Attendees: Dan Lassiter, Brian Moore, Dave Knust, Pat Kelly,
  Patrick Burns, John Benavides, Bonnie Branch, Kathy Dumanski
Scouts: Hunter Christensen
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar
     Feb 23: Court of Honor
     Feb 24: Adult leader training - Class #1
     Feb 28-29: Habitat for Humanity workshop
     Mar 1:  Troop meeting (special mentor meeting; SPL nominations)
     Mar 2:  Adult leader training - Class #2
     Mar 8:  Spring break - no troop meeting
     Mar 9:  Adult leader training - Class #3
     Mar 15: Pre-campout troop meeting (troop guide applications due)
     Mar 18: Troop Committee meeting
     Mar 19-21: Outdoor Leader Skills
     Mar 22: Troop meeting (SPL election)
     ...
     Apr 19: Troop meeting (Merit Badge make-up)
     Apr 30: Canoeing campout (note the date change!)
     May 3: Summer Camp signup

2. Treasurer - Kathy Dumanski
     o January report
       - 6 months YTD income is $30,880. Expenses are $29,106.

3. PLC - Hunter Christensen
     o February campout review
       - Good things - snow and dinners. 
       - Bad things - snow. 
       - Plans for improvement - better planning for weather, getting
         fires started earlier.
     o Suggestions from adults for PLC to consider
       - Troop should emphasize patrol flags, patrol yells, etc. at troop
	 meetings and campouts.
       - Troop should have activities that foster team building,
	 problem-solving and patrol spirit. 
       - BSA defines requirements for honor patrol. We should challenge
         all patrols to achieve this.

4. Roundtable
     o Scout uniforms and supplies are now available at Elliott's
       Hardware in Plano (Coit and Park).
     o Habitat for Humanity
       - A Troop 81 workshop to build six mailboxes for Habitat for
         Humanity will be held Feb 28. George Kerr and Brian Moore are
         leading this. The second day of the workshop on Feb 29 is being
         reconsidered due to the Eagle Court of Honor also scheduled for
         Sunday. The Troop Committee expressed its willingness for the
         Troop to make a donation to help defray the cost of supplies in
         excess of what's already been donated by area merchants. A
         final decision will be postponed until the costs are known.

5. Campouts 
     o Mar 20: Pre-Camporee Day Camp (Hunter Christensen)
       - Where: One Eleven Ranch Park, Garland
       - When: Saturday, Mar 20, 8:45am - 2:30pm
       - What: Competition on Scout skills
       - Cost: $2 per Scout, plus bring a sack lunch
       - Webelos will be invited.
       - Hunter needs adults and/or Eagle Scouts to man the competition
         stations. Contact him if you can volunteer.
     o Mar 26-28: Camporee
       - Registration deadline: March 12
     o Apr 30-May 2: Canoeing/tubing, Worth Scout Ranch (Badger)
       - Note the date change.
     o May 15: Lock-in, Summit Climbing Gym (Badger)

     o Sea Base 2004 - Nancy Sanders
       - At least one adult on each boat must be trained in first aid
         and CPR and have taken Safety Afloat training from Boy Scouts.
       - Sea Base medical forms and final payment are due soon.
       - Departure is June 8.
     o Sea Base 2005
       - The signup period for 2005 has come and gone. Troop 81 has no
         boats reserved for the 2005 season.
     o Philmont 2005 - John Benavides
       - When: July 6-18, 2005
       - 33 people are signed up.
       - Next payment is due October, 2004.
     o Northern Tier
       - Dennis McCarthy is willing to organize this if a second adult
         can be found to volunteer as an adult leader.

6. Meetings - Dave Knust
     o Court of Honor 
       - When: Feb 23
       - Where: In our regular meeting room at RBFC
       - Dave Knust is responsible for planning. Cindy McCarthy is
         handling the rank advancements and merit badges awards. There
         will be "Friends of Scouting" presentation by Circle 10. Please
         consider making an contribution to keep this excellent program
         going.

7. Leadership
     o Troop Guides
       - New troop guides need to be identified before Webelos join
         March 29. Requirements: must be Life Scout and have earned most
         merit badges.  Applications will be accepted beginning March 1.
         Deadline is March 15.
     o SPL election
       - Nominations will be accepted at the March 1 troop meeting. Talk
         to your son about this important opportunity.
     o Mentor meetings
       - We have too many Scout leadership positions that are getting a
         lack of attention. Because each Scout has some position, we
         need lots of adults to watch over, encourage and mentor Scouts
         to do a good job. We plan to have a special mentor meeting at
         the March 1 troop meeting to review the leadership
         responsibilities in the troop.

8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Merit Badges
       - New classes are scheduled to start March 1.  Citizenship in the
	 World for 8th, Communications MB for 7th grade, CPR/First Aid for
	 6th grade.
     o Eagles - Pat Kelly
       - Ben Nichols passed his Board of Review. Congratulations.
       - John Steger, CJ Davis, and Scott Bonds have completed their
	 projects and are working on their Eagle paperwork.
       - Six Scouts are working on their Eagle project plans.
       - Seven Scouts are eligible to begin planning.

9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o Adult training
       - Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmaster training begins Feb 24
         (6:45pm at King of Glory Lutheran Church at 6411 LBJ Freeway).
         This is recommended for all adults active in Troop 81. Get your
         "Trained" patch!

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