NEWSLETTER
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 1st
6:30 PLC
7:30P TROOP MEETING
From the SPL
Hey Troop 77,
I hope y’all are having a great week!
This week the Titans are doing a presentation on First Aid.
We’re also meal planning this meeting so think of some ideas now to make it easier on y’all.
Hope to see you there!
Yours in Scouting,
Alex King
akingt77@gmail.com
(404)-679-8724
from the scoutmaster
I hope everyone had a great week! In addition to our meeting, Troop 77 Scouts and Leaders also spent time volunteering at Pack 577s “All About Camping” meeting, presenting at the Hightower Trail District Roundtable, going on a Philmont conditioning hike, and volunteering and serving our Community through service and other activities. Everyone give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done, and a special thanks to Mr. Ben Bryant for helping with both the All About Camping and District Roundtable this past week.
Our Halloween Meeting last week was nice and relaxing, and I hope everyone was having as much fun as it looked like you were having. This week, it will be back to business as usual (see above for what our SPL and Program Patrol have planned), so let’s all come out and enjoy the Scouting fellowship together this Tuesday, especially if you are going on the November campout and want some say in what you are eating as we will be doing meal planning for that during Patrol Meetings.
CUBAPALOOZA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
The first CUBAPALOOZA for Hightower Trail District will be this Sunday (11/6) from 2P - 5P at Chamblee First United Methodist Church in Dunwoody. Troop 77 (along with Troop 177) is volunteering to host Field Games and make S’mores with Cub Scouts throughout the District. There will be other activities happening as well like Stomp Rockets and Shooting Sports for the Cubs. If you volunteer, you will get Service hours for the event. I am hoping to get around 25 volunteers (Adults can volunteer too!) to help run our two events. You can sign-up to volunteer at: Cubapalooza SignUp Genius
PHILMONT 2023 AND JOINING VENTURING
The Venture Crew (working with Troops 77 and 177) still has a few spots open in our co-ed Crew and our all boys Crews for Philmont 2023. If you are interested, please contact me by email.
Even if you do not go to Philmont, please consider joining Venturing Crew 77. It is a great opportunity to do Scouting a little differently after age 14 and it goes up to age 21 (where regular Scouts ends at 18). You can also continue working on your Scouting Advancement while in Venturing, and Venturing PoRs count for Scout PoRs for Advancement.
WEBELOS GAMES AND THANKSGIVING CAMPOUT
Our WEBELOS Games Campout this year will be at Camp Pine Mountain Camp (near West Point Lake), so hopefully it will be a little warmer than our usual November campouts. We are making pulled pork with all the fixin’s for dinner for everyone. We will be sending a limited number of people on the cooking crew down on Friday and everyone else will arrive on Saturday. If you are interested in being on the Friday Cooking Crew, then please email me and let me know because we could use a couple additional volunteers.
Finally, please make sure you read the whole Newsletter as there is always useful and valuable information therein. Parents, if the Newsletter only comes to you (i.e., your Scout is not signed-up for Remind or cannot access the Newsletter through the web), then please make sure your Scout either reads it with you, you print them a copy, etc. While we need everyone to read everything we put out in any form (Newsletter, Remind, Scoutbook, Email, etc.), it is super-critical that everyone reads the Newsletter and stays current on what is going on in the Troop and upcoming opportunities, etc.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Yours in Scouting,
Clinton Cole
Scoutmaster Troop 77
(678) 595-3332
November 2022 DETAILEd cALENDAR
Note: The majority of the dates in this section are on the Troop Calendar. If you have not done so already, please subscribe to the Troop's calendar by following the instructions on the Calendar page of the Troop’s website.
In addition, on the Calendar page of the Troop’s website (underneath the calendar itself), you will find the latest released update to the Annual Planning Meeting Summary, which will give you an idea of what we will be doing for the next 10 months (the AMPS is subject to change, but it should not change too much).
