The Latest
August 26th, 2020 Issue #19
Investors Report - Catalog of Giving

Please visit our latest investor report which has our catalog of giving. This is a great way to make a difference by giving to the programs that mean the most to you in the Twin Rivers Council. There are great videos and information on all of the different giving levels.



Family Fun Fest - Pinewood Derby 500!!

This is your chance to learn what Scouting is all about!
This very special online-only free event will be jam-packed with a sampling of the fun things Cub Scouts across the country do day in and day out. We’ll be going big with all things Pinewood Derby, because hey, it’s kind of our thing! But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. From astronauts to crafts and even a few special surprises it’ll be the most fun your family will have online all summer. 
Scouting is always more fun with friends, so be sure to spread the word about Family Fun Fest on September 12th! More....
A New Way to SHOP at the Scout Shop

Now that we have re-opened, we are very excited to announce that we've redesigned our in-store shopping experience with your safety and convenience as our main goal.

You can now purchase any of our 600 Cub Scouts and Scouts BSA Advancement related products online, and have the order gathered, bagged, and set aside for you to either pickup in-store, contactless curbside, or have the items shipped to you!

Click on the image below to check it out.
Twin Rivers Scout Shop - New Hours
Monday: 10am-6pm
Tuesday: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 1pm

Membership and Unit Service
For assistance contact Steven Dunn Assistant Scout Executive
Twin Rivers Council Unveils New Membership and Leader Resources Page

Visit the new TRC Membership page at www.upstatecubs.org. Also you can find all of our membership resources in the Recruitment Catalog. The Leader Resources page has resources for all programs including the new Council Program Guide, Ideal Year of Scouting Guide, Budget resources and much more. Visit this page here.


What’s the easiest way for potential members to join your Scout unit?


It works even better if your unit information is up-to-date. Now, if you update your pin, your Scout unit could win!

Just make sure your unit BeAScout pin is updated anytime between June 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2020, and your unit will be entered into a drawing for a chance to win a $500 Scout Shop Gift card, or one of five $100 Scout Shop Gift cards. See the full rules for the giveaway here.

Need help updating your pin? Find a complete set of step-by-step instructions on how to update your BeAScout pin in this guide, and/or watch this “Setting Up Your BeAScout Unit Pin” instructional video.

As we move into join-Scouting season, now is the time to be Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, and Kind by doing a Good Turn and updating your pin so people who are looking for a great Scouting unit can find you! You just might win something in the process!
Online Registration is Live for all New Applications - Here are Some Tips for Accessing them.

Invitation Manager is a tool on my.scouting.org providing you the ability to add new leads, manage leads, and sending joining invitations with an active lead to your unit’s application form.
  • Who has access: Charter Organization Rep, Committee Chair and Unit Leader CM/SM or a Key 3 delegate.
  • In your Beascout Pin- You can sign on thru your my.scouting, Under your settings:
  • Membership application Approval - Can have it as Charter or Representative only or Committee Chair and Charter Organization Rep required
  • COR can set up a delegate to sign on their behalf
  • To change- Go to Organization Security Manager
  • Click on Functional Position – Scroll till Key 3 delegate
  • Click on Key 3 Delegate
  • Hit the + button in top right corner
  • Select the person, Effective date and Expiration date
  • Save
  • Email settings:
  • Fee Emails: A unit can set up an email to send to all new applicants with any additional fees that is required I.e. if there are unit dues, den due, etc.
  • Welcome Emails- Units can develop their own special welcome email from their pack to all new applicants that will go out ASAP.
  • Notifications and Reports:
  • When you have actions to take in either Invitation Manager or Application Manager you will receive email and in-tool notifications.
  • You can also use reports to track actions that have been taken in the system and who had joined through the system.
  • Check Lists- Easy tool to explain and show what each role needs to do.
  • Website Resources: https://www.scouting.org/resources/online-registration/
Introducing Drive Through Joining Nights

This event is based off of the 5 station method but is being held in a parking lot allowing for social distancing. Below are a list of the stations and how they work. For more information look at the Recruitment Catalog or call your District Executive.

Station One: Check-In
  •  Greet the new families, explain the 4 stations they’ll be visiting
  •  Take down the parents’ contact info using a sign-in sheet
  •  Show them where the next station is.
Station Two: The Fun Station! (what we do)
  •  Show them a poster board with all the fun activities your unit does!
  •  Review the unit calendar, discuss unit meeting times.
Station Three: Registration & Complete Forms
  •  Have a few adults around to answer questions that the parents have. Discuss unit fees.
  •  Print your pack QR code for parents to scan. Direct them to a spot where they can park to fill out the form and pay online.
Station Four: Check-Out
  •  Inform parents of the next meeting date. Encourage them to attend parent orientation night.
  •  Make sure all their questions are answered!

