The Latest
September 30th, 2020 Issue #20
Staff Change

Erica Marion and the Twin Rivers Council have parted ways. We want to thank Erica for all of her hard work in the Turning Point District over the last two and half years. We wish her and her family the very best.

Membership and Camp Fees

Twin Rivers Council has made the decision to freeze all fees for membership and camps going into 2021. The only increase to membership fees this year was a .50 per month fee made by the national office. We understand that the increase seems much larger, but we need to keep in mind that last year the decision was made to move our charter dates from March 1st to January 1st. That meant that everyone had already paid for two months of 2020 membership in 2019. This year we are back to a 12 month charter so the fees feel like they have increased again.

The program and insurance fee has stayed the same at $27. The Scouts BSA summer camp fees are the same at $475. The Cub Scout Resident Camp fees are the same at $250. The Day Camp fees are the same at $120.

Mark Switzer
Scout Executive/CEO
Twin Rivers Scout Shop - New Hours
Monday: 10am-6pm
Tuesday: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday: 10am - 6pm
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday: 10am - 1pm
Membership and Unit Service
For assistance contact Steven Dunn Assistant Scout Executive
Fall Membership Recruitment Next Steps

Your District Executives have worked very hard securing from our schools that ability to send home flyers and videos to all of the school families. Some schools are even putting notices about Cub Scouts in their school newsletters. Our next step is scheduling a joining night that can be in person, virtual or the Drive Up model. Please, reach out to your DE with that information and they can help you set up those events. Don't forget we are still offering a free Rocket to every new Scout.
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 and Trunk or Treat

These two things go great together and is fun for new and current Scouts.

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!
Charter Renewal 2020

Just a heads up that the unit key-3 will be receiving information on our charter process very soon. In the meantime here are two items that we can do to make things go quick and smooth.

  • Check your unit roster and make sure that all of your youth and adults are registered
  • Also check to make sure that all adult youth protection trainings are up to date. If some are expired or expiring get them renewed as quick as possible.

More info to come soon.
Camping and Program
For assistance contact Steven Dunn Assistant Scout Executive
Fall Camping Reservations are Live at Both Camps!!!

Reserve your weekend campsites at Rotary Scout Reservation and Camp Wakpominee. Please find the reservation login here.

If you have any questions please contact Sandy Elkins or Steven Dunn.
Be a Part of the Grand Re-opening of Rotary Scout Reservation and Camp Wakpominee

Make Summer 2021 Epic! Reserve your spot today so that our Scouts can spend a week at one of our camps. Whether it is roasting marshmallows over a campfire, facing your fears at the top of a climbing tower or even splashing in our lakes on a hot summer day, the fun and adventure of summer camp stays with us forever.

Reservation deposit for Scouts BSA resident camp is $250 due November 1st.

Reservation deposit for Cub Scout Resident camp is $50 due March 15th.
Development and Sponsorships
For assistance contact Beth Bush Development Director
Oh My Gourd! It's a Virtual 5K!
We are hosting our very first VIRTUAL 5K!!!

Are you a person of any age from anywhere? Then you are invited!
You don't run??? No worries. You can participate in any form or anywhere -- running, walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, rolling, strolling, swimming, or any other way.
Let's give everyone pumpkin to talk about. Do the 5K dressed in costume, carrying a pumpkin, or in team clothing. Regourdless of how you participate, make sure you do 16,404 feet or 3.1 miles and have FUN!
Here's how it works:
  • Register for the race here: www.trcscuting.org/5k. The registration fee is $30 (except for youth registered in the BSA who are $25) and includes a commemorative neck gaiter & number bib, and a participant medal. Commemorative moisture-wicking shirts are available for purchase in youth and adult sizes with your registration or on their own. Shipping is included in the registration fee. REGISTRATION IS OPEN UNTIL October 2 at 11:59pm.
  • Encourage others to join in on this regional effort to support our LOCAL Scouting programs!
  • We will begin shipping your goodies about September 22 or when we receive your order if after September 22. If you order by September 22, you should get your materials before the 5K begins.
  • Join us October 3rd as we go LIVE on our TRC Facebook page to kick off our 5K.
  • Complete your 5K anytime between October 3rd, starting with our LIVE broadcast on Facebook, through October 10th.
  • Celebrate that you made an important difference by sharing photos before, during, and after on our Facebook event page that you participated in the 5K.

Twin Rivers Council, like other non-profits, was hit hard financially this spring and throughout the year. All of the traditional special event fundraisers had to be canceled, and we stopped asking for donations for our Friends of Scouting fundraising campaign in understanding that many people were also financially affected.

This fundraiser is our chance to safely fund the programs that are so important to the youth in our LOCAL areas. Twin Rivers Council covers 25% of the area in the state of NY, encompassing 13 counties from Columbia County to the south, all the way up to the Canadian border. Our office is located in Albany.
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.
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