Congratulations - Ben B. was awarded his Eagle Scout rank at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations, Ben!

Mark your calendar - Two other Eagle Scout candidates are planning their Eagle Scout Court of Honor. Please save the following dates:

Dec. 14 - Austin C. at Sonrise United Methodist Church in Lewisville
Dec. 21 - Jim L. at the Vienna Fire Dept.

Congratulations to these Troop 919 Eagle Scouts.

Military Package - This year our Troop will be putting together a Christmas care package to send to Brent Patterson, a Troop 919 Eagle Scout who is currently serving with the US Army in Iraq. We are asking that Scouts bring items to send to Brent to the Dec. 9 Troop meeting as we will be mailing his care package that week. Homemade baked good and cards/letters from home are always a hit with the troops.

Let's work hard to make a nice package (or several packages) for Brent!

Prayer Request - I spoke with Brent Patterson via online chat today and he is asking that we keep him and his fellow soldiers in our prayers. Just prior to our chat session Brent said he had been informed that Al Queda has put a $10,000 bounty on all US Soldiers heads. He is in a patrol base that is near a very dangerous part of Iraq.

Intro to Cold Weather Camping - Sign ups for the Intro to Cold Weather Camping will be held at Tuesday night's Troop meeting.

Our Intro to Cold Weather Camping trip will be on December 13-14 at Stone Mountain State Park.

If you plan to attend January's Snow camping trip and have not been snow camping with the Troop previously, you must attend the Intro to Cold Weather trip to be eligible to attend the snow camping trip in January.

Troop Christmas Party - A reminder that our Troop Christmas party is planned for Tuesday night, December 18 in the fellowship hall at Brookstown Methodist Church.

This will be our last meeting for the year and it's the night when our popcorn awards are distributed.

It's also our Scout gift exchange. If you would like to participate in the Scout gift exchange you must bring a Scouting or camping related gift. Please try not to spend more than $10 on your gift! Only Scouts who bring a gift will be participating in the gift exchange.

Scouts and families are reminded to bring some drinks and holiday snacks for the fellowship time of the evening.

As it is most years, there is at least one middle school with a band concert planned that evening. In the past we have "drug our feet" with the popcorn awards to give these Scouts a little extra time to leave the concert and get to the Troop Christmas party and gift exchange. We will do the same this year and ask you to make your way to party quickly and not hang around after the concert. Of course, your parents will be driving safely to get you there!

Toy Delivery - Our Troop will once again be working with the Forsyth County Department of Social Servies to deliver toys to families this year.

The delivery date is Dec. 20, so please mark your calendar. More about this project at an upcoming Troop meeting.

No Meeting On Tuesday
Enjoy Your Thanksgiving Holiday

Popcorn Money - They money from your popcorn sales is due on Tuesday (11/25). 

We do not have a Troop meeting on Tuesday, but let that stop you. Marshall Foster and Michael Hough will be at the Scout Hut at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday to receive your popcorn money

Thanks to all at Troop 919 who sold popcorn this year. You guys did great!

Eagle Court of Honor - Ben B. will be presented with his Eagle Scout rank on Sunday and wants to make sure everyone at Troop 919 knows they are invited to attend.

Ben will formally be presented with Scouting highest rank on Sunday, November 30 in the Fellowship Hall at Parkway Presbyterian Church at 4:00 p.m. Parkway Presbyterian is located on Silas Creek Parkway near Sherwood Forest.

A reception will follow the Court of Honor.

Ben also wanted to remind everyone that the dress for the occasion is Class A Scout uniform.

Christmas Trees - The Christmas Trees have arrived in Winston-Salem and will go on sale at the Scout Office (on Silas Creek Parkway) on Friday. The lot will also be open all day Saturday (9-9) and Sunday afternoon. You should purchase your tree on Friday for the best selection!

Thanks to all who helped set-up the lot as well as harverst trees on Saturday.

These trees are Canaan Fir (maybe they are named for the place where our Troop goes snow camping) and are priced at $25, $30 and $35. There are even some small trees (think tabletop) that will go for an extra special deal.

The sale is being operated by the Order of the Arrow and they can use some help working at the lot. You do not have to be a member of the OA to help! Proceeds from the Christmas Tree sale are going to help fund the construction of a very much needed maintenance facility at Camp Raven Knob.

Kevin A., from our Troop, is the Chapter Chief for Elauwit Chapter and is coordinating the Winston-Salem lot for Wahissa Lodge #118. The chapter really needs your help, so please volunteer to help. To volunteer for a specific time slot, give Kevin a call, send him an e-mail or write on his Facebook wall.

Troop Christmas Party - Our Troop Christmas party is planned for Tuesday night, December 18 in the fellowship hall at Brookstown Methodist Church.

This will be our last meeting for the year and it's the night when our popcorn awards are distributed.

