Troop 494 Committee Minutes
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
The meeting was called to order at
7:05 pm.
1. Welcome
The minutes from the last meeting were approved.
2. Report from PLC
Jay R. reported that we will begin planning for the bike trip next week. He also noted that we will be beginning
planning for Tomahawk soon as well.
There is also a Court of Honor planned for June 22.
3.
Scoutmaster Report
Jim Letourneau reported that we are still looking for more den chiefs to help
with Webelos recruiting next year. This
will be targeted for the fall.
Jim also passed around a sheet noting the requirements for the Quality Unit
Award for 2010. He will create a
signoff sheet that Scouts and adults will use to earn the award.
Quintin A. and Paul J. have been accepted for attending Grey Wolf training.
The two Scouts who were selected for the Star of the Future award are Brian D.
and Andrew S.
Jim composed a packet of information regarding the “Tech Chip”, which included
a training document as well as a parent approval form allowing Scouts to bring
electronics to campouts. We will table
this idea until after Tomahawk.
Jim also passed around a new calling tree spreadsheet showing the changes in
the Eagles and Flaming Arrows patrols.
4.
Camping Subcommittee
Mary Sue Abel reported that we have not had any new adults sign up to do four
days on the Duluth to Hugo bike trip.
Jeff Abel noted that ground transportation has been finalized for Sea Base for
both crews. He also looked into side
trips for the sailing crew; there are options available for later
discussion. At this time, we have not
assigned crew leaders. There is a
team-building event at the Clarke/Boerner cabin scheduled for June 6. Sailing health forms are due June 30. The Scuba crew is doing their dives June 22
and 23.
Mary Sue noted that flights for the Sailing crew have changed to where there
are now connections to be able to get down to Florida and back. However, there is no confirmation that this
change has been applied yet. MarySue
will check on this.
Mary Sue also reviewed the schedule of campouts for the rest of 2010 and for
2011. We will need to offer something
for those not going to Sea Base in August of this year. The Lock In is December 11. March and April 2011 have been booked for both
Planning and Basic Skills.
Mary
Sue distributed a list of food-buying guidelines to help Scouts and parents buy
food for weekend campouts. Jeff
suggested the idea of having a patrol “chef” to double-check that all food is
out for the patrol at each meal, to make sure nothing is left over at the end
of the weekend.
Mary Sue also discussed gas reimbursements.
In the past, drivers were reimbursed for trips longer than two
hours. MarySue will develop a
recommendation for the Committee.
Deb Clarke reported that the Tomahawk parents meeting is scheduled for June
1. Deb will make copies of parent
letters. Deb will also email copies of
merit badge signups to the Scouts for advance notice of what will be available
this year. We will make merit badge
cards available to the Scouts at this week’s meeting. Physicals need to be completed by June 29. We are suggesting that parents make a copy
of the health form, and then get both the original and the copy to Deb, with
the copy being for our records.
The swim test for Tomahawk is scheduled for June 29, with an alternate date of
July 13. We will also need to request
picnic tables, tents, and cots soon. We
have four Scouts signed up for the T2 program, and these Scouts have been
signed up for their respective programs.
Jim Letourneau will follow up with Jay on ordering shirts. Jeff Abel mentioned the need to get the
shooting sports permission slips signed before we leave for Tomahawk. MarySue reported that the menu is nearly
finalized for the week.
MarySue
reported that after this week’s meeting we will have a Northern Tier 2011
meeting. Commitment letters will be
distributed, and those letters need to be signed and turned in by June 8 to
guarantee a spot on the crew.
Rick Rausch reported that there is a propane tank that needs inspection or
replacement, and we also have a stove that needs inspection as well. We also have troop tents from Star Camp that
are currently being dried out. One had
bent poles that will need to be straightened.
Jim mentioned that we may want to look into better quality stakes for
the tents. There might also be some
things that could be taken out of the trailers to empty them out.
Jeff Abel reported that selling materials from the surplus store as a
fundraising would be a violation of rules set up by the surplus store. He turned in our latest recharter form.
Mark Beckers has not heard anything back on first responder training. There are three adults interested.
5. Advancement Subcommittee
Jeff Abel noted that the younger Scouts are making good progress towards First
Class. Joe Mikkelson is keeping a
spreadsheet that notes the dates of requirement completion. With this spreadsheet, the Advancement
Committee will be better able to record dates into the computer records. The spreadsheet can also be a better
indicator of when Scouts are ready for Scoutmaster conferences or Boards of
Review.
Shelly
Jokinen reported that there will be a Court of Honor on June 22. We will make an announcement for Scouts to
complete any advancement work that could be done before the court.
Jeanenne Rausch and Pat Mahoney are interested in the position of Eagle
Coach. They will sit down with Jim to
discuss the requirements for the position.
6. Fundraising Subcommittee
Joe Mikkelson reported that we have another bagging date scheduled for August
15. The manager for the White Bear Cub
asked us to sign up only in five-month intervals. Shelly Jokinen also suggested we look into Festival Foods or the
Cub Foods in Maplewood. Mark Beckers
brought up that we consider the White Bear Kowalski’s.
Jim Hering noted that there is a hot dog wagon that we can use through the
Freedom gas station to fundraise as well.
This fundraiser takes a large time commitment, though.
Michele Willard noted that she is computing the last numbers on our flower
fundraiser. She commented that in
general, the flower sales this year was good.
Michele
also reported that Jim Golding is finalizing his review of Mickman’s, a
possible new wreaths vendor for this year.
Bridget Newman is working on the shirts for the Manitou 15K race. Mary Sue noted that there is also a signup
sheet for Scouts to help out with the race.
The race is scheduled for June 5, and Scouts need to be at Matoska Park
at 7:00 am wearing orange class B uniforms.
7.
Community Service Subcommittee
Jim Hering noted that there were no changes from our current community service
schedule.
The
Committee decided that a request to have our Scouts march in the Memorial Day
Parade was received with too short of a notice.
8. Website Subcommittee
No report. Jim Letourneau noted that we need to begin moving pictures onto the
troop website to get a history of what we have done on our recent and past
campouts.
9. Treasurer’s Report
No report.
10. Old Business
Roger Scherping noted that we will move the special needs awareness class topic
to the fall of this year.
Roger has not heard back from the Rotary about making our annual presentation
there.
11. New Business
Mark Beckers has signed up to attend the next Wood Badge class in late June.
12. Comments/Closing
The meeting was adjourned at 8:40 pm.