Troop Newsletter

Troop Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser was wonderfully successful. Thanks Kathy and Rick Herbert and all the volunteers and families that participated. It was a great opportunity to showcase our Scouts and Troop and to have the opportunity to get to know the parents of our Scouts. Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 1, 2008, and we will do it again!

Dues must be caught up! Troop Rechartering will be done next week. Scouts behind on their dues will have that amount deducted from their Scout account. If there is not enough in the Scout Account it must be paid by next week or we cannot register them for the next year of Scouting. The Scout Account and Dues lists will be available at the meeting Tuesday. If this is a hardship, Scouts or parents should talk to Mr. Horvath.

Troop Elections are Tuesday March 13. Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders are elected and all other positions are appointed following the elections. Remember Scouts, leadership is a rank advancement requirement for Star, Life and Eagle ranks.

March is Scouting for Food month. The Troop is having a canned food drive with a goal of collecting 1,500 cans of food, which will be donated to a food bank or shelter. Scouts are to ask neighbors for canned food and bring what they collect to any Troop meeting in March. If the Troop successfully meets the goal, we will have a pizza party at a meeting in April.

Laurel Caverns in Pa. is the location of the March 23-25 campout. We camp in their campgrounds and Scouts can earn Geology Merit Badge. Those Scouts who have Geology MB will explore the primitive portion of the cavern. We will meet at the church at 8 a.m. Saturday morning and drive to the caverns east of Uniontown, PA. Cost of this campout is $35.00. We must make final reservations by March 16. Scouts must eat a good breakfast at home Saturday and bring a bag lunch for the trip. Permissions slips will be available at the Troop meetings and on the Web site.

Troop 390 Summer Camp at Camp Manatoc is July 15-21. Details are posted on our Web site. If paid by May 15, the fee is $190. Summer Camp is important for all Scouts. Camp Manatoc is a place where Scouting comes alive and fun is the order of every day. Rank advancement opportunities are many during a week at summer camp. Special activities for older Scouts are available, too. Scouts, use your Scout Account money for this.

Nominations for OP District Chairman’s Awards are due by March 31. Any leader or parent can nominate leaders and volunteers for the Old Portage District Chairman’s Awards. Just write up a brief description of what the person you are nominating has done for Scouting in OP District and submit it to Brad Bowers, John Starrett or Jim Horvath. Awards will be announced at the District Recognition Dinner April 19.

Old Portage District Recognition Dinner Is April 19. This year it will be at Faith Lutheran Church. This is a good opportunity to meet the volunteers of Old Portage District that support more than 30 Packs, Troops and Venture Crews. Cost is $6.00 per person. Troop 390 will be cooking for this event. Please send in your reservation to Council or give it to Mr. Horvath.

Order of the Arrow Elections are April 10. The OA is Scouting’s National Honor Society. Scouts are elected by their fellow Scouts in the Troop after meeting the rank and nights of camping requirements and being nominated by their Scoutmaster. It is an honor to be elected to the OA. Participation in an Ordeal induction is required during the summer.

Cleveland Diocese Court of Honor is Sunday, April 29, at St. Sebastian Church. All Scouts in the Cleveland Diocese who earned their Ad Altari Dei and Popius XII Catholic Scout religious awards will be recognized at this Court of Honor.

Saturday, May 5, is a Troop Good Turn Day. We will help the Fairlawn Women’s City Club by taking any leftover items from their Rummage Sale to the Goodwill. Scouts and Parents please arrive at the Fairlawn Community Center at noon. Cars, Vans and Trucks are needed. This is a service project for all our Scouts.

Old Portage District Cub Scout Summer Day Camp needs adult and youth Staff. Scouts age 14 and up can help with the program, which takes place June 25-27 at Camp Butler. To be on staff, Scouts must attend two trainings, Monday, May 7 and Monday, June 4, from 7:00 – 8:30 at Montrose Zion Methodist Church. Tell Mr. Horvath if you are interested.

Acme Cash Back Receipts program ends soon. Please save your Acme cash register receipts, put the Scout’s name on each receipt and bring them to the Troop meetings. Cash Back cash register receipts must be dated between September 17, 2006 and April 7, 2007. The Troop will get 5% of the Cash Back amount shown on the bottom of each tape. Scouts will get credit for participating. This year, the Cash Back is increased from 1% to 5% but applies only to store brands: Dining-In, Domestix, Food Club, Paws, Top Care, Top Crest and ValuTime. Turn in all receipts by April 21.

Questions? Call Jim or Charlotte Horvath at 330-666-4521 or 330-283-4422 or email jhorvath99@aol.com