Pack leadership Notes to Parents

Our annual Pinewood Derby is coming up in February 2nd.   We have planned a full day of scouting and it has worked very well in the past.  Our first activity is our annual Scout Sunday service which celebrates the anniversary of the program.  In the past this Sunday service was well attended and it would look really cool to see all our families in church for that service considering the size of our pack.  Our church members have always been very supportive of our program as you can see in our meeting area, they have done their best to continue to have a very large area for us to use all the time.   Coming to the service is a simple way to say “thank you”. 

Sunday School - 9 AM start Time 

Church - 10 AM start Time

After our service, we will dismiss to the Hall for our annual Pinewood derby event.  In the past we had a lunch counter with some great options for a small price to eat and prepare for the event.  Also, we expect to have a lot of people in the Hall so scouts are not run or carry-on.  This fun event has taken off in a very popular way nationally over the past few decades.  Our pack has embraced that movement and below are details to know:

Prior to PW Derby day:

1. Derby Cars should be present at scout meeting on January 30th for Best in Show and Parent Choice awards – every scout will be voting on their favorite designed car in each den

2. Adult/Boy Scout OUTLAW race on Saturday morning at 10 AM – February 1st. 

3. Derby cars are prepared according to the rules presented in the box of the car.  We are strict with the 5 oz. rule and wheel slot distance.  Please ask any questions as you prepare.  

4. Website info support:  https://sites.google.com/view/cubscouttroop154/program/pinewood-derby  - Check it out – you won’t waste your time on our site!!

Day of the PW Derby:

1. Lunch counter and eating area to get some lunch and have fun catching up with friends

2. Watching the derby – all scouts racing will have exclusive front row seats to watch their cars.  The first row will also be reserved for all scouts to watch the race.  Parents are expected to inform their scout of the expectations so we can focus on moving the race through all the runs. 

3. Derby Cars will need to be weighed in – No car can be over 5 oz.  as stated in the rules provided in each box. 

4. Scouts will be voting on Finalist for the BEST in SHOW from each den prior to the race.

5. Parents will be voting on the Finalist for the PARENT CHOICE from each den prior to the race.

6. All scouts participating will earn their PW derby award

7. All scouts winning their Den competition (combo of race results and best in show results) will be recognized

8. All scouts winning top 3 overall speed races will be recognized.

Pack leadership Notes to Parents

1. Our pack over the last many years have been very successful with just about everything we set out to do.  That, largely is because of past parent support and our volunteer leaders continuing to plan to move the program ahead for our scouts.  I want to make sure everyone that has been involves knows our charter partner (Bellemans Church) is very appreciative all those efforts.   For new parents, as we continue through the year, please consider getting more involved to support your den with additional program opportunities or just helping out the den leader(s) carry out the program.   Wasting time on a cell phone will never compare to the time you spent with your scout and being involved. 

2. Meeting scout conduct.  This is a tough subject if we want it to be, but its really simple.   Our pack is large (49 members), which is great, but it comes with a price of teaching our scouts to be respectful of others who are having their scout meeting.  Over the past couple of weeks I’ve seen a big improvement, however when the meeting was over this past week for some scouts, they were disruptive of other meetings going on.  After the meeting is over, please take charge of your scout(s).  They may run as much as you allow outside away from meeting areas including the upstairs (the floor echoes downstairs).   This also includes when your scout(s) shows up for meeting – what might not be obvious is our den leaders are getting their last minute items in order – having scouts run all around them will not be helping them get ready.  Again, they run as much as needed outside (no climbing trees, etc.) under your watch.  In other words we like to see our scouts come into meeting and be ready to go with their planned scout meeting. 

3. 2nd part on conduct.  Our Pack follows the scout law to the best of our ability.  If a scout comes to meeting and choose not to follow the indent of that scout law, you may be asked to take the scout home.  While you might see this a harsh, the scout needs to learn there are consequences of behavior that will prevent the den and the scout having good experiences.  Our pack is run completely by volunteers,  parents are expected to prepare their scout behaviorally for scout meeting.  All scouts have their moments as well, even at scout meeting,  it is perfectly acceptable by us if you need to have a private moment with your scout in effort to have a “teachable moment”.  We have all been there before – den leaders will do their best to get the scout caught up once the behavior is corrected. 