It's also our Scout gift exchange. If you would like to participate in the Scout gift exchange you must bring a Scouting or camping related gift. Please try not to spend more than $10 on your gift! Only Scouts who bring a gift will be participating in the gift exchange.

Scouts and families are reminded to bring some drinks and holiday snacks for the fellowship time of the evening.

As it is most years, there is at least one middle school with a band concert planned that evening. In the past we have "drug our feet" with the popcorn awards to give these Scouts a little extra time to leave the concert and get to the Troop Christmas party and figt exchange. We will do the same this year and ask you to make your way to party quickly and not hang around after the concert. Of course, your parents will be driving safely to get you there!

2009 Troop Plan - The PLC met last week and decided on what trips Troop 919 would like to take in 2009. Here is a list of next year's trips:

January - Snow Camping
Febraury - Scouting for Food, Scout Sunday(s) and Winterplace SKi Trip
March - Wilderness Survival
April - Bike Trip
May - COPE Course at Raven Knob
June - Scout Fun Day (maybe at Raven Point on High Rock Lake)
July - Summer Camp at Camp Raven Knob
August - Whitewater rafting
September - Trail Conversation and Orienteering at Hanging Rock State Park
October - District Camporee
November - Rappelling
December - Introduction to Cold Weather Camping

A backpacking trip is still under consideration by the PLC and may replace one of the trips listed above.

The Troop 919 2009 Planning Calendar is posted on the Troop WebSite.

Court of Honor - Troop 919 will hold its November Court of Honor on Tuesday (11/18) at 7:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at Brookstown United Methodist Church.

Remember to invite your family to this meeting to share in the accomplishments of our Troop 919 Scouts.

Scouts are also reminded to bring snacks and drinks for the fellowship time following the Court of Honor.

Popcorn Money - All popcorn money is due next week, November 25.

Our popcorn kernel and chairman, Marshall Foster, will meet Scouts at the Scout Hut next week at 7:30 p.m. to receive your money.

Patrol Food - A friendly reminder that if you are a last minute (meaning after the Tuesday night menu planning meeting) cancellation for a Troop camping trip that you are still responsible for your portion of the patrol food cost for the event.

It's appreciated when you let your Scoutmaster know that you will not be attending and it remains your responsibility to contact the Scout who is buying the food to determine if food has already been purchased for you. More on this subject later.

Shotgun Shooting Camping Trip - Thanks to all Scouts and leaders who braved the cold and wind of the weekend to enjoy an afternoon of shotgun shooting at Camp Raven Knob's wobble trap.

A special thanks to Bill Brewer, Mike Warner, Michael Hough, Bill Swart, Richard DeHeck, Jay Harmel, and Jay Wilhelmi for their adult leadership on the trip.

Our Troop Will Be Meeting on Tuesday

Troop 919 will hold its regularly Scheduled Troop meeting on Tuesday. Enjoy your school holiday during the day and attend our Troop meeting in the evening!

National Jamboree - Old Hickory Council has learned that it may have the opportunity to take a third Troop from area to the BSA's National Jamboree in 2010.

If think you might be interested in celebrating Scouting in America's 100th anniversary, the registration process begins online. The second step in registrating is having your application signed by your Scoutmaster and then submitting to the local Council office.

Several Troop 919 Scouts and Leaders have already signed up for the 100th anniversary Jamboree. This is the last National Jamboree to be hosted at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia.

Shotgun Camping Trip - We will meet at the Scout Hut at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 for our Shotgun shooting camping trip at Camp Raven Knob. We will not be stopping or cooking breakfast on Saturday, so please eat breakfast before arriving at the Scout Hut.

The cost of this trip is $10 for a round of 25 shells and clay targets. There may be opportunties for Scouts who are interested to shoot additional rounds (time and daylight permitting), so if you think you may want to shoot additional rounds, don't forget to bring extra money.

The trip will begin with firemarms and range safety instructions by the Camp Raven Knob's NRA certified staff.

The following people are signed up for this trip. Please bring your $10 fee to Tuesday's meeting.

Scouts: Evan L., Ben G., Andrew S., Jeffrey S., Paul L., Lyle G., Noah B., Devlin B., Jonathan W., Austin D., Michael A., Zach H., Jacob C., Avery C. and Alexander Z.

Adults: Bill Brewer, Mike Warner, Michael Hough, Bill Swart, Richard DeHeck, Jay Harmel, Austin Conrad, Stan Gordon and Jay Wilhemi.

We will be returning around Noon on Sunday.

Menu planning for this trip is Tuesday. If you are going on the trip, make a special effort to attend Tuesday's meeting and participate in the menu planning activity.

Court of Honor - We will be holding our November Court of Honor on Tuesday, November 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Brookstown United Methodist Church.

If you need to schedule a Board of Review and Scoutmaster Conference to receive a rank advancement at this Court of Honor, the Troop Committee will make special arrangements to conduct your Board of Review at Tuesday's Troop meeting since there is no regularly scheduled Board of Review before next week's Court of Honor.

