For those of you who experienced problems with your Schwinn bikes on our recent bike trip, this email is from the manufacturer of Schwinn bikes:

-----Original Message-----
From: Customer Service [mailto:customerservice@Pacific-Cycle.com]
Sent: Friday, July 16, 2010 9:44 AM
To: Ryan Solberg
Subject: RE: "Schwinn" bikes

Hello,

I want to thank you for your email and apologize for any inconveniences
you had during your trip.   My son is involved with Boy Scouts in our
area.   We haven't tried a trip to that extent yet, but I have
accompanied his Den on many camping trips.   So I do understand the type
of situation you were in.    With that many boys and adults any
disruption that comes along can be stressful and potentially ruin the
trip.



We do stand behind our products and will assist the parents with the
Schwinn bicycles.  We do strive to keep the Schwinn brand known as a
quality bicycle that everyone can enjoy.   You mentioned you
communicated via  email to these parents.   I will gladly converse by
email or phone with those parents.   Your email has me very curious
about which bikes and what type of problems.     I will give you my
direct extension or you are more than welcome to reply back by email,
but I would like to know more and have a few questions of my own.   The
number to reach me is 1-800-626-2811 ext. 5012.



Kind regards,

Brandy

Customer Service


Pacific Cycle Customer Service
Makers of:
Mongoose - Schwinn- Roadmaster -Pacific - Instep - KidTrax
Toll-Free: 1-800-626-2811
Fax:1-800-858-2800
Hours: M-F 8am to 5pm CST

As we are wrapping up here at beautiful Stearns Scout Camp we wanted to take a moment and THANK YOU for attending StarCamp, The Adventure of the Century.  We hope you had an enjoyable, safe, and exciting experience!   Here is a link to the Council website: http://www.northernstarbsa.org/News.aspx?articleID=690.  (See our own  Nick A. in the slide presentation.)  WCCO called StarCamp, The largest Boy Scout Campout in Minnesota History,” with attendance of 11,508 Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Scouting Volunteers.

Scouts are invited to submit an original design for the 2010 Manitou 15K commemorative tee-shirts.

 

Can be individual or group participation.

Have design completed and handed in to Bridget Newman by April 20^th troop meeting.

We'll vote to select the winning design at the May 4th troop meeting; Pizza Party at Green Mill will be given to winning group or individual.

Here are some guidelines to follow:
- The shirt front artwork will be placed on the center chest and may be sized
   up to 15"x15".
- Designs can be expanded or shrunk, but they should fit inside a box.
- The artwork should incorporate the race name, location, date and motto:
   Manitou 15k, White Bear Lake, MN, June 5, 2010, "Once around the lake"
- Hand-drawn designs are highly encouraged. Computer graphics are acceptable, too.
- Themes to consider incorporating into your design are Running, Racing, Polar Bears, Racing Polar Bears, White Bear Lake, etc.

Saturday June 5^th, 2010, will be the 28^th running of the Manitou 15K race around scenic White Bear Lake on a certified course.   

The race is a fundraiser for Boy Scout Troop 494.  The boys and their parents organize and run the event.  In addition to the race the Troop last year performed nearly 500 hours of community service in the White Bear Lake area.  The proceeds from the race will support the troop’s activities and purchase/maintain troop camping equipment. 

We would be grateful if you helped in sponsoring our event.  Donations by corporate sponsors are used to offset the cost of T-shirts, award medals and race supplies.  For a $100 donation, the sponsor’s logo will be printed on the back of the T-shirt.  However, any and all cash donations or gift certificates are greatly appreciated! 

Thank you on behalf of the scouts of White Bear Lake Troop 494, their parents, and the many runners who enter the event. 

Please make checks payable to Troop 494 and mail by April 30^th, 2010  to: 

Attn:  Bridget Newman, Manitou 15K, 6318 Langer Lane, Lino Lakes, MN 55038

Dear Troop 494 parents and friends,

As I said at tonight's troop meeting, we are wrapping up our 2010 Friends of Scouting program, and we want to make sure everyone has a chance to contribute.  We are currently at about 50% of our goal, so we could use whatever amount you are able to give. 

FOS is a great way to support Scouting.  You know first hand what Scouting does for the boys, and we need your support.

Attached is a pledge form.  You can fill it out and scan and email it back to the troop website, or mail it to: Troop 494, 2936 Winthrop Drive, Maplewood, MN 55109.  Or we'll have forms at the next two troop meetings.

Please consider what you can give to support Scouting this year!

YIS,
Jim Letourneau
Scoutmaster
Troop 494

Tonight we welcomed new Scouts Sam H. and Spencer M. to Troop 494.  Welcome!

Flower orders are due at this Tuesday's troop meeting!

ALL orders must be turned in on the electronic order summary sheet http://sites.google.com/site/mntroop494/troop-library/2010FlowerSalesScoutSummary.xls?attredirects=0

I only need the final tally — individual customer order totals on the form are for your reference only. If it is not possible to turn in the form electronically, please see me on Tuesday.

The SUMMARY FORM MUST BE E‑MAILED TO ME NO LATER THAN THIS TUESDAY, MARCH 23rd.  Keep the individual customer order forms for your use when delivering the flowers.

Questions?  Contact Michele Willard at 651-653-7842 or mwillard80@gmail.com

Tonight the boys decided that they would like to attend Northern Tier National Scout Camp as our High Adventure campout during the summer of 2011.  This means a week of wilderness canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.

For more information on Northern Tier, one of only three national Boy Scout camps, see
http://www.ntier.org/Ntier_WildernessCanoeTrips.html

The boys chose the Atikokan adventure in Canada.  Click on the link to Don Rogert Canoe Base for more info.

We are tentatively planning on August 6-13, 2011

The troop will put in its application to Northern Tier on April 1 and wait to see if our application is accepted.

If you are interested in attending but were not at the meeting tonight, please email troop494@gmail.com to sign up.

ALSO -- If there are any parents who are interested in joining Tim Willard as part of a group that makes this an extended 10-day trip, please email troop494@gmail.com
. 

At the Court of Honor we kicked off our 2010 Friends of Scouting (FOS) campaign.  Our Council generates over 20% of its funding from the annual FOS campaign.  Please support Troop 494's drive to raise $4,800 as this year's goal.  So far we are at 49% of our goal!  Please help us reach our goal.