Attendees: John Benavides, Dan Lassiter, Dave Knust, Craig Christensen,
  Julie Goundry, Scott Stephenson, Pat Kelly, Patrick Burns, Dennis
  McCarthy, Bonnie Branch

Scouts: Nathan Goundry, Jack Benavides
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar
     Oct 17-19: Campout - Mountain Biking
     Oct 18-19: Oak Leaf Junior Leader Training
     Oct 20: PLC
     Oct 21: OA meeting
     Oct 27: Troop meeting (Webelos visit)
     Nov 03: Troop meeting
     Nov 10: Troop meeting
     Nov 14-16: Campout - Marksmanship
     Nov 17: PLC
     Nov 18: OA meeting
     Nov 20: Troop Committee meeting

2. Treasurer - Kathy Dumanski
     o September report
       - 2 months YTD income is $10,598. Expenses are $6,127.
       - Income from annual dues is a little under budget.
       - Sea Base income and expenses both hit a month earlier than budget.
       - The Committee accepted the report as published.

3. PLC
     o No report

4. Roundtable - Dan Lassiter
     o Backcountry class for older Scouts
       - Two nights (Oct 30, Nov 6) and a campout (Nov 8).
     o Small boat sailing class by Troop 77
       - Two full days (Oct 18 or Oct 25, followed by Nov 1 or Nov 8).

5. Campouts - Dennis McCarthy
     o Oct 17-19: Mountain Biking, Cedar Hill SP (Shark)

     o Nov 14-16: Marksmanship, Herrin's Ranch (Pyro)
       - Presentation by Nathan Goundry, Jack Benavides
       - Cost will be $22 per Scout, plus an estimated $10 for grub money.
       - Troop needs guns. If you have a .22 bolt-action rifle, .22 LR
	   bolt action rifle, or a .20-gauge shotgun you can contribute,
	   please let us know.

     o Dec 27-31: Winter Camp, camp unknown
     o Jan 16-19: Military, USS Lexington (Moose)
     o Feb 13-15: Lashings and bonfire, Colbaugh Ranch (Pedro)
     o Mar 20:    Pre-Camporee Day Camp
     o Mar 26-28: Camporee
     o Apr 23-25: Canoeing/tubing, site unknown (Badger)
     o May 15   : Lock-in, Summit Climbing Gym (Badger)
     o Jul 11-17: Summer Camp
       - Down payment is due in November. The troop will make the down
	 payment assuming attendance of 45 Scouts and 5 adults.
     o Philmont 2005 - John Benavides
       - Reservation lottery is coming up. Anyone interested in
	 participating in this trek should let John Benavides know by
	 October 25.
     o Sea Base 2004 - Nancy Sanders
       - Airline reservations should be made by each family . All
         participants should inform Nancy of their reservations.
     o Northern Tier 2004
       - The troop has no plans.

6. Meetings - Dave Knust
     o Nothing to report

7. Leadership - Rick Montgomery
     o Nothing to report

8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Merit Badges
       - Personal Mgmt and Personal Fitness merit badges start Oct 27.
       - Family Life orientation meeting will be November 3. This merit
         badge is earned outside troop meetings, so it's important that
         all Scouts interested in this merit badge attend this troop
         meeting. Scouts normally earn this merit badge in the seventh grade.

     o Eagles - Pat Kelly
       - Jordan Hoff was awarded his Eagle rank. Congratulations.
       - Steven Schob passed his Eagle Board of Review.
       - Bill Kitchens, Ben Scott, and CJ Davis completed their Eagle
	 projects.
       - Ben Nichols is in process of executing his Eagle project.
       - Numerous projects are in planning stage.

9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o Proposal for troop donation
       - Rob Higgins is soliciting donations to the James E West endowment
	 fund in the name of a long-time district Scouter. The troop
	 committee unanimously agreed to donate $81 from Troop 81. Contact
	 Mark Steger for more information.
     o Recruitment
       - We brainstormed suggestions for how to improve our recruiting
	 efforts. Make sure the game or patrol competition scheduled for
	 Webelos visits is a fun one. Possibly attend Pack meetings to talk
	 about the troop.  Possibly produce a troop brochure to hand out to
	 Packs and visiting Webelos. Possibly move up our pre-Camporee Day
	 Camp a few months to coincide with when Webelos are beginning to
	 think of Boy Scouts.

Troop 81 Web site: http://t81.freewebpage.org

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Mark Steger