Attendees: Richard Carter, Tom Schob, Rick Montgomery, Pat Kelly, Ed
  Nichols, Dave Knust, Craig Christensen, Bonnie Branch, Dan Lassiter,
  Bob Centola, Cindy McCarthy, Larry Herrin, John Benavides
Scouts: Jesse Benavides
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar
     Jan 20: Troop meeting
     Jan 24: Campout - Ft. Sill, Oklahoma
     Jan 27: PLC meeting
     Feb 1:  TFC cookathon for rank requirements
     Feb 1&8: Scouting for Food
     Feb 3:  Troop meeting
     Feb 3:  Call for Seabase reservations
     Feb 4:  Philmont planning meeting, fees due
     Feb 6,13,20,27: Adult training
     Feb 10: Troop meeting
     Feb 14: Family Camp at Ft Parker SP
     Feb 17: PLC meeting
     Feb 19: Troop Committee meeting
     Feb 24: Troop meeting

2. Treasurer - Sharon Hood
     o December report
       - 5 months YTD income is $23,230. Expenses are $19,337.
     o Unclaimed Scout Bucks, earned from selling popcorn, will be used
       to defray the troop's cost of unsold popcorn. Anyone not wishing
       to donate their Scout Bucks to the troop should claim them from
       Cindy McCarthy at the next troop meeting.

3. PLC - Jesse Benavides
     o No PLC meetings since last troop committee meeting
     o Topics for next mtg: Family Camp, Court of Honor, March campout,
       one-day patrol competitions, Camporee, review of responsibilities
       of Patrol Leaders

4. Roundtable - Ed Nichols
     o Scouting for Food is scheduled for Feb 1 & 8.  Ed Nichols and
       Anna Ayme will coordinate Troop 81's participation.  Our Troop will
       assist Packs 516 and 871.
     o Order of the Arrow annual dues are due NOW. Forms are available at
       the OA Web site: http://miki.org .
     o Dan Lassiter will receive the YES award at the North Trail
       District annual awards dinner. Congratulations, Dan.

5. Campouts - Craig Christensen
     o Jan 24 - Military: Ft Sill, OK (Badger)
       - Adults and Scouts 16 and older need a photo ID (e.g., school ID
         card). Adults need proof of insurance.
     o Feb 14 - Family Camp: Ft Parker SP (Baloo Bear)
       - Craig Christensen and Dave Knust are planning meals.
       - PLC will plan patrol competitions and campfire.
       - We may need volunteers to stay in tents in the public campground
         if Troop 81 attendance exceeds 96.
     o Mar 22 - Marksmanship: Herrin's ranch (Pyro)
     o Apr 5  - One day patrol competitions (Mitchell Hampton)
     o Apr 11 - Camporee (Baloo Bear)
     o May 3  - Rapelling: location unknown? (Shark)
       - This campout is at risk. Resources for rapelling are not
         available.

     o Northern Tier
       - No crews are planned.
     o Sea Base
       - Nancy Sanders volunteered to organize a team to make calls to
         Sea Base Monday, Feb 3, at 10:00 AM to make reservations for
         2004.
     o Philmont
       - An itinerary planning meeting is scheduled for Feb 4 at 7:00 PM.
       - Final installment on dues are due on Feb 4.
       - Conditioning hikes are planned for Mar 1, Apr 26, and May 17.

6. Meetings - Dave Knust
     o Scouting Museum 
       - Bob Centola will organize a Troop 81 trip to the national Scouting
         Museum in Irving on Mar 1.

7. Leadership - Tom Schob
     o Oak Leaf training will be Mar 22-23 at Camp Wisdom.
     o All patrols now have patrol leaders for the Spring semester.

8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Eagles - Pat Kelly
       - Matt Teplow's Board of Review will be Jan 23.
       - CJ Carter is working on Eagle paperwork.
       - Steven Schob and Jordan Hoff are nearing completion of their Eagle
         project plans.
       - BSA guidance is that routine maintenance or labor is not suitable
         for an Eagle project.
     o At the Jan 20 troop meeting, Bonnie will talk about and recruit
       adults for Merit Badge classes and Boards of Review.
     o CPR training: Dave Knust and Kathleen Davis will schedule a
       Saturday or Sunday for CPR training. This is a requirement for
       several merit badges, so all Scouts are encouraged to attend.
     o Pack liaisons should find out when Cub Scout bridging ceremonies
       are planned in order to ensure attendance by a Troop 81
Scoutmaster.
       Packs interested in using the Troop 81 Arrow of Light team should
       contact Jesse Benavides.

9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o Recharter
       - Troop 81 rechartered 81 Scouts and 50 adults, the largest number
         in our history.
     o 2002-2003 adult leadership nominating committee report
       - The committee will have a slate of candidates for the Troop
         Committee to vote on at February's committee meeting. Because the
         committee meeting occurs after the Court of Honor, we will not
         announce next year's leaders at that event.
     o Adult training
       - North Trail District will offer adult basic leader training
         Thursday nights in February. Adults who have not attended should
         try to make these classes. The first, New Leader Essentials, is
         a one-night class and is a pre-requisite for the others.

Troop 81 Web site: http://www.bsa.net/tx/t81

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Mark Steger