NOVEMBER
11/1
PLC at 6:30 PM
7:30P Troop Meeting
Meal Planning for WEBELOS Games Thanksgiving Campout
11/4-6: OA Fall Induction Weekend (for Ordeal and Brotherhood Candidates)
11/6:
Cubapalooza from 2 PM – 5 PM at Chamblee First United Methodist Church)
Cub Scout Leader Training simultaneous with Cubapalooza
11/8
ASM Roundtable at 6:30 PM
7:30P Troop Meeting
11/11: Food preparation crew Friday arrival at Camp Pine Mountain
11/12-13: WEBELOS Games and Thanksgiving Cooking Campout at Camp Pine Mountain
11/11-13: Atlanta Area Council Conservation Campout (individual sign-up required - NOT AN OFFICIAL TROOP EVENT)
11/15
Scoutmaster Conferences Available with Mr. Cole
Committee Meeting at 6:30 PM
7:30P Troop Meeting
11/22: NO TROOP MEETING – HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
11/25: Registration closes for Shooting Campout – December 11-12
11/29
Scoutmaster Conferences Available with Mr. Cole
7:30P Troop Meeting
Meal Planning and Patrol Planning for December Campout
DECEMBER (early notice)
12/1: District Roundtable Meeting
12/10-11: Shooting Campout at Camp Thunder (Lawhorn)
12/19: Individual Registration for Winter Camp closes (see additional information below; you register directly with the Council through Tentaroo; this is not a Troop activity)
12/20 and 12/27: NO TROOP MEETINGS - HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
CAMPING
November Campout:
November 12-13: Olympic Games at Lumpkin with WEBELOS
The November campout will be a joint outing with the second year Webelos. Scouts will lead the Webelos in Olympic style games and work on basic camp skills. We will also enjoy a Thanksgiving Dinner together Saturday night!
Upcoming 2022/2023 Campouts
November 12-13: Olympic Games at Lumpkin with WEBELOS
December 10-11: Shooting Sports at Lawhorn (trip details coming soon)
January 14-15: Caving at Tumbling Rock (click to access campout information and register)
February 17-20: Cumberland Island Service
March 24-26: Camporee at Bert Adams
April 21-23: Survivalist Extreme
May 12-14: Backpacking
advancement
Board of Review (BOR) - Scouts - If you are ready for your Board of Review, sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D44AEAD29A7FF2-troop
advancement OPPORTUNITIES
merit badge minute
Bert Adams Winter Camp
Registration is open for Bert Adams Winter Camp. Between December 27 and 31, Scouts have the opportunity to earn up to 5 merit badges. Cost for the 4-night event is $220. For more information, click here: https://www.campbertadams.org/wintercamp
IMPORTANT MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
It is time to decide if your scout journey will continue into 2023. We ask that all current Troop 77 scouts provide a response at the link below letting us know if you plan to continue with our Troop.
Click here to complete the form and let us know if you plan to continue with Troop 77.
The deadline to submit your online renewal and pay 2023 dues is Tuesday, November 15, 2022.
*Scouts who do not renew by the November 15 deadline will be removed from the Troop 77 roster and will have to complete a new BSA application in 2023 to rejoin the troop.
Scouts dues are $175 for 2023 (including Troop and BSA). Troop dues fund the ongoing operations of Troop 77 including ongoing maintenance and equipment for our large and active Troop.
Please contact membership@troop77bsa.org if you have any questions about membership or dues.
DUTY TO GOD: RELIGIOUS EMBLEM AWARD
Hey guys, this is Zander Parris the Chaplain’s Aide for the troop. One of the main things that I do as Chaplain’s Aide is help you earn the Religious emblem for your faith. Religious Emblems are awards you can get for learning more about your religion and growing stronger in your faith. Please fill out the survey below so that we can recognize your religious beliefs and help you earn the religious emblem for your faith.
https://qfreeaccountssjc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bBjpz5FeOrsG0jc
Jamboree band
Attention all Band folks - here is a great opportunity with the Jamboree Band!
If you play a musical instrument in your high school or college band or even just for fun and will be at least 16 on or before July 19, 2023, the Jamboree Band is a great way to experience a National Scout Jamboree at a lot less cost than it is to go with a contingent.
Scouts and young adults who are interested should contact the Jamboree Band Director, George Pinchock at pinchock@aol.com and let him know you are interested. Mr. Pinchock is the Associate Director of Music at Villanova University in Pennsylvania where he works with the concert, marching and pep bands, and advises student performing groups. He served as director of the Jamboree Band in 2013 and 2017 and is the Scoutmaster of Troop 50 in Schwenksville, PA.
