September 18, 2002

Location: Economy Signs and Banners (thanks to Mark Sanders)
Attendees: John Benavides, Bob Centola, Carter Hampton, Mark Sanders,
Pat Kelly, Dan Lassiter, Bonnie Branch, Dennis McCarthy, Teresa Burlingame,
Lee Behrman, George Kerr
Scouts: Jesse Benavides, Brandon Burlingame, Jon Behrman, Ben Nichols
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar
     Sep 19: Adult training (New Leaders Essentials)
     Sep 23: Troop meeting
     Sep 26: First session of adult leader training 
     Sep 27-29: Campout
     Oct 19-20: Oak Leaf Junior Leader Training (for 1st Class and above)

2. Treasurer - Sharon Hood (not present)
     o August report
       - 1 month YTD income is $5,063. Expenses are $354.  Majority of
         income is annual dues. Thanks to everyone who paid in a timely fashion.
     o Tent sale
       - Tent sale brought in $600. Make sure you setup and check tents
for damage and missing items before next week's campout.
   
3. PLC - Jesse Benavides
     o System for rotating Court of Honor duties to patrols was agreed.
     o October campout was presented and approved.

4. Roundtable - Ed Nichols (not present)
     o Craig Christensen attended. Report by Dan Lassiter.
     o Popcorn Kickoff meeting is Sep 23. Cindy McCarthy will coordinate
       the sale for Troop 81. We need an older Scout to volunteer to assist.
     o Webelos Woods is November 15-17 and needs 58 more Scouts to staff
   
5. Campouts - Craig Christensen (not present)
     o September Campout (Fox)
       - Sep 27-29: Waterskiing - Lake Cypress Springs
     o October Campout - Brandon Burlingame (Pedro)
       - Oct 25-27: Fishing/Biking - Colbaugh Farm, Oklahoma
         Cost: $25/Scout plus $10 grub money and $5 for Sunday lunch
         Equipment: mountain bikes, helmets, brush clearing equipment
         (pruning shears, work gloves)
     o Rest of camping program
        Nov 16 - Backpacking: Camp Cherokee (Moose)
       - Campsite will be a long hike from parking
       Dec 27 - Winter Camp (Baloo Bear - Ed Nichols)
       - Circle 10 asks for adults to volunteer to teach merit badges
       Jan 25 - Military: Ft Sill, OK (Badger)
       Feb 14 - Family Camp: Ft Parker SP (Baloo Bear)
       Mar 22 - Marksmanship: Herrin's ranch (Pyro)
       Apr 5  - One day patrol competitions (Mitchell Hampton)
       Apr 11 - Camporee (Baloo Bear)
       May 3  - Rapelling: location unknown? (Shark)
       - Cherokee is unavailable any weekend in March-May. Troop will
need several BSA-trained adults to offer our own climbing program.
Circle 10 offers climbing tower certification Oct 12 or 13 and 
climbing instructor training November 8-10. See the Circle 10
newspaper "Full Circle" for details.
     o Northern Tier
       - Troop has no crews planned.
     o Sea Base
       - Troop has no boats in 2003.
       - Reservations for 2004 can be made Feb 3, 2003.
     o Philmont - Mark Steger
       - Next fee installment for 2003 treks is due September 23
         ($197/person)
       - Reservations for 2005 can be made November, 2003.
     
6. Meetings - Dave Knust (not present)
     o Webelos will be invited to visit the troop on Nov 4, Dec 2, 
       Jan 13, Mar 3
     o Family Life Merit Badge orientation meeting is planned for Oct 14.

7. Leadership - Tom Schob (not present)
     o Nothing to report
   
8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Eagles - Pat Kelly
       - Jay Herrin and Scott Steger passed their boards of review.
       - CJ Carter is working on his Eagle paperwork
       - Eleven Scouts are in various stages of planning
   
9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o Background checks on adults
       - By recommendation of BSA and by requirement of RBFC, Troop 81
will institute criminal background checks of all adult leaders.  At the
next troop committee meeting, the following amendment to Troop 81's bylaws
will be submitted. The substantive changes are in paragraphs 7 and 8.

         Article II, Section 2
         4. The Committee shall appoint a standing Leadership
           Subcommittee to recruit candidates for Officers as well as
           other adult leaders, as needed, subject to approval of the
           Officers.  Examples of other positions include, but are not limited to,
           Patrol Counselors, Adult Quartermaster, Merit Badge Coordinator,
           Boards of Review, Secretary, Chaplain, etc. 
         5. The responsibilities of all adult leaders shall be documented
           in the Troop Handbook. 
         6. Adult leadership positions shall have a term of one year,
           with renewals allowed and encouraged. 
         7. All adults who work with Scouts (e.g., all adult leaders and
           all adults who attend overnight camps, except for designated
           "family" camps) shall be registered adults with BSA and shall
           consent to a criminal background check through the Volunteer
           Center of Dallas. Reports shall be kept confidential, with
           access available only to the chartered organization
           representative and authorized personnel of RBFC.
         8. Denial of an application for adult leadership or involuntary
           removal of a person from any adult leadership position before
           term expiration shall only be enacted by decision of the
           Committee at a regular committee meeting or by decision of
           the chartered organization. 
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Mark Steger