4. Uniforms – At this point you should be working to get your scout fitted for a uniform.  We only require a shirt and belt (no neckerchief – pack will provide).  (Lions only T-shirt)  Blue jeans are fine for scouts with blue shirts.  Webelos and AOL scouts, you may want to think about scout pants – that conversation will develop more as we get closer to cross-over.  A scout in uniform does a few things:  1. It controls behavior and sets the expectation for meeting.  2.  It shows the scouts journey thus far in the program.  And 3. Shows the scout is part of an organization.  Scouts are expected to be in uniform for any awards ceremony.  Our next ceremony is 12/12 scout meeting.    

5. 2nd part uniforms – under the dens section on the website provides all the details you need as to where to put the patches, etc. - https://sites.google.com/view/cubscouttroop154/dens.  Chick on the appropriate den symbol to drill into your specific den area.  If you are new to the program this is very helpful.  All this information is also published in the scout handbook, however this may be easier to use.   All a parent really needs is:  Shirt, council strip patch, pack number 154.  Nothing else is needed to get started.  Ranks will come through the program, temporary patches will come through the program participation, along with everything else.  Belts are needed because awards for Lions, Tigers, Wolf, and Bear dens are belt loops. 

6. Doors – While our weather may be a mystery to us, feeling cold is not.  When you arrive at scout meeting please make sure you close the door you came through.  Also, doors are not intended to be open when we have heat running in the basement.  

November & December

Items to pay attention to while we are heading into the holidays season. 

• Popcorn Sale dates, orders forms, earning credits all emailed out and posted under fundraising 

• Your dens have been working on their 2nd theme of the scout year, which will conclude prior to the Christmas season

• Service project - 12/12 scout meeting - Christmas cards 

• Fall awards presented 12/12 scout meeting

• Christmas Movie Event - 12/14 at Hamburg theatre  

• If you have not already, check out your den area for uniform, advancement supports, curriculum details for your scout year. 

September & October 

Google Calendar is up to date for this scout year!  Newly added are camp dates for 2025.  July 27-29 & July 30-Aug 1 is resident and Webelo Outpost camping and Aug 3-9 is Day Camp all at HMSR. 

Program 

• Rocket and Boat Program concludes Sept. 26 with launches and races. 

• Den Level Advancement Programs start on 10/3 

• Family Fall Fest @ HMSR - $10/family and Free to new members is 10/19 (Separate morning & afternoon sessions) - Register online - Blackpug website.

• Corn Maze @ Duncan's - 10/24 Scout meeting.  Pay at Duncan's for your family members.  Pack has reserved a campsite for snacks and drinks following. 

Membership 

• New Members signup on 9/16 @ SVES and 9/19 @ Fellowship Hall

Fundraising 

• Popcorn "Take Orders" due 10/3 at scout meeting

• Popcorn "Show & Sell" 10/5 at Walmart & Cabela's - last one for the season.  

Calendar, Fall Popcorn, Membership, & Internet

Pack leadership has created the 2024-25 scout schedule.  About 98% is accurate for times and dates - we may have a few things slide around depending on availability of outside folks doing program for us. Most of that scheduling is in the Spring months of 2025.  

Pack leadership participated in the planning meeting for popcorn so our unit gains additional 1% of profit.  May not sound like a lot of $$$, but it adds up. We have a fantastic opportunity this year as we have 3 different places to sell (Walmart, Lowes, & Cabela's) and all of them have been proven winners in past years!!  We are scheduled to have 80% of the selling done prior to our first scout meeting.  Andy & Kim will have a sign-up schedule at the swim party for show and sell dates! Calls/emails will also be sent out to get everyone signed up. 

 Every cub pack will be recruiting again in September.  Our best recruiting efforts comes from our own scouts.  We will be setup on August 19th SVES community night.  Our council is also setting up a SVES parent sign up night and also doing presentations in the school.  Our Pack will also have a sign up night at the Hall on September 19th meeting night.  As we have done in the past we will need parent support to get the message out on all the "online" communication apps that our community uses at school.

New Internet connectivity at the Hall!  Thank you to our Church board they have approved a $15 thousand internet/wiring update to the church and hall.  It is installed!  Also, Andy has gotten us a fully loaded (what we need) computer for the Pack.  We will be looking for a volunteer parent to help at meetings entering in advancement for our scouts.  This is not a weekly job, but more monthly as scouts get done with their advancement.  The job is really simple but will save a ton of time outside our meetings.