|
|
|
Boy Scouts in Irondequoit's Troop 127 have been spending a big portion of their holiday season at the corner of St. Paul Boulevard and Thomas Avenue, selling Christmas trees, for at least 50 years.
Current Scoutmaster Peter Skrypka was one of them — around 30 years ago — and has seen his former Scoutmaster, businessman Dan Buerkle of Irondequoit, buying his tree at the same lot.
"Old scoutmasters don't buy their trees at Home Depot; they go to the Scouts," he said with a smile.
For Boy Scout Troop 127 in Irondequoit, Thanksgiving week also marks the beginning of their annual Christmas Tree Fundraising Sale. The 16 Scouts in the troop showed up bright and early this past Saturday morning to unload the 450 Douglas fir and Fraser fir trees they have to sell this year, then opened for business. As of last night, Wednesday, Nov. 30, they had already sold more than 50 trees so far this year.
"We sold out in 15 or 16 days — about 10 days early — last year," said architect Bob Monigle, committee chairman for Troop 127, "so we ordered 25 more trees this year."
In the 1970s, Monigle said, he has been told that the troop would receive one truckload of trees a week during the selling season, and sold literally thousands of trees.
The trees come from Brown's Tree Farm in Pennsylvania, and the boys in the troop had the chance to stop there last May, Skrypka said, to present a plaque of appreciation to the owner. They were on the way to a Memorial Day weekend camping trip in Gettysburg.
After all, all of the troop's proceeds from the tree sales are used to pay for trips and subsidize summer camp. Members of the troop don't pay dues. About two-thirds of the cost of camp is paid for by funds from the tree sale.
Troop 127 meets at West Irondequoit's Seneca School, and has been active for almost 80 years. It has been meeting at the school for over half that time.
Troop 127 conducts the tree sale right in the rear lot of Seneca School. This years sale started at 11 a.m. last Saturday, Nov. 26.
"It is not unheard of to have customers literally pick their tree right off the truck," as it is being unloaded, Monigle said.
Since the troop has been selling trees for so long at the same location, they have developed a large number of repeat customers. Every year, customers return to the lot, stating how they have been buying their tree from Troop 127 for 10, 15, 20 years or more.
Boy Scouts in Irondequoit's Troop 127 have been spending a big portion of their holiday season at the corner of St. Paul Boulevard and Thomas Avenue, selling Christmas trees, for at least 50 years.
Current Scoutmaster Peter Skrypka was one of them — around 30 years ago — and has seen his former Scoutmaster, businessman Dan Buerkle of Irondequoit, buying his tree at the same lot.
"Old scoutmasters don't buy their trees at Home Depot; they go to the Scouts," he said with a smile.
For Boy Scout Troop 127 in Irondequoit, Thanksgiving week also marks the beginning of their annual Christmas Tree Fundraising Sale. The 16 Scouts in the troop showed up bright and early this past Saturday morning to unload the 450 Douglas fir and Fraser fir trees they have to sell this year, then opened for business. As of last night, Wednesday, Nov. 30, they had already sold more than 50 trees so far this year.
"We sold out in 15 or 16 days — about 10 days early — last year," said architect Bob Monigle, committee chairman for Troop 127, "so we ordered 25 more trees this year."
In the 1970s, Monigle said, he has been told that the troop would receive one truckload of trees a week during the selling season, and sold literally thousands of trees.
The trees come from Brown's Tree Farm in Pennsylvania, and the boys in the troop had the chance to stop there last May, Skrypka said, to present a plaque of appreciation to the owner. They were on the way to a Memorial Day weekend camping trip in Gettysburg.
After all, all of the troop's proceeds from the tree sales are used to pay for trips and subsidize summer camp. Members of the troop don't pay dues. About two-thirds of the cost of camp is paid for by funds from the tree sale.
Troop 127 meets at West Irondequoit's Seneca School, and has been active for almost 80 years. It has been meeting at the school for over half that time.
Troop 127 conducts the tree sale right in the rear lot of Seneca School. This years sale started at 11 a.m. last Saturday, Nov. 26.
"It is not unheard of to have customers literally pick their tree right off the truck," as it is being unloaded, Monigle said.
Since the troop has been selling trees for so long at the same location, they have developed a large number of repeat customers. Every year, customers return to the lot, stating how they have been buying their tree from Troop 127 for 10, 15, 20 years or more.
Some former Scouts who still live in town still buy their trees from the troop and tell stories of how they sold trees.
The tree sale is Troop 127's only fund-raiser each year.
"We feel fortunate to have this (highly visible, well-traveled) location and such a loyal customer base," Skrypka said.
In keeping with Boy Scouting's "leave no trace" ethic, Troop 127 is also offering a new service to its weekend customers this year.
For customers buying their trees during Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday sales shifts, they will have the option to have their tree delivered to their homes for a nominal fee.
For trees that are delivered, the Boy Scouts will also return on Jan. 7, 2012 and pick up the discarded tree for recycling at Helmer Nature Center.
"We're green," said senior patrol leader Patrick Suter, who has been selling trees for about five years now. "We're just trying to make it easier for people."
The Scouts and leaders expect this weekend and next will be their busiest this year.
Some customers go right to one tree and take it home, while others are at the lot for an hour, looking over all of their options, Patrick said.
"I had a customer last year year who looked at 10 trees before selecting one," Scout Jake Fisher said.
"And, it's funny when the kids always say, 'I want that one' and it's a huge, 14-foot tree, and their parents have to tell them their ceilings are only eight feet high!," Patrick added.
Currently Troop 127 has 16 Scouts ages 11 to 17. New Scouts are always welcome, Monigle said.
But, everyone does work the tree lot.
"This is what keeps the troop running; if you want it, you work it," Monigle said.
