Also,
1. We still have a handful of extra wreaths, living trees, etc. If you can help sell these for the pack (even to yourselves at discounted rates!) please contact Ann Rorem asap. annrorem {at} gmail(.)com

2. Attached is a sign-up for bell-ringing. We still lack 6 spots (and can accommodate more than that if needed). If you haven’t signed up please email Beth Witherspoon bspoon01 {at} aol(.)com or we’ll fix it at the Dec. 14 pack meeting.

3. Finally, the Pinewood Derby is coming up on Sunday, January 24 at 1:00. We’ll send more info to the boys about it, but our theme is “Winter Olympics.” We’ll have prizes for best cars in theme and best cars not in theme. We’ll also have a car-cutting day at the EP Senior Center if you’re interested. It looks like this will likely be the morning of Sat., Jan. 9 (and possible Jan. 16). I’ll let you know when I get confirmation about it.

Have a great day!

1. Extra Wreaths. We have some extra wreaths, since we have to order in full boxes. We REALLY need to sell them. Any money from these is straight profit to the pack.

If you want any of these (or can sell them to a neighbor), please contact Ann Rorem directly at annrorem {at} gmail(.)com or 952-937-3500. You can pick them up from her (and pay for them at pick-up). Let’s do this as soon as possible, and make sure to get your other wreaths and popcorn delivered! Thanks!
4 25″ classic $16
1 36″ classic $27
1 48″ classic $42
3 25″ victorian $22
2 25″ wintergreen $22
2 36″ wintergreen $32
5 classic spray $16
1 victorian spray $20
4 living tree $25
1 25′ garland $25
2. Roster. A current pack roster is attached.

3. Pinewood Derby. Our theme for car decorating is “Winter Olympics.” Be creative! There will also a category for “best cars not in theme.” I’m going to work on arranging a car-cutting date/time at the EP Senior Center and will let you know. Also, we need another volunteer for the Pinewood Derby. If that’s you, please let Kelly Zarling or Joel Nichols know!

4. Bell-ringing. Last but not least, it’s bell-ringing time on Saturday, Dec. 19. See the note from Beth Witherspoon (and attached sign-up sheet) and let Beth know when you can ring. (We really need help in the afternoon and over the noon hour.)

“It’s a Pack 497 tradition to ring bells for the Salvation Army each December. This year we’ll be ringing in front of one door at Rainbow Foods in Eden Prairie. Several of you signed up last night at the pack meeting to ring for a shift or two. Thanks!

If you haven’t yet, please check your calendars, look at the attached sign-up sheet for timing, and e-mail Beth Witherspoon (bspoon01 {at} aol(.)com) by the end of the week if you’re able to volunteer for a shift.
Thanks so much!”

Joel

(2) Last night you should have received an envelope with a little cash in it for your scout. This is wreath sales money for the scout, calculated at 5% of each scout’s total sales of wreaths. (This was the “prize” for wreath-sales, as there was no separate prize structure for that.) Please tell the scouts that we appreciate their hard work in selling, and expect them to use this little cash wisely — for Christmas presents for others, for scouting or camping gear for themselves, for service projects for others, or something else you come up with for them. Prizes for popcorn sales will be handout out separately, likely at the December pack meeting.

(3) Pinewood Derby cars were available last night. Den leaders should have them if you didn’t get one. Parents and siblings, if you want to race you’ll have a chance… You can buy your own kit, or get one from the pack for $5.00. More info before too long about the Derby.

(4) All are welcome to a leaders meeting this Thursday night, Nov. 19, at Ann Rorem’s house (15546 Village Woods Drive) at 7:00. We’ll be done about 8:00 or very shortly after it, I promise.

Thanks for a fun night. Tell your scout that Bruce and I enjoyed the pies in the face!

Please bring

(1) Something to dress up the leaders with (e.g., a shirt, hat, mask, feather boa, or something else funny and not gory/scary)! This will be fun!
(2) Your fundraising information, including money from sales of wreaths and popcorn, leftover popcorn product, and order forms. The note below is what I received from Ann Rorem, fund-raising chair extraordinaire!:

I would need to have the wreath totals on the provided sheet and that is where they let me know what popcorn prize is choosen by the scout. Just write it on the bottom of the sheet. Also would need the popcorn order form with their totals, please do not add the popcorn they have already given out in this total!! I wil return the forms when they pick up the popcorn. There has been concern about not knowing who to deliver to if they turn it in, I will be returning the form.

Oh — and if you sold any popcorn at all (I hope so!) see the note pasted below about special price tickets to an upcoming Vikings game.

Thanks! See you tonight!

AND, we forgot to mention (sorry!) that our minimum expected sales total is the same as last year: $250. If you receive donations rather than sales, the donations only need to be 1/2 that amount total.

This is a minimum expected number for sales of wreaths and popcorn combined. We’d love each scout to out-sell that, but we really do need to shoot for that minimum number to keep providing the same level of pack funding that we have in the past. (Everyone gets a book and neckerchief and t-shirt from the pack, we pay a large amount for scouts to do most events including covering supplies, we pay for all uniforms and training for all of our leaders, etc. We also pay a substantial amount (about 1/2 of the cost) of summer camping experiences for any scouts that meet the minimum level.)

Here are photos of the wreath products online: http://www.mickman.com/fundraising/products.html
and here’s a popcorn link online: http://www.trails-end.com/

Remember that popcorn sales only go toward the prizes on the enclosed sheet on the packet; wreath sales have a separate reward structure for scouts this year, where they will get 5% of sales back in cash (so they can use on Christmas presents on or scout products/activities as their parents see fit).