The AOLs are excited about their crossover tomorrow and we can't wait to celebrate with them. The weather is looking overcast and mild. A couple items to note:

-- All Scouts need to wear their Class A uniforms. While we are outside for the tailgate, they can wear coats/sweaters over their shirts to keep warm (and to catch any ketchup/mustard blobs!).
-- We recommend arriving between 2:30 and 3:00 PM to set up your tailgate site. Please bring your own camping chairs and tables if you have them.
-- Remember there will be contest for best decorated tailgate! Scout theme/50th Anniversary
-- Cakes will be set up inside. The categories are grossest (looking, not tasting!), tallest, and Scout-iest. All items must be edible, including any supports for tall cakes (pretzel sticks are a good option).
-- We will plan to start the AOL crossover inside the Ruritan at 4:00 PM. There will be no eating during the ceremony. Please eat outside in the tailgate area prior to the ceremony.
-- Orange County still has an indoor mask mandate. Please bring your masks for the ceremony.
-- We are providing the hotdogs and burgers. Please bring your own sides for your family.
-- Don't forget your mess kits and reusable water bottles!

***There will be no Pack meeting on Monday the 28th since we are gathering this weekend.*** The Bear Den is meeting on Monday to make up some missed meetings.

Everyone did a fantastic job working on their cars. Congrats to our winning cars, and great work to everyone who participated. Remember, if you took pictures of the cars and the races, please post them to our Facebook page.

Don't forget to RSVP for the Blue & Gold coming up on the 26th! Check your email for the link to RSVP.

It is time for the AOLs to crossover to the local Troop. In hopes of being able to get together to celebrate their achievement and eat safely, we are planning to move the Blue & Gold outside for a tailgate on February 26th. We will still meet at the Cedar Grove Ruritan, but will use the parking lot area to set up the BBQ. Families can decorate their tailgate area with a scout theme or with the theme of 50th anniversary, because this is the 50th anniversary of the Pack! There will be certificate awards for best tailgate decorations.

We will provide hotdogs and hamburgers (if you are vegan or vegetarian, please let me know and we will provide an alternative like Beyond, Impossible, or a black bean burger). It sounds like we might have one large BBQ trailer, but if any Pack families have one available, please email me. We will provide lemonade and water. Families should bring sides and any other drinks you may want (just a note -- all Scout events are tobacco and alcohol free). Please bring reusable water bottles and your mess kits so we can cut down on waste. Start time is 3:00 PM.

We are also bringing back the cake contest!! Scouts can bake and decorate cakes for the following categories:
Grossest
Scout-themed
Tallest

All parts must be edible, including supports! Cakes will be set up inside for viewing and serving, but must be eaten outside. Please bring masks for when you need to go indoors for cake or to use the restrooms.

So we can get an accurate count, please RSVP by Friday February 18th (see your email for the link to RSVP).

Friday Night Registration: 
Starting at 5 PM, after registering your current car, Scouts and family members may run old cars and non-registered cars on the track for fun and to help test the track.  Important: cars intended for competition on Saturday may not be run on Friday night.

Saturday Race Day: 
Whether you registered on Friday night or Saturday morning, please be at the Cedar Grove Ruritan so your Scout can vote on the theme categories at 9:00.  Voting will take place as soon as registration closes.  Once you have voted, then you can stay for the race in person or go home to watch the livestream via Zoom.  The Lions will race about 9:15.  The main event will begin after the Lions finish.  Lions may stay for the main event if they wish.

Check your email for the Zoom link!

Hello Pack Families,

It is Pinewood Derby time! Please read on for important details:

Friday the 11th, 5 to 7 PM: Registration will be at the Cedar Grove Ruritan (6116 Efland - Cedar Grove Rd, Cedar Grove, NC 27231). We recommend stopping by to register your cars on Friday in order to speed up the process Saturday morning.

Saturday the 12th: Pinewood Derby at the Ruritan. We will start with car sign-up, weighing, measuring, and wheel check at 8:00 AM. Scouts will then vote on the theme categories at 9 AM. The Lions race separately and will start at 9:15.

Important notes:
-- We are planning to set up a livestream of the derby -- more details to follow later in the week.
-- We are asking families to limit the number of people there, when possible, to one parent/one scout.
-- If you are not comfortable being indoors for long periods of time, it's ok to leave Saturday morning after the voting and an adult leader or one of the scouts from Troop 438 will handle your car.
-- Lions may leave after their race is finished.
-- We will not be serving breakfast or snacks this year, and ask that if you bring food or drinks, you eat outside the building.
-- Everyone must wear a face mask when indoors and should try to maintain 6ft of social distance as much as possible. Masks will be available at the door if needed.
-- During the race, there may be longer periods of time when your scout will be waiting to race. Please make sure you bring some supplies to keep your scout occupied if they get restless (books, coloring supplies, games, etc).
-- You are responsible for your scout's behavior at this event and at all meetings. We are guests of the Ruritan and disruptive or destructive behavior will not be tolerated.

