Hello everyone, This email is about the Chicks District Merit Badge College at The University of Mississippi. Scouts will have the opportunity to earn up to two possibly three merit badges. The date is Saturday February 21st from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm and the cost is 25 dollars if you have your Scouts Selections in by January 19th, 2026. After that the cost goes up by 5$ for two weeks and then by 10$ up until Feb 13th. After the 13th registration will close. Class A uniform is the required uniform. Do not sign up on your own, send us your scouts selections and we will sign up as a unit. It is important to note that not all merit badges will be completed at the college. It would behoove your scout to check if the Merit Badge has requirements that will not be completed there and to have them do those requirements then bring them to the MB college so they can be checked off by the instructors.
The Schedule can be found in the attached document on page 3. Thanks Benjamin Stepp

Just a quick reminder Our Winter Court of Honor is tomorrow. Scouts should be in full Class A. Tan Shirt, troop neckerchief the blue one, Sash if they have Mbs sewn on, and Green Pants. Its going to be freezing tomorrow, no shorts. Scouts need to be at the church at 6 pm and the ceremony starts at 6:30 see you there. Ben Stepp Scoutmaster

No meeting tomorrow except for Aidan, coalson, and Liam. You three need to be in full class A for your board of reviews. Scouts can turn MB work into me tomorrow between 6:30 and 7Pm at the church. Ben

Hello everyone, The court of Honor is scheduled for the 15th of December. The uniform is Class A, to include blue troop 45 neckerchief, sash if you have one, tan shirt, green pants and a belt. This COH will also include an eagle presentation, So I need to know if anyone is going to miss the COH, so I can accurately give scouts positions in the COH.
Monday, December 8th will be the last day a scout can turn in any incomplete work for them to be recognized at this COH. Only MBs that scouts have met with a MB counselor before starting the Merit Badge, to include MBs started at troop meetings, summer camp or MB colleges will be accepted. Those who have not first spoken to a MB counselor before they started the MB will have to meet with the Counselor and discuss what is expected.

Yours in Scouting,
Benjamin Stepp
Scoutmaster

———- Forwarded message ——— From: J C <jcopelin383@gmail.com> Date: Wed, Dec 3, 2025 at 20:40 Subject: Tishomingo camput this weekend To: Troop 45 Scoutmaster <t45scoutmaster@gmail.com>
Parents,
For those signed up for this weekend, we will be camping at Tishomingo State Park. Please arrive at the church at 5:30 pm this Friday. This is going to be a cold and possibly wet, but very fun weekend. Please make sure your scout is packed accordingly for the weather. Please take a look at the weather if you haven’t already done so.
We plan on returning to the church around 1:00 pm Sunday. Scouts can be dismissed once gear has been unloaded and stored.
Looking forward to a great weekend.

From Mr Jason
We are going to be lined up at the four-way stop sign on S. 5th St. and University Avenue. The four-way stop sign where the University Museum and the Baptist student Union are. We are early in the parade. The best place for drop off is probably the Four-way Stop sign.

