June 27, 2006

Present: Phil Reece, Belinda Cowdrey, Craig Louthain, Eric Schmidt, Greg Poulisse, Terry Nichols, Dannette Holifield, Lois Blondin, MaryAnn Bushaw, Sandy Schwartz, Vicki Lambert, Jessica Tufly, Tracy Mattison, Paul McCaffrey, Richard Lambert, Brian Murphy

Meeting started at 8:18 PM

Treasurer’s Report: . Craig gave the report verbally. He has copies if anyone is interested.

Past Events

OA Election (by May 1, 2006): Youth elections for our troop will be March 21st. Adult election will need to be done at next committee meeting. We discussed the requirements. Ken, Sandy and MaryAnn are eligible. Ed, Lois, Dannette may also be eligible, also Paul. Mark said the Lodge needs adults who are willing to commit, if not, please do not elect them. MaryAnn Bushaw and Ken Hoxie agreed to be active, if elected. (3/21) A secret ballot elected Ken. Congratulations! Three scouts were elected by their peers tonight. (4/25) 8 scouts were eligible but only 3 were elected. Sandy will make sure things are ready for the callout. (5/23) Terry talked to Art about the scouts who were elected. Terry will check with Sandy to see what needs to be done for the Call Out ceremony at Ransburg. (6/27) Sandy says callout is all set, but we need Lodge paperwork (Terry has it).

Popcorn (April 1, 2006): (5/23) Ken Hoxie got a second job and will not be able to continue as the Kernel; we need a new Kernel! Paul McCaffrey is helping out for the interim and is waiting for people to turn-in money. Three people have paid so far. Paul will call and request money from the scouts. Steve Horan has the extra popcorn, if anyone is interested. (6/27) We need to collect $12.00 from one, and $88.00 from another, per Paul.


CVFPD Midwest Regional Extrication Competition (May 20 - 21, 2006): We have been invited to hold the food fundraiser again this year. We made about $1400 last year. We need to keep the refreshments open later this year to accommodate the awards ceremony. (3/21) Phil Reece will put together a sub-committee. Greg, Paul and Ken are willing to help Phil with this. (4/25) Smoothies are lined-up. Craig and Phil will talk about food. About half of the shifts are signed-up for. Phil will put the schedule up on the website. Phil will borrow Ed’s grill. (5/23) Thanks to everyone who worked! Several worked over hours. There was one NCNS. We made between $800 and 1000. (Phil suggests we need to order T-shirts in March, so scouts have them for the fundraisers.) Terry would like a final account of who worked. Need a record to give to Ed for scout accounts. We did not do as well this year. We seemed to sell more than last year. We sold about 100 chicken and pork chop sandwiches which were donated, so they were all profit. Next year, Phil is hoping to preorder food from GFS, we cleared-out their supply of some items and Wal-Mart on others. Too many people were involved in purchasing the food, so we over-bought. Need to have only one person in charge. Phil is going to analyze the information to find out why we made less. Suggestion was giving workers cards and check-off what they want which would help us keep records a little better. Judges, event workers, and scout workers were given their food for free. The troop will eat (pun intended) the cost of the food for the judges. (6/27) Phil is still working on expense/net profit report; hopes to be done by next meeting.

Future Events

Day Camp Training (June 4, 2006): (5/23) There is a Cub Scout Day Camp Training at the UAW Hall in Belvidere. If you are helping at a day camp, you should go to this. (6/27) Done.

Alpine Slide Campout (June 9-11, 2006): There is a Mississippi cruise there for 1.5 hours; it costs $22, but she is hoping for a group rate. Sandy is exploring places to camp nearby. If we did the cruise, we may do it in two groups. Question can the kids do the Alpine Slide more than once? Committee decided to make the reservation. Sandy needs to check, she thinks it might have been for August. (4/25) She signed-up for the wrong date. She will fix it. Sandy will bring some activities to the PLC to decide which ones to do. (5/23) We will take the extra brats from the Extrication competition and have a picnic in Galena. Troop will provide one $5.00 ride on the slide; scouts would pay for any additional rides. Sandy suggests not taking the cruise -- too short, too expensive. Still need an announcement for it. The Mississippi Palisade Park was suggested for the boys to take a hike, maybe work on Hiking merit badge. (6/27) Fun campout but were not able to go on the slide because of the weather -- Closed and would not reopen because of the storms. Did get to take a ride on the ski lift, then played mini putt, then went to the tower and climbed it. Went to Stockton that night for ice cream. Very nice campground. Only ones there Friday night, several there Saturday. Consideration for next time, do as a day trip. Can get a pass for unlimited rides $15 in the evening.