Please reach out to your den leader if you need any assistance getting your scout's car ready for the weekend. It would also be helpful for some of the younger den parents to help set up the track Friday afternoon and watch the registration process Saturday morning. If you are interested, please contact me at ginaviz@gmail.com and I will put you in touch with those setting up the event. Track set up will likely take place around 3 PM or 4 PM on Friday. Saturday set up will start at 7:30 AM.

Finally, take a look at the PWD patch this year! It's very cool. We can't wait to see all the scouts' cars, and to award them this awesome patch for their efforts!

See you at the races!

Gina

Sunday, January 30: We are planning to hold the Pinewood Derby workshop at the church from 2 to 6 pm. Please dress warmly and don’t forget to mask up! If you are not able to make it, but still need access to a band saw, etc. please email me at ginaviz@gmail.com.

Monday, January 31: Optional Den Meetings – your den leader will be in touch.

Sunday, February 6: Akela & Parents Meeting at 6 pm. We will send a zoom link that weekend for those who cannot attend at the church.

Mondays, February 14 and 21: Regular Den Meetings

Saturday, February 11: Stop by the Cedar Grove Ruritan from 5 to 7 pm to register your car. You can also bring old cars to race on the track. Siblings can bring cars to race too. Note: No racing your current car! That has to wait til Saturday. The address is 6116 Efland - Cedar Grove Rd, Cedar Grove, NC 27231.

Saturday, February 12: Pinewood Derby at the Cedar Grove Ruritan! We will have more details on the schedule closer to the date.

Saturday February 26: Blue & Gold Ball and AOL Crossover Ceremony. More details to come!

Stay warm!

Hello Pack Families,

As Edward and Chip mentioned last night during the Pack meeting, leadership from parents is not just important, it is necessary to keeping the Pack alive. We have multiple leadership positions to fill over the coming months, and we need many more parents, family members, and community members to step up. We are asking all families to take the following survey: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8ic2VIw7DZn8uMK

A few things to remember:

--- BSA policy is that a person can hold only one leadership role per pack. Our current leaders have, out of necessity, had to pick up multiple roles over the last several years. However this spreads us thin and can lead to burn out of those who volunteer. We must strive to get back to a one person, one role policy. The more volunteers we have, the lighter the load.

--- No one needs to occupy a role for your whole time with the pack. Whether your commitment is one year or several, your service will make the pack stronger.

--- Joining Cub Scouts is like joining a family. Our kids will grow up together, learning to accomplish goals as a team. Active participation from parents, family and community members helps provide a safe, enriching environment for our kids to thrive. If you cannot volunteer at this time, but know people in the community who would be interested, you can let us know in the survey. Families associated with the local Troop might be ideal candidates.

Previously, I sent out a description of leadership roles and will attach that again. While the upcoming positions are highlighted in yellow, please review all positions and indicate your interest on the survey.

Thank you for your participation!

Gina Vizvary
Pack 438 Communications Chair

Hello Pack Families,

Hopefully you are having a fun, snowy weekend! Looks like we dodged the worst of it. Here are a couple important updates for the Pack:

Pinewood Derby Workshop: Because of the snow, and what appears to be muddy snow melt tomorrow, we are going to delay the PWD tool afternoon at the church. We are checking on the 30th as an alternate. If we have to, we will figure out a pick up/drop off system to get these done for the kids! Hopefully the 30th will work -- will let everyone know as soon as we can.

Pack Meeting this coming Monday, the 24th:
Because cases are high and the weather is not ideal to meet outside, we will have an online Pack meeting on Monday. Check your email for the link or contact your Den Leader.

On January 23rd from 2-6pm, we are hosting a tool afternoon at the church, so scouts can get their cars cut and weighed. If you need access to tools, please sign up for one 30 minute slot here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d45aca628aafe3-pine.

If you only need to weigh the car, you can stop by any time.

Parents must supervise their kids at all times around the tools, and we are limiting the number of scouts per time slot.

Everyone needs to be masked, even outdoors.

Pinewood Derby Categories: The district just released the latest rules (see attached document) and some new categories (the numbers are the awards they will give out for the district wide derby -- we will have separate Pack awards for our kids):
Lion Speed - Fastest 1 Lion
Overall Speed – Fastest 3 cars
Scouts’ Choice – 1 favorite car voted by Scouts
Superheroes Theme - 2 cars
Scouting Theme - 2 cars
Most beautiful / best craftsmanship - 2 cars
Most original / unique - 2 cars