Greetings to All. I hope everyone is starting to recover from our shared adventures in Colorado and New Mexico, and that you're not pining away too badly to be back on the trail (less than two years to wait, and counting!) Much to discuss:

1) Merit Badges - I will be sending out the merit badge questionnaire later this evening, to all Scouts and leaders (that is, regardless if you already have the badges or not.) Further instructions will be included in that mass emailing. Be on the lookout....

2) Crew Gear - A quick review suggests that about a half dozen items were not returned at the airport. If anything showed up in your luggage, please return it to me asap, as I will be putting the Philmont gear to bed this coming weekend (see #7 below.) Place the items on the front seats of the maroon van (in my driveway) by COB Friday. Thanks.

3) Exposed Film - If you have any remaining film cannisters, I also need those asap. I have turned in our first set of rolls (about 60), but I suspect there are still a few odd cannisters here and there.

4) Receipts - If anyone has receipts for reimbursable expenses, I need those asap. Mark each with your name and what it was for, if not already obvious. Front seat of the van, please, in an envelope.

5) Medications - I have the extra medications for Crews 2 and 3, but not Crew 1. I do not know who has Crew 1's extra medications, or even if Crew 1 HAD any extra medications. Rick and/or Clay, please enlighten me on this. Unless otherwise urgently needed, the extra meds will be returned at the first Photo Reunion Session. If you need them before then, please email me to that effect, and we'll arrange an earlier pickup.

6) Patch Protectors - Philmont has agreed to replace the patch protectors with new ones that don't have the price label superglued to their fronts. I will be returning them later this week, and should have them back before the first Reunion Session. In the meantime, I strongly recommend that you not wear the patches routinely, as they will become soiled and worn quite quickly without the protectors - and I would imagine you'll be wearing these as long as you're in the BSA, whether that be a few more months, or a few more decades.

7) Final Gear Sort - At present, I am planning on returning all Philmont Gear to the Troop closet this coming Saturday starting at 9am. I expect this to take 3 - 4 people about 3 - 4 hours to finish. Yes, I need some assistance. If you can help, please email me to that effect; those who assist will get a free lunch "on the Crew." Thanks.

8) Diaries - I have already written up several days worth of my diary, but it usually takes me many weeks before I'm finished and happy with the final product (I am a lousy writer, but a pretty good editor.) I hope to distribute it by the SECOND Photo Reunion Session. Charles B. and Tim W.: Please make a concerted effort to finish your sub-diaries as soon as you can, before the memories begin to fade.

9) 50-Miler Award Hours - Although we handed out the 50-Miler Awards to all participants last Tuesday night, several Scouts still owe me a few more hours of trail service (you know who you are.) I will be getting together with Rick W. later this week to determine actual remaining requirements, and I will then come up with a local make-up project. Stay tuned....

One 50-Miler Award PATCH (not the paper certificate) was found on the floor of National Airport as we were leaving last Tuesday night. If you're missing your patch, this is probably yours - please let me know, and I'll return it to you at the first Renion Session.

10) Accounting - It usually takes me several weeks to get the accounting completed - partially due to inertia, partially due to tardy receipt turn-ins, and partially due to waiting on my credit card statements. I will have little sense of the overall costs until I'm finished, and will not deal with refunds (or requests for additional fees) until that time. Please be patient.

11) T-Shirt Hall of Fame??? - Several Scouts suggested that we donate our last T-Shirt to this wall, but we didn't get it done before we left. Can anyone tell me where this wall was? - I will mail the T-Shirt back to Philmont, or ask a Scout from Troop 648 (who is going provisionally later this month) to bring it back for us. Thanks.

12) Photo Reunion Sessions - Are impossible to schedule conflict-free in the summertime, but we'll try. Session I is tentatively scheduled for Sunday night, August 6th (makeup August 13th), and Session II is tentatively scheduled for Sunday night, August 27th (makeup September 10th). I am more concerned that everyone makes the first Session, because that's where all the optional photos get picked. I need to hear from EACH FAMILY which days they CANNOT make (don't tell me which days you can make, or which days you prefer.) Please let me know by the end of this week. Thanks.

- Dr. Bob

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17 July 2000