NYLT (Jun 11-17, 2006): (3/21) Possibly Ryan and Glenn are going. April 25 is deadline with a $50 deposit due. (4/25) Nick said he had 4-5 scouts interested. Terry said those scouts are not confirmed and need to do so ASAP. It has to be paid this week or it goes up next week. Eric will check with some. Scouts will eat any late fees. (The Troop never pays anyone’s late fee!) (5/23) Three scouts are going Glenn Sparks, Zachary Blondin and Ryan Lambert. All are paid. Waiting for Ryan to submit his information. (6/27) Three attended, and 3 served on staff. Sounds like it went great.

Patrol Cook-Off (June 13, 2006): (5/23) Richard suggested everyone get the same things to cook and add their own flare to it. Menu planning will be June 6th. We will know what is needed after that point. We need the troop trailer to be available. We will do it at Baumann Park. Bill LeFevre will need to get the permit for the shelter house. Terry will talk to him about reserving it. We need someone to pull the trailer; Eric will be out-of-town. Paul will get another grill. Terry suggested that we have gas and charcoal grills available. We are suggesting they use the hamburgers left over from the extrication competition. Each patrol will get an equal proportion. They cannot grill hamburger patties, but they have to come up with something creative for the hamburger meat. (6/27) Boys seemed to like it. Thanks to Lois for cleaning the pots and pans.

BMX Food Tent (Jun. 1518, 2006): (4/25) Same people from the extrication event volunteered to help. Ken will put out a sign-up sheet after extrication is filled-up. (5/23) It was suggested that we have a supervisor for each day instead of one person in charge of it all. We need better warming ovens for our pizzas. Paul will be working with Pizza Hut. Sign-up form is on the website. People are asked to sign-up for 3 shifts. (6/27) All people showed up and a few brought extras. Looks like we made between $800 and $1000 after the split with BMX. (6/27) Still owe money to 2 parties. New did not make as much as we were hoping. Did not throw anything out this year. Lois commented that she suggested that we start selling food sooner on Thursday. (Previous years tents were not up until after 4:00.) Paul brought an extra tent which was a real lifesaver, they put it out front. We need 3 electrical circuits instead of just 2. Do not use stir sticks again, they were a pain to pick up at the cleanup. MaryAnn suggested we consider selling something else cold besides just Snow cones and Smoothies. That was decided that it would be too much hassle. Had problem with popcorn machine (it is Blondin’s machine; Lois will look into it).

BMX Clean-up (Jun. 18, 2006): (5/23) The announcement has been posted on the website. (6/27) 31 people shared in the cleanup. (Last year 15 people.) Basically earned $16.60 per person. Finished at 6:00. Didn’t start until 3:30. Didn’t make as much per person, but didn’t work as long. Groups of kids were not productive. (We need to make sure we have an adult with groups of kids, because the kids will not work as hard in their own group. -- Each adult have 1-3 scouts with them.) When we were done the grounds were cleaned. We could have been done earlier. Did not clean all of the campground just up to the ridge; campers stretched farther out with their campsites this year. We are not responsible for the vendor areas if they are too slow to pack up and leave.