Hello all, Below is the update for parade tomorrow. We will have two leaders there starting at 5, however, it’s going to be cold and we will not be wearing coats so the less time they are standing out there the better. As long as the scouts are with the troop by 6 they will be good to go. Please have them dress in layers under their uniform. Hunting base layers are great. If you have Marino wool base layers that is the best around. The boys will need hats and gloves as well. Remember the uniform is class a, troop 45 blue neckerchiefs, sash if they have them, belt and green pants. Thank you
[image: Screenshot Chrsitmas Parade Save the Date-postponed.jpg] *Jason Bouldin Studio* 822 Fillmore Avenue <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> Oxford, Mississippi. 38655 <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> jbouldin@bellsouth.net 662.236.7902
On Nov 30, 2025, at 2:05 PM, Ben Pharr <benpharr@gmail.com> wrote:
Leaders,
Please see Jason’s email below about the postponement of the Christmas Parade.
Thanks, Ben
———- Forwarded message ——— From: Jason Bouldin <jbouldin@bellsouth.net> Date: Sun, Nov 30, 2025 at 1:36 PM Subject: Fwd: Oxford Christmas Parade December 1, 2025 To: Pharr, Benjamin <benpharr@gmail.com>
Unit Leaders,
Would you please update your Units about the change of date for the Christmas Parade? Would you please bring your Unit flag? And would you encourage the Scouts to dress as warmly as possible underneath so we can show off our Class A uniforms? Many thanks for your help. See you on the balcktop!
—jhb
—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Parents,
Due to forecasted rain, the Christmas Parade has been postponed to Tuesday, December 2. The drop-off time and place, parade route, and pick-up place will stay the same, just the day has been changed. Thank you for your understanding. Please plan to join us…it will be fun!
—jhb
*Jason Bouldin Studio* 822 Fillmore Avenue <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> Oxford, Mississippi. 38655 <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> jbouldin@bellsouth.net 662.236.7902
Begin forwarded message:
*From: *Jason Bouldin <jbouldin@bellsouth.net> *Subject: **Re: Oxford Christmas Parade December 1, 2025* *Date: *November 24, 2025 at 10:38:56 AM CST *To: *Ben Pharr <bnp@movl.net>
Thanks, Ben, for sending that message out.
Of course, reading it this morning I see at least one typo….sigh. I should always let Alicia proofread. Sorry for hounding you about forwarding the info.
Hope you have a great Tbird week.
—jhb
*Jason Bouldin Studio* 822 Fillmore Avenue <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> Oxford, Mississippi. 38655 <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> jbouldin@bellsouth.net 662.236.7902
On Nov 23, 2025, at 7:46 PM, Ben Pharr <bnp@movl.net> wrote:
Scouts BSA leaders,
Please see the message from Jason Bouldin below about marching in the Oxford Christmas Parade. Please let your scouts know about this. We need to remind the community that Scouting is alive and well in Oxford! Thanks to Jason for organizing this. His contact information is below if you have any questions.
Thanks, Ben
———- Forwarded message ——— From: Jason Bouldin <jbouldin@bellsouth.net> Date: Fri, Nov 21, 2025 at 12:18 PM Subject: Re: Oxford Christmas Parade December 1, 2025 To: Pharr, Benjamin <benpharr@gmail.com>
Dear Most Awesome Scout Leaders:
Please see the attached, updated info (jpeg and Word doc) regarding the Christmas Parade and please note…
– There has been a change in Pick-up location from the original message: we are now having Pick-up at the Ulysses “Coach” Howell Activity Center (369 Price Street). – Thanks to Ben Stepp and Ed Meek, we have secured the use of the Hotty Toddy Parking lot (307 Jackson Ave W <www.google.com/maps/search/lot+(307+Jackson+Ave+W?entry=gmail&source=g>) for those Adult Scout Leaders (only) who are walking in the parade. The Ford Center parking lot will be a zoo…plus it’s HT Parking is tad bit closer to where we’ll exit the parade. – Please use the jpeg file to send out to parents. It should have all the info that they need to know.
Thank to you all for supporting this effort to let Oxford know that Scouting is here. Let’s make a good Scouty showing!
Y’all can reach me at 662-816-8166, if there are questions.
Cheers for a great weekend.
—jhb
*Jason Bouldin Studio* 822 Fillmore Avenue <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> Oxford, Mississippi. 38655 <www.google.com/maps/search/822+Fillmore+Avenue+Oxford,+Mississippi.+38655?entry=gmail&source=g> jbouldin@bellsouth.net 662.236.7902

Hello everyone, The meeting tonight will be at our church from 6:30-8. Class A uniform. Scouts need to bring their handbooks even if they don’t have anything to turn in. Thanks Benjamin Stepp Scoutmaster

The parents meeting will be in the sanctuary at the church. It will start promptly at six.
If you can not make it the zoom is below. On the zoom once we start the meeting we will not be monitoring to allow people in or for questions. We ask everyone be muted if you choose to the zoom option. We do ask your in person
Fair Park Counseling is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Thanks Benjamin Stepp
Topic: Troop 45 Parents Meeting Time: Nov 30, 2025 06:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada) Join Zoom Meeting us02web.zoom.us/j/84053619542?pwd=vaIJc5f69u2m1sG6ENq2GlXWc7GPAk.1
Meeting ID: 840 5361 9542 Passcode: 516119

This came from the Christmas parade committee. Please be aware.
———- Forwarded message ——— From: Benjamin Stepp <benjamin.d.stepp@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 17:54 Subject: Fwd: Weather Update & Soft Recommendation for Parade Day To: Troop 45 Scoutmaster <t45scoutmaster@gmail.com>

———- Forwarded message ——— From: Cub Scout Pack 3978 <cspack3978@gmail.com> Date: Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 17:15 Subject: Fwd: Weather Update & Soft Recommendation for Parade Day To: benjamin.d.stepp@gmail.com <benjamin.d.stepp@gmail.com>

———- Forwarded message ——— From: Marlee Carpenter <mcarpenter@strongertogetheroxford.com> Date: Sat, Nov 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM Subject: Weather Update & Soft Recommendation for Parade Day To:
Hi everyone!
I know many of you are feeling anxious and hopeful as we watch Monday’s weather. While we will *not* make an official call until tomorrow with the most accurate forecast, I wanted to give you a helpful heads-up as you continue planning.
Because I know how much time, effort, and coordination you’ve all put into your entries (and that many of you will need to communicate with parents, teams, and riders) my *soft recommendation* is to go ahead and prepare a back-up plan for *Tuesday**.*
If we move to the rain date, *all times will remain the same*:
– *Line-up:* 3:30–5:30 PM – *Parade Start:* 6:30 PM
Of course, we are all still crossing our fingers for a perfect parade day on Monday! I’ll send the *official decision tomorrow**.*
Thank you all for your flexibility, patience, and incredible hard work!

<strongertogetheroxford.galaxydigital.com/>