Based at Glenview Community Church, Troop 156 has served its community for more than 50 years. As one of the largest and most active Boy Scout units in Northeast Illinois, T-156 has a proud tradition of excellence. In the past five years alone, the Troop has produced 35 Eagle Scouts.
This is a "boy-led" Troop with emphasis on developing leadership ability and other other important life skills and values. The patrol method is an important part of the program and outdoor adventures, service projects and special events are scheduled year-round. It's not uncommon to have as many as three different activities the boys can choose from each month. Troop 156 is also proud of it's diverse culture with many different races and religions represented.
Currently Mr. Paul Bauerschmidt serves as Scoutmaster, supported by a team of 35 trained adult volunteers serving as Committee Members and Assistant Scoutmasters. Mr. Mark Demsky is the unit's Committee Chair.
While we must continue socially distancing ourselves from each other for the moment, Troop 156 is looking ahead to when we can all be together in person again and are working on plans for activities in the coming months. More information will be forthcoming once plans are finalized.
For now, here are a couple of things Scouts can be doing:
The Pathway to Adventure Council is offering a virtual summer camp called Camp O.N.. Scouts sign up for a one-week online session filled with merit badges, activities, and online content led by camp staff. Specific merit badges and activities have been intentionally selected because they can be completed at home, with virtual support from camp staff and some parent supervision. Key supplies to complete merit badges and activities are included with the camper fee and can be shipped for your home for an additional fee. For more information, please visit: https://scoutingevent.com/456-VirtualCamp.
If you are holding any outstanding expense reimbursement requests, please forward them along with a completed Troop Expense Reimbursement form, to the Troop's Treasurer by July 15th.
John N. Desmond 1622 Brandon Road Glenview, IL 60025 847.826.4012 (m) john_desmond@msn.com
For those of you who are new to Boy Scout rank patches, merit badges, and other activity patches the boys may eventually receive, here is some guidance on what to do with them all.
Rank patches are to be sewn (or attached with a patch adhesive such as "Badge Magic") in the center of the left front pocket of the uniform shirt. As the Scout earns new ranks, the old rank patch is removed and replaced with the new one.
Merit Badges are to be attached to a Merit Badge Sash, which is worn over the right shoulder. Badges are attached three to a row, starting at the top of the sash, an inch or two down from the shoulder.
Activity patches may be attached to the back of the merit badge sash, but are never to be worn on the uniform shirt.
Please join us this Thursday, June 4th, for our first ever Virtual Court of Honor, where we will present over 30 rank advancements, merit badges, and other awards.
Logistics BEFORE the meeting:
Parents of Scouts earning Scout rank - In the days leading up to the COH, ASM Mark Warnsman will drop off a Scout rank packet to your home, with the items that you will be asked to present to your Scout during the Court of Honor. Please don't share it with them until you make the presentation.
Parents of Scouts earning Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class or Star rank, or Merit Badges - please meet Alexa Dickinson in the GCC parking lot between 5:00 and 6:00 pm on Thursday to pick up your son's award(s), in order to be able to present them to your Scout during the Court of Honor. Alexa will lay them out in the back of her SUV, so that you can pick up your envelope in a contactless manner.
Special Awards - If your son is earning a special award, he doesn't know it yet! Paul Bauerschmidt will drop off special awards to the homes of award winners sometime between this weekend and the Court of Honor. Parents, please do not show them to your Scout before they are announced during the Court of Honor.
Logistics DURING the meeting:
In order to be respectful to our speakers and keep things moving along smoothly, upon logging on to Zoom for the Court of Honor, you will automatically be muted. Any Scout with a speaking part will need to unmute themselves immediately before their speaking part, but should again mute themselves when finished. Scripts will be sent to each speaker by Wednesday evening so that speakers can familiarize themselves with when their speaking part will take place.
Paul Bauerscmidt will unmute everyone when it is a typical time for applause - after a rank presentation, trip report, or special award - and will mute all again after ample time for applause.
To JOIN THE ZOOM MEETING - Court of Honor starts at 7:00 pm (please log in 5-10 minutes beforehand)
Dial by your location +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)Meeting ID: 892 1566 1511 Password: 160533 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/k47Z14zFR
Any questions, please contact Paul Bauerschmidt at paul@bauerschmidt.com or Jeanne Barnas at jeanne.barnas@comcast.net.
As we come closer to our upcoming Spring Court of Honor, it is only fitting that we review the rank advancement process, especially for our new families.
Scouts earn ranks in this order: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle
Once a Scout has completed and has all of his requirements signed off for a particular rank, he must have both a Scoutmaster Conference and a Board of Review (except for the Scout rank, when only a Scoutmaster Conference is required). The Scoutmaster Conference is simply that - a short discussion with the Scoutmaster about their experience in working on that rank, and goal setting for what they plan to accomplish next. The SCOUT (not a parent, although it could be via a parent email account) requests the Scoutmaster Conference, once the last requirement is completed and signed off, by emailing Scoutmaster Bauerschmidt (paul@bauerschmidt.com).
For the Tenderfoot through Life ranks, once the Scoutmaster Conference has been successfully held, the SCOUT (not a parent) will request a Board of Review by emailing our Board of Review Coordinator, Alexa Dickinson (jcdawd@gmail.com). The request should not be submitted until AFTER the Scout has been signed off for a successful Scoutmaster Conference. In a typical Board of Review, the Scout sits before a panel of 3 adults (usually Scout parents, but not their own) to discuss the quality of the experience in working on the rank requirements and to determine whether all of the requirements have been fulfilled. Once the discussion has been completed, the Scout is usually sent out of the room to wait for a decision to be made, then called back in to learn of the Board's decision.
The Eagle rank takes it one step further in a more formal process. After the Scout completes all rank requirements and has his Eagle Scoutmaster Conference, he then submits his Eagle application to the Northeast Illinois Council, who verifies his Scouting record. If it all checks out, he is then contacted by the Council Advancement Coordinator to set up his Eagle Board of Review, which is with a panel of adults from other Scouting units.
In all cases (for all ranks, both Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review), the Scout should appear in full Class A uniform. Parents do not attend, as their presence can change the discussion dynamics, and curtail possible growth in the Scout's self-reliance and courage.
Troop 156 typically holds a Court of Honor quarterly in order to celebrate both rank advancements and earned merit badges, along with other achievements. A Scout who successfully passes their Board of Review does not need to wait for the Court of Honor to be held before working on their next rank. As you know, our Spring Court of Honor is being held virtually on June 4th. Additional details about the Court of Honor will be forthcoming.
Scouts, join us for Office Hours this Sunday, May 24, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm. Scouts can be paired up with older Scouts to review rank requirements.Those who have completed the requirements for the Scout Rank can have their Scoutmaster Conference (contact Scoutmaster Bauerschmidt first (paul@bauerschmidt.com). For those who have had their Scoutmaster Conferences for the Tenderfoot Rank or above can schedule Boards of Review with Mrs. Dickinson (jcdawd@gmail.com).