Summer Camp (July 2-8, 2006): Cost is $180 per Scout (early-bird price) and $17 per day for adults, which the troop will pay. The deposit will be $30 for the each scout, with a $25 fee for additional scouts in the same family; due by March 3rd; the balance is due May 5th. There is a $10 late fee if someone signs up after March 3rd. New scouts joining from Webelos dens can sign-up later. We will sign-up two less scouts, to make sure we do not lose the whole deposit for any cancellations. Sandy would like to use the January 17th troop meeting to inform parents about this camp experience. Sandy sent out emails checking to see who would like to go to Ransburg summer camp. 9 Scouts and 4 adults replied that they would like to go. 25 youth signed up, still working on others. Six adults have confirmed; two more are thinking about it. New scouts and parents have not been talked-to. (3/21) There are 30 youth signed-up now, including new scouts. No new news next payment is April 14th. (4/25) 35 youth confirmed as going. Sandy read names of adults who were going: a total of 8 for sure and 2 more possible. Medical forms are available for those who need them everyone. An offer was presented to stop and camp at Kingma’s Tree Farm for either on the way to or from camp. A Dairy Farm tour is available too. Committee would prefer to stop on the way down. It is less than half way. Phil suggested that the drivers going should make that decision. It was suggested to stop and just visit but not camp -- possibly a lunch break with a tour of the tree farm. Our leaving time will be adjusted and it will be a mid-morning break with only an hour to stop. (5/23) While trying to make the arrangements with the Kingma’s, they said it wouldn’t work they do not schedule activities on Sundays; it interferes with their religious activities. That plan canceled! (6/27) 34 youth, 11 adults will be attending. Some still need swimming tests. Wednesday evening the dining hall is closed. Do we want to order pizza? ($8 each to feed 3-4 people.) Brats were suggested. Terry suggested Spaghetti. Terry, Lois, Steve Fedor, Ken Hoxie, Paul, Mary Ann are all driving. We are still short drivers. Phil suggested renting a 15-passenger van to get the rest. If Mark drives, we would have enough. Do we want to order pictures? Suggested to order one and copy them. Steve Fedor is pulling the troop trailer. Sandy will give Phil the info to put on the website. Lois gave him the new health form to put on there also. Sandy asked for a shopper. Lois will shop for spaghetti fixi'ns. (Get sauce with meat; make it easy. This is also parent night so plan for extras. Paul will bring the beverages (from MREC).

Independence Day Parade (July 4, 2006): (3/21) The troop is at summer camp, so we cannot do it this year. (4/25) Bill will let the Village know. (5/23) Bill LeFevre has already done this.

Serverson Dells (July 25, 2006): (4/25) It’s a troop meeting. It’s off Montague Road, west of Rockford. Sandy is getting someone to talk. (5/23) Sandy suggested we do our own thing because it can be expensive to have someone give us a tour. Belinda suggested we get brochures ahead of time to give to adults to become familiar with it, so they can point-out things. Terry will check into it. (6/27) Terry has maps and some literature available for adults for their groups. Sandy suggested that each group look for something different. We will need to wing-it. We will be meeting out there near the Prairie Knoll shelter house. Phil needs an announcement for it; Terry will work on it.

Blackhawk Regatta (Saturday, July 29, 2006): (4/25) It is a council event for youth, 14 and older. MaryAnn will put information together for it. (5/23) Regatta is at Levings Lake. MaryAnn wants us to go. Beside Crew members, there are a few other youth in the troop who are that age. It could help introduce them to the crew. Coordinate it with Eric. (6/27) MaryAnn still wants a group to go. Terry suggests whoever wants to go should be able to.

Fiesta Italiana (Aug. 4 - 7 2006): (3/21) Steve Horan will be doing it no conflicts this year. (6/27) Sheet has been passed around. It is also online.

Troop 224 Spud Hut (August 813, 2006): (5/23) They are going to need people this year. We should see sign-up sheets by next month. An adult must work with a scout; and everyone pays to get into the Boone County Fair. (6/27) SteveDeVlieger came and talked about it tonight at the meeting -- contact Steve at 544-8310 (home) or 670-9833 (cell).

Americas River Campout (August 25 27): (5/23) Sandy is doing something with it. (6/27) We have the camping place reserved; which is Mississippi Palisades. Tours are available.

Miscellaneous Business

Training:

Wood Badge: Craig is still working on his ticket. (6/27) Fast Start and Youth Protection are part of his Ticket. He requested that we do it at a scout meeting. Two nights are suggested, and that they be done 2 weeks in a row. Craig needs to coordinate it with Sandy to set-up.

Leader Specific (Oct 2006): (5/23) Greg Poulisse was not able to attend. Lois Blondin may be attending this session. (6/27) Greg did not get to go but is planning to go to the next one. Lois did -- just needs to do the campout, which cannot be done until the fall. Dannette needs that too.

Fast Start: Do it online; or set a date. (5/23) Vicki Lambert did hers online but did not get her card. She was advised to take her printout to the council office (Beth Ann) and get her card.

Youth Protection: (3/21) Adults should re-do their Youth Protection training. There will be one at the next Roundtable on April 6th at 6:45 pm. All adults are encouraged to attend! (4/25) It is good for 2-years. All need to be updated, except Terry, MaryAnn & Craig, who updated on 4/6/06. It can be taken online and takes less than an hour. You must contact Beth Ann at council office within a week to follow-up and get your certification card. (5/23 ) Everyone who goes to summer camp should have it renewed! Get a printout if you do it and let MaryAnn know, for our troop’s records.

