COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Friendswood Library
January 18, 2006


Welcome and Introduction:  Those present:  Randy, Denise, Henry, Kathleen, Karen, Dorothea, Carla, Mark, Jim, and Bill.  Randy asked Carla to act as Chairperson in John's absence.  Carla called the meeting to order at 7:09pm.
Previous Committee Minutes:  No changes noted to the minutes.  Denise motioned that the minutes be approved as written, Mark seconded.  Committee approved minutes as written.
Treasury Report:  Denise stated she received a refund from Philmont. She gave it to Mr. Lunquist.  The current Troop balance is $3218.22; the camp account balance is $2542.68.  Denise said she talked with Council today and the Troop's balance is $113.45 but Council still owes the Troop $80 for Fall Camp. 
She also talked to Council about the Troop going to Schlitterbahn.  Council told her they have had several requests from other Troops.  They stated the Troop needed a tour permit to go.  Kathleen showed the Committee a copy of the Troop insurance policy and gave a copy to Henry.
Denise checked with Council on the breakdown of the annual charter fee:  $12 for Boy's Life subscription, $10 for registration, and $1 for insurance fee = $23.  Randy asked if this was the adult cost also.  Denise said she did not know but would call Council to find that out.  Carla opened discussion for Recharter.  Kathleen noted that the Scout census has decreased.  Henry counted 44 active and semi-active Scouts with 30+ that you could actually count on.  Last year's charter fee was $50.  Henry asked if it was enough to cover the cost of patches, books, etc.  Committee stated it was not.  Randy pointed out that with fewer Scouts the cost also goes down.  Discussion ensued concerning budget, Scout participation, and expenses.  Kathleen made a motion to maintain the $50 charter fee, Mark seconded.  Committee approved maintaining the Recharter fee at $50.
Kathleen proposed that the Committee appoint an alternate person to handle Recharter information.  She thinks the present person has done the job well but it is hard to get information from him.  Henry feels he is not as visible or available.  Kathleen gave an example:  One of the Scouts going on this weekend activity has completed all his paperwork to join the Troop but the records show he is still not registered with Council.  She is concerned about the liability of the Troop.  Carla suggested someone check with Council to see if the Scout is registered.  Denise stated she would check with Council.  Karen noted that whoever replaced John Y. would need the archive files as well as the TroopMaster master file.  She commented that Scouts do not go into the archive files until removed from TroopMaster roster.  Discussion ensued about Recharter lists, what Scouts are rechartered, and payment.  Dorothea felt the Troop should not pay for recharters; Scouts need to pay their own Recharter.  It was noted that Recharter is done on-line this year.  Carla stated someone needed to talk to John Y. and see if he wants to continue to do the Recharter.  Randy stated he would call John Y.  Denise suggested collecting the money now so it wouldn't be a rush to do in March.  Committee decided on a due date of February 13, 2006 for Recharter dues.  Only those that pay will be placed on the Recharter list to Council. 
Eagle Projects:  C. Valdez presented his proposed Eagle project.  He passed out pictures of the project site, explained his project- clear trees, extend present borders to connect together (area of approximately 140 feet).  The project will benefit the Knights of Columbus.  He is waiting on the K of C to obtain the materials before setting a date for his project.  Committee stated they would approve the project once he developed a materials list, safety list, and number of Scouts/adults needed for the project. 
Dorothea mentioned that I. Steele wanted to be the Life to Eagle Coordinator.  Mark didn't know if that was an official leadership position or whether the position had to held by an adult.  Dorothea stated the Coordinator didn't sign any forms- that was the responsibility of the Committee Chair and Scoutmaster.  I. Steele wanted to offer guidance to those Scouts going for their Eagle so that they would know what to expect on their project approval, application, and Board of Review.
Roundtable:  Carla presented information from December's Roundtable since she was unable to attend the January Roundtable.  She brought Wood Badge pamphlets.  Kathleen stated John B. wanted to attend.  Carla had a flyer for the Silver Beaver Banquet at Moody Gardens.  She also had flyers on camp fees and Council camp dates- these were given to Kathleen.  The District Banquet will be held on January 27, 2006 at the LDS Church.  Carla announced that if she accepted the position as Committee Chair, someone else would need to attend the Roundtable.
Advancements:  Karen asked what date the PLC had set for the Court of Honor.  Henry stated February 6, 2006.  He said four Scouts had volunteered to organize the ceremony.  Bill felt that Scoutmaster's Conferences and Boards of Review needed set up so that Scouts could complete their advancement before the COH.  Mark suggested the Scouts bring their books to the campout this weekend to be signed off.
