A Scoutmaster's Blog

The Melrose Scout Troop 68 fall supper fundraiser is now a part of history. The troop did well and the Scouts and parents did a good job during the meal. One of the keys to having a successful fundraiser is to have the Scouts sell tickets for the event ahead of time.

Thanks to a few donations the troop had some prizes for the top ticket sellers. We did have one requirement toward the prizes. In order to qualify, a Scout had to sell at least $200 worth of tickets before the event.

We originally had three items to give away. We had a field bag, a soft sided briefcase/laptop bag, and a Sansbug pop-up mosquito netting. A few days before the supper we had another donation of a book bag to add to the prizes.

The first place seller would get his choice of one of the prizes. The second place seller would get his choice of the three remaining items. Third place would get to choose from the final two items, with forth place seller receiving the final prize. It is fun to watch which prizes are chosen for the first two places.

Six Scouts qualified by selling over $200 of tickets. The photo shows the four top sellers with their prizes. Trevor was the fourth place seller, Hayden took third, Austin was second place, and Ethan took the first place spot. Both Austin and Ethan sold over $300 worth of tickets, with a little help from their parents.

Melrose Scout Troop 68 held their annual fall meal fundraiser on Friday, October 25. The troop had a good turnout and served up a lot of spaghetti. The Scouts set tables, cleared tables, washed dishes and helped serve some of the food and beverages. Parents were in charge of the kitchen and serving the food.

One of my jobs was to set up a Scouting display. I tried to make it a little different then previous fundraiser but a few things stay the same. Of course, I included several photo albums featuring pictures of troop meetings and Scouting events. There were also some framed group pictures and both of my patch blankets. I stayed away from the small bookcases along with all the various handbooks and nicknacks this time. In their place I included a copy of framed posters and two binders of newspaper clippings of Scouting events through out the last several years. The merit badge poster was somewhat popular with the Scouts.

What do you think of the display? Leave a comment to let us know what was your favorite item.

Melrose Scout Troop 68 has held two meal fundraisers per year for over three decades. During the last few years the troop has held a breakfast in the spring and a supper in the fall. This fall’s meal will be held tonight, October 25, at the Melrose American Legion. The spaghetti supper will be served from 5:00 to 8:00.

One of my jobs during the fundraiser is to plan and set up a Scouting display for people to view before and after their meal. The display features items I have collected over the decades and photo albums of the troop activities. Last night I gathered the materials for tonight’s display.

The background of the display will feature the two patch blankets I made with the patches I collected during my thirty years serving as the troop’s scoutmaster. I plan to cover two tables with items. The photo albums will use a large portion of the tables but I also plan to show a merit badge poster and a shadow box of Scouting ranks. Scouting themed popcorn tins will serve as centerpieces on some of the tables. Handbooks, framed photos, and a few miscellaneous items will finish the display.

I did not set up the display at home before packing it into the car, but I have a good idea what I want it to look like when it is set up at the Legion. Stay tuned for an upcoming article which will show you what it looked like when it was finished.

Do you set up a Scouting display at your fundraiser? What do you include with them. Leave a comment and let us know.

It is nearly time for Melrose Scout Troop 68 to hold its fall fundraiser. The event will be held at the Melrose American Legion on Friday, October 25th. The spaghetti supper will be served from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. The Scouts are selling advance tickets for the event, and tickets may be purchased at the door.

The fall and spring meal fundraisers do a good job of financing the troop program. Since the Scouts also earn credit for tickets sold it is a good way to finance their fees for the various outings during the year.

The Central Minnesota Council has had a nice incentive to donate a certain amount of money over the last several years during their Friends Of Scouting (FOS) campaigns. Each year they had a special council shoulder patch designed featuring a point of the Scout Law. This year, 2019, this patch set came to an end with the Reverent patch.

I like the patch set overall, although there were a few years I did not care for the patch. There were three years the council came up with printed patches instead of sown patches. I am sure they were trying to save a buck but I think the plan backfired. After those three years they went back to the sown patches. I bet they received quite a few complaints about the “cheap” council strips.

I wonder if they will continue some sort of patch set during the upcoming years. I am a patch collector so a new patch always catches my eye.

What do you think of the Scout Law patch set? Has your council done something similar to this? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68’s spring fundraiser is done and over. The troop did very well at this year’s pancake and sausage breakfast. Over 400 people were served and everyone who attended seemed to enjoy themselves and get enough to eat. The Scouts worked hard cleaning and setting tables.

The older Scouts made the pancakes, for the first time ever. That is usually the job of the parents, a duty claimed by a few of the fathers during most years. We were a little short on parental assistance this spring so the older Scouts gave it a try. The Scouts may have been a bit wet behind the ears when they started their shift but by the end of it they were getting good at making Mickey Mouse pancakes.

They troop would like to thank everyone who attended the fundraiser, and the parents who worked hard both behind the scenes and in the kitchen. The troop would also like to thank the Melrose American Legion for providing their facility.

Boy Scout Troop 68 of Melrose holds two meal fundraisers each year. The spring meal is usually a pancake and sausage breakfast that includes scrambled eggs. The fall meal has been a spaghetti supper for the last few years. The troop does well with both fundraisers and is able to keep up with the yearly expenses.

The 2019 spring breakfast fundraiser takes place this weekend at the Melrose American Legion. The parents will be working in the kitchen while the Scouts take care of the tables and the dishes. I will probably do the same thing I have done for the last thirty years, pour coffee, visit with the people who come by for breakfast, and keep an eye on the Scouts to make sure they get their work done.

Another of the jobs I have, and one that I really have made my own, is to create a table top display for the meal. I began to take items out last night to prepare for Sunday’s meal. As you can see from the picture I will have both Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting items in this year’s display. The Cub Scout Pack has been doing well and I wanted to include something for the elementary aged children.

One item not shown in the picture is the patch blanket I plan to hang. I may even bring both of them. I do have clothing racks that work very well to display them. Add in a few photo albums and I think there will be enough Scouting memorabilia for families to view.

How often do you set up a Scouting display in your community? What do you include in it? When do you set it up? Leave a comment and let us know about it.

Springtime is nearly here. That means it is nearly time for the Melrose Boy Scout Troop 68 spring fundraiser, a pancake and sausage breakfast! This year’s breakfast will be held at the Melrose American Legion on Sunday, April 8th. Serving begins at 8:30 am and continues until 12:30. Adult tickets are $7.00 in advance, and $8.00 if bought at the door the morning of the meal. The Boy Scouts are currently selling tickets.

The troop does fairly well with the spring fundraiser. The proceeds go toward the program costs such as advancements, training, and helping to keep down camping costs. A good fundraiser goes a long way to keeping the Scouting program affordable for families.

Does your troop have fundraising meals? Let us know how your troop does by leaving a comment below.