit holistic equine rescue dedicated to healing horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules in need. We will accept equines from animal control facilities, pony ride facilities, horses being retired from lesson programs, police force, and the race track. We also accept healthy animals donated by loving owners that for reasons beyond their control can no longer provide care. Our mission is to be a part of the solution by educating the public on the responsibilities and proper care of each equine so they receive the respect and dignity they deserve as living beings.
News Around Town
With spring fast approaching there will be a ton of places that need and want help around town. We will post it here when we come across any news.
In tonight's letter there is a boatload to go over and a lot of updates for everyone. This one is a long one so let's get going
Troop One and troop 10 teaming up this season (update)
I received word from the leadership of troop 10 as to when they would be visiting us. Monday April 10th is slated for our meeting with them. They wanted to come to the vets dinner with us and hang around for the meeting afterwards.
Spring fundraisers
Mulch
Patrick at Midwest compost said that they would be happy to do another fundraiser with us this Spring. They want to set up a dealer portal for us on their website. All we would have to do is log on and do a little paperwork rather than going through any middlemen from the company. This would still allow us to maintain the quick turnaround and profitability margin. I'm getting Information and should have more news hopefully sometime this coming week.
Pancake breakfast with the Legion.
Jeff from the Legion asked if we would want to do a pancake breakfast on behalf of the Legion to help raise some money for the troop. We would hold the breakfast over at the veteran center and do the fundraiser in the name of the American Legion. The American Legion would technically be the ones making any money off of this event. They would then take any of the profits and donate them back to us. This would be a way to avoid the council middle man and allow us to do multiple events for the spring.
They wanted to make sure it wasn't too far into May but far enough away that we can get the word out. A lot of the supplies would be donated but we still would need to get drinks and a few other things. I believe Jeff has the idea to do it on the 15th of April. We can push that back a little if needed. I already have a few ideas for flyers and pricing. At the bottom I attached a flyer from another troop that just recently did a breakfast. It gives a good feel for pricing.
Memorial Day breakfast
The Legion also wanted to do a fundraiser for the Memorial day pancake breakfast. The way they are setting this one up would be any group that helped with the breakfast would get a cut of the total ticket sales. %20 of the profit will go to the legion and their scholarship fund. The rest will be split among any of the organizations helping out at the breakfast. Because we usually help out at the Memorial Day breakfast this one in particular is a no brainer. Next month we should have a bit more information.
Troop Meeting
St.Mark's Church
Mar 19th, 7:00 - 8:15p
We will be working on the first flag ceremony of the season. If you have any flags that need to be retired please bring them to
Monday's meeting.
Cyber-Chip
EVERYONE needs this!!!!
In order for the scouts to be able to use their phones or tech on meetings or outings they need to have this certification. The class material can be found at
We have a few options this year for anyone who is not going away for spring break. The lead contender is the Theater badge followed by the Railroading badge.
Recruiting New Members
If you have a family member, a friend, an acquaintance, a Cub Scout, or someone wishing to join you as a transfer from another troop please let us know. We all know that the only way for the troop to survive is for more people to join over the long run. If you know of anyone that could potentially be interested in joining, please have them come to a meeting, outing, camp-out or just for a visit.
Casey’s Safe Haven is a 501(c)3 non-profit holistic equine rescue dedicated to healing horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules in need. We will accept equines from animal control facilities, pony ride facilities, horses being retired from lesson programs, police force, and the race track. We also accept healthy animals donated by loving owners that for reasons beyond their control can no longer provide care. Our mission is to be a part of the solution by educating the public on the responsibilities and proper care of each equine so they receive the respect and dignity they deserve as living beings.
News Around Town
With spring fast approaching there will be a ton of places that need and want help around town. We will post it here when we come across any news.
In tonight's issue we have a few updates and reminders.
Spring break no meeting
Spring break no meeting
Spring fundraisers
Mulch (update)
Patrick at Midwest compost said that they would be happy to do another fundraiser with us this Spring. They have set up a portal for us on their website. All we would have to do is log on and do a little paperwork rather than going through any middlemen from the company. Just like last time you (the scout) just fill out the form, submit it and 48 hours later the client should have their product. We will have updated pricing and time lines by the time we get back from spring break.
Pancake breakfast with the Legion (update)
The breakfast will be moved to the 22nd of April. This gives some more time to put the breakfast together and sell tickets.
