Meeting with Commissioner Ott and the Cobb County Commissioners

Yesterday evening Commissioner Ott took time from his busy schedule to spend time with and educate about 15 of our young men of Troop 435 (and about a half dozen adult leaders). There was a lot of information and activity for the boys to take in, and they learned a lot about how our county government and local governments in general work. We were all impressed by Mr. Ott's status as an Eagle Scout and by the way the entire commission honors Eagle Scouts. Hopefully one day each of our young men will be honored by the Cobb County Board of Commissioners in the same manner.

Commissioner Ott made introductions to many of the county staff that, as Chairman Lee so rightly stated, "are what make Cobb County the best county in the state!".

We met with Commissioner Ott personally and he answered a barrage of our Scoutss questions personally, arranged to have the troop join in the pledge of allegiance before the commission, and made it possible for a few of our Scouts to address the Commission with their questions.

Then the Scouts got to see the commission at work, voting on important issues that make our county government work for us all.

What a great and memorable day for all of us…even the adults.

Yours in Scouting,

Lee B.
Troop 435 Troop Committee

Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge - Cobb County Commission Meeting - Meet with Bob Ott - Tomorrow June 26th 5:15PM

Good Evening Troop 435!

Tomorrow at 5:15 we are gathering at the Church to assemble for the fieldtrip to the Cobb County Board of Commissioners meeting.  We will meet at the Church at 5:15 and leave promptly at 5:30 for a 6:00 meeting with Commissioner Bob Ott,, the Cobb County Commission Vice Chairman and District 2 Commissioner, who is giving us 30 minutes of his time before the Commission meeting.

After the meeting with Bob Ott we will then go to the Commission meeting that starts immediately after and attend for the entire meeting or until a break if we have met our requirements and taken good notes. 

The commission meetings are held at the 100 Cherokee Street right off the Marietta Square.  The parking garage is attached to the Commission Building and is located off of Waddell St, two blocks north of Roswell Rd.  Parking in the garage is free.

This trip should be of interest to the adults as well and all are welcome to attend.  This is a huge opportunity to get the Scouts up close to their civic leaders, to see the process in action, and to get Merit Badge credit all in one trip.  Please don’t miss out.

Please bring the following:

1. Permission Slip (attached just in case...)
2. Scouts in Class B uniforms
3. Scouts with a pen and their citizenship in the Community Workbook (attached in case they haven't started yet)

Scouts:  Please take notes to address the following 2 merit badge requirements:

3. Do the following:

(a) Attend a city or town council or school board meeting, or a municipal, county, or state court session.

(b) Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed,

Issue:

  

Opinion 1:

   

Opinion 2:

  

Explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one.

4. Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community, then do the following:

(a) Find out which branch of local government is responsible for this issue.

(b) With your counselor’s and a parent’s approval, interview one person from the branch of government you identified in requirement 4a.

Ask what is being done about this issue and how young people can help.

(c) Share what you have learned with your counselor.

See you all at 5:15!!

Please feel free to contact me with questions.

Kind Regards,

Lee

Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge Requirement - June 26 Board of Commissioners Meeting - 7:00 PM

Good Morning Troop 435!

Most of the scouts in our troop require the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge.  One of the requirements needed by nearly every Scout at this point is to attend a city or town council or school board meeting, or a municipal, county, or state court session.  For many scouts, this is the only requirement they have left to complete.

We will be having a fieldtrip to the next Cobb County Board of Commissioners evening session in Tuesday, June 26th at 7:00 PM to complete this requirement.  Please take advantage of this opportunity if you can. We don't do this very often.

The scouts will be required to bring pen and paper, preferably their Citizenship in the Community Workbook (attached in case they haven't started yet)  and take notes to address the following requirement:

 

3. Do the following:

(a) Attend a city or town council or school board meeting, or a municipal, county, or state court session.

(b) Choose one of the issues discussed at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed,

Issue:

  

Opinion 1:

   

Opinion 2:

  

Explain to your counselor why you agree with one opinion more than you do another one.

This trip should be of interest to the adults as well.  We will need approximately one adult for every 3 or 4 boys, so we are encouraging adult attendance. 

Please respond if your son and/or you are interested in attending so we can properly prepare.

More information will be provided as we get a feel for attendance numbers.  We are considering arranging a meeting with one of the Commissioners if there is enough interest and the Commisioner is available.  If such a meeting can be arranged, we will be completing another requirement (Item 4) of the Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge.

Please feel free to contact me with questions.

Kind Regards,

Lee