Memorial Day Flag Ceremony – Saturday May 26th, 0800 – 1000

This weekend is the annual Memorial Day Flag Ceremony at the Marietta National Cemetery.  Pack 471 has been participating in this event for several years and it is one of the most impactful events of the year.  The heart of the ceremony is when scouts place flags in front of grave markers of our nation’s veterans and salute the soldier and their sacrifice to our country and our freedom.  While most of the  rest of the year is about fun and achievements, this day is about honor and values.

Please join us on Saturday May 26, 2012 at the Marietta National Cemetery at 500 Washington Ave NE, Marietta, GA.  Pack  471 will meet about 40 yards in from the main gate at the Northwest corner of the cemetery starting at 8:00 AM.  There will be short commencement, then join us as thousands of scouts from across the area honor our fallen veterans by placing a flag at their headstone and honoring them with a salute.  Come early as once the flag placements start, it will take less than one hour to place flags on all the markers.   

Parking is very limited and  they suggest parking at the Public Library on Roswell Street but if you come early there is some parking near the main gate.

Scouts must wear their Class A Uniform for this event.  There is a lot of walking and the standard footwear is also required  (close toed shoes, no sandals or Crocs).  Family members are invited to join us.

We hope to see you there!

Camp Card Sales almost done!

The 2012 Camp Card sales are almost over!  If you still have cards, or would like more, there are still more available.  Contact Robert Payne at 404-988-4589(C) to arrange picking up more cards.

If you believe your scout has sold all he is going to sell, then you can start returning the unsold cards and all monies collected in the green envelope to Robert Payne, 4603 Blakedale Circle, Roswell.  Because we are dealing with monies we are responsible for, I ask that you please hand it to me and not in my mailbox.  You can begin returning all cards and monies at any time, but ALL cards and money must be returned by Sunday night, May 13th.  Please remember that any damaged cards are unfortunately the responsibility of the scouting family, so please return all unsold cards intact.

We had a short sales season this year, but please remember that all commission earned by the scout is going to be used by the scout alone for ANY scouting activity (camping, Fall  Family Camping, items from the Scout Shop with receipt).  All money earned by the scout must be used OR committed by December 31, 2012.  This means that is you still have money that the scout has not used, you can put it towards Spring Family Camping or the Big Trip in 2013, that way it is used by the end of the year.

This was the first year of hopefully a long time selling what is looking to be a fairly easy fund-raiser.  Next year the Atlanta Area Council is planning on starting the fund Camp Card sales earlier.

Congratulations to all the scouts who have sold 20 cards or more to begin earning patches and prizes, and to all scouts who went out there to sell even one card.

We will reconcile all commissions on May 17th with the Atlanta Area Council, and I should have all the final commissions and at least the notice on when we plan on getting the prizes by the May 20th Rocket Launch.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Robert Payne, 404-988-4589(C).

May 20th Rocket Launch and Crossover Ceremony 3-6 p.m.

Pack 471 will host the annual Crossover Ceremony and Rocket Launch on Sunday, May 20^th from 3 to 6 p.m. at Garrard Landing Park off of Holcolm Bridge Road (the link to the map is here…)

The park is located at 8100 Holcomb Bridge Road.  You will enter the gates to the John’s Creek Environmental Campus just before you get to Chattahoochee River on Holcomb Bridge Road, then take an immediate left so you are on the gravel road on the inside of the fence.  Follow the gravel road about 300 ‘ and you will see the pavilion, washrooms and play area for the Garrard Landing Park.  We will gather for the ceremony on the large open field that is found just past Garrard Landing park.

We will have some small gathering games, but then we will have the crossover ceremony first where we will celebrate our scouts crossing into their new ranks with their new neckerchief and handbook for their new rank.  At this point, we will first listen to a safety briefing from our S.O.A.R representative, Jorge Blanco who will help us launch our rockets!

You can start getting ready by building a rocket with your scout now.  We are going to launch rockets with class A and B sized rockets.  If you have never built rockets in the past, there are several types that are very easy first time rocket kits, which include everything but the engine itself.

Hobby Town and Hobby Lobby both have a great selection of rockets and engines.  Remember to add wadding (S.O.A.R. had some to share with us last year that worked great).

Pack 471 will also provide drinks and hot dogs for this event for after the ceremony.

Things to bring:

Your scout’s rocket to launch

Class – A uniform (you may want to bring another shirt as it will be hot and they can remove their blue uniform shirt after the ceremony).

Water bottles

Sunscreen

We hope that you can make it and celebrate this year of adventure that we’ve had.

Please be prepared to assist with some of the activities, as we are expecting a huge turnout for this event, and all hands will be needed to make sure this is a successful end of year event.

May Committee Meeting Agenda Posted…

The Pack 471 Committee Meeting Agenda for May is posted here….

We will meet at Robert Payne’s residence at 4603 Blakedale Circle in the Westchester neighborhood, Tuesday May 1st, from 6:30 – 7:30.