Memorial Day breakfast
The Legion also wanted to do a fundraiser for the Memorial day pancake breakfast. The way they are setting this one up would be any group that helped with the breakfast would get a cut of the total ticket sales. %20 of the profit will go to the legion and their scholarship fund. The rest will be split among any of the organizations helping out at the breakfast. Because we usually help out at the Memorial Day breakfast this one in particular is a no brainer. Next week we should have a bit more information.
Thank you to everyone that came up to the cabin this year. Even with the bizarre weather reports we were getting we found an opening and made it a good weekend. A little snow never hurt anyone and thankfully the amount predicted for us never materialized. We have always been able to have a good time while we are there and this past weekend was no exception.
Mar P.L.C meeting
3 - 5 - 23, 6 - 7p
Baker Church
We will be holding a Patrol Leader Council this Monday at Baker Church. If you are a patrol leader or of senior staff please attend. Every scout is invited to caucus with their patrol.
Topics of the P.L.C will include but not limited to
* Past / Upcoming events and badges
* Leadership
* patrol updates
* Summer camping events
Mar committee meeting
3 - 5 - 23, 7 - 8:30p
Baker Church
The next committee meeting will be at Baker Church immediately following the p.l.c. If you are a Committee member or are a parent interested in troop business please attend. We are searching for new members that can help staff a few areas of need for the troop. The four areas that we are looking to staff are Fundraising, Activities, Service and Recruitment. All four areas are vital to the troop. Meetings of these four departments need not always meet on a Monday night and can bounce ideas via mail or phone.
Cyber-Chip
EVERYONE needs this!!!!
In order for the scouts to be able to use their phones or tech on meetings or outings they need to have this certification. The class material can be found at
Thousands of people line Main Street to listen to award winning local marching bands, watch the elaborate and colorful floats, hear the melodic strains of the Celtic pipe bands, and everything St. Charles has to offer. The parade steps off at 2:00pm at 6th Street and continues down Main Street to conclude at 4th Avenue.
Recruiting New Members
If you have a family member, a friend, an acquaintance, a Cub Scout, or someone wishing to join you as a transfer from another troop please let us know. We all know that the only way for the troop to survive is for more people to join over the long run. If you know of anyone that could potentially be interested in joining, please have them come to a meeting, outing, camp-out or just for a visit.
Casey’s Safe Haven is a 501(c)3 non-profit holistic equine rescue dedicated to healing horses, ponies, donkeys, and mules in need. We will accept equines from animal control facilities, pony ride facilities, horses being retired from lesson programs, police force, and the race track. We also accept healthy animals donated by loving owners that for reasons beyond their control can no longer provide care. Our mission is to be a part of the solution by educating the public on the responsibilities and proper care of each equine so they receive the respect and dignity they deserve as living beings.
News Around Town
With spring fast approaching there will be a ton of places that need and want help around town. We will post it here when we come across any news.
It's that time of the month again, we're calling all to gather, around the table to listen to stories, finding out what really matters. Searching for when and who is able and thinking up new things to do, new ideas to entertain, we may need but a few. Questioning about this and that, or what you may be likely to see, It takes just a little effort, a little from you and a little from me.
We can answer all your questions, we can place them in a line, we can knock them out of the ballpark, any place any time. There's so much to talk about this week I can't fit it all in one letter, so come to our meeting this Monday night that will finally make it all better.
That being said let's get to it
Monday meeting 4 - 11 P.L.C & C.M
This month's Patrol Leader Council and Committee Meeting will be held at Saint Marks Church. The P.L.C will begin at 6p and the C.M will start directly following it at 7p.
For those of you who can't attend in person we will have the live stream running on our zoom channel. The P.L.C video will begin at 6 o'clock or shortly thereafter. The C.M video will begin at 7 o'clock or shortly thereafter. Both meetings will be streamed on the same link. The link will be attached to the bottom of this letter and I will send out a reminder an hour before the meeting tomorrow.
Topics for each meeting may include but are not limited to
I hope that everyone is having a safe and happy Easter and Passover week. This announcement is to let everyone know that starting this Monday we will be holding an online meeting at 7pm. If you've been keeping up-to-date with the emails and notices, we now have a Discord Voice Channel. The boys have been working hard to make it operational. Last week during our proof of concept meeting we had 12 people on with only a few snags. If you have not already done so please join in.
Some of it you probably didn't need to know, but it's always a good thing to know what you do and do not need. If you know what I know and I know that you know that what I know is going to be something useful, then knowing what I know beyond a need to know basis, is accomplished.
So let's make sure you know this stuff.
