--- Start here for help ---

Many thanks to all who attended our 19th annual merit badge event and for the many instructors who prepared and taught wonderful classes, and especially to Michael Black who started this 19 years ago!



An email will be sent in the next few days to all who registered. The email will contain a link to a shared folder with the completed class rosters ... which can be used to give to your units' advancement person.

(It will take a a few days to review and scan all 94 class rosters!)





Annual Merit Badge PowWow, started by Michael Black as a wood badge ticket item, in 2001. Sponsored by Troop 1177, with support from many others.



Check availability from the website.



Note: Our instructors receive a "Preregistration PIN # " which allows them to register their scouts a few days before the general registration opens. When the general registration opens, the "PIN # " (password) requirement will be removed and registration will be open to everyone.

EVENT SCHEDULE: 



Note:

Most classes will span both Saturdays, meaning in most cases the first half of the class is on Sept 7^th and the second half of the class is on Sept 14^th, attendance both Saturdays is expected.



This year we are having both AM and PM classes,  please attend ONLY the "AM Sessions" OR the "PM Sessions", if possible.

Most scouts sign-up for 2 merit badges, because most classes take 2 hours each Saturday, and that means you can fit 2 merit badges into the 4 hour block. The reason we are asking you to attend ONLY the "AM Sessions" OR the "PM Sessions" is to give more scouts the opportunity to attend.



There are some merit badges which only take 1 hour. Review the schedule carefully. 



NOTE: In the "Location" is a "see note" indicating:

(1) Most scout are Not expected to complete, requires significant outside work

(2) Some scouts will complete

(3) Most scouts will complete

Our goal is to complete as much of the "classroom" portion of the merit badge as possible.

September 7, 2019, from 8am to 12pm   ... OR ...   12:30pm to 4:30pm

September 14, 2019, from 8am to 12pm   ... OR ...   12:30pm to 4:30pm

REGISTRATION - Please notify me ASAP if you would like to teach a class. (We need instructors!)



Registration begins 8/12/2019 and ends 9/3/2019.

Pre-Registration begins 8/9/2019 for Instructors.



Here are some detailed instructions to Sign On/Register:

First, click on the main webpage: http://meritbadge.info

click “Enter Registration System”

click our event “Annual Merit Badge PowWow – LDS Church – Los Rios”

If you are already registered on the system (from last year), then click “Sign On” in the upper right hand corner.

If you are not registered, then click “Register New User” just below the “Sign on” link.

For new user registration, use the following information:



1) State: TX

2) Council: Circle Ten

3) District: Golden Arrow (use your district name)

4) Unit Type: Troop (or Crew)

5) Unit Number: enter your unit number (troop number)

Now enter the rest of the information on the User Profile page.

If you are going to be a merit badge counselor, be sure to check the checkbox at the bottom of the page.

Most of the information is not required. (just need email, first/last name, city/state, and password)



Next:

Once you are registered, logout, and then login (sign on) again by clicking the “Sign Up” link in the rightmost column of where our event is listed.

You should be on the “Participant Registration” page. (If not, click on the “Registration” link, then select our event in the dropdown list.)

Enter the scout’s first and last name, age, phone #, parents email address (or the scoutmasters email address)



Select the session time first, then select the available class for that particular session time.

(very important to select the “Session Time” first, because the list of available merit badges is based on what Session is selected ... be aware that some merit badges have multiple classes occurring at the same time)



Then click the “Add” link.

Repeat for each scout. Don’t select more than one class at the same time period per scout.

Remember that most classes span both Saturdays.



While registering, if you scroll down on that registration page, it will show each class that has been successfully registered.



NO CONFIRMATION EMAIL IS SENT.



You may change classes after you have selected them, if you change your mind, but please avoid making any changes the last week.

If you find that you cannot attend, please return to the site and remove the registered classes.



Most classes span both days

Most classes will span both Saturdays, meaning in most cases the first half of the class is on Sept 7th and the second half of the class is on Sept 14th. Scouts are requested to only take AM classes OR PM classes, to allow more scouts to register. If there are available slots towards the end of the registration period, then you are welcome to take those slots.



When registering individual Scouts through the on-line registration system, the Troop Merit Badge Coordinator is requested to provide an email address for the parent of each Scout. (Please provide an email address for the Scouts parents rather than the individual Scout.) This will allow Merit Badge Counselors the ability to pass information pertaining to their classes prior to the merit badge event.



Some classes are 2 hours each day and span both days, for a total of 4 hours.

Some classes are just 1 hour each day and span both days, for a total of 2 hours.

Some classes are just 1 hour and are held just one of the days.



Be careful to pick classes that fit together on the schedule. Start time is 8:00am and will end at 12:00 noon for the "AM Session" and from 12:30pm to 4:30pm for the "PM Session".

Most scouts will take one 2 hour session, and two 1 hour sessions, for a total of 3 merit badges, or some may take two 2 hour sessions, or even four 1 hour sessions. Please review the schedule carefully to make sure your selected classes do not overlap.

Please be careful to not "overlap" the class times.



FEES:

There are no registration fees. If there is a supply cost, it will be noted in the class description.



RULES FOR PARTICIPATION:

1. Each unit is requested to provide one adult for every 4 boys who participate. This will help us with crowd control, as well as insure quality of results within the classroom environment.

2. Scouts must have prior approval from their Scoutmaster before attending.

3. Scouts must behave in a Scout-like manner. Disruptive youth will be removed from the group and either spend the remainder of the day with their Scoutmaster or be picked up by their parent/guardian.

