January 6, 2003

Present: Ed Blondin, Sandy Schwartz, Peggy Schuchard, Cheryl McDowall, MaryAnn Bushaw, Jon Paul, Dan Murphy, Eric Schmidt, Bill LeFevre, Judi and Terry Nichols

Meeting started at 6:30 .

Treasurer’s Report: Presented by Jon Paul.  Profits from the tree sales were less, due to smaller quantity of trees.  It is estimated that we are in a similar financial position or better than last year.  A complete report will be presented next month.

Past Events

Bike Hike: Luke’s bike was recovered by the police.  It was rusty, but it’s home.

CPR Training: Eric is just waiting for a new group of people to schedule a new training course.

Flagpoles: No news about the new flagpoles from the VFW offer made at the Veterans Day Parade.

Christmas Wreaths: Wreath sales were down this year – possibly due to the shorter season.  Need to remind whoever is on the first shift to go to pick up the wreaths (sometimes there were none in the troop trailer).  Possibly have the wreath trailer at the lot (consider removing wheels to prevent trailer theft).

Nov. 16 - Yard Rake: Jamie Boone is back to work and doing real well.

Tree Sales: Look for ways to better equip the troop trailer if the construction trailer is not available, (i.e., put a board across the counter to make a sales/record keeping work center.  *Suggestions: sort trees by size.  Trees themselves were of a comparable quality as previous years, but there seemed to be many more crooked trees.  (MaryAnn counted 32 crooked ones that would be hard to use without seriously cutting them shorter.)  All were sold except for two.

Christmas Trees: We had more than half of our removal bags sold, but they were not brought out of the trailer sometimes.  When customers were aware of the bags, they usually bought them.  *We need to look for lower prices.  *We need to buy one full case of netting for the baler.  The baler spring needs to be repaired permanently.  *Suggestion:  use a summer meeting to fix baler (and any other equipment) and train Scouts on how to use it without wasting the netting.  *Need to consider changing shift times during the week to 4:30 - 8:30 PM .

Future Events

Swim Nights: Dates are scheduled.  Sandy will get our tour permit approved tomorrow.  The troop will still invite Webelos to these.  Cost is $2 per Scout; adults are free and encouraged to help/swim.  John Vermie and Marcus Tryggestad are going to lifeguard.

Leader Basics: Next one is scheduled for April 3, 2003 .  There will be a new session about Troop Master.  There is a New Leaders Essential Training scheduled for this Saturday at Sinnissippi Park .

Friends of Scouting: Has been scheduled for the Court of Honor/Family Night on January 28, 2003 .

Reregistration: Terry has sent emails to members who have not participated in a long time; to determine if they are still interested in membership.

Webelos camping: Ed is suggesting moving the date back, because of difficulty getting information from the Girl Scout office.  Ed will make arrangements for February 7-9, 2003 , as first choice.

Klondike Derby : Maybe 3 or 4 will work the event, then go to Lake Ripley for Saturday night only.

Lake Ripley : Terry made a flyer to pass out to Scouts.

Great Lakes Naval Base: March 14-16: the troop has a reservation for that weekend.  Phil is still working at staying on the base, but back-up camping is available at a local Boy Scout camp.  Saturday lunch will probably be on the base.

April 26-27 Camp-out: Lincoln Pilgrimage – Leave early Saturday morning; return to Rockford on Sunday at 5:30 PM .

Climbing dates: Climbing dates will be chosen for next Spring.  Venture Crew is considering using the tower at Camp Lowden in April.

Indianapolis Time Trials: May 17^th or 24^th are the possible dates.  Eric is checking into arrangements and possibility of camping somewhere.  No new information is available.

Summer 2003 - Philmont: No changes – still 19 people are committed.  Troop 657 did send a check for their part.  Bill said Amtrak still looks good, but hasn’t checked ticket information yet.  Eric has medical forms for Philmont.  Need to determine costs for adults.  Bill will deposit some old checks.

Summer 2003 - Camp for Younger Scouts: The troop is going to Canyon Camp July 20-26, 2003 .

Aug. 22-24 & Sept. 26-28, 2003 – Woodbadge Training: Registration is already taking place -- so anyone interested should submit an application soon.  One position is already paid for John Vermie.  MaryAnn and Terry have blank applications.  Cost is $195.  If you belong to a union affiliated with the AFL/CIO, they will help with costs.

Miscellaneous Business

Eddie Beck & Andrew Benoy:  want to make a new board to honor Eagle Scouts.  No new news.

Super Fund raiser: MaryAnn is still checking on the elephant ears trailer for Boone County Fair.

Historian:  Dan Murphy got disposable cameras for OJ.  Still reminding Andrew about albums.

Troop Development: Sub-committee still needs to meet.  Sandy will coordinate it.  Need to revitalize it.  Webelos visits need to be pushed up to October or November, due to their schedules.

Florida Sea Base: Patrick Bushaw will have a sign-up sheet for phoning at tomorrow’s meeting.  He still needs to explore all the various options due to variety of activities and prices.  If scuba diving is considered, training should be completed in Rockford prior to going on the trip.

Annual Tour Permit: Dan and Eric continue to handle this.

New Business

Council Moving Questionnaire: Fill out the form on page 10 of the January Courier.

District Award of Merit:  Need to accumulate information to nominate candidates immediately!

Rockford Junior Chariots: They are interested in having their team play basketball against our Scouts.  Our boys would be strapped into chairs.  We could tie it into the Disabilities Merit Badge (MaryAnn is a counselor).  Will present to the troop and see if there are five boys interested in playing.

Record of Scouter Training/Service:  MaryAnn would like to have a record of everyone’s training, etc.  This would be helpful when it comes to awards or reminders for renewals.

Laminator: Eric now has a laminator at home and will prepare troop calendars.  (Dan would like to have one faxed to him.)

Treasurer: Jon would like to retire, and would like people to begin identifying candidates.

Adjourned at 7:54pm

 Be Prepared . . .

Eric                                        new CPR dates

                                                Indianapolis Time Trials date

Klondike Derby

 Phil                                        Great Lakes Naval Base tour

                                                New fund-raising ideas

                                                Talk to Cheryl about “TroopMaster” training

Peggy                                     OA conversions

                                                Coach Lucas        (recruit for Chapter/Lodge functions)

                                                                                (pay annual dues)

 Anyone/Everyone                District Award of Merit nominations – March deadline

Sandy                                      Troop Development sub-committee needs to meet.

                                                Invite Webelos Scouts to Overnight

                                                Invite Webelos Scouts to Swim nights

Patrick Bushaw                   Florida Sea Base (options and costs)

Ed                                           Webelos invitational campout arrangements

MaryAnn                               Verify CPR Training for Philmont adults and others

 Dan                                        Annual Tour Permit auto insurance information

                                                Get albums from Andrew