Happy 4th of July!

The new leaders are now in place and well done with the transition. Last week we had a good meeting learning about Beekeeping from a former scout leader and neighbor of Grady Flinn. Thanks to Grady for putting this together. If you are interested in learning more, check out the Gardening merit badge. If there is interest let me know and start a blue card.

Next week we will have another virtual meeting to set up the patrols. Going into July and August we will start meeting in smaller groups outside and we have some planning to do and will have a plan by next week. We expect to do this and meet all state and best practices including social distancing and masks.  The PLC Monday meeting will discuss our next set of meetings. This also means parents will need to drop and pick up as we will not be able to carpool. We have some ideas such as hikes, games, cleaning up trails, gardening (community plot), and etc., but the PLC needs to put the time into effective planning.

BLUE CARD Update
 
Here is our updated policy on Blue cards effective July 1, 2020. This update will make it easier for our Troop to support your efforts.

1. Find and interesting merit badge you want to pursue – sign up online and sign up as soon as it becomes available. Or just ask me for a merit badge counselor.
2. Next ask for the unit leader, aka Scoutmaster, aka me, [email protected] for a blue card. I will need to know who the merit badge counselor is and if you don’t know it, just let me know and I’ll put virtual, on-line etc.
3. Pick up your blue card from my scout box (grey square, milk box, on my front steps at 115 Upland Road – bike, walk, hike or ask for a ride to pick it up. A scout is physically strong!
4. Fill out your name, address, merit badge, and counselor’s name, address, city, state, zip, tel number or indicate on-line (dates).
5. Learn and earn your merit badge.
6. When done, the council or your counselor will complete your virtual on line blue card (in Scoutbook) and this will be sent electronically. Next, if it is online, enter the date completed.
7. Send me an email and drop the blue card in my scout/Milk box. I most likely will ask you about your merit badge and then send it to our Advancement Chair, Mr. O’Neil on your behalf.

Take a look at this nifty online version and just adjust to having to ask via email and picking it up instead of meetings.
This will help support you as you learn about all those interesting merit badges.