Check your Scout book to see if you might be ready to receive your rank advancement at next week's Court of Honor and then get with the Troop Committee on Tuesday for a Board of Review.

And don't forget that each patrol should bring some drinks and snacks for our social time following the Court of Honor.

Be sure to invite your family and friends to Tuesday's Court of Honor to share in your Scouting accomplishments.

Popcorn - Thanks to all who helped pickup and sort the popcorn on Friday and Saturday.

Scouts should promptly deliver their popcorn sales and turn-in your money to Mr. Foster when you have completed your deliveries.

Christmas Trees - The Order of the Arrow will be selling live North Carolina Christmas Trees at the Scout Office on Thanksgiving weekend. If your family normally purchases a live tree for the holidays, please consider supporting Scouting and purchasing a tree from the Scouts this year.

All proceeds from the Christmas Tree sale will be going towards the building of a badly needed maintenance facility at Camp Raven Knob.

These trees are also going to be very competitively priced:

6-7 feet - $25
8-- feet - $30
Above 9 feet - $35

The Christmas Trees will be sold at the Wachovia Scouting Service Center in Silas Creek Parkway during the following times:

Friday, Nov. 28 - 12 Noon till 9 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 29 - 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 30 - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

and

Friday, Dec. 5 - 5 p.m. till 9 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 6 - 9 a.m. till 9 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7 - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Volunteers are also need to work in 2 hour shifts at the tree lot on the sale dates. Please sign-up with Andrew T., our Troop's OA Rep, on Tuesday. The OA also welcomes and appreciates Non-OA members who are willing to help with this fund raising project, including parents and friends.

Election Day - Tuesday is election day. Remind your parents to exercise their rights as Americans and participate in the electoral process as we select a new leader.

Popcorn Pickup - Our popcorn pickup will be Saturday, November 8 between 10 a.m. and Noon at Brookstown Methodist Church.

All popcorn orders must be picked up on Saturday morning. No popcorn can be left at the church overnight.

If you are not going to be able to pick up your popcorn on Saturday morning, please make arrangements with another repsonsible party to pick up and sign for your order.

If you have any popcorn questions, contact Marshall Foster.

Shotgun Camping Trip - The final sign-up for our shotgun camping trip will be at Tuesday's Troop meeting.

The following people have signed up for this camping trip and Tuesday is your last chance to cancel out of this trip (without having to pay).

Scouts: Evan L., Ben G., Andrew S., Jeffrey S., Paul L., Lyle G., Noah B., Devlin B., Jonathan W., Austin D., Michael A. and Alexander Z.

Adults: Bill Brewer, Mike Warner, Michael Hough, Bill Swart, Richard DeHEck, Jay Harmel, Austin Conrad, Stan Gordon and Jay Wilhemi.

We will be utilizing the teaching trap and the wobble trap at Camp Raven Knob and this activity is open to ALL Troop 919 Scouts and leaders.

The cost will be $10 per shooter for a round of 25 targets, so plan accordingly if you think you might enjoy shooting more than one round.

We will be meeting at the Scout Hut at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 for this trip and returning around lunch time on Sunday.

Junior Leader Training - Tripp H. (Senior Patrol Leader) and Danner W. (ASPL) will be contacting all youth leaders to discuss the JLT training planned for this Sunday afternoon.

It's very important that all Scouts with Troop and Patrol leadership positions participate in this trainng, even if you think you have previously been trained.

2009 Planning - SPL Tripp H. will be soliciting your ideas for trips you would like to take in 2009 at Tuesday's meeting. Think about something different you would like to do with the Troop in 2009!

Order of the Arrow News

Popcorn Warehouse - Our OA Chapter will be helping at the Piedmont District popcorn warehouse on Friday afternoon and Satuday morning and needs volunteers to help at either time.

If you are an OA member and can help out with a little cheerful service, please sing-up with Andrew T. at Tuesday's Troop meeting.

OA Winter Banquet - The Wahissa Lodge Winter Banquet is at 6 p.m. on Saturday at Ardmore Baptist Church.

The banquet is open to OA members and your friends/family. In other words, you do not have to be an OA member to attend the banquet. The banquet features the installation of the Lodge's officers for 2009 and the much anticipated year in review slideshow, which is always a highlight of the banquet. Kevin A., from our Troop will be installed as the Elauwit Chapter Chief at the banquet.

Advance tickets are on sale at the Scout Office for $10 and tickets at the door are $15. If you purchased a Pipe Pass for 2008, the banquet is included at no additional cost!

If you are patch collector, there will be a Banquet patch for the totem pole puzzle patch.

Christmas Tree Sale - Wahissa Lodge will be selling Christmas Trees at the SCout Office the weekend of Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 5-7. OA members are asked to consider a time they can sign up to help during one or both of these weekends.