Our annual Christmas tree pickup fundraiser is January 6, 2001. This is our largest (and currently our only) fundraiser. We need all scouts to participate and at least one parent. Most (if not all) the money earned will go into a camp fund for each scout who participates. Each scout who participates can earn between $25 and $100 towards their camp fund.
There are 4 parts to our program. To get full credit, each scout/parent must participate in all of the following:

• Christmas tree flier handout-December 16, 2000 (sign up ahead of time)
• Christmas tree pickup - January 6, 2001 (pro-rated, based on time worked)
• Parent participation - January 6, 2001 (also pro-rated) Bring an item for potluck lunch.
• Scout clean-up project at United Rentals in Dublin (also pro-rated) - date TBD in the spring. (Note: We do the clean-up at United Rentals as a thank you for equipment dated during the Christmas tree pickup).
  

If you cannot meet all four requirements for the full scheduled time, you will still earn credit based on the amount of your participation.

Christmas Tree Flier Handout

Maps of the Dublin area will be posted at the December 12th troop meeting. You can sign up for an area then or wait until December 16th. Typically two scouts will take an area together. 1f you have a small area and other areas are unassigned, we will ask you to handle two areas.

Please plate the fliers under doormats or rolled and placed behind the doorknobs at the homes in your assigned area. (Note: Federal law states we are not allowed to place flies inside mailboxes)

We ask that all scouts finish distributing the flyers to their assigned area by December 26th.

Gift certificates to Dom's in Livermore will be awarded to the 3 scouts whose areas receive the most call-ins. (1st prize is $25, 2nd prize is $15, 3rd prize is $10).

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer your ties, please call Tom Kuznik at 735-0959.

Troop Dues are Due December 12th

Troop 905's Recharter is due by December 12th. In the past, Troop 905 has paid the Recharter fees and then collected the dues from the scouts in the first quarter of the following year. At the Committee Meeting on November 30th, it is was voted upon that dues would be collected immediately for the 2001 recharter, so that the Troop would not have to draw on reserve funds to pay these fees. It was also, voted upon that dues will currently remain at the same rate of $72 per year.

Please submit payment of $72 to the Troop treasurer by December 12th.

Troop Elections--December 12th

The Troop Elections are December 12th. Any Scout who is interested in being elected to a Leadership Position should get a packet from the Scoutmaster. The packet lists the leadership positions within Troop 905 and the position's duties and responsibilities. Review the position's duties and responsibilities carefully! In the back of the packet is a Leadership Position Application which must be completed by the Scout and signed by the Scout's parent. (Parents be sure you review the position's duties and responsibilities also. You should be aware of the commitment your son is making to the Troop before you sign the application.) The application must be submitted to the Scoutmaster by the beginning of the December 12th Troop meeting.

Parents-We Need Your Help!

Please take time to look over the list posted on the bulletin board of the events that the Scouts would like to do this year. Many of these events need a parent coordinator, drivers, etc. If you are interested in helping with an event, please sign-up. Or for additional information about volunteering you may call John Trundle at 243-1617 or Jean Kuznik at 735 0959.

We need Board of Review members and Merit Badge Counselors. Rich Seville will be having a meeting on December 12th at 7 pin to explain what is needed to be a Board of Review member. The meeting will be held in the back meeting room at the Scout Shack. Anyone interested is welcome to attend. In January or February Rich will have another meeting to review what is required of a Merit Badge Counselor and how you can help. For more information about these meetings or about the positions, please call Rich at 833-8665.

U.S.S. PAMPANITO Overnight On Wednesday, December 27th

Troop 905 will be staying overnight on the World War II submarine U.S.S. Pampanito. Space is limited to 48 people, so those who are able to attend should sign-up on the sign-up sheet posted on the bulletin board. Drivers will be needed for this event, so parents you are welcome! Parking is very limited so please plan to carpool. On December 27th, we will meet at the Scout Shack at 5 p.. to carpool into San Francisco. The

Overnight program includes the following:

• Overnight accommodations on board the World War II submarine in bunks in the original crew's quarters.
• Use of self-guided audio tour wands.
• Opportunity to visit areas of the submarine normally off limits to daily tours. (This includes the conning tower and viewing through the periscope.)
• View video documentary about submarines of World War II
• Opportunity to earn a certificate commemorating your overnight stay.

What to Bring:

• Sleeping bag and pillow
• Warm clothing
• Flashlight
• Personal toiletries
• Optional: Camera (with flash) or camcorder (lighting is limited)
• Cards or board games (U.S.S. Pampanito has chess, checkers & backgammon)
• Snack

The Scouts are required to clean-up and be off the submarine by 7 a.m. Thursday morning. Carpools will bring the scouts back to the Scout Shack on Thursday morning before 10 a.m. Additional Information: Call Len or Karen Vaden at 828-3671.

Need a Year-end Tax Deduction?

Troop 905 is a nonprofit organization! True, the $72 you pay for dues are not a tax deduction; but donations made to Troop 905 are. So, as the end of the year approaches and you are looking for additional tax deductions; consider making a donation to Troop 905. We will gladly send you a letter of thanks with all the pertinent information required for your tax records.

The Troop 906 Newsletter is back!

In an effort to keep scouts and parents better informed about what is happening in Troop 905,; we will be publishing a monthly newsletter. The newsletter will be handed out each month at the first meeting of the month and will also be available here on our website at Troop905.org.

Scouts, we need your input. What do you want to call your newsletter? What information do you want to see in your newsletter? Please complete the form (on the December Newsletter) with your suggestions and bring it to one of the scout meetings between now and January 9th. At the January 16th meeting a simple ballot (not a confusing one) will be distributed to all scouts attending the meeting. Every scout at the January 16th meeting will have the opportunity to vote on the best name for the newsletter. The name with the majority of votes that night will be the winner; there will be no recounts. In case of a tie, the Scoutmaster will cast the determining vote.

A Letter From the Editor Hi, I am Karen Vaden and my son Troy has been involved with Troop 905 for nearly 2 years. Troy and I will be working on the Newsletter. Our goal is to have the Newsletter printed and ready for distribution by the first meeting of each month and to forward a file to our Webmaster, Brandon Chapin; who will post the Newsletter on the Troop's web page. If you are interested in submitting articles for the newsletter you may e-mail Word documents to thevadens@home.com or give a copy of the article to Troy at one of the Troop meetings.