COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
Friendswood Library
August 23, 2006

Welcome and Introduction:  Carla called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.  Those present:  Carla, Karen, Randy, SPL, Henry, Mark M., Gregg, John, Mark T., Kathleen, Dorothea, Denise, Bill and his son, Ron and his son.
Minutes:  No changes noted to the previous minutes.  Denise motioned the minutes be approved as posted, Gregg seconded the motion.  Committee approved the minutes as posted.
Treasury Report:  Denise noted not much activity of Troop account since last meeting.  Total amount in account is $7667.73 with Venture at $1.20 and camp accounts at $1824.11 leaving a total of $5842.42 in the actual Troop account.  She stated the Troop has approximately $76 in the Council account.
Eagle Project:  Two Scouts presented projects to Committee:  1) Chess Board- W. Kibikas plans to paint a chessboard onto a cement pad of Bales Intermediate School.  He will also purchase thru donations chess pieces and carts to transport chess pieces.  Proposed project date is September 9, 2006 with the week before utilized for prepping the cement pad. Project approved by Committee provided Scout instructions of tasks are included in workbook.  2) Operation Mail Call- C. Harris plans to organize letters and CARE packages sent to 35 Marines by having families adopt a Marine.  The project will last 4 months with a CARE package sent once a month and a letter sent once a week.  The project was not approved at this time.  Committee requested C. Harris to develop a list of instructions for the adoptive families, list of items that could be sent in a CARE package, cost of mailing CARE packages and letters, and plans for replacement families.
SPL Report:  SPL noted a Court of Honor was held at the last Troop meeting.  He thought it went well except not all the rank cards were signed.  A PLC was held a couple of weeks ago with the Troop activities planned up to January.  PLC also discussed Troop dress code.  They established these basic requirements for all Scouts in the Troop:  Class A for first meeting of the month will be Scout tan button shirt, solid colored pants/shorts with belt loops, Scout belt, socks and closed toe shoes.  Scouts not complying with the minimal standards will not receive credit for attendance of the meeting.  The criteria will be changed in the red book for the Scouts.  Kathleen requested clarification of Class B uniform.  Questions arose as to who would enforce the dress code standard.  SPL stated the scribe would bring the sign-in sheet to SPL who would then mark which Scouts were not in uniform.  The Scout would not be singled out in front of the Troop, but would be pulled aside later in the meeting to be told of the uniform discrepancy. It was asked how the Scouts know of the Troop dress policy.  SPL stated it was the responsibility of the Patrol leaders to tell their Patrols.  If the entire Troop attired in proper uniform, they would be rewarded with an outing for ice cream after the meeting paid for out of the Troop account.  Discussion arose concerning sign-in sheets.  Mark stated the scribe has been doing a good job of attendance but did not know what to do with the sheet at the end of the meeting.  Karen stated she receives the papers and has obtained the sign-in sheets from the scribe.  Denise wondered if the sign-in sheet could be in some form of a notebook instead of a sheet of paper.  Henry recommended a storage container for Troop meeting items.  Discussion arose as to who would be responsible for the container and/or storage of the container.
Recruitment was also discussed at the PLC.  A goal of a 10% membership increase was discussed.  Discussion ensued as what was considered a recruitment- sibling, crossover, etc. The new recruit would name the Scout responsible for him joining the Troop.  The Scout identified would receive a recruiter patch.  PLC also suggested some type of reward from the Troop- SPL requested input from Committee. Discussion ensued as to type and amount of reward. Gregg made a motion that the prize be a $10 gift certificate to the Scout Shop given to the Scout that the new recruit identifies.  Denise seconded the motion.  Committee approved the motion.
Activity Plan for the Year:  Henry and SPL discussed the planning worksheet with Committee.  Changes made:  cancellation of camping trip in August; camping trip to Huntsville instead of Camp K in September- estimated dates Sept. 16-18; campout at Livingston in October- estimated dates Oct. 20-22; and white elephant gift exchange at the last Troop meeting in December.  Teaching of merit badges at Troop meetings was listed on the worksheet.  Questions arose as to alternative activities for those Scouts already having the merit badge being taught.  SPL suggested that those Scouts could work individually on merit badges they did not have.  Henry stated activities for new Scouts and older Scouts had not yet been finalized.  He showed Committee an example of a worksheet in Scouting that he used as a template for the Troop activity worksheet.  He stated he found two books at the Scout Shop that would be helpful to the Troop and Scoutmaster in planning Troop meetings and activities- Scoutmaster Handbook and Troop Program Resource Guide.  Committee felt these would be beneficial to the Troop and approved the purchase of these books.  Denise asked for approval to renew the subscription of the email calendar- cost of $59.99.   Committee approved the renewal.
New Red Book:  Committee tabled review of the red book until next Committee meeting.  Denise and Kathleen requested approval of funds to cover purchase of 45 red folders and copying costs.  Committee approved the funds.  
Positions to be Filled:  Carla noted the Troop needed a liaison with the Cub Scouts so the Troop would know the dates for various Cub Scout activities- Pinewood Derby, Spaghetti Dinner, Blue & Gold, etc. Also a designated person was needed to act as Popcorn Kernel for popcorn sales.  Mark stated the person who did this last year was not available to serve this year.  Kathleen mentioned that as of October Steve would not be handling collections for camping/activity fees so this position would also need filled.
Life to Eagle Coordinator position is still open.  Mark T. volunteered to fill this position.  It was suggested that a parent meeting be held at the next Troop meeting to discuss these positions, Troop dress code, and any other issues the parents may have.  It was recommended that an email be sent out to all parents in the Troop.
SPL Tent on Campouts:  Mark proposed the SPL have his own tent on campouts as long as it did not interfere with the other Scouts on the campout having a tent buddy.  Committee felt this was not an issue they needed to resolve.  The decision should be made between the SPL and the Scoutmaster of the campout.
Access to Garage:  Randy stated a key to garage storage was available in the Church office.  The garage space is not yet divided so the Troop does not have a designated space.  Randy does not know when this will occur.
Adjournment:  The next meeting is scheduled for September 20, 2006 7pm at Friendswood Library.  The meeting adjourned at 8:55pm.