COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
UNIPLEX BUILDING
October 19, 2005


Welcome and Introduction:  John called the meeting to order at 7:06pm.  Those present:  John, Gregg, Karen, Henry, Dorothea, Denise, Mark, SPL, Bill, Carla, Randy.  John thanked Henry for the use of the UNIPLEX building.  John also thanked Karen for the updated Troop roster.
Minutes:  No changes noted to minutes from August Committee meeting (September meeting cancelled).  Carla motioned to approve minutes as written, Karen seconded; minutes were approved as written by Committee.
Treasury Report:  Denise reported the Troop balance as $2206.99.  She stated at this time we had no outstanding purchases.  She said a deposit was sent for Buffalo Trails (Summer Camp).  She noted Fall Camp was paid.  Denise said the Scout Camp accounts are slightly less than reported because the Scouts are using the funds to pay for Fall Camp.  Gregg motioned to approve the treasury report as stated, Carla seconded; treasury report approved by Committee.
Eagle Project:  Presentation by Scout of a project involving building two covered picnic tables for Westbrook Intermediate's habitat.  Committee approved project- encouraged Scout to have a list of equipment to be used for project.
SPL Report:  SPL asked why the flag ceremony done at Troop meetings had been changed.  Explained that Scouts holding flags attempted to salute, easier if flags posted before Pledge recited.  SPL would like ceremony changed back, states will talk with Scouts about standing at attention with flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.
  SPL asked Committee what they thought of offering rewards to the Scouts for appropriate behavior.  Committee felt it was a good idea as long as the reward was offered at the end of the meeting to help reduce the amount of potential clean up of the reward given.  The question arose concerning a specific policy of a reward for the whole Troop wearing Class A on the first meeting of the month.  In the past, other Scoutmasters had offered taking the Troop to TCBY after the meeting as a treat for everyone complying.  Committee felt this was something they wished to continue.  Discussion ensued as to what qualified as being in Class A uniform.  Henry felt the Scouts should wear a belt with their uniform.  Bill noted that in Scouter magazine it shows open toed hiking shoes.  Henry also felt that the Scout uniform should up to date on emblems (rank, position, etc.).  Bill commented he didn't think the Committee was focused on the right priorities.
SPL stated that going outside to do an activity at the Monday Troop meeting did not go well.  It was not organized and due to lighting made the stars hard to see.  It was recommended that training the Patrol leaders on how to lead their Patrol would be beneficial.  Henry and the SPL are planning to have PLC meetings on days other than that of the Troop meetings.  Carla felt those PLC meetings need to be well structured.  Henry felt less parent participation in the PLC meetings would help.  SPL felt reorganizing the Patrols might help with organization of events.  Bill suggested doing Junior Leadership Training every year.  He recommended putting it on the calendar as an annual event.  He stated the training takes no more than eight hours but takes heavy involvement from the Scoutmaster.  He offered his home as a potential site for the training.
SPL presented a request from the Troop Librarian.  The Librarian would like to charge a late fee for books checked out longer than a month without the Scout  rechecking the book out.  SPL made a motion for the fee to be  25cents/ week until the book is returned or the cost of the book is met in fines, Bill seconded the motion.  Committee approved the library book fine.
Roundtable Report:  Carla received the achievements from the Merit Badge Academy.  She asked if anyone had attended the Oct. 1 training because at Roundtable it wasn't certain if it had occurred.  She stated if it was rescheduled, she would let Committee know. A service project of spreading gravel at Westwood habitat is going on November 5 from 8am - 10am.  Denise stated students from the elementary were also invited to participate in this service project.  Halloween in the Park (Stevenson Park) is scheduled for October 27.  Winter Fest in Pearland is January 14.  Bill stated a booth at the Fest cost $60.  Henry asked Carla if any mention was made concerning Open House for Troops.  She said she did not hear of it.  He stated flyers were sent out to schools inviting them to visit a Troop.  The Troop may have visitors at the October 24 meeting.
