Hosting the Best Pinewood Derby

Best Pinewood Derby - 20 Tips

Advice from Scouting Magazine

Click here for a link to a Scouting Magazine article called "20 tips for planning and hosting the best Pinewood Derby."

A sampling:

#7. Establish a timing system. Would you want to be the parent who decides which car won a close race using your naked eye? Didn’t think so. That’s why Derek Hart, now Scoutmaster of Troop 476 of Cincinnati, took away the human element in favor of a more accurate system. “We moved from an elimination bracket series judged by reluctant parents to an electronic timer system with race management software,” he says. It can be pricey, but investing in a similar system will result in better race-day operations.

#9. Determine awards categories. Recognizing the three fastest cars in each division (Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos) is obvious, but the Pinewood Derby is about more than speed. Reward creativity and craftsmanship with awards like Most Colorful, Best Paint Job and Most Patriotic. But don’t go overboard. No more than 60 percent of the boys should leave with an award. Those who walk away empty-handed do, in fact, leave with a valuable lesson.

Income Tax Returns - Scouting Expenses

Scouting Tax Deductions

Advice from Scouting Magazine

Click here for a link to a Scouting Magazine article on deducting Scout-related expenses, dated Jan 25, 2017.

Scouting Magazine published some online advice about "Out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work" that included this summary:

General facts you need to know

• On IRS Form 1040, "2016 Instructions for Schedule A", the Boy Scouts of America is listed by name on page A-9 as a “qualified charitable organization,” so BSA expenses are eligible.
• Three types of contributions can be deducted:
   • Cash/check donations
   • Property donations
   • "Out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work"
• Some types of relevant contributions cannot be deducted:
   • Travel expenses, like meals or lodging
   • The value of your time
   • Scouting dues or membership fees
• IRS Publication 526 has lots more info

Easy enough, right? Scouters will mainly be concerned with that third type of eligible deductions, "out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work."

Some items that you purchase to benefit your unit can be deducted, provided your unit didn’t reimburse you for them. You’ll want to check with your tax professional to be sure, but Scouters have told me they deduct uniforms, merit badge pamphlets, den meeting activity kits, Wood Badge course fees and much more — again, as long as their pack or troop didn’t reimburse them.

However, there’s one expense that I’m certain you can deduct: the cost of driving to and from BSA events.

A Heroism Medal Awarded at the Naval Academy

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal for Heroism

 Awarded to Jonathan Dennler for heroic actions while leading a Scout troop.

Click here to see the article that appeared in a Department of Defense newsletter on January 11, 2017

Dennler's Scout troop was camping in Ontario, Canada, when a major storm hit them with lightning strikes and winds gusting up to 80 MPH. Two trees fell on the campsite, killing a Scout and an adult volunteer and severely injuring others.

Dennler, currently a midshipman at the Naval Academy, got into a canoe and paddled a mile and a half through strong winds in order to get help from a ranger station. Later his mom said, "He was the only one who knew what to do back in high school when a classmate broke their leg at a basketball game, because he was an Eagle Scout."

In the article, it says that the medal Demmler received falls in order of precedence just below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star. The very first one to be awarded went to President Kennedy while he was a lieutenant serving in the Navy during WW II.

Tweets from Three Rivers District

The Three Rivers District Twitter Account

You can receive timely reminders and other useful information when you sign up to receive tweets from District Exec Kate Merritt.

Pictured on the left is the Three Rivers online web page:
www.NNJBSA.org/ThreeRivers

Scroll way down the page to find the bluebird Twitter logo.

Scoutmaster Training (Jan 29)

Training for New Scoutmasters and Assistants

January 29, 2017
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM (bring your own lunch)
Montvale Community Center
One Memorial Drive
Montvale, NJ
$25 (extra for a thumb drive with handouts)

Click here for a flyer with additional details.

Click here to register.

District Chair Ken Dutcher Honored (Jan 12)

District Chair Ken Dutcher Honored

At the recent Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner, Three Rivers District Chair Ken Dutcher was honored as a recipient of the "2017 Outstanding Eagle Scout Award" along with Council Executive Board Member Ken King.