Band members get to do just about everything participants do plus play concerts for thousands of Scouts and Scouters.
winter Camp
The Atlanta Area Council is excited to offer Winter Camp at Bert Adams Scout Camp for Scouts BSA Troops and Venturing Crews. For 5 days and 4 nights in December, Scouts BSA and Venturers will have the opportunity to camp and play at one of America's premier camps. Our winter camp will introduce unique programs and merit badges that are not available at either of our summer camps. We've pulled together the best of our summer camp staffs for an all-star leadership team. Scouts BSA and Venturers can attend as a Troop or Crew, patrol, or as an individual provisional Scouts BSA/Venturer. Activities include over 60 Merit Badges, Games, Cracker Barrels, an epic Klondike Derby, Cold Weather Camping Activities, Campfires, and other unique programs.
https://www.campbertadams.org/files/42668/2022-winter-camp-flyer
Important Note: If you are interested in attending Winter Camp as a Troop, then please contact Mr. Cole by email at ctcole0308@gmail.com so we can gauge if there is enough interest to make this a Troop event or assist you with individual registration.
CIRCE du SOLEIL KURIOS SCOUT DAY
Sunday, November 13 @ Atlantic Station
Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space, and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him. Groups of 20+ enjoy reduced handling fees, contact Michael.Ciaccia@cirquedusoleil.com for details.
Click on the link to purchase tickets: https://tickets.cirquedusoleil.com/shop/#/fc8f3df5-12c1-4481-a31f-8f17bba95640/shop/select?locale=en&skin=kurios_v2
SCOUT DAY with the ATLANTA HAWKS
Sunday, November 27 @ State Farm Arena
Catch the Atlanta Hawks take on the division rival Miami Heat at Scout Day with the Atlanta Hawks! Tickets for the event start at $33 with a portion of each ticket sold going back to Atlanta area Scouting. Every attendee will receive a Scout Day patch!
Buy your tickets here: https://atlantahawks.spinzo.com/?group=scout-night-pba6
NYLT
Only two National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) sessions remain this year. We strongly recommend all eligible Scouts that have not previously attended NYLT to register and take part in BSA’s preeminent Youth training opportunity. This six-day course is designed to equip Scouts with the skills to improve their leadership in all aspects of their daily lives. Led by an exemplary, highly trained youth staff, NYLT participants work hard and play hard together through group activities, games, and adventures as they experience Scouting at its best.
To be eligible for NYLT, before the week you plan to attend, you must:
Be 13 or older
Have achieved First Class or higher
Have completed ILST
Have the recommendation of your Scoutmaster
The remaining 2022 NYLT Session Dates are as follows:
Fall Session (Part 1) - Saturday, Nov 19 2022 - Tuesday, Nov 22 2022
Adventure Camp (Bert Adams Scout Camp)
-AND-
Fall Session (Part 2) - Saturday, Dec 3 2022 - Sunday, Dec 4 2022
Adventure Camp (Bert Adams Scout Camp)
Winter Session - Monday, Dec 26 2022 - Saturday, Dec 31 2022
Camps Emerson & Gorman (Bert Adams Scout Camp)
You can find additional information and register for NYLT at: https://aacnylt.org/
ORder of the Arrow
Hello everyone, this is Ryan Shimabukuro, your Order of the Arrow (OA) Troop Representative. This newsletter contains important information about current and upcoming OA events, and more.
Events and Registration
The link to our Egwa Tawa Dee Lodge website is https://aacegwa.org. It has a calendar of upcoming events and information on how to register for the events. Here are the dates for the upcoming Induction Weekends and the registration deadlines:
Fall Induction November 4-6, 2022 at Bert Adams Scout Camp; register by October 25, 2022
Dues
Yes, there are dues in the OA. This year, and every year, dues are $25. They are due NOW! In some situations, if you did not pay dues last year, then you will need to pay those in order to pay your dues for this year and stay current. HOWEVER, this is important, if you attend OA events in which you pay a fee, the fee should cover your dues.
The Troop does NOT reimburse for payment of Adult or Youth OA dues, unless the Adult or Scout is actively involved in OA (e.g., attends monthly meetings, Chapter and Lodge events, Conclaves, Fellowship Events, Service Events, etc.), in which case you need to talk to me or Dr. Gilbert.
The link for paying dues is: https://www.atlantabsa.org/OAMemberRenewal
What is the Order of the Arrow?
According to the Order of the Arrow’s website (https://oa-bsa.org/), the Order of the Arrow is an honor organization that recognizes Scouts and Scouters who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives. This recognition provides encouragement for others to live these ideals as well. Arrowmen are known for maintaining camping traditions and spirit, promoting year-round and long-term resident camping, and providing cheerful service to others. OA service, activities, adventures, and training for youth and adults are models of quality leadership development and programming that enrich and help to extend Scouting to America's youth.
