Vigil Honor Nominations

The Tantamous Lodge is now accepting nominations for the Vigil Honor.

Alertness to the needs of others is the mark of the Vigil Honor. It calls for an individual with an unusual awareness of the possibilities within each situation.

The Vigil Honor is the highest honor that the Order of the Arrow can bestow upon its members for service to lodge, council, and Scouting. Membership cannot be won by a person’s conscious endeavors.

The Vigil Honor is a high mark of distinction and recognition reserved for those Arrowmen who, by reason of exceptional service, personal effort, and unselfish interest, have made distinguished contributions beyond the immediate responsibilities of their position of office to one or more of the following:

Lodge
Order of the Arrow
Scouting community
Scout Camp

Under no circumstances should tenure in Scouting or the Order of the Arrow be considered as reason enough for a Vigil Honor recommendation.

Any member of the Order of the Arrow registered in Scouting and in good standing in a regularly chartered lodge is eligible for recommendation to the National Order of the Arrow Committee for elevation to the Vigil Honor provided that, at the time of the recommendation, the individual has been a Brotherhood member for a minimum of two years. A lodge may nominate a maximum of two percent of their registered Arrowmen once a year, through the Vigil Honor petition, found in the annual re-charter packet. At least 50 percent of all nominated must be under 21 at the time of nomination.

Nomination Form

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus

Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) Virus Information

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) announced on 8/19/19 that EEE virus has been detected in mosquitos collected from areas within the Mayflower Council boundaries. As a consequence of this detection the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has raised the EEE risk level for many of these areas.

EEE is a rare but serious illness spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. While EEE can infect people of all ages, people under 15 years of age or over 50 years of age are at greatest risk for serious illness.

By taking a few, common-sense precautions, people can help to protect themselves and their loved ones:

Avoid Mosquito Bites

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours. The hours from dusk to dawn are peak biting times for many mosquitoes. Consider rescheduling outdoor activities that occur during evening or early morning. If you are outdoors at any time and notice mosquitoes around you, take steps to avoid being bitten by moving indoors, covering up and/or wearing repellant. Avoid outside areas with obvious mosquito activity
Clothing Can Help to reduce mosquito bites. Although it may be difficult to do when it’s hot, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks when outdoors will help keep mosquitoes away from your skin. Sleep with mosquito netting.
Apply Insect Repellent when you go outdoors. Use a repellent with DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide), permethrin, picaridin (KBR 3023), IR3535 or oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-methane 3, 8-diol (PMD)] according to the instructions on the product label. Permethrin products are intended for use on items such as clothing, shoes, bed nets and camping gear and should not be applied to skin. Wear mosquito repellent when outdoors, especially between dawn and dusk.

The Mayflower Council will continue to work with the Boards of Health, the MDPH and other agencies.

For the most up to date information about EEE and reports of current and historical EEE virus activity in Massachusetts visit the MDPH website at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito

September Training Newsletter

Click on image to download

Popcorn Pickup Locations

We have two distribution sites.

If you are in the Post Road District, Headwaters District or Metacomet District, you will pick up at:

Cumberland Farms
165 Flanders Road, Westborough

If you are in the Sachem District or Cranberry Harbors District, you will pick up at:

Sysco Boston
99 Spring Street, Plympton

Pickup Dates and Times: Please ensure someone from your unit picks up the popcorn during these times.

Show N Sell: Saturday, September 11th 8:00 – 9:30am

Take Orders: Saturday, November 20th – 8:00 am – 9:30 am

Before you leave you must sign your order indicating you have received all product. We will not be held responsible for missing items once you have signed your order.

Want Your Popcorn Early?

That is right! You can have your popcorn in hand on Wednesday, September 8th (Westborough) or Friday, September 10th (Plympton). Your unit can start selling earlier than everyone else. We need lots of volunteers (must be 18+) to help sort the popcorn to get ready for Saturday morning pickups. Commitment is from 1:00 – 4:00 pm on one of those days.

We could also use a few hands on Saturday morning to help load cars. Please note, if you are helping at either warehouse, you will need to wear close toed shoes.

Last Chance Kickoff Meeting

You asked and we listened! We will hold one additional Trail’s End popcorn kickoff meeting. The meeting will be on Monday, August 19, 6:30 – 7:30pm via video conference. You must sign up to receive your instructions to log into this video conference. A bonus incentive will be given to all that attend.

Would You Like To Receive Your Popcorn Early?

That is right! You can have your popcorn in hand on Wednesday, September 4th (Westborough) or Friday, September 6th (Plympton). Your unit can start selling earlier than everyone else. We need lots of volunteers (must be 18+) to help sort the popcorn to get ready for Saturday morning pickups. Commitment is from 1:00 – 4:00 pm on one of those days. We could also use a few hands on Saturday morning to help load cars. Please note, if you are helping at either warehouse, you will need to wear close toed shoes.

Fund Your Scouting Adventures?

One of the best fundraisers for a scout is selling Trail’s End Popcorn. It teaches your Scout important life skills, it can fund their scouting adventures, earn college scholarship money, and earn great prizes for both scouts and units.

Need to learn more, contact your District Popcorn Kernel.

Sign Your Unit Up Here

Time To Place Your Order

Start planning what you are ordering for your biggest selling season! Orders for your Show N Sell are due no later than midnight on: Friday, August 23rd!

If you need to see what you ordered last year, just log on to your trails-end.com account and change the date to view the 2018 selling campaign.

When placing your order please note the following quantities in each case:
Chocolate Lovers and Cheese Lovers = 1 per case
Kettle Corn and Unbelievable Butter = 6 per case
White Cheddar = 8 per case (this is a change from last year)
Chocolatey Caramel Crunch, Salted Caramel, Premium Caramel, Classic Caramel, and Popping Corn = 12 per case

Planning Your Next Den Meeting Just Got Easier

If you’re a den leader, you’re going to love the latest update to Scoutbook! The Boy Scouts of America’s online tool for tracking Scouting advancement just rolled out a new update that’s going to make it easier than ever for den leaders to prepare for and lead meetings, track advancement and attendance, and more.

Suggested Eagle Scout News Release

From: BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mayflower Council
2 Mount Royal Avenue, Suite 100
Marlborough, MA 01752

Contact: (Full name, title)
(Office and home phone numbers)

EAGLE SCOUT AWARD TO BE PRESENTED

(Full name, age), of (address), has earned the highest advancement award offered by the Boy Scouts of America, the Eagle Scout Award. This achievement is reached by only four percent of all Scouts BSA.

(Last name) will be recognized in ceremonies on (day, date, and time) at the (location).

A member of (chartered organization, Troop #), (last name) is an exceptional scout, having served as (leadership position) and receiving (Scouting honors), according to Scoutmaster (full name).

Each candidate must earn 21 merit badges and successfully plan, design, and lead a service project benefiting the community, a religious institution, or a school in order to earn their Eagle; (last name) chose to (describe project).

(Last name) joins other outstanding American citizens who have become Eagle Scouts, among them former President Gerald R. Ford, Jr., cinematographer Steven Spielberg, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and over 40 U.S. astronauts.

(Last name) is a member of (religious institution) and is active in (school activities, i.e.: debate team, drama club, band, sports) at (name) High School, where (he/her) is a member of the class of (year).

(He/She) is the (son/daughter) of (parents) of (city).

(date)
(photo attached)