Welcome to Pack 101!

This August we had a terrific Cub Scout Round-up. We signed up nearly 40 new scouts, which makes this year one of the best years we have ever had for new scouts.

There are several important pieces of information I need to communicate to everybody: First, meeting times and places.

Tigers: Methodist Church, 1st and 2nd Tuesdays, 6 pm; 3rd Tuesday, Go See It, 6 pm.

Wolfs: Methodist Church, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays, 6 pm;

Bears: Methodist Church, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Tuesdays, 6 pm;

Webelos 1: Methodist Church, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mondays, 7 pm;

Webelos 2: Methodist Church, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Mondays, 6 pm.

ALL DENS MEET FOR OUR PACK MEETING ON THE 4TH TUESDAY OF THE MONTH, 7 PM, AT THE METHODIST CHURCH. This month we are having our Pack meeting on September 22nd.

My contact information is as follows: Roger Pugh, 113 Lindsey Avenue, Metropolis, IL. (618) 524-8340

pugh@shawneelink.net

The Pack web address is

http://cubscoutpack101.blogspot.com

Note there is no “www” in the address.

All new scouts should be progressing towards the Bobcat badge. If you are not sure what that is, please see your den leader or contact me, and we’ll get you started. You should also have the right handbook for your group. You might be putting your uniform together right now, too, which is great. Here is a list of parts for your uniform.

Hat (for specific den); Neckerchief and slide (for specific den); Shirt (1st-3rd: Blue shirt; 4th and 5th, please contact your leader about which shirt to buy); Shawnee Trails Council Patch; World Scouting Emblem Patch; Pack Numbers (101); Den Numbers (Tigers: Den 4, Wolfs Den 1, Bears, Den 2, Webelos 1 Den 3, and Webelos 2 Den 5); Belt and Buckle (for specific den). Handbooks and uniform parts can be purchased from Hoopers in Paducah, downtown on Broadway.

Our popcorn kickoff begins with your dens’ first meetings. In order to provide the great program we deliver to the scouts, we have a popcorn sale fundraiser. Last year, our Pack sold almost $17,000 in popcorn! This year, if each scout meets their dens’ sales goals, and also reaches his own personal goal, then we can easily exceed last year’s record-breaking effort, even in these tough times! The company we work with provides really high quality prizes for scouts to help motivate them to reach their sales goals. Our Council also adds incentives, such as drawings for an Xbox 360 and a laptop computer. Our Pack also adds a cash bonus incentive for each scout. If a scout sells more than $500 in popcorn, he will get 5% of his sale back directly to him in CASH, in addition to any other prizes he earns. Last year, one boy sold more than $2500 in popcorn and qualified for a college scholarship in addition to his prizes! He didn’t have a “magic touch;” he went out, and sold door to door. He was confident, courteous, wore his uniform, and in just a few days, he had taken that much in orders. YOU CAN TOO!

When you get ready to take popcorn orders, do so safely. Go with your parents. Don’t go into a stranger’s home alone. Wear your uniform. Remember, we are TAKING ORDERS ONLY at first. We do not take money now, only when the order is delivered. Get to know what it is you are selling. Recommend what you like to potential customers. Show them that there are many options available if they don’t particularly like popcorn, including a military donation, in which their contribution buys popcorn treats for our soldiers. Most everybody who is approached will place an order, because people in our area really do support the Cub Scouts. Make sure and thank them for their orders. When you first approach them, you might say something like, “Hi, I’m with Cub Scout Pack 101 and I am taking orders for popcorn to help support my Pack. Can I show you what we have to offer?” That’s all it takes! Taking orders for popcorn will conclude on Sunday, October 18th. I need to have your completed forms by your next Den meeting, (either October 19th or 20th, depending). I look forward to seeing everybody at the Pack Meeting, September 22nd, 7 pm, at the Methodist Church in Metropolis.