New Real-Time Communication Tool for the Troop

This newsletter and our Troop Website will remain primary tools for communicating information to the Troop.  However, the Troop Committee acknowledges there is a need for more “real-time” information sharing.  This is especially important for last-minute changes due to weather or other circumstances.  The Troop Committee also understands the need for discussion on some topics.  Given these scenarios, the Troop Committee has discussed for a number of months utilizing a messaging app.  There is no perfect tool, or likely a tool that we can all agree is best.  The Troop has utilized “Group Me” for summer camp and high adventure trips the past couple of years.  It has met the needs for those trips, so we decided to use “Group Me” for our messaging tool.

The following link is our high-level Troop 640 group:

https://groupme.com/join_group/107313820/AF8T75Ul

It is a hidden group.  Entry requires answering a question and Admins to approve your request.  We apologize if it takes a day or two to approve your initial request to join.  We are placing security over speed to respond.  As we have events, we will start specific discussions.  You will notice the first discussion topic is the May Fishing Trip.  The Scoutmaster in Charge (SMIC) will use this for sharing information.

The Troop Committee is open to feedback as we use the tool.  We are open to discussing other options if “Group Me” doesn’t meet the needs of the Troop.  Again, we will continue use this newsletter and website as primary information sources, but we understand that weekly newsletters doesn’t always meet the timeliness requirements for communication.