.....Info and sorry no pics yet.....

Troop-91 out of St.paul,MN

Our troop was formed in May 1991 with the help of Skyline District officials.  We started with about fifteen scouts and we currently are about double that.

We meet weekly at 7 PM on Tuesday evenings in the Fellowship Hall of Pilgrim Lutheran Church (in the basement).  The church has been our sponsor since 1991 and  provides the meeting space, use of the kitchen when needed and storage space for our troop gear.  A typical meeting might consist of an opening, such as a flag ceremony; instruction in a skill, such as first aid; a meeting of the members of each patrol, an interpatrol activity, such as a knot-tying relay race; and a closing.  The meetings end at 8:30.  Families are responsible for getting their Scouts to and from meetings.

The troop is run by the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC).  The PLC is led by the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) and also includes the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL),  he Patrol Leaders or their Assistant Patrol Leaders, and all boys of Star Rank or above.  This year the Patrol Leaders Council meets on the first Tuesday of the month.  There is no regular troop meeting on PLC meeting days.  The PLC plans the meetings and the program and informs the Scoutmaster and the parents committee of the adult help that it needs.  All scouts and parents are welcome to attend the PLC meetings.

SPL -- The Senior Patrol Leader is elected by the scouts to run the troop.  The troop has decided that he must be Star Rank or above.  Elections are twice a year in early January and June.  The SPL can be reelected once.  The current SPL is in his first term.

ASPL -- The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader is appointed by the SPL to be his assistant. 

The current troop leaders are:

The scouts receive help in running the program from the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters and the parents' committee.  All parents are members of the committee.  The committee's primary duty is to offer advice on and approve the program chosen by the PLC.  The committee also selects a Scoutmaster when needed.  The committee chair is currently -vacant-, 0.  Committee meetings are on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the -vacant-  Parents are strongly urged to attend these meetings.

Scoutmaster -- The Scoutmaster or his/her assistant(s) attends the troop and PLC meetings.  All meetings must have at least two registered adults in attendance.  The primary responsibility of the Scoutmaster is to train the youth leaders.

Assistant Scoutmasters -- The Asst. Scoutmasters will also attend many meetings and campouts as their schedule and interests allow.  Asst. Scoutmasters will frequently concentrate on a particular area such as the outdoor program, venture program, advancement, younger scouts, scout skills, or training.

The current adult leaders are:
 

Scoutmaster	----	0
Assistant Scoutmasters	-vacant-	0
	-vacant-	0
	-vacant-	0
	-vacant-	0
	-vacant-	0
Treasurer	-vacant-	0
Advancement Coordinator	-vacant-	0

All adult positions are volunteer positions.
 
Activities:  The troop tries to go on at least six overnight campouts each school year plus a week of summer camp.  Weekend campouts usually depart Friday  evening from 5 PM to 6:30 PM depending on the evening program and return on Sunday around noon.  Because of travel and camp set-up, the troop does not cook a Friday meal; each scout should eat before arriving at the church.  A typical troop planned campout will cost ? to pay for food, camp fees and equipment. A district or council planned campout can cost more.  Each campout needs help from parents in the form of drivers to transport Scouts and their gear to the campout location, and in the form of adults to camp with the Scouts.  The Scoutmasters are not expected to provide all the adult leadership for the troop; each parent is expected to do a share.
 
The troop goes to summer camp at Tomahawk Scout Camp on Long Lake near Birchwood Wisconsin.  This year we will be camping from Saturday ?.  Cost will be approximately $135.00.  The cost is kept low through extensive volunteer help.  The troop will need at least four adults in addition to the scoutmaster helping in camp each day.  Adults do not need to spend the entire week at camp.
 
The troop has not had weekly meetings during the summer in the past but has had patrol planned fun events such as Twins games, Valleyfair, and a super-soaker battle royale. 

The troop's high adventure program is for Star scouts age thirteen or older.  This years trip is ?   Trips to Florida Keys, Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, canoeing the BWCA and canoeing the St. Croix have been done in past years.  Many troops do two or three different trips each year, with the limiting factor being adult help.  If your interests are in hiking, biking, horseback riding, sailing, canoeing, backpacking, whitewater rafting or ???????, please consider advising or accompanying a group of scouts. 

Uniforms:  A scout is expected to wear his scout shirt, and neckerchief to meetings, campouts, boards of review etc.  Our troop's neckerchief color is dark green with gold embroidery.  A pen and notepad are part of the official Scout uniform and should be available in the shirt pocket at all times.  Completing your uniform with official scout pants, belt, socks, and cap is at your option, most in our troop do not have them.  If your scout needs help in knowing where to sew the patches on his shirt, he should refer to the inside cover of his scout handbook or ask one of the adult leaders. 

Merit Badges: The troop activities may include working on some badges, but the majority of badge work is done outside of the troop by two or more Scouts meeting with a badge counselor.  When a Scout is interested in earning a badge, the troop will help him locate a buddy and counselor, and has a lending library of many of the badge books.  Before beginning to work on the badge, a Scout must obtain a signed yellow card from a Scoutmaster and call a counselor.  The troop needs parents who are willing to share their work skills, hobbies, and enthusiasms with the Scouts as badge counselors. 

Rank Badges: Boys start in Scouts  at the rank of Scout.  By learning and demonstrating skills in areas such as camping and first aid they advance in rank to Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class.  Then by acquiring more skills, earning badges, and giving service to the troop and community they can advance to
the rank of Star, Life, and Eagle.
 
Fundraising:  The troop holds fundraising events throughout the year.  To date, we have had pancake breakfasts, car washes, and worked at the Renaissance Festival.  The troop retains 20% of the money raised to buy equipment and pay fees for adults.  The rest of the money is divided among the boys who worked at the events and held in accounts for them until they wish to use it to pay for their costs for troop events:  weekend camping, Jamboralls, Tomahawk, Venture trips, etc.  Accounts can be carried forward as long as a Scout is in the troop.  When he leaves the troop, the money remaining reverts to the troop. 

For more information:  Scouts should call their patrol leader, the Senior Patrol Leader, or the Scoutmaster.  Parents can call the committee chair or scoutmaster with questions or to volunteer their help. 

We extend a warm welcome to the families joining Troop 91 and look forward to working with you to make Scouting a worthwhile and fun experience for all our sons.