At the last meeting, our Troop Treasurer did a wonderful presentation on the four steps to being a successful Grubmaster for a patrol.  Just in case you missed it, and just in case you are a parent or Scout wondering why you did not get reimbursed for food you purchased for an outing, here is a summary of all the action.

A cost-per-meal has been established for camping trips.  The amounts are generous.  You can read about it at:

http://www.troop160lexington.com/home/reference/troop-160-trip-planning-information/

Cooking for most campouts is by patrol.  Each patrol plans their menu, then selects a Grubmaster who is in charge of purchasing the food.  The Grubmaster knows the budget so he should be able to stay within it.

Then, the week after the hike has been concluded, the Grubmaster should come to the meeting prepared to submit receipts and to be reimbursed.

The process is not supposed to be a lengthy one.  The idea is to reimburse the Grubmasters at the very next meeting.  But the Grubmasters have to help out the Treasurer by bringing in their receipts.

So–for the White Mountains trip–if you were a Grubmaster and if you have not yet been reimbursed, make sure you bring receipts to the next meeting.

Now for the parents of Grubmasters.  What happens if a receipt has been lost?  If that happens, the Grubmaster should be prepared to make a little longer presentation to convince the Treasurer that the cost is correct.

This is more than just an exercise in troop fiscal management.  It also satisfies a requirement for First Class.

Please contact me if you have any questions about the process.

-Hank Manz

Some Activity for Tonight

Tonight has to include some cleaup from the White Montains trip.

I have developed a new checkoff and inspection sheet to help you make sure that tents are returned to their bags with all of the parts intact.  In addition, we really need to become one with our patrol cook and chef kits so there will have to be some serious scrubbing of a few items.  After all, we used 6 patrol sets on the White Mountains trip!

So since we will be doing at least a few minutes of serious work tonight, feel free to wear your Troop T-shirt instead of your regular uniform shirt.  If you expect to have a Scoutmaster Conference or Board of Review tonight, then bring along your uniform shirt as well.

YPT and E-mail

When sending e-mails about troop activities, keep in mind that there should be at least three people in on the conversation when an adult and a Scout are using the medium.  Be sure to copy one other person on such Scout<–>Adult e-mails.

-Hank Manz

The Friends of Cary Library hold a twice-yearly book sale which produces much-needed funding for the purchase of new materials for the Library.  This funding is critical to the continued accreditation of the Library.  Without accreditation, we cannot be a part of the network which gives us access to other libraries and which effectively multiplies the number of titles to which we have access.

As many of you know, four years ago we began to help the Friends of Cary Library with their book sale by moving the books from the storage areas to the sale area on the Thursday evening before the Friday afternoon sale opening.

We have once again been asked to help.  Move Night is set for Thursday, November 12, starting at 5 PM.  Pizza and soft drinks will be served as soon as the books have been moved.  We will be done in time to walk to our meeting places in time for the start of our meetings.

Class A uniform is fine, but you may be more comfortable wearing your Class B shirt.  Report to the lower floor outside the large meeting room opposite the entrance to the Children’s section.  If you can’t make it by 5, come when you can.  Be sure to sign the sheet so we will know who is there.  Either LHS or Scout credit will be given for service hours.

-Hank Manz