[Troop139] IMPORTANT: Boy Scouts of America

[J. Gordon Beattie, Jr.]

Hi Folks!
This is an excellent web site with new stuff all the time about Scouting and its impact in everyday society.
It is also the source of many great ideas!

http://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/

Yours in Scouting,
Gordon Beattie
201.314.6964


-----Original Message-----
From: Justin Miller [mailto:jmiller1995 at icloud.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 27, 2017 2:17 AM
To: principal at transfigurationacademy.org
Subject: IMPORTANT: Boy Scouts of America

Mr. Carlo:
	Hello Mr. Carlo, my name is Justin Miller. I am an Eagle Scout and a Assistant Scoutmaster of the Bergenfield Boy Scouts, Troop 139. You may have heard of us through local newspapers, fundraisers, or advertisements. For 75 years our troop has been active and taking part in thousands of community service projects, fundraisers for non-profit companies, and most of all sculpting boys into young men by teaching them skills and certain mind-set attributes that will help them later in life. If they become lucky enough to reach Eagle Scout, that would be considered the best accomplishment out of all extracurricular activities. I am not sure if your familiar with scouting ways, but it is known that scouting is a huge benefit in a young persons life from what they’re able to learn, experience, and do. 

	Troop 139 has been active in several Bergenfield parades (memorial, St. Patricks Day, Labor day), we’ve helped local food pantries, the DPW, St. John’s Church, elderly residents, and animals. We even received a large twin tower beam and donated it to the town and it’s currently sitting at Cooper’s Pond. The Police, fire department, and even our own mayor knows us and of our work. Especially since we always invite them to fundraisers, projects, and Eagle Scout Court of Honors. As you can see, we are a very thoughtful, helpful, and recognizable troop. All thanks to the scouts and adults that we have. This Troop is a big part of Bergenfield and we wish to continue our tradition on helping out the community and educating boys into being something great for the future. Unfortunately, we have a problem, and you can help us.

	Since the 1990s, when technology and Sports became more popular for kids between the ages of 10-17, the scouting numbers have dropped and now they’re at an all-time low. Our troop at one point had close to 100 scouts, than dropped to 30, and now were at about 12. We are facing the possibility of having to fold the troop for good, which is not something anyone would enjoy. Kids today have other interests, however, if they knew what scouting could do for them, and what they could do in scouting, they may have a different outlook on the subject and possibly consider joining our troop. If the troop were to fold, the town will also lose a piece of it’s whole. We’ve helped the town out for so many decades that we are as considered as any other department working for this town. Here’s were Transfiguration Academy come into place.

	I would like to present to all the 5th and 6th grade boys in your school on what scouting is all about. Myself, along with 2 other scouts (that are in middle school) would take only 5 minutes of class time to discuss the advantages of being a scout. Another idea would be to have an assembly for all of the 5th and 6th grade boys and we could speak for 10 minutes about the advantages of scouting. This is not like a sport, scouting teaches you many things in life. If you look at our merit badges, some include: Business, First Aid, Fitness, 3 forms of citizenship, politics, technology, music, etc, you name it, the scouts have it. Scouting looks great on resumes, improves your knowledge, and better prepares you for the future…which are the same goals for a school. Not only do I believe you’ll be doing the scouts a good deed, but you’ll be doing the kids a good deed as well. 

	I really hope that you can help us save our troop and prevent us from folding a piece of Bergenfield. The way we help this community and many others is to good to lose. You can help us save it, and at the same time you’ll be allowing students the opportunity to get involved in a organization that has proven to help so many people over 110 years. 

	 I would like to discuss this further in detail with you. When are you available to speak with me?

		Sincerely, 
				   Justin Miller
		Eagle Scout/ Ass. Scoutmaster- Troop 139=