Updates and Reminders (IMPORTANT KANDERSTEG INFO) posted 05/03/10

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It appears as if all the scouts and adults have recovered from the now legendary canoeing trip with no canoeing. Although the program didnt work out as planned, Troop 17 persevered and learned some valuable lessons. Oh, and we got to see the Brazos River in a very rare state ... full of water. New troop rosters are available at the scout lodge in the document tray behind the front door. Music Merit Badge Scouts working on the Music merit badge need to schedule times with Mrs. Smith for their musical performance to fulfill requirement #1. Very few scouts have scheduled their time thus far. Please contact her. The music merit badge worksheets need to be completed and turned into Mrs. Smith by May 25th. If there are any questions, please contact Mrs. Smith. Worth Ranch Deposits for Summer Camp at Worth Ranch are due. We will attend summer camp from June 13 through June 19. Summer camp is your best opportunity to earn those non-Eagle required merit badges, get to know your fellow scouts and leaders, and have a good time away from that pesky mom and dad. Troop 17 takes pride in camping in the topside campsites and we cant do this without a large group. Philmont 2011 Troop 17 has been awarded 2 crews for Philmont 2011. This means we can take 24 scouts and adults to Philmont! Our arrival day is July 16 so we will leave Fort Worth around July 15 and return around July 29. You must be at least 14 years old or have completed the 8th grade before July 16, 2011 in order to attend. Troop 17 also requires that you be a First Class scout or higher. Look for a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the scout lodge soon. The estimated cost of this trip is approximately $850. Rangers Fundraising Our block of games is rapidly approaching. Please go to www.troop17.net and sign up to work games or call Earl Johnson (Levis dad). Workers must look at least 16 years old. Kandersteg It is MANDATORY that everyone going to Kandersteg have a passport that does no expire before February 1, 2011. No passport, no trip. Its that simple. The Tarrant County Clerk will be at the scout meeting Tuesday April 27 beginning at 5:30 PM to accept passport applications and fees. They will also be able to take pictures. Forms were handed out at the meeting last night to the few families that were represented. Please complete the form and bring the required documents to the troop meeting. DO NOT SIGN THE FORM UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO BY THE COUNTY CLERK. It is MANDATORY that all adults going to Kandersteg be registered with Troop 17 and have completed Youth Protection Training (YPT). Adults must complete an Adult Application and turn it in to Mr. Lyles with $25. After registering, go to the BSA Online Learning Center at http://olc.scouting.org/ and complete YPT. This must be completed in order for us to complete our international tour permit which is required fr the trip so time is of the essence. We plan to have a parents information meeting in early May. Attendance It is a requirement for every rank that a scout show scout spirit and be active in their troop and patrol for a defined period of time that varies by rank. Troop 17 defines being active as attending 1/2 of the meetings and attending 1/2 of the campouts. The intent of this definition is to allow the boys to be involved in other activities to round them out and to account for family obligations and illness but also to participate to the maximum extent in the scouting program. During the past 6 months, adult troop leadership has noticed an increase in the number of scouts who appear to be walking the "50%" line; meaning that there appears to be a larger number of scouts attending the absolute minimum number of campouts and meetings. Of greater concern is that a large portion of these "50%ers" appear to be scouts in leadership positions in the troop. Without our troop leadership and without scouts for them to lead, Troop 17 will face an uphill battle to survive in a world where there are many completing interests for our boys attention. Troop 17 urges every scout to attend every meeting and every campout so they may fully participate in and take away every lesson they may gain from the scouting program. Please do not take advantage of a lenient attendance policy because you only take away from yourself and your fellow scouts.

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