Present: Phil Reece, Ryan Lambert, Eric Schmidt, Sandy Schwartz, Lois & Ed Blondin, Bob Voll, Paul McCaffrey, Steve & Gretchen Horan, Craig Louthain, Mary Ann Bushaw, Terry Nichols.

Meeting started at 8:15 pm

Treasurer’s Report: Money is correct for Sea Base. It’s suggested to hand money into Craig in envelopes with the event written on it.

Northlander Gym (March 11-12, 2005): The event is set for March 11-12, from 8:00 pm until 8:00 am, Friday night to Saturday morning. (It is followed by the First Aid Meet at 9:30 am.) The cost is $35 for climbers taking the merit badge; climbing with out the merit badge is $25, non-climbing chaperones are free. The troop will split the above fees with the participant. If we want food, we have to order it ourselves and pay for it separately; or bring it. Patrick, Sandy and Phil will be attending with 19 scouts. Sandy and Phil will work on finishing merit badge.

Show and Do (March 19, 2005): Mary Ann is looking at it. Date is March 19^th during Learn and Earn. No information has been released. Cancelled, due to other conflicts.

Merit Badge Learn and Earn (March 19 and April 2, 2005): The event is March 19, and April 2; both at Third Presbyterian Church, 1221 Custer Avenue. Phil is working on posting the information. The scouts who were going to sign-up have signed-up! Connie Snyder is the District Coordinator. Phil needs to get health forms into council prior to the event. Eleven scouts went. Several scouts earned ‘partials.’

District Dinner (April 3, 2005): There will be a subcommittee meeting shortly. Flyers will be passed-out at the next Roundtables. Also, nomination forms will be passed out and collected all in one night. Gretchen has gotten a flyer ready for Roundtable. Fire Station #3 is reserved for April 3^rd. The theme is "Celebration" – a party theme; because it is Cub Scouting’s 75th Anniversary. The food is decided. (Gretchen Horan, Eric Schmidt, Mary Ann Bushaw, and Phil Reece). Program has been approved by District. We need to find someone for invocation -- Phil will ask Pastor Kim. Decorations are being worked on. Committee decided troop will pay for everything in advance and get one check from District, about $1800. Motioned and passed for Gretchen to spend it. We spent about $1,700, went over by $300; District knows why. Gretchen will hand in actual budget and expenses. Gretchen will pick up check and pass onto Craig by end of the week. Discussed doing dinner a 3^rd year. Gretchen will volunteer us for a 3^rd year, with the stipulation that another unit partner with us and take full responsibility in the next year. Need separate flyers and display board for nominations; that seemed to help for the 2004 dinner.

First Aid/CPR Certifications: Need to get names and dates for next sessions before Boundary Waters. Lois needs CPR for summer camp; Sandy and Paul need First Aid. Eric will set it up at the Belvidere Fire Station.

Eagle Cave (April 22-24, 2005): A payment is due in March. Need exact count of people by March 22. (Eagle Cave will not refund fees for people who do not go.) The troop will be charging more for this campout for both Scouts and Scouters. Eagle Cave charges $42 each. Motion was made and passed to charge $21 for each participant. A $100 deposit check was sent. Need announcement for family night. The cave does not give refunds – Therefore, estimate low. Will put down payment on the check card. We have 40 people going. Ken, Paul, Craig, Terry, Ed, John L, Shauna B are the adults going. We will need a trailer for gear. Ed can pull Eric's trailer. Sandy has new hand out. Leave at 5:30 PM Friday, return at 3:00 PM on Sunday.

Midwest Regional Extrication Competition (May 21-22, 2005): The Midwest Regional Extrication Competition needs a group to serve food to participants. It would be 7am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday in May of 2005. It means manning the kitchen at Station #3 and buying and serving the food for a couple hundred people. It would support the fire station, which is our charter organization. Bill LeFevre said our troop would be asked to do this. A motion was made and passed to offer our services for this. (Brats and hamburgers last year.) The committee agreed to explore this further – as a service project. Being held at fire station three. Need 2 adults and 4 scouts. Eric will coordinate with Bill. The Spring Camp-O-Ree is the same weekend. Phil and Lois will arrange, and work it. Since the troop is expected to purchase the food and sell it for a profit, scouts can earn money for scout accounts. We may need help from Crew 181, depending on Camp-O-Ree attendance.

Camp-O-Ree (May 20-22): Details should come out at Roundtable.

BMX Food Tent (June 16-19, 2005): It is the weekend we leave for the Boundary Waters. Need to have schedule ready for family night on March 22^nd. Phil to email out schedule. We need to ask for corn roaster.

BMX Clean Up (June 19, 2005): Need to make an announcement on the web site. Posted.

