Happy New Year - T957 Alumni Group and BSA to TrailLifeUSA Information

[Hassan Family]

Hello All:

We hope you have had a blessed Christmas Season and that you New Year will be blessed.   Here is an alumni group that has existed for a number of years for all associated with Troop957 to keep in touch from time to time and to share good news update. I hope you will consider joining it.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/alumni_bsa_troop957

Some have asked, but I thought I would share with all what I can about the TrailLifeUSA Troop starting at St. John's as  Today is the official start day for TrailLife USA.

.

Here some is the information for TrailLife USA at St. John's.  Here is its website: http://traillifestjohns.org/ - TLU Troop 313.

• There is one troop for boys Kindergarten to College.  (Great for families with more than one.)
  
• Patrols divided up into age groups: Scouts from the Troop 957 and elsewhere would come in as Navigators and Adventurers (Younger and Older Scouts respectively), young men 18-25 would be a part of a "Guidon"  patrol.
• First Troop Meeting is January 13 at 7PM at St. John's - three foot tall Catapults, who know what might happen ;-)
• Meetings will be on Mondays just as the troop's had been before.
• First Outing planned a relaxed, fun one: Sat., Jan. 25 GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY BASKETBALL GAME ( vs. GEORGE WASHINGTON ) @ NOON $10/ticket 

You can contact the TrailLife leadership including Sean Murphy, Keith Morneau, Keith Peitler, Brad Smith, Fr. Mark Moretti, Bill Boston, at: TrailLifeUSA-StJohns+Leaders@groupspaces.com or you can e-mail any of us directly.

Attached is the transfer module that will help determine where your son(s) can transfer in with regard to credit toward advancement and rank.   Here is a link with more detailed specifics: http://www.traillifeusa.com/achievement-transfer-bsa-trail-life-usa/

I hope you find this information useful. Thank you for some of the most wonderful years of my life and of my families life.  We have been so blessed by all the families of Troop 957!  We love you all and thank you for your support and prayers!  We wish you the very best and most importantly may God Bless you all!

Please keep in touch and you and your families are always welcome.

Thank you,

Matt (& MaryAnn) Hassan

540-219-1692 (cell)

Hassan...@comcast.net

  

Other Notes: Directly from TraillifeUSA's website:

 

 What if we want to dual register our boys in BSA so they can continue to work on their Eagle Rank, plus register them in Trail Life USA?  

• As these types of arrangements are further considered, it is possible that BSA or Trail Life USA or both may need to set up certain criteria regarding such “dual” registration in order to accommodate real life concerns such as insurance coverage and program separation for purposes of maintaining program integrity.
• Regarding a BSA Scout that joins the Trail Life USA program, there is a limitation on transfer of ranks and achievements for recognition within the Trail Life USA program. Specifically, there would only be ONE OPPORTUNITY provided to transfer into Trail Life USA and receive recognition for prior work accomplished in BSA. That opportunity is provided on the day that a boy submits an application for membership with Trail Life USA. Once a BSA Scout joins and is recognized in his Trail Life USA Troop for his prior achievements, his joining record is established and that is the record that he must work with from that point forward.  Additional work completed in the BSA program cannot be transferred in later and a Scout cannot receive “double credit” for work that is completed during his continuous involvement in the separate BSA program after he has created his joining record in Trail Life USA. For example, additional merit badges earned or service hours booked in the BSA program will not also be credited in the Trail Life USA program.
• In honoring the legacy of the BSA, we have worked graciously to make such recognition possible in Trail Life USA. However, it would become counterproductive after a Scout joins and becomes a Trailman for him to have continuing considerations of whether it would be easier or quicker to earn an achievement in one program versus the other. It may also be theologically confusing for a boy to be preparing to leave BSA to commit to life as a Trailman at Trail Life USA, while continuing to pursue secular recognition in BSA.
• If a boy wants to pursue both advancement programs, he must do so independently after registering in both programs. If a boy is not fully prepared to commit to the Trail Life USA program, it might be more advisable for the boy to remain in the BSA until such time as he is prepared to commit his focus and attention fully on his life as a Trailman.