Lincoln's pilgrimage 4 - 23-25
This week we will be going over our plans for next weekend's camp-out. I hope to have almost all the details finished off by the end of the meeting Monday night. Locations agreed on, menus planned and departing times set. The coming weekend as of now looks a little rainy but we are still a week out from what may or may not happen weather wise. Whatever the weather and whatever the situation we will make the best of it and make our own fun when applicable.
This week's meeting will be at Saint Marks Church starting at 7 o'clock.
If you cannot be there in person but are still going to go on next weekend's camp out I can send you a zoom link and patch you in for the planning portion of the meeting.
Summer Camp Update - (Re-post from this week's Midweek update)
A change of date
The question was brought up whether we have the ability to change the date on which week we attend summer camp. I talked to Patrick at T.F.C hq and he said that there is a site available the week of June 27th - July 3rd and another one the week of July 11th - 17th. We would not be in the Shiloh camp site but that would not be a big deal.
Summer Camp Coordinator
I need someone from the troop to step up and run point on summer camp prep. This point person would have to.
• Schedule the scouts merit badge classes.
• Collect the youth and adult medical forms.
• Coordinate travel plans to and from camp.
This coordinator does not have to attend summer camp with us but it is a plus if they attend as well. This position MUST be filled no later than May 1st. This will give that person the ability to have everything taken care of in a reasonable amount of time.
Troop leadership
In order for the troop to be able to go to summer camp (C.F.L or other) we need at least four adult leaders present during the week. The BSA requires us to have at least two registered leaders at any regular camp-out or day outing. Because summer camp is classified as an extended trip (something lasting greater than 72 hours) We would need to have three or four registered leaders present to be on the safe side. Historically speaking we always have between three and four registered leaders present at any summer camp. A registered leader is either an assistant scoutmaster or committee member who has completed the youth protection training (YPT), background check and has submitted the position specific paperwork. Just being a parent volunteer in this situation does not qualify as an adult leader.
I would like to thank everyone that was able to come down to Springfield and participate in our version of Lincoln's Pilgrimage. Even with a lot of the common tourist locations closed in Springfield we were able to come up with a fun and interesting hike downtown.
The most popular of all locations Saturday was of course the Lincoln presidential museum. Even if you have been to the museum multiple times like I have you always find something new to read or a new video to watch.
Our next objective was going downtown for a micro urban hike. For the first time in my life I finally got to see the state capitol building up close. Although we did not have the ability to go inside we did get to go around the grounds and get a better sense of its size and scale. Our afternoon hike culminated in a visit to a candy store and to pay our respects to the 16th president at his monument.
After everything that we were able to do this weekend I believe it truly goes to show that even in the strangest of times you can make something out of nothing. All you have to do is have a little imagination and the guts to do it.
Monday Meeting 4 - 26
We will NOT be having the in person meeting this week. I want you to be able to relax and kick back a little bit. We Will however be having a light online meeting Monday evening. We will be going over the reviews from the camp-out and seeing what we did correctly and what could be improved upon. We will also be going over the possible camp-outs and day outings this coming summer and into the fall.
We have a plethora of possibilities coming up. Let's keep the ideas going and have a little fun in the meantime.
Tune in with your preferred mode of communication via our zoom channel. Below is the link to the Zoom channel. I will send it out again tomorrow afternoon just in case you forget
I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Spring break, passover and Easter. As the Spring starts to open up our possibility pool again we will be trying to do more outside as the daylight permits. There is a good chance that if the weather cooperates we will be able to meet up at Good Templar Park starting in May with the church as a bad weather backup.
Monday meeting 4 - 5
For our Monday meeting we have a representative from the Order of the Arrow coming to our troop to discuss what Order of the Arrow is and potentially electing a few scouts from our troop to join the organization. For many of you, you will probably ask what the Order of the Arrow actually is. This is a summary as to who and what they are.
For this election to work I need all available troop one members to be at the meeting. We have a few members of the troop eligible for election and I think it would be very good of us all if we were able to give them the chance to be Order members. After elections we will be holding a personalized swearing-in ceremony for a new member of our troop. Let's officially welcome Seth by giving him the appropriate attire of troop one.
We will have a live in person meeting at St. Marks Church 7p.
Future event forecast
On April 17th the Ottawa district will be holding a Spring-er-all day outing at Camp Big Timber. The troop has two options that we need to make a decision on as of our meeting tomorrow Monday. We have been asked to run the pancake toss booth. Troop 14 has also invited us to participate in the event itself. So, we need to make the decision whether we are just going to run the pancake toss or, run the pancake toss and participate in this event
