Troop Committee Meeting
April 17, 2003

Attendees: Bonnie Branch, Charlie Hood, Rick Montgomery, Craig
  Christensen, John Benavides, Ed Nichols
Scouts: Jesse Benavides, Hunter Christensen
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar ( http://calendar.yahoo.com/bsa_troop81 )
     The dates for the Court of Honor and the Softball game have been
     swapped. The date of the climbing lock-in is Friday, May 2.  The
     May Troop Committee meeting has been moved to May 22, the *fourth
     Thursday* of the month.

     Apr 21: Troop meeting
     Apr 26: Philmont conditioning hike
     Apr 28: Troop meeting
     May 2:  Climbing lock-in (Shark)
     May 3:  Home Depot service hours
     May 5:  PLC and Summer Camp signup
     May 10: Scout Show
     May 12: Court of Honor
     May 17: Philmont conditioning hike
     May 18: Eagle Court of Honor
     May 19: Troop softball game
     May 20: OA chapter meeting
     May 22: Troop Committee meeting

2. Treasurer - Sharon Hood
     o March report
       - 8 months YTD income is $33,102. Expenses are $30,413.

3. PLC - Jesse Benavides
     o Camporee
       - Good job, Troop 81, for winning the campsite inspection award.
         Good job, Badger Patrol, for winning first place for patrols.

4. Roundtable - Ed Nichols
     o Nothing to report

5. Campouts - Craig Christensen
     o May 2 - Climbing lock-in (Hunter Christensen - Shark)
       - When: Friday, May 2, 8:00pm - 9:00am
       - Activity: Indoor climbing
       - Where: Summit Climbing Gym, Grapevine
       - All Scouts may attend. Most climbing areas will be open to all;
         some areas will be limited to First Class Scouts and above.
         Time will be set aside for cleaning up chuck boxes.

     o Jun 6 - PLC planning meeting for 2003-2004 campout schedule
     o Jul 13-19 - Summer Camp
       - Signup will be May 6.
     o Northern Tier
       - no treks planned
     o Sea Base
       - no 2003 boats planned; three 2004 boats planned
     o Philmont
       - two 2003 treks planned
       - still have an opening for one person; first-come, first-served

6. Meetings - Dave Knust
     o Scout Show
       - When: Saturday, May 10, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
       - Where: Dallas Market Hall
       - Jay Herrin is organizing Troop 81 participation.
       - Sign up at troop meeting April 21.
       - Adults willing to help supervise the Troop 81 booth should
         contact Ed Nichols.
       - Scouts should already be selling tickets. This is a good way
         for Scouts to earn part of their Scouting expenses. Money and
         unsold tickets must be returned by May 12.

     o Home Depot service hours
       - When: Saturday, May 3, 9:00 am -3:00 pm
       - There is an opportunity for Troop 81 Scouts to participate in
         Home Depot's community service project, where HD offers younger
         children the opportunity to build a small project. Scouts will
         be trained and be in charge of teaching the younger children.
         Sign up at troop meeting April 28.

7. Leadership - Tom Schob
     o New leadership
       - Ten Scouts volunteered to be Troop Guide, more than we will
have
         openings for. Signup forms for other leadership positions have
         been distributed and are due back May 12.
       - The troop would like more Scouts to take leadership training
         (Junior Leader training offered by the troop, Oak Leaf offered
         by the district, and Golden Acorn offered by the council). The
         Troop Committee is considering making such training a
         requirement for holding the higher troop leadership positions.
         Parents should be on the lookout for announcements of such
         training and encourage your sons to attend.
       - Ed Nichols is considering offering more advanced leadership
         training within the troop, in addition to the Junior Leader
         training we already offer each year. Adults interested in
         assisting should contact Ed.

8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Eagles - Pat Kelly
       - Jeff Collins passed his board of review. Congratulations.
       - Steven Schob completed his project.
       - Jordan Hoff had his project approved by the Troop Committee.

     o Boards of Review
       - Bonnie is revising the Board of Review Report form.

9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o New Scout signups
       - Eight new Scouts joined Troop 81. Welcome.
     o Change to by-laws
       - Because of a regular conflict with other RBFC meetings on
         Wednesday nights, there is a proposal to change the night of
         Troop Committee meetings. In the May meeting, the following
         change to the by-laws will be considered and voted on:

         "Article II, Section 3: The Committee shall conduct business at
         regular meetings usually held at 7:00 PM on the third Thursday
         of the month during the school year."

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

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Mark Steger