You can find your units QR code through the following steps:

Accessing QR Code: (you must be a Unit Key-3 member to access your QR code)
Parents can scan this QR code with their phone to complete the application process.
1.      Log into your my.scouting.org account.
2.      Click on the 3 lines in the upper left-hand corner
3.      Select your Unit
4.      Click on “Invitation Manager”
5.      Scroll down, your QR code will be on the left!
Camping and Program
For assistance contact Steven Dunn Assistant Scout Executive
Fall Camping Reservations are Live!

Reserve your weekend campsites at Rotary Scout Reservation. The first available weekend is September 11-13. Please find the reservation login here.

For Camp Wakpominee we are still waiting for the Department of Health in Glens Falls to approve our permit application that we were instructed to file. We just as disappointed as anyone that it is taking this long to open up our Camp Wakpominee
Development and Sponsorships
For assistance contact Beth Bush Development Director
Annual Popcorn Sale Latest Updates!!

As many of you have experienced while selling on the online direct platform, the free shipping has changed to a minimum $40 order for a short time. Trails End is running multiple shipping tests to collect data. Unfortunately, we have no control over these tests; but we can assure you that we are working with Trails End daily to address this. The free shipping for $40+ is going through September 3 at 7:59pm EDT; but will change back to free shipping at $30+ at 8pm EDT on that same day.
As we announced earlier, our council made the decision to cover the shipping costs for orders over $30 in order to help your Scouts raise as much as they can. We know that it is essential to your units to raise funds to keep your program running. Trails End is working on their technology to make this happen for us. We are doing everything we can to help make this sale successful for you. It is one of our top priorities. Let us know how we can help.
Don’t forget about the $500 and $1000 clubs. We are hoping to reward as many Scouts as we can for helping their units raise the funds to keep doing the awesome programming.
Council Administration
For Assistance contact Ruth LaCoss Office Manager
Do you have Forms or Paperwork you Need to Submit to the Council Office?

The Council Office is open by appointment only. If you need to meet with a staff member, please contact that staff person and request an appointment. This can be done most easily through the Calendly Appointment Request Link at the bottom of each staff persons email signature.
If you need to submit Membership Applications, Eagle Applications and Backup Documentation or other documents, here are three options:
  • US Mail to Twin Rivers Council, 253 Washington Avenue Extension, Albany, NY 12205
Mail Slot located at the front door is accessible 24/7
  • Drop Box – There is a drop box located in the Scout Shop where items may be submitted and things you need picked up. When dropping items off, please make sure you have included appropriate payment and your contact information in case we have questions. The Drop Box is accessible during regular Scout Shop Hours which are currently: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10 – 6, Saturday 10 - 1. Closed Wednesday and Sunday. Please check the www.trcscouting.org/scout-shop/ for the most current hours.
  • Scan and email – most documents that you would need to submit may be scanned and emailed including Eagle Applications. For Eagles, national is currently allowing digital signatures rather than “wet” signatures through the end of September.

When submitting an Eagle Application for Certification, please make sure you have included the following:

  • The Eagle Application, front and back, completed through the 3 signatures for the youth, Scoutmaster and Committee Chair
  • Completed Reference Check Acknowledgement Form
  • Statement of Life Purpose and Ambitions Essay
  • Signature page from the Project Proposal section of the Eagle Project Workbook that includes the 4 signatures approving the start of the project.
  • Signature page from the Final Report section of the Eagle Project Workbook that includes the 3 signature indicating that the project was completed to everyone’s satisfaction.
  • Contact information including an email address for the person we should be contacting for questions and to notify when the Applicant is ready to sit for a board of review.

Scout Island Available for Overnight Camping by Scouting Units

The Hudson River – Black River Regulating District has issued permit #111074 to the Twin Rivers Council granting Scouting Units permission to use Scout Island.

Scout Island is located on the Great Sacandaga Lake in Mayfield, NY.

Scouting Units wishing to use the island for overnight camping may do so, at no cost, by:
  • contacting Ruth: ruth.lacoss@scouting.org, with their expected dates of use.
  • Approximately 4 units can use the island on any weekend depending on the size of the unit.
  • Once we receive the unit’s request, we will issue a temporary use permit for the dates specified and mail it to the unit.
When deciding or planning to use the island, Scouting Units should keep in mind that:
  • This is primitive camping
  • There are NO sanitary facilities or drinking water on the island.
  • Units must remove all refuse which cannot be destroyed by burning, particularly metal, foil, bottles, cans etc.
  • Units will need to provide their own transportation to and from the island.
  • Units should not plan service hours around this overnight opportunity unless they have coordinated and been approved for a service project by the Twin Rivers Council.
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