Dear Scouts and Parents/Guardians,
Welcome to Troop 168's 41st year of service as the Governor's Honor Guard on Mackinac Island! Our first Troop meeting will be held on January 9th at the Port Huron American Legion Hall from 12:30pm - 4:00pm. The hall is located at 6th and Wall Streets in Port Huron.
The selection process for Scouts wishing to be a member of Mackinac Island Honor Troop 168 is consistent with the process used in prior years. Scouts who were members in a prior year are selected first and have the right-of-first refusal should they wish to defer to a future year. Some Scouts who were members in a prior year may be required to attend an interview process depending on the level of their performance in the previous year. If additional Scouts are needed to fill the Troop, First Class Scouts and those Scouts with higher ranks will have priority followed by lower ranking Scouts in order of decreasing rank. All potential new Scouts will be required to attend an interview process with the Troop's SPL and two adult leaders at the January meeting. Each new Scout is required to bring their Boy Scout Handbook to the interview process. Please understand, Troop 168 is an Elite BSA Honor Troop whose purpose is to perform honor guard duty, guide duty, State of Michigan service projects, and community service work on Mackinac Island under the rules and regulations established by the State of Michigan. Only the most qualified Scouts demonstrating age maturity, honorable Scout qualities, and leadership skills are invited to attend.
The dates for this year's duty week are August 6th thru August 13th, 2022 Due to economic inflation, the total cost to attend is $180.00, excluding the cost for uniforms, gear, spending money, etc. We are hoping this cost increase compared to prior years will be temporary for this year only. You must bring your completed application to the first meeting in January. The application must be entirely completed and signed by your parent/guardian AND your home Troop Scoutmaster including your initial deposit of sixty dollars ($60). The deposit is refundable for new Scouts who do not pass the interview process.
In preparation for this year's week of service, there will be at least one Troop meeting per month through June. The Troop's pancake breakfast and bake sale fund raiser will be held in April. Attendance at all meetings and the April fundraiser is mandatory. As a Troop, we must organize ourselves, get to know each other, learn conduct expectations and procedures, learn to work together, learn duty stations, and learn to march and raise/lower flags uniformly and distinctly as a Troop before we arrive on the Island.
Meeting Dates Payment Schedule
Jan 9, 12:30 - 4:00pm, PH American Legion $60 payment due
Feb 6, 12:30 - 4:00pm, PH American Legion $60 payment due
Mar 20, 12:30pm - 4:00pm, PH American Legion $60 payment due
Apr 24, 6am-10am (Shift 1), 10am-2pm (Shift 2), Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale at the PH American Legion
May 15, 12:30 - 4:00pm PH American Legion, Uniform for Shake Down Inspection
Jun TBD, 12:30 - 4:00pm, PH American Legion
The Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale is the Troop's only fund-raising activity. Each Scout is required to sell 10 Pancake Breakfast tickets. All Scouts are required to participate on the day of the breakfast and must contribute at least one baked good item to the Bake Sale.
We look forward to an exciting week of service on Mackinac Island and look forward to having you attend!
Yours in Scouting,
Kirk Seibert, Scoutmaster, MIHT 168
583 Rochelle | East China, MI 48054 | (810)765-2892 | email: mackinac168@googlegroups.com