COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
UNIPLEX Building
December 14, 2005


Welcome and Introduction:  John called the meeting to order at 7:05pm.  Those present:  John, Henry, Randy, Denise, Kathleen, and Dorothea.
Previous Committee Minutes:  Dorothea stated that several changes were made per Mark's request (dates, grammatical errors) prior to posting the minutes on the website.  Committee approved the minutes as posted.
Treasury Report:  Denise stated popcorn sales, first aid kit sales, and flag subscriptions boosted the Troop account.  Monies able to be spent in the account equal $2817.42.
Denise presented a document showing the amount of money each Scout has in his camp account.  She will have this information available for the Scout and his parent(s) at the Troop meeting.  She offered to develop a quarterly report to give to the Scouts so they know what is in their accounts.  Committee agreed to have this information available for the Scouts and the quarterly issuing of individual camp account summaries.
  Denise noted that on last month's statement a check for $300 was posted- this check was voided and the actual check amount sent to Camp K was $249.99.
  Committee approved the treasury report.
Eagle Projects:  John stated a Scout approached him about an Eagle project.  He referred him to the Knights of Columbus for a project.
Senior Patrol Leader's Report:  No report, SPL/ASPL not present.
Roundtable Report:  No report
Advancements:  No report
Training:  John brought copies of The Coastliner.  He stated the newsletter will no longer be mailed, it will be available on-line or can be emailed by registering personal email address at www.bacBSA.org.
  New guidelines for First Class are listed in the newsletter. They go into effect in January. Those presently working on First Class rank have until June 30, 2006 to complete under the old guidelines.
  Council is requesting that registration be done on-line.  Kathleen stated we need a current updated list of Scouts and adults.  A list was given to the Council representative, but several Scouts were not on the list and some inactive Scouts/adults were still on the list.  Recharter is scheduled for March.  Kathleen asked if we were considering increasing the amount of Recharter.  At present, the cost for chartering is $50.  Committee stated they would need to evaluate the number of Scouts who would be registering in March to see if it was necessary to increase the registration fee.
  Philmont trip is scheduled for 2006- Henry stated he heard the trip was full.  Kathleen asked when they would start preparation for 2007.  Henry said he would check into it.  He would also be willing to organize it for the Troop.
John reminded Committee he would be stepping down as acting Committee Chairperson in January.  Randy stated he is responsible for finding his replacement.  Committee discussed names of possible replacements. 
Service Projects:  John stated the Knights of Columbus asked when the Scouts would be willing to do pine needle cleanup.  Denise stated the school also asked about receipt of the pine needles.  Committee scheduled the pine needle cleanup for February 11.
Randy noted Scouts would be needed in January to assist with the Pinewood Derby.  He is going to the Pack Committee meeting and will obtain the date so the event can be posted on the calendar.
Fundraising:  John stated Bill asked that the Committee be reminded of first aid kit sales occurring on January 14, 2006 from 9am-4pm at the Wal-Mart in Pearland.  Kathleen noted it was on the calendar.
Committee questioned whether brisket sales were still being considered.  John stated the Knights of Columbus will be selling BBQ on Super Bowl Sunday and that may be a good time to cook the briskets.  Questions and discussion arose on storage and delivery.  Committee asked for a volunteer to head the fundraiser. John stated he would arrange a meeting between the Knights of Columbus and the brisket fundraising representative(s). Denise stated she would temporarily chair the fundraiser.  She will check on pricing for brisket, rub, freezer storage, and packaging.
Equipment:  John commented that the Troop flag is stained.  He wondered if it could be washed, stains removed or if it was necessary to purchase a new one.  Dorothea stated she would let Gregg know so he could assess the situation.
Denise felt an inventory of equipment should be done annually.  This would allow everyone in the Troop to know what equipment was available.  Committee noted that at this time we had no central location for the equipment.  Denise stated she could make a list of known purchased equipment.  Dorothea stated she would give the list to Gregg and he could document where the equipment was presently stored.  Randy commented that Gregg had a good idea about storing all the equipment in the garage bay that will be provided by the Church and only removing what was needed for the various campouts/activities.
Camping/Activities:  Only two Scout are going to Winter Camp at Camp K- they will be part of a maverick group.
John asked if enough people had signed up for the Cavalla trip in January.  Kathleen stated she believed enough people will be signed up by the time of the trip.
John presented a flyer about Scout Day at an Aeros game on February 4, 2006.  He thought this might be a good idea for an activity for the Troop to do, not necessarily on the designated Scout Day.
Kathleen pointed out the Scouts have no scheduled campout for April (no Camporee this year) and May.  She stated she would check with the canoe outfitters at Village Creek to see if it will be open in May.  Schlitterbahn was brought up as a possible water trip with camping at Galveston State Park.  Dorothea stated that each time Schlitterbahn had been discussed before it was brought up that insurance would not cover unless it was a Boy Scout sanctioned function.  Denise said she would check with Council to see if it would be a problem.  Dorothea suggested doing a backpacking campout in April. Henry stated he is hoping to have a PLC in January to finish the Troop scheduling for the year.
Summer Camp is scheduled for June 25- July 1 at Buffalo Trails.  Kathleen discussed travel and camping options.  She asked if travel would take one or two days.  Henry felt it could be done in one (12 hour trip).  Kathleen asked if Committee thought the bus should stay the week- Troop would need to pay for the driver's hotel.  Committee felt the bus did not need to stay- some parents were driving to Buffalo Trails so a vehicle would be available.  Kathleen stated the cost of the bus as $6000.  Henry commented that with fundraisers half of the amount should be covered.  The rest of the amount would be divided among those going to Summer Camp.  Kathleen stated she would check to see how much the deposit would be and if the bus service would run a 12-hour one-day trip.  Committee recommended getting a bus with adequate storage.  Henry reminded everyone that cots and tents would be available at the camp so those items would not be taken on the trip.  The cost for Summer Camp (excluding transportation) is $180.  Buffalo Trails offers various high adventure outings as well as merit badge classes.  Kathleen asked the Committee to decide on which high adventures would be offered to the Troop. Committee felt not enough Scouts had the Horsemanship merit badge to participate in any trek involving riding horses. Committee selected the Outback and Mountain Man treks.  Scouts 14 years and older can participate in either program.  It is an additional $15 per person participating for a high adventure program.  Kathleen felt the Troop needed at least six adults going to Summer Camp to meet the two-deep leadership for each program.  Henry stated the camp makes a group from several Troops so the adult leadership is covered. Kathleen noted the first payment is due for camp in February with the last day for refunds in the middle of May.  Committee decided, at Kathleen's suggestion, to divide the payments into one a month totaling four payments. These payments would include the price of camp and transportation.  Refunds for camp would be through Buffalo Trails following their policies.  No refunds for the transportation will be given.  Collection of payment will start February 6, 2006.  Committee also decided to pay the camp fees for the acting Scoutmaster for Summer Camp and one additional adult to ensure two-deep leadership.  Every person going to camp will pay transportation fees.  Henry will make a flyer with the information on Summer Camp to give to the Scouts at the next Troop meeting.  It was suggested that information on the two high adventure programs also be made available to the Scouts.
Calendar:  John asked if Kathleen was having any problems with the calendar on the website.  She said no problems.
Scout Sunday is scheduled for February 12, 2006.  The Scouts will camp at Mary Queen that weekend.
Ten Commandments hike is February 11, 2006.
Adjournment:  John stated he would schedule the meeting in January at the library.  The meeting adjourned at 9:10pm.