Note: The Unit adults are responsible for the scouts who attend.



RIGHT TO LIMIT OR CANCEL:

Merit Badges to be offered are subject to change based on MB Counselor availability and space.

Please signup for ONLY the "AM Sessions" OR the "PM Sessions" ... this will allow more scouts to participate.



FIRST COME FIRST SERVE:

Scouts are admitted to classes on a first come, first served basis via the online registration system. There is no waiting list for any of the merit badges classes. Should you encounter booked classes, please monitor this website in case seats become available.

Scouts who are 10 minutes or more late to class, will be considered a "no-show", and their spot may be released to another scout.



EXPECTATION:

Scouts are strongly encouraged to read the Merit Badge Booklet and finish all pre-requisites before attending the Merit Badge PowWow.



UNIFORM:

Scouts are encouraged to wear their scout shirt. The merit badge sash is not necessary.



CODE OF CONDUCT:

The Scout Oath, the Law, and the Outdoor Code shall be the code of the Merit Badge Day. Adequate supervision must be provided by each participating unit. Discipline is the responsibility of the Scoutmaster or other assigned leaders in charge of the troop.



TRANSPORTATION:

The troop Leaders must coordinate arrival and departure time for transportation. Troops need to make certain that they have adequate transportation for their Scouts. Please advise your parents of the starting and ending times. A Troop representative must be sure each Scout from their troop is picked before they, themselves, leave.



CLEAN UP:

The Scout is clean. Troop Leaders please coordinate with your troop to clean the premises and to keep the classrooms in the same condition as found. All garbage must be properly disposed into designated containers or carried out.



PREREQUISITES:

The Merit Badge Counselor will give credit for completed requirements ONLY. The Scout should complete all other requirements not covered in class, at his own pace and with his own troop counselors. Class work will be followed by individual Scout’s projects and his ability to fulfill all requirements.



ADVANCEMENT RECORDS (BLUE CARDS):

We will NOT be providing Blue Cards, instead, we will do the same thing that summer camps usually do, that is, a detailed list of which scouts attended and which requirements they completed will be provided to each troop (or to whoever requests a copy). If anyone has any questions about the Blue Cards, have them see their Scoutmaster. All summary information will be provided to each respective Scoutmaster. Note: “Blue Cards” are only a mechanism meant to assist in the merit badge process, they are not “required” to prove completion. The troop advancement person needs only have the relevant information to enter the completed, or partial completed, merit badge information into the troops advancement database and into the councils online advancement database. Occasionally, we get a scout leader or parent who insists they must have a “blue card”, in those cases we just do the best we can to accommodate them.



SIGN-UP INSTRUCTIONS

Some classes have pre-requisites which must be done if you wish to complete the badge during class. Some classes also have age and/or rank requirements. Unless indicated otherwise, all other requirements for the Merit Badge should be covered in class. For ALL classes, Scouts are strongly advised to READ and BRING the Merit Badge pamphlet.



All Scouts should bring the following to class: Any pre-requisite work and a good attitude.

COUNSELOR INFORMATION:

(Those troops which have an instructor teaching a merit badge in our event, receive a special PIN number to register a few days before open registration.)

Here are some important details: 



1) Dates: September 7th and September 14th 2019  (plan on attending both consecutive weekends)

2a) Time: 8am - 12pm

2b) Time: 12:30pm - 4:30pm

If you are teaching both the AM and PM sessions, we will provide a boxlunch for you (no charge).

3) Location: LDS Church, 3401 Los Rios Blvd, Plano, TX 75074

4) If something comes up and you are not able to make it, please find a substitute, and let us know.

5) Check-in at the registration desk (near Front lobby) and pick-up a “Packet” for each class you are teaching.

If you teach multiple classes, you will receive multiple packets.

6) Within each packet will be a roster and an abbreviated list of the requirements for the merit badge.

If you need a TV or such, be sure to coordinate with me Prior to the event!

7) It is Extremely important to complete the roster and the requirements checklist each week.

8) Turn in the packet each week at the registration desk before you leave.

9) Most classes are 2 hours in length, so if the bell rings, and your class is 2 hours, don’t let out.

10) Please dismiss class at 5 minutes before the hour, to give the scouts enough time to get a drink, go to the bathroom and make it to their next class

11) Blue cards: We will NOT be providing Blue Cards, instead, we will do the same thing that summer camps usually do, that is, a detailed list of which scouts attended and which requirements they completed will be provided to each troop (or to whoever requests a copy). If anyone has any questions about the Blue Cards, have them see their Scoutmaster. All summary information will be provided to each respective Scoutmaster. Note: “Blue Cards” are only a mechanism meant to assist in the merit badge process, they are not “required” to prove completion. The troop advancement person needs only have the relevant information to enter the completed, or partial completed, merit badge information into the troops advancement database and into the councils online advancement database. Occasionally, we get a scout leader or parent who insists they must have a “blue card”, in those cases we just do the best we can to accommodate them. 

12) If a scout asks for a blue card, let them know that a summary sheet will be provided their troop. If they are the only scout from their troop, direct them to the registration desk.

13) If a scout brings a blue card from their scout master, and if that scout completes all of the requirements, then sign the card and return it.

14) There will be several master lists of the classes and which scouts are to be where, available in the lobby near the registration desk

15) Each room will have a sign identifying the merit badge being taught

16) Each room will be setup with the number of chairs needed (if possible)

17) The last class in the room should put the chairs up before you leave.

18) Encourage the scouts to be respectful of the facilities.

19) Direct any problems to the registration desk.

20) Have fun!