Are you interested in earning the Railroading Merit Badge?
If you are, mark Saturday, June 9, 2012 on your calendar.
Where: The Chicagoland Lionel Railroad Club’s Train House, 1311 Schoolhouse Road, Units 3 & 4, New Lenox, IL 60451-3279

Registration: Pre-registration is a must, by contacting Herbert W. Koch at  708-361-2483 or hkoch1@sbcglobal.net

Limited to the first 80 scouts
Full Payment secures your participation
Full refunds can be made when requested by May 25, 2012

Time: 8AM check in and start at 9 AM to 4 PM

Cost: $15.00 per scout includes lunch of 2 hot dogs, chips and a can of pop. You will also receive a beautiful patch to commemorate this great day.

All participants need to have the Merit Badge Card signed by their Scout Master.

Uniform of the day: Class A Shirt

Questions? Contact Herb Koch for further information  708-361-2483 or hkoch1@sbcglobal.net

General Directions: From I-80 exit at the LaGrange Road, (96th
Ave Rte 45, exit) going south proceed south 2 and ½ miles to Route 30 (Lincoln Highway) (stop light) turn west or to your Right and proceed to Schoolhouse road. This is also a stop light. On the northwest corner is Lincoln Way High School. At Schoolhouse Road turn left or South and proceed 1 mile and go past the bike path. The property is located on the west side or right hand side if you are going south (Street address 21601-27). Turn right at the Fairfield Industrial Condos sign (Camelot Homes is on top) and go down that road about 200 yards. At the 2nd set of buildings turn right. It is units 3 and 4 (West side). If you cross Railroad Tracks on Schoolhouse Rd. you have gone about 300-400 yards too far.
CLRC Web Page: www.clrctrains.com
Note: Food is available for Adults and siblings for a moderate fee.

Download information flyer here.

There are 5 sessions, meeting from 6:20pm-9:00pm on the following dates:

• April 16 (Boy Scouts Only - Eisenhower High School 12700 S. Sacramento, Blue Island)
• April 23 ( Eisenhower High School 12700 S. Sacramento, Blue Island)
• April 30  (Eisenhower High School 12700 S. Sacramento, Blue Island)
• May 7 ( Eisenhower High School 12700 S. Sacramento, Blue Island)
• May 14 (Boy Scouts Only at St. Germaine, 97th & Kolin)

Cost is $4 per session.

Boy Scouts:

• Please review Lifesaving requirements before clinic.
• Req #1a – 2nd & 1st class swimming must be completed prior to March 8th. Please bring signed Scout book or note from Scoutmaster.
• Req 1b – 400 yards swim must be completed on April 16. No time is allotted for retest on other dates.

Questions? Please contact Bob O’Dwyer  at bobodwyer@gmail.com.

Download Lifesaving flyer here. This includes permission slip, which must be completed and signed for scouts to participate.

Download Webelos Aquanaut flyer here. This includes permission slip, which must be completed and signed for scouts to participate.

Merit Badge Counselor Training

The training will run from 9:00am until Noon. Cost is $3.00.

Merit Badge Counselor Registration Procedures

In order to help streamline the Merit Badge Counselors Renewal Process the Chicago Area Council’s Advancement Committee has approved the following change.

Every three years all merit badge counselor applicants must fill out the Merit Badge counselor application. If they are a registered Scouter in the Chicago Area Council they will not have to complete an Adult Volunteer Leader Application. Only those requesting to be renewed as a Merit Badge Counselor who are not registered Scouters in the Chicago Area Council will need to complete the Adult Volunteer Application. It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that the applications are forwarded to the proper place. The procedures are as follows.

1. Applicant sends unit copy of the adult application, if required, and the original copy of the Merit badge counselor application to the District Advancement Committee Chair. If the applicant is applying at a council level that application should be forwarded to the council advancement committee.
2. Applicant sends the original adult leader application and a copy of the Merit Badge Counselor application to the Scout Office.
3. All Merit Badge Counselors must submit a new application every 3 years.
4. If there is a problem with the Merit Badge Counselor Application, applicant will be notified by his/her District Advancement Committee Chair.

Failure to follow these instructions will delay the process.

Please Note: When registering as a Merit Badge Counselor for the first time, all applicants
must complete an Adult Volunteer Leader Application regardless of their status as a
registered member of the Boy Scouts of America.

For questions, contact:
Kenneth W. Vari
CAC Advancement Chair
10817 S Monitor
Chicago Ridge, Il 60415
Phone: 708-925-4656

• Download Merit Badge Counselor Application here.
• Download Merit Badge Counselor Registration Procedures sheet here.

OOPS!!! Did you forget that Valentines Present?

Make it up by coming to the Boy Scout Troop 617 Pancake Breakfast.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Saint Christina School
3333 West 110th Street, Chicago
8:00-12:00 PM

Adults $5, senior citizens $4, children (ages 3-12) $3, children under 3 are
free.

Information shared included:

• Cub Scout Day Camp will be held July 18 – 20, 2012. The District is looking for both youth and adult volunteers. Contact Helen Gesell at 708-955-6418 for more information.
• Fishing Derby will be held Sunday, August 19, 2012, at Tampier Lake. More details coming soon.
• A reminder was given that any units interested in the District Pinewood Derby on Saturday, February 25 need to be preregistered.
• Owasippe will be using online registration for units and scouts. Unit Leaders will be able to sign scouts up for merit badges online. The camp will also be switching to a block programming for merit badges, which will allow for up to 6 hours for scouts to work on each merit badge. There will remain some merit badges that will have open scheduling (such as for basketry).
• In preparation for the upcoming Klondike in February, old weather camping was reviewed.

As usual, Kevin Barry had the Trading Post set up. He brings down quite an assortment of resources for the district.

Next month’s Roundtable will be on Tuesday, February 28, 2012. Come on down!

The NEW Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (effective Jan. 1, 2012)  -  http://www.arrowhead-district.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/EagleProjectWorkbook_512_927_FormFill.pdf

BSA Guide to Advancement 2011 – http://www.arrowhead-district.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/BSA-Advancement-Guide.pdf

Application to Conduct a Merit Badge Clinic – http://www.chicagobsa.org/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=52630