District Klondike Derby (Feb 4)

District Klondike Derby

February 4, 2017
Alpine Scout Camp
441 route 9W
Alpine, NJ 07670

Register: http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2042261
Registration 8:00-9:30 AM
Stations are open 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Closing ceremony 4:00 PM

Fee:  . Sled Fee: Fee covers:  . Lunch:  . Patrols:  . Snow Date:  . Troop Respon- sibilities: Skills Needed:

$12.00 per person if registered on or before Jan. 21, 2017 $15.00 per person if registered Jan 22 - Feb 2, 2017 $10.00 per sled, Sled must have a min of 4 Scouts and no more than 8 Patches for youth, free soup and hot chocolate all day Patches for adults: add $12 Provide your own. Hot lunches please! Cold lunches are not good in COLD weather. They only slow the body down. Each patrol must submit a roster card during registration. http://www.nnjbsa.org/openrosters/DocDownload.aspx?id=101967 Feb 18 -- If we have to postpone to the snow date, one troop leader will be notified and will have to pass the information on to the rest of the troop. To provide one adult leader to help staff the Klondike. To ensure good sportsmanship, kindness, and teamwork First Aid, Fire Building, Knots & Lashings, Shelter Building, Orienteering, Team Building

Please note: In case of a tie, the winner will be the patrol who can answer a trivia question about a famous incident that took place in Alaska in 1925. Required knowledge:
1. In 1925 a major diphtheria outbreak was a major threat to the kids of Nome Alaska.
2. Serum was transported 674 miles by multiple dog sled teams.
3. The name of the dog most famously associated with the event was named Balto, an American Husky.

List of Events in January 2017

PLEASE SEE THE NOTE BELOW REGARDING KEN DUTCHER AND THE JAN 12 EAGLE DINNER
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO FEBRUARY:
The Three Rivers District Annual Meeting and election will take place on Feb 2, 2017
The 2017 District Klondike Derby was postponed by a week to Feb 4, 2017

Three Rivers Events During January 2017

Jan 5 - TRD Committee Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971403
  Click here to see minutes from the meeting
Jan 10 - TRD Roundtable
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1956427
Jan 17 - TRD Assistant District Commissioner Meeting
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971437
Jan 21 - TRD Tiger Tumble
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971496

Training Sessions During January 2017

Jan 18 - Eve Takes to the Woods Indoor Session #1
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2014631
Jan 21 - Commissioner Basic Training at Patriots' Path Council
  http://ppbsa.doubleknot.com/event/2024217

Other Council-Recommended Events During January 2017

Jan 6 - Scout Night with the New Jersey Devils
  Toronto Maple Leafs
  www.newjerseydevils.com/scouts
  Promo code: scouts
Jan 8 - OA Beefsteak Dinner
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2027223
Jan 12 - Eagle Recognition Dinner
  NOTE: Ken Dutcher will be honored
  http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/2038691
Jan 28 - Monster Jam at the Prudential Center
  Tyrone Manning at the Council Office: 201-677-1000 x34

District Tiger Tumble (Jan 21)

District Tiger Tumble

Come join the Three Rivers District for a morning filled with lots of family fun and laughs.

WHERE: Palisades Park Jr.-Sr. High School
WHEN:   Saturday, January 21, 2017
TIME:     10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
FEE:    $8 per Tiger Cub (no charge for his partner)
            $10 at the door


Register: http://www.nnjbsa.org/event/1971496

 Come join the Three Rivers District for a morning filled with lots of family fun and laughs.
• The Tiger Tumble is for “NEW” Tiger Cub scouts (1st Grade) only.
• The program is designed to give the boys and their adult partners a fun introduction to the Scouting program.
• Every Tiger Cub participating will receive a commemorative patch.
• Tiger Cubs must be accompanied by their adult partner to participate.
• Tigers should wear their Scout Uniform.
• Sneakers are required for everyone entering the gym.

For additional information, please contact:
Mark Wrightington: 201-944-9191
MarksMadness331@aol.com