Discussion concerning merit badges and counselors occurred.  The current list of counselors is not up to date.  Karen stated the merit badge counselor sign up is separate from Recharter.  Denise suggested having counselors sign up at the same time as Recharter.  Kathleen stated that the Scouts don't seem to know the process of obtaining merit badges.  She explained one Scout came up to her at the Christmas party and asked her to sign off on a merit badge he had completed.  She, as a counselor, did not know he was working on the merit badge.  She told him she would not sign it off tonight but to call her to schedule a time for them both to meet to discuss what he had done for the merit badge.  Henry suggested gathering the parents in the spare room provided by the Church to explain to them the process so they could ensure that their Scout followed proper procedure.  Henry said he would organize this for the parents.  Karen noted that with the BSA changes to merit badge requirements it is getting harder to track partial merit badges in the database.
Dorothea presented sample plaques to the Committee that listed the duties of a Scout leadership position with the patch for that position on the plaque.  She felt that if the Scouts elected into these positions had something that listed their duties that they would possibly fulfill these duties.  She stated the Scout would be responsible for the plaque for his position, would write his name on the back, and would pass the plaque onto the next Scout elected into that position.  She thought that a ceremony after the elections to present the plaques might also make the leadership position more meaningful to the Scout.  Committee approved the plaques and agreed to cover the cost of making the plaques.
Troop Activities/Camping:  Henry noted a PLC was held on Monday.  They worked on completing the Troop schedule thru May.
February- Troop meetings:  1st week- Court of Honor; 2nd week- first aid obstacle course; 3rd week- holiday; 4th week- donut cook off.  Campout for Scout Sunday on the 11th & 12th.  Possibly participate in the 9:30am Mass at Mary Queen.  Dorothea asked Randy to let Father Skip know that two Scouts had earned their AAD and would Father Skip present them at the Mass.  Randy said he would let Father Skip know.  Randy reminded Henry that if the Scouts were camping on Church grounds he would need to ask Father Skip for permission.
March- Goliad Reenactment campout on the 24th- 26th.Troop meetings will be based on this event.
April- Copano Bay fishing weekend.  Kathleen asked if Henry wanted her to book the state park that was close to the site.  Henry said to book the park for Friday and Saturday.
May- New Braunsfels State Park campout with day trip to Schlitterbahn on the 5th - 7th.  Kathleen stated the price for a prepaid group ticket is $25.60/ person 12yrs and up.  Mark asked if the Troop was holding a COH during this trip, Henry wasn't sure.
Summer Camp- Kathleen trying to finalize bus fee.  She noted that several adults told her they would drive their own vehicles to Buffalo Trails.  Discussion ensued as to size of bus needed, number of people actually traveling on the bus, and whether renting two vans might be feasible.  Randy suggested finding out at the Troop meeting on Monday how many people were going and how they were planning on traveling before making any further decisions.
Cavalla overnight trip on January 20, 2006.  Mark stated all those going were to meet at the Church at 5pm.  Bring money for pizza and breakfast.
Service Projects:  Pine needle clean up at the Knights of Columbus on February 11, 2006.  Fish fry at Mary Queen Church on March 10.
Fundraising:  Denise presented information on brisket sales.  The briskets would weigh 9- 10 lbs precooked.  The Knights of Columbus would order the meat, cook it, and supply the spice rub and wrapping.  The Scouts would be responsible for presales, applying the rub, and helping switch the cooked and uncooked batches off the cookers.  Cost breakdown per brisket:  brisket- $20; $5 to K of C; $10 profit for Troop= $35/brisket selling price.  Presales will be cash up front.  If more than 150 briskets sold, will have to divide delivery days. It takes 16-18 hours to cook a batch of briskets.  K of C has a cooler on Almeda-Genoa to store the meat. Committee selected April 28th as a sales date.  Randy made a motion to do the brisket sales with the date of April 28th as the sale date, Bill seconded.  Committee approved motion.  It was suggested that presales of the briskets start in February.
First Aid kits- Bill presented Denise with $1480 from the sales of first aid kits.  He noted that each Scout earned $6/hour.
Flag Subscriptions- Mark noted that flag subscription sales would occur on February 18th and February 25th.
Adjournment:  Committee changed the next meeting from February 8th to February 15th, meeting at the UNIPLEX building instead of the library.  Denise motioned for adjournment, Mark seconded.  The meeting was adjourned at 8:52pm.