Weekly Meeting Agenda

We meet every Tuesday night between 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the McHenry Township Hall, 3703 N. Richmond Rd. (Rt. 31)  The hall is  north of Johnsburg Rd. just past the Moose Lodge and Township garage.  There is no regular meeting on the Tuesdays following a troop outing. That Tuesday is reserved for the Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) for planning future meetings and outings.

Here's a typical agenda to give you an idea of what happens at our meeting's if you would like to join us:

Preopening (top)

Before the meeting begins, the duty patrol for the month helps set up any table and chairs that may be needed by the leaders. They also set up the flag stands and unfurl the flags in preparation for the opening ceremony.

Opening (top)

The duty patrol assembles an Honor Guard to carry in and post the colors (flags). Then they lead us together in the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and in the repeating of the Scout Oath & Law to our troop flag.

Announcements (top)

Announcements from scouts, leaders, committee members or parents on important news and upcoming events..

Patrol Dues & Meeting (top)

Patrols gather to record and pay their dues, $1.00/week. The patrols can use this time for conducting any patrol business, such as meal & duty roster planning for an upcoming outing. Or to plan their own patrol event (requires Scoutmaster approval).

Games (top)

Always a fun part of the evening. The troop tries to run a game whenever time allows.  Here's how one scout described some of the more popular games:

"We play games like Rooster Tail, Steal the Bacon, Keep away, and Train Wreck.

Rooster Tail is where you take you neckerchief put it in your back pocket (like a rooster tail) Then you stand on one foot and hop around trying not to get your tail pulled by another scout.  If you get your tail pulled or you put your other foot down you're out.  The one with their tail still in their pocket at the end of the game wins!

Steel the bacon, is a game where fast feet are the best thing. There is a sock with a ball in it or some other object and you get in two straight lines. Then someone gives you a number and you have to memorize it.  Then another person calls out a number and the people with that number have to try to get the bacon before the other one dose.  If someone gets the bacon the other person can tag him and no points are scored but if you get to your side with the bacon without getting tagged you get a point for your team. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins!

Keep away is a game that you play outside.  You put a flag, usually a neckerchief, in your back pocket and everyone goes to one side of the playing field.   You pick one person to be it.  Then when he says go you have to try to get to the other side of the field without getting your flag pulled.  If you get your flag pulled you're it with the other people when everyone is it except for one person the game is over and he is the winner, and he starts the next game being it.

Train Wreck is where you put chairs in a circle and everyone sits down except one person he's the chair puller.  The chair puller starts the game by saying something he likes to do, or something he's wearing etc..  When he says that everyone that thinks the same as him has to move to a different chair.  As people are moving the chair puller pulls a chair from the circle.  The person who is left stand is the one who starts the next round.  Who ever is still sitting in a chair at the end of the game is the winner!  Oh yah I almost forgot, if someone says Train Wreck during the game everyone has to move.  Try it out it's a really cool game."

Program (top)

The PLC plans demonstrations and activities that support the monthly theme (see Calendar) or in preparation for an upcoming outing or event. Sometimes there may be several program opportunities running at the same time, as well as advancement (see next section). It all depends on what the PLC has planned for the troop.

Advancement & Merit Badges (top)

Merit badges are patches that you get for doing certain requirements some are hard some are easy, they are sometimes very fun.  Advancements are requirements to advance to the next level in scouting. The levels are: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First class, Star, Life, then Eagle.  These are the steps to become a good Boy Scout.

Final Announcements (top)

One last chance for everyone to share important news with the troop.

Scoutmaster's Minute (top)

This time is reserved for the Scoutmaster as an opportunity for him to share a closing thought that we all should keep in our hearts and minds as we head home.

Closing (top)

The Honor Guard comes forward at the request of the Senior Patrol Leader and retires the colors.

Post Meeting (top)

The duty patrol puts away all troop equipment including the flags, flag stands and mail boxes, and all tables and chairs. They also clean up any mess and sweep the floor.

This page last updated on 03/20/2007 08:57 AM