Dear Parents and Scouts,

We wanted to send a huge thank you to all parents and scouts that helped in many ways to make the spaghetti dinner last night a huge success! Many people worked very hard both yesterday and leading up to the event and without their efforts, the day would not have gone as smoothly as it did.  It is a true pleasure and honor to work with so many wonderful people!

All the best,
DeNese and Matt Olson

The merit badge counselor program in the Boy Scouts is to give the scouts an opportunity to learn about various skills, jobs, hobbies, and ideas that are a part of the American culture. Some specific badges must be earned in order to advance in rank but the majority of the badges are electives.

In order to provide guidance in understanding the requirements of the badges as well as having people the scouts can talk to about the subject of the badges we need merit badge counselors. I am attaching two lists to this e-mail. One contains the names of the counselors associated with Troop 90 that counsel the indicated badges. The 2^nd contains a list of the merit badges that have no one associated with Troop 90 assigned as a merit badge counselor. There may be counselors in our district that counsel these badges but no one associated with Troop 90. I have previously sent out the updated list from the District.

If you have knowledge of subjects of these merit badges and would like to become a merit badge counselor we would appreciate it. You should have acquired the knowledge from your job, hobby, or life experiences. Just reading a few pages ahead of the scout on the subject would not provide the best experience for the scout. For those of you that chose to sign up, we will have a short training session. You may also sign up for those merit badges that we have counselors listed as well.

If you wish to become a merit badge counselor or wish to find out more about this position in scouting please contact Mr. Russell.

This is a reminder to all scouts that Luke Gormley will be completing the last part of his Eagle Project by holding a flag retirement ceremony tomorrow, Saturday, March 28^th at 11:00 AM at the Westinghouse Recreation Center on Greensburg Pike. Please come out and support Luke as he completes one of the last requirements to earning his Eagle Award. You would be expected to wear your scout uniform and plan on being there at about 10:50 AM.

Jack E. Russell

Saturday is approaching fast and our annual spaghetti dinner is upon us once again. I have attached the scout volunteer sign-up sheet since many boys signed up at the meeting last night and we want to make sure the parents have the correct times on their calendars for drop off/pick up.

We are in need of several large coolers to hold all of the ice cream. If you can, kindly bring one for us to use that evening and please make sure your name is marked on it somewhere in case there are some of the same color/style. Thank you!

Lastly, not many of the scouts turned in unsold tickets and/or money for bought tickets last night at the meeting. Please make sure all unsold tickets and monies are turned in at the dinner on Saturday. Also, please invite all your family/friends/neighbors/co-workers to the dinner so that we can make it a big success!

Thank you to all for your support, time and energy on Saturday and all the work that has been done behind the scenes prior to that day!

See you there, DeNese and Matt

Last week I sent out an slip to determine the interest in attending the May 9^th concert of the Edgewood Symphony. In the slip I put the door prices for the event. Ms. Kelly has negotiated a very good price for this event and the costs now will be $4.00 for Scouts and $6.00 for Adults.

Please take this into consideration when determining if you would like to participate.

Jack E. Russell

This is to remind everyone that Troop 90 has committed to help with a clean up day in Chalfant Boro, this Sunday @ 1:00 PM. It should take about 4 hours. I have a few scouts signed up but am disappointed that a greater number did not do so, especially the older scouts. If you have not turned in the permission slip (see Forms on website) but are willing to help out even for half the period, please help us. The reputation of Troop 90 for being a helpful force in the community is on the line.

Please meet at the Chalfant Boro Park at 1:00 PM. Uniforms are not suggested.  Wear work clothes, long sleeved shirts, gloves, and dress appropriately for the weather.

Jack E. Russell

This is just a reminder that this Saturday is the second day of Merit Badge University. Please meet at the Church at 7:30 AM.

Remember to bring pencil, paper, and any work that was to have been completed over the past 2 weeks. If you have not done your assignments, please get busy. It is very hard to track down the merit badge counselors to handle uncompleted merit badges after Saturday.

A reminder to the adults, we will need to have three adults at the event all day.

Jack E. Russell

To all Scouts and Parents:

In addition to our campouts and various trips to historical sites, we sometimes have an opportunity to attend a different kind of activity. This year we are looking at going to the Edgewood Symphony Orchestra Concert on May 9, 2009. The attached permission slip is to determine the interest before we make a commitment to the Symphony. Please read about the opportunity and return the slip by the due date. If you have questions please contact Ms. Kelly or myself.

Jack E. Russell

I have now received 30 applications from our 41 scouts that should be attending summer camp this summer. Council has just extended their due date for registrations that would qualify for the $10 discount and therefore Troop 90 has extended our due date as well. Please have the summer camp applications and fees turned into the troop by April 7^th. 

It is very important that our scouts attend summer camp, because they learn to work as a team in their patrols, their patrol leaders get a chance to learn and use leadership skills that will last a lifetime, they earn merit badges and skills toward rank advancement, and most importantly THEY HAVE FUN. Please submit your son’s application as quickly as possible.

If there is an economic situation that might prevent your son from attending camp, PLEASE talk to your Scoutmaster, Mr. Russell. Both the Troop and Council has monies set aside to assist in making sure every scout can attend summer camp.

IF YOU KNOW THAT YOUR SON WILL NOT BE ATTENDING SUMMER CAMP, PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH THAT INFORMATION. I ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE REASON FOR NOT ATTENDING. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DATES, WE MAY BE ABLE TO HAVE HIM ATTEND EARLIER OR LATER IN THE SUMMER IN A PROVISIONAL TROOP.

Jack E. Russell

Hello again Parents and Boys,

The adult volunteer sign up sheet is filled for the upcoming spaghetti dinner on 3/28. Thank you all for your help!

The scout sign up sheet has been distributed at the meetings, however, we only have a few boys on the list. Please let us know which time slot your son will be volunteering for. We really need the help of as many boys as possible to make this event a success again this year. We also need boys to be willing to stay after the dinner is served and help clean up the dining room/kitchen and help pack left over items away.

Please remember to turn your unsold tickets and your money from the sold tickets in at either of the upcoming troop meetings.

Thanks so much,

DeNese and Matt Olson

To all parents and scouts:

We are getting busier with more activities leading up to summer camp.  That means more documents and payments are coming in.  The parents helping at the table want to make sure they are recording all information, especially payments, completely and correctly. Please help them do that by following the instuctions below:

Submit your paperwork and money/checks at the BEGINNING of the meeting;

Use the correct permission slip for each payment, i.e don't use a Feb's camp permission slip to pay summer camp registration;

Write your SON'S NAME and ACTIVITY on the memo line in your check;

Have ONE check for ONE activity.  That one check can be for parents, scout and siblings, as long as it is for ONE activity only;

Always make sure you have a document (permision slip, a note of explanation) attached to your payment.  Do not expect your son to tell those at the table what the check is for.  They have not done so and they most likely will continue to throw such checks on the table.  It is very easy to misplace a small piece of paper among all the other documents we receive.
Thank you.