As the Christian church across the globe celebrates new life represented by today’s Easter holiday, I pray that you and your family have had a blessed holy week. For many, it also represents the sweet relief in being able to once again have back what was given up for Lent. In a sign of the times for the Lenten top 10 in 2012, along with chocolate, alcohol and swearing, Twitter and Facebook will be among the things many people will again be resuming during their family feasts today…. Happy Easter back online!
We are less than a week away from our annual pancake breakfast and silent auction fundraiser at Blessed Sacrament. Next Saturday, April 14th, the doors will be open from 7:00-10:00, so from 6:00AM – 11:00AM will be a full shift for the boys, maximizing the amount they can earn from the pool money (auction and walk-in tickets). If you can’t attend the full shift, come for what you can, and the scout will receive a prorated amount based upon his time worked. Of course the best way to continue to increase the scout accounts is through individual ticket sales to family, friends and neighbors, and for those of you needing additional tickets, the remaining books will be available Tuesday night. All assigned contributions to the patrol baskets for the auction need to be brought to the troop meeting Tuesday night.  If you have obtained additional new items or services which can be auctioned separately, please also bring those as well so they can be categorized by the committee, and auction sheets prepared.   Many thanks to the adults working the event, helping to coordinate the auction or donating food for the breakfast. And special thanks to the Knights of Columbus for their continued support of this terrific fundraising opportunity for our scouts.
There will be a slight alteration in our outings this month. The Patrol Leaders Council decided this week to not do two full weekend outings as originally planned for April, since we now have scout activities the next 5 weekends in a row. Thus, the Soldier’s Pass bike outing and base camp will no longer occur, and instead will transform into a troop bike day on Saturday, April 21st. Stay tuned for further updates.  We will be attending the Four Peaks Camporee, a gathering of the troops in our district up by Bumblebee the weekend of April 27-29. Camporees are terrific opportunities to gather as a district, and typically  involves fun events such as axe throwing or shooting and competitions, with events such as fire building, knot tying, first aid, emergency preparedness, pioneering or orienteering.  We’d encourage all scouts to attend this excellent opportunity for fun and advancement. We’d like to have a headcount in to district this week, so please sign up on Tuesday night or email Mr. Cole by Wednesday with an RSVP.
Additional activities upcoming include a troop shed painting extravaganza at the church on the 5th of May, and the May backpacking outing at Chevlon Canyon beginning May 11th. As we look ahead toward summer camp you should have your merit badge selections in to Mr. Benyi, and have made arrangements for the first three payments to be made via scout account or check – we have reserved our spot with council, and are preparing for an excellent in-council camp July 7-14 at Geronimo !
Have a nap after Easter dinner today – you’ll need the energy for all we have planned….see you Tuesday night – bring your auction items!
Mr. Cole