Etowah Chapter:
The following are the elected officials (and advisor) in our Chapter:
Chapter Chief: RJ Holloway rj@rj-holloway.com
Vice Chapter Chief: Violet Todd violet.todd.7@gmail.com
Etowah Chapter Advisor: Ramus Caribbean EtowahAdviser@aacegwa.org
If you have any questions about the events, you can contact me or RJ, the current Etowah Chapter Chief at rj@rj-holloway.com.
Thanks!
Ryan
Financial Management Support LInks
Attention Parents!
There's a new Financial Management Tab on the Scout/Parent Portal to assist with tracking and management of expense reimbursement and escrow accounts.
Please use the links on this webpage to submit expense reimbursement requests or for campout/other payments that you'd like to pay using your Scout's escrow balance.
Escrow Accounts
Escrow account balance report (please note "as-of" date as these balances change often)
Request Invoice Payment using Scout Escrow Balance
Expense Reimbursement Requests
Grubmaster/Cobbler reimbursement requests
Transportation/Trailer reimbursement requests
Other General Expense Reimbursement requests
SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCES
Scoutmaster Conferences for Scout, Star, Life and Eagle are conducted by Mr. Cole. You can sign-up for Scoutmaster Conference for Scout, Star and Life by using the SignUp Genius on the Troop's Website under Scoutmaster Conferences (https://sites.google.com/troop77bsa.com/scout-parent/scoutmaster-conferences?authuser=0) and following the instructions on that webpage. Scoutmaster Conferences for Eagle can be arranged by emailing Mr. Cole at ctcole0308@gmail.com. IF YOUR SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE IS BEFORE 7P, ONE OF YOUR PARENTS MUST BE PREPARED TO STAY FOR THE CONFERENCE (SO THAT WE HAVE TWO ADULTS PRESENT AND NO ONE-ON-ONE CONTACT) SO THAT WE CAN REMAIN YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING COMPLIANT.
Scoutmaster Conferences for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class are completed by an Assistant Scoutmaster and should be arranged through the ASM Helpdesk or by contacting Mr. Jensen at garyljensen@gmail.com.
EAGLE COURTS OF HONOR HELP
For anyone (Scouts or Parents) who can volunteer some time to help organize a few things, get things setup, or help take things down at the end of Eagle Courts of Honor, Mrs. Cole could certainly use the help. It’s not an overwhelming amount of stuff to get done by a team, but it starts to get overwhelming if you are having to do it all by yourself. If you’re interested in helping with the Eagle Courts of Honor please contact Holly Cole (hpcole77@gmail.com or (770) 401-4992) and let her know. With a big backlog from COVID and being fortunate to have 1-2 Scouts earning Eagle a month, this is a great way to give some time to the Troop on a night other than Tuesdays and a great place to start volunteering.
UPCOMING COUNCIL/DISTRICT EVENTS
Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops - November 5, 2022 (https://www.atlantabsa.org/youthtraining)
OA Fall Induction & Fellowship Weekend - November 4 - 6, 2022
National Youth Leadership Training - Session 3 (Part 1) Saturday, Nov 19 2022 - Tuesday, Nov 22 2022 and (Part 2) Saturday, Dec 3 2022 - Sunday, Dec 4 2022; and Session 4 Monday, Dec 26 2022 - Saturday, Dec 31 2022 (https://aacnylt.org)
See below links for further activities:
Hightower Trail District Website
community service opportunities
Click the link below to see all of the community service opportunities available now.
https://sites.google.com/troop77bsa.com/scout-parent/service
Communication
Remind Application
Troop 77 Parents –
Or text @troop77p to the number 81010
Troop 77 Scouts
or text @troop77s to the number 81010
Troop 177 Parents –
Or text @troop177p to the number 81010
Troop 177 Scouts
or text @troop177s to the number 81010
Scoutbook
At least one parent/guardian MUST activate their Scoutbook account.
Only the linked parent/guardian can activate the scout's access to their Scoutbook account. (If you scout does not have an email please make them a free account at gmail.com)
To activate your Scout's account complete please click here How to activate your scout's Scoutbook account
Scoutbook has a mobile app. Search for “Scouting BSA” in the APP Store or Google Play and download today! Your login is the same as the web version.
Coming soon a scout will be able to check their escrow account, if medical forms are out of date, swim test status and much more