Boundary Waters (June 19 - 26): Eric Schmidt bought 3-permits for Troop 181 and 2-permits for Crew181. (Nine people per permit.) Approximate cost per participant will be $500. There was discussion about the availability of advisors for each permit. Al Fredrickson will put on some classes for canoeing. There are about 9 canoes in the troop that could be used for practice. All scouts need to be First Class. Looking at requiring canoeing, first aid, and swimming merit badges prior to leaving. We may want to change it to "be actively working towards them" in order to deal with exceptions. Eric, Ed and Al need to offer ideas on what to do. Print up this section notes to be discussed at next week’s troop meeting. 14 scouts and 3 adults are looking at going from the troop for 2 crews. There is a maximum of 9 people in a crew. Adults will pay between $150 and $200; troop to pick up the remainder.

Summer Camp (July 10 - 16, 2005): Ken Hoxie, and maybe Ed will be attending. Camp Lowden has been chosen for July 10-16, 2005. Need adult volunteers. $100 deposit has been paid from the troop account at the Council office. Costs are $160 per Scout by May 1^st and $180 after that date. The cost for adults is $107. March 15^th will be the parent information meeting, and the deposit is due March 22^nd ($25). Besides the $25 payable by each scout, a scout may earn up to 135 dollars in points. Ed will lead two sessions about the ways to earn points. One session will be for parents of new scouts; the other session will be a refresher for all scouts and their parents. Deb Lindstrom and Dannette Holifield will be attending. Need an announcement to hand out at Family Night. Ken, Ed, Craig, Mary Ann, Deb L, Dannette H., are going, 32 scouts are going. Troop to pick up half the cost for adults.

Florida Sea Base (Aug. 7-14, 2005): Still looking for people. Have 2 confirmed boys and 2 adults. We need at least 6 people, so it will be opened to the District after 12/31/04. It was brought up at Roundtable and there is 1 possible recruit. Need to look at what troop pays for adults. Still need to have committee look at how much the troop will pay for adults, several suggestions for 50%.

Mystery Campout: The Mystery Campout date needs to be changed to August, due to conflicts (Boundary Waters) in July. It will be a "family event" with permission slips required for all non-family participants.

Storage facilities: Phil will ask Dan Murphy to write a "thank-you"/tax letter for Jon Paul.

Discipline agreements: Derek needs to get the new patrol (Stallions) to sign the agreements at their parent information night.

Wood Badge: Next course C-24-05 is August 26-28 and Sept 30 – Oct 2. Paul McCaffrey wants to attend. He needs the prerequisites (New Leader Essentials and Boy Scout Leader Specific [5-sessions] training). Ken Hoxie & Steve Horan want to take the local training. Who else wants Woodbadge?

Leader Specific: Next session starts April 20^th. Ken, Paul and Steve need to go through Leader Specific Training to set up for Woodbadge. Dannette needs to do the overnight to finish her training. Phil will contact Tom Siefkin for applications. Paul called District and people do not need to pre-register; just show up. Siefkin said the same thing.

Fast Start: Jessica Fuller and Vicki Lambert need Fast Start. Need to inform new parents about training opportunities.

Troop Advisors: Ed is collecting adult volunteers for Patrol Coaches, and coaches for the all leadership positions.

Uniform Inspection: Ryan to discuss at next week’s PLC.

A "Thank you" needs to be sent to John Sutherland for his help with the pioneering camp-out. Nathaniel has written the letter, but it hasn’t been sent. Ed was given ideas for finding his address. (It’s in the phone book on Brown Avenue.) Need to follow up on Sutherland letter.

 Fall Camp-O-Ree at Camp Grant: Need Dates.

Popcorn: The Spring Popcorn Kickoff will be April 1, 2005. Will Jamie Beck do it again? Ken will run it, with help from Jamie. May want to look at "consignment sales." Wal-Mart may match funds. Can be set up to use leftover to fill orders. Look at doing this for Fall. Paul will work with Ken to set-up a few pre-sales. Three dates have happened and collected about $700. One more date to go.

Fire Safety Merit Badge: Ryan will set-up date with Brian Rehnberg for final card approval.

Troopmaster – We can spend the $130 to get new Troopmaster and dot com. Need to get FTP site before purchase. Will use the 90-day trial. The new version coming up may allow multiple level passwords.

Secretary: Judi Nichols has resigned as the troop secretary. Phil will ask for help at the Family Night. Still need new secretary.

Adult OA Elections: Mary Ann, Sandy and Craig qualify. Secret ballet elected Craig.

Scout OA Elections: Five scouts were elected. They can do their Ordeal at summer camp, Spring Fellowship, or Fall Conclave. Tell parents of scouts for summer camp, not scouts. One scout is not going to summer camp; should we tell him in advance? Craig will talk with all parents about money due prior to the Calling-Out Ceremony; about $40 per scout.

Annual Tour Permit: has been filled out. We still need a National permit filled-out for Sea Base.

Special needs – We encourage parents to fill-out paperwork for special needs to be filed at the council office. Mary Ann will hand out sheet to show what needs to be done. David Ziemke paperwork has been filed and granted. Two others may need it. Gretchen Horan (a special education professional) will work on discussing this subject with the parents affected.

Great America: is having a scout day on May 7^th. This may be adopted as a patrol event.

Adjourned 9:45 PM