This is the last committee meeting before the summer planning session, so please try to make it a point to attend.  Several summertime items will be reviewed along with crossover.  See you there!

Scout Day at the Braves – April 28, 2012

Kick off the 2012 baseball season by bringing your Scout to watch the Atlanta Braves take on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tickets start at $12.

I have attended this event the last two years and it has been a hit with the scouts and parents alike.  Come early at 12:00 PM to walk the field and get pictures.   Look for others in the Pack so everyone can walk together.   There is a deadline for Tickets from the Scout Service Center but if necessary you can purchase Tickets at the gate on game day.  Everyone can order their own Tickets and the Tickets are general seating in the upper balcony.   Wear your uniform.  Last year, 4 scouts from our pack were selected to do the Honor Guard and stand on the field with the flags during the national anthem because they were in full uniform.

This year I, Dan Betts, will not be able to attend due to the Webelos Woods Camp Out.  I am looking for someone who will champion this event and act as a point of contact for gathering and getting the scouts to sit together during the game.

Cub Scout Summer Camps – Register Now!

It is time to book your Summer Camp activities.   There are several opportunities to attend camps this summer.   Pack 471 is promoting the following two opportunities.  For additional opportunities visit the Foothills District and Atlanta Area Council Webesites at:  www.foothillsbsa.org & www.atlantabsa.org and look under camping.   I cannot stress enough, that if scouts can get to one or both of  camps they will have the experience of a lifetime.

 Foothills District Summer Day Camp:  June 11-15, 2012

Last year we had more than 20 scouts attend the Summer Day Camp at Sewell Mill Baptist Church.   Ask anyone who attended and they will tell you the kids all had a great time and earned a lot of Achievements, Electives, and Belt Loops.  Webelos will have the opportunity to earn 4 Activity Pins this year.   In order to get the $90 rate, you must register with the Pack and all forms & payments submitted to District by 4/16/2012.   After that date the cost is $100 and registration closes 4/30/2012.   No registrations will be accepted after 5/1/2012.

Regular Fees

_ $90 – Scouts

_ $75 – Scouts & Siblings with a 5-Day Volunteer

_ $30 – Tot Lot (younger children of 5-Day Volunteers)

_ Add $10 per Scout if submitting after April 17.

Pack 471 will pay for all adult leaders that help out at Day Camp.

Please visit the Foothills Summer Day Camp Website for further information and all forms needed  http://www.foothillsbsa.org/daycamp.  We will also need enough adults to attend as volunteers in the ration of 1 adult for every 4 scouts.  For brand new Tigers (entering 1^st grade in the fall of 2012) they must have a 1:1 ratio.

Cub Adventure Camp (formerly know as Resident Camp):  July 15-18, 2012

This year rising Wolf, Bear, and all Webelos will attend the same sessions (new Tigers cannot attend).   However, Webelos will have a separate program from the others.  Last year we had 6 Cub Scouts and 6 Webelos attend.  Wolves and Bears must have a 1:1 Adult to Scout ratio.  Webelos must have at least a 1:4 ratio.  While there are several weeks available for Adventure Camp, the pack will be sponsoring the session that runs from July 15-18, 2012.  If you wish to attend a different session, you can register and attend on your own.

We need to book the number of people going by 4/16/2012.   Afer that we can adjust the number and make changes.  We will need the following information and a $35 deposit:

Name (campers & Adults)

Phone:

e-mail:

Address: (street, city, state, zip)

Parents:

Webelos I will choose what Activity Pins and Free Period activities once the roster is complete.

Webelos II can choose to go on the Outback Adventure

Adults supporting the Webelos will be paid by the Pack.

Cost:

Scouts:  $135

Outback Adventure:  $145

Adults:  $60

Paperwork and Payments:

Brian Boatright will be coordinating the Packs Summer Camp Activities.   You may submit forms and payments in the following manner (all payments will be made to the Pack 471 for the dates above):

Drop off payments and forms to Robert Payne between now and April 15^th at:  4603 Blakedale Circle, Roswell, GA  30075

1. Drop off payments and forms to Brian Boatright between now and April 15^th at 4680 Glenforest Dr., Roswell, GA  30075
2. Bring payments and forms to the April 10^th Pack Meeting
3. Bring payments and forms to the April 14^th Aquarium Overnight
4. Attend an informational session about Summer Camps on Wednesday April 11^th at Garrison Mill Elementary School from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM.  This sesson in intended for additional questions and help completing the forms.  All others can submit forms & payments in the ways listed above.

Both Day Camp and Adventure Camp require a Medical Form wth parts A & B completed (no physicians signature or exam needed).  If you have attended a Family Camp or Webelos Camp this school year, the Pack probably already has your forms on file and can make copies for these camps.

Please consider volunteering as an adult to help with these camps.  The lives you will impact will include your own sons and many others.

If you have any questions about Summer Camps please feel free to contact Brian Boatright or Dan Betts

Brian:  (404) 202-4071                Dan:  404-345-9472