Training:  John felt that individual merit badge counseling during the Troop meetings should not be done.  He stated that any counselor wanting to teach a merit badge to the Troop needed to coordinate and schedule it through the SPL and Scoutmaster.  Bill noted that at a previous Committee meeting it was decided to teach Eagle required merit badges on a rotating basis.  SPL asked what the Scouts that didn't need the merit badge were to do while the merit badge was taught at the Troop meeting.  It was suggested that some form of Scout based educational session go on at the same time- no game.  Mark is to send an email out stating that no individual merit badge counseling is to be done at the Troop meetings; Scouts need to schedule time with the merit badge counselor to meet before or after the meeting or at another place or day.
Advancements:  Karen stated she entered the information from the Merit Badge Academy.  She will bring the incomplete sheets to the meeting to give to the Scouts.  She noted she needed a list from the Troop elections to input the new leaders.  Henry gave her a list with changes that Bill had noted from a previous email concerning the Troop elections.  Bill asked about the red notebooks for new Scouts- one of the parents of a new Scout had asked when he would get information concerning the Troop.  It was noted that Kathleen is the one who handles the red notebooks.  A comment was made that the merit badge counselor list in the red notebook needs to be updated. Karen stated she would update the merit badge list.
Camping:  The next camping trip is to Brazos Bend.  Someone is needed to pull the trailer.  Henry is making an itinerary for the camp out.  Gregg mentioned that someone needs to be in line by 5pm on Saturday to get tickets to the observatory.
Service Projects:  Halloween carnival at Mary Queen on October 29.  Need Scouts to help serve drinks and for clean up afterwards.  John said Janel will be the adult to oversee the Scouts for the Carnival.
Cline Elementary Festival-  did the flag ceremony; sold $36 in popcorn and 17 first aid kits; did demonstrations on fire building and knot tying.
Camporee- 3 Scouts participated.
Fundraisers:  First aid kits to be built on November 5 at Bill's house starting at 10am.  Gregg stated he might have a sale of 800 kits.  Bill stated he is making 20 for another group request.
Next subscription flag day is November 11 (Veterans Day)- this is also a school day.  Scouts will need to start around 6:30am to distribute flags.  Need a sign up list at the next meetings.  Individual new flag subscriptions to start selling after November.  Must O.K. neighborhood with Mark before selling subscriptions.  Mark has forms for new subscriptions as well as renewals.  Troop sales of flag subscriptions will start in February/March.
Budget:  Bill stated these figures:  income $4700, expense $7600 = $2900 short plus cost of bus of what was said would be spent next year.  He noted that the Budget Committee needs to have another meeting to determine how much money the Troop actually needs so they can determine what fundraising needs to be done.  The next Budget Committee meeting was set for November 2 at the UNIPLEX building.
Equipment:  Gregg stated the equipment was all in good shape.  All propane tanks were filled and the propane tree had been returned to the trailer.
Calendar:  Randy stated that the Special Friends would have the main hall next week so the Scouts will meet in the mini hall. 
At the next Troop meeting, Scouts need to bring money for the campout.  Committee suggested that a call down be done with the Patrol leaders telling the Scouts going on the campout to bring $20 to cover the cost of camping, food, and observatory. 
No Troop meeting on October 31.
Other:  John brought up the potential of the Troop wearing a uniform hat with Class B uniform.  The hat would be red baseball cap style with yellow embroidery to go with the Class B shirt. The hats would cost $5-7 with a set up fee of $50.  John suggested purchasing 50 hats initially. Discussion arose as to whether the Scouts would wear the hat instead of one of their own, whether a hat was a required piece of the Class B uniform, and uniformity of dress for the Troop.  Henry suggested preordering the hats instead of buying a set amount.  Bill thought a survey should be taken at the next meeting to see if any of the Scouts were even interested in purchasing the hats.  Committee decided not to purchase hats until the Troop opinion was obtained.
Adjournment:  The next meeting is scheduled for November 16, 2005 at the Friendswood Library.  The meeting adjourned at 9:03pm