Here are the Troop updates April.  I encourage all to follow the troop website (www.troop222bsa.org) on a regular basis, as I will be posting these updates to the announcements section.

• Tuesday, April 07 is both Election Day and RUSD Spring Break, so we will have not regular troop meeting.  I am, however, willing to meet with scouts to work on completing remaining merit badge requirements for which I counsel, or to even start a new one.  That said, I do not know who might be in town and who will not, so lo let me propose the following.
•  6:00 to 8:00, Troop Chess merit badge tournament, three game minimum.  My records indicate Myles, Charles, and Caleb have this as a remaining requirement (and a couple others) to earn the merit badge.  Other Scouts are invited to start the merit badge as well and participate in the Troop Tournament.  I will also be pulling individual Scouts out to discuss other requirements for this merit badge.  Please bring a chess set, as I only have a couple myself!
• 6:30 to 8:30 or so, any other merit badges (which I counsel, or which the Scout arranges for the counselor to attend), by appointment in fifteen minute increments.  My suggestion would be for those Scouts who have completed CERT training but have requirements remaining for Fire Safety, First Aid, and/or Emergency Preparedness, this is a good opportunity to tie up some loose ends.  Anybody who has partials for Camping or Communication, or who may want to start a new merit badge with me, this is a good opportunity.
• For the record, below is the list of merit badge counselors within the troop that I am aware of.  We are always looking for other parents and family members to register as counselors (and I know others have but the paperwork has been misplaced at council – AGAIN!)  Please contact these individuals to set up appointments with them for merit badges you are interested in working on.  I also have the complete roster of counselors for the entire council, so I can provide information on others if requested.
• I counsel the following merit badges: Camping, Chess, Coin Collecting, Communication, Computers, Cooking, Digital Technology, Geocaching, Photography, Programming, Public Speaking, Safety, Salesmanship, and Scholarship.  I also counsel Emergency Preparedness, Fire Safety, and First Aid only for those who have completed the CERT training.
• Mrs. Kveton (Peter’s mom) counsels Bird Study and Gardening.
• Mr. Nelson counsels American Business, Camping, Communication, Cooking, Digital Technology, Electronics, Emergency Preparedness, First Aid, Golf, Hiking, Home Repairs, Motorboating, Personal Management, Public Speaking, Safety, Salesmanship, and Scholarship.
• Mr. Russ counsels Cooking, Cycling, Family Life, and Personal Fitness.  (Frank, we need to get another MBC application submitted for you).
• Mr. Schneider counsels Archery, Backpacking, Camping, Hiking, Home Repairs, Painting, Photography, and Plumbing.  (Robbie, we need to get another MBC application submitted for you).

• Saturday, April 11 is Gateway’s Merit Badge Tech day.  Registration for this event has closed.  Check-in starts at 7:30 at the Gateway Kenosha campus.  Ending time and location is determined by the merit badge registered for.  The roster I have of Scouts participating includes Brian Dean for Truck Transportation, Grant Gilewski for Soil and Water Conservation, Vinnie Pulice for Fire Safety, Gavin Turner for Drafting, and Eli Vass for Robotics.  I will be mailing the required blue cards to the home of each Scout later this week, as well as including contact information for each family since carpooling might be desired.

• Monday, April 13 (was the 6^th) is a Troop Committee Meeting.  All parents are invited, especially if you are available to assist the troop in a behind-the-scenes role.

• Tuesday, April 14 is a regular Troop meeting.  All popcorn order forms are due to Mrs. Turner at or before this meeting, with no exceptions.  This meeting will be the second of three for patrol training rotations in preparation for our Wadewitz campout.  Wadewitz participation must be confirmed at this meeting, and patrol menus for Wadewitz must be finalized.

• Saturday, April 18 is the Troop’s Annual Pancake Breakfast.  Each Scout is expected to work at least one of the two shifts, either 7:30 to 10:30, or 10:00 to 1:00.  This event is held at Atonement Lutheran Church, at 2915 Wright Avenue.  This is a required event for the Scouts, as this is our primary source of funding for equipment repairs and replacement.  If for any reason a Scout is not available to participate I must be informed in advance.  Non-participation, without advanced notice of non-participation, will negatively impact the Scout’s requirement of being “active in your Troop” at each and every rank.

• Tuesday, April 21 is a regular Troop meeting.  This meeting will be the third of three for patrol training rotations in preparation for our Wadewitz campout.

• Friday to Sunday, April 24 to 26, is Troop camping at Wadewitz Nature Center in Rochester.  Parents who can drive and/or attend should let me know.  I estimate we will need at least five drivers.

• Tuesday, April 28 is a Troop PLC meeting.

• Saturday, May 02 is an Order of the Arrow Spring Fix-It Day at Camp OhDaKoTa.  I encourage all OA members to consider participating, from 8am to 4pm.  See Mitch for details.

• Friday to Sunday, May 08 to 10, is the Order of the Arrow Spring Conclave at Indian Mound Reservation. I encourage all OA members to consider registering and participating.  See Mitch for details.

• Monday, May 11 is a Troop Committee Meeting.  All parents are invited, especially if you are available to assist the troop in a behind-the-scenes role.

• Friday to Sunday, May 22 to 24, was a Troop camping or canoeing activity, but has been postponed.  The PLC will be considering other opportunities for May.

• Friday to Sunday, June 26 to 28, is Troop camping and canoeing activity, with details still to be determined by Eli, Michael, and Roger.

• Sunday to Saturday, July 26 to August 01, is Troop Summer Camp at RS Lyle Scout Reservation.  Information sheet has been distributed, but is also available on the Troop website (troop222bsa.org).