First Aid/CPR Certifications: (3/21) Whoever needs it, should get their name(s) to Eric Schmidt, or nothing will be arranged. Anyone who is going to summer camp should have their certification.

Troopmaster (5/23) Will start-up discussion again after summer camp.

Service Project for the Church: They have two projects that could be used for Eagle projects. One is to make a sign for the church. The second is to dig out the playground so it can be made deeper and enlarged. If the playground is not picked up as an Eagle project the troop will look at doing it as a service project in the Spring. One Scout asked about it, but changed his mind. Playground in rear of church needs improvement to meet new DCFS guidelines. Bill Ziemke furnished a sheet with the proposal for the project. (4/25) If no one is doing it as an Eagle project we need to jump on it for the troop to do. No Eagle candidate was interested. Ed Blondin will talk to Bill Ziemke about getting this organized. (5/23) We need to wait until after summer camp. Between day camps, summer camp, and fundraisers we will not have enough people to do it right. Besides, the church does not have the final specs yet.

Swimming: Jefferson is not available; Belvidere High School is using it and there are problems with the custodial pool staff. Marcus Tryggestad is checking Rockford College and Rockford YMCA. Mr. Schmidt will still check with Guilford. We’re waiting for an answer from RESA. Millennium Center is $45 per hour 7:30 to 9:00 on Tuesday. Belvidere YMCA - $2.00 per person on Wednesday, is available as an open swim night. Dolphin Swim Club is Friday only. Marcus and Eric will let Phil know what the results are, so a decision can be made by the end of November and our swim nights chosen. Two choices remain: Millennium Center or Belvidere YMCA. Millennium Center (former YWCA) is Tuesday night, there’s no guest seating and a small locker room. Lois suggested rotating scouts through locker room by patrol. Eric will see if it is still available. The Belvidere YMCA is $2.00 per person on Wednesday but it’s an open swim. Paul says it tends to have problems with maintenance and closes unpredictably. Phil will check with Jim Fry regarding Flinn’s pool. A sub-committee will make a decision next week. Also, Eric is working on Rockford College for next year. Maybe we will do one swim night at Rockford College for this year as a trial. One, maybe two, swim nights there. Terry & Phil are going to go Friday to Rockford College to check it out. Possibly go back to Tuesdays. Flat fee of $20.00. BJ says it is slightly smaller than an Olympic pool. It does have two diving boards. We have to furnish our own lifeguard. They have bleachers. Belinda provided a contract from Jefferson for next year. Eric is working on Rockford College for next year also. Need to check and see if our lifeguard will be available. We will make a decision at next meeting. Had some problems with the swim team getting out of the Belvidere Y pool on time on January 11. Rockford College is still interested in us going there. We will be talking with BJ Robertson (394-3727) to set up a tour. Belinda has a contract form for Jefferson for 2007. As of tonight, we’re still working on Rockford College. They have not returned calls. Belvidere Y is still looking for updated liability insurance from Council; Eric will follow-up. Marcus has confirmed he will be there. According to “Aquatic Safety,” two capable swimmers can be used instead of a lifeguard. (3/21) Courtney Oertell, Events Coordinator, Rockford College, 815-226-4039, coertell@rockford.edu , 7:00 - 8:30 April 4 and May 2. ($12.50 per two lanes per hour -- $56.25 for full pool for 1.5 hours.) Put on to liability insurance and copy to them. We have been offered two Tuesday nights at Rockford College pool. April 4th and May 2nd. Cost will be about $56.25 for each night. After the May event, we will discuss going there in 2007. The troop will go to McDonalds by the Sweden House on State Street after swimming. Terry provided a new flier. Thanks to Phil for all of his negotiations! (4/25) RC’s water is warmer than Jefferson, not as hot in bleacher area. Everyone liked it overall. Parking was a bit of a problem. Parking Lot A across the street is available, but furtherer away. Phil will make sure other door is unlocked. Comments will be taken after next swim and a decision will be made for next year quickly. Eric suggested that a thank-you card be sent to the Belvidere YMCA, preferably by a scout. Eric will bring a thank-you card for the scouts and scouters to sign at swimming. (5/23) Scheduling was a problem with the last swim, but it can be fixed. Boys liked the warmer water. Motions were yes’ to keep it at Rockford College. Keep it on Tuesday. Prefer 6:30, 1-½ time slot. Keep it on first Tuesday of the month. If not available, second Tuesday is acceptable. (6/27) Still waiting on the contract for the first Tuesday from 7 8:30. They wanted to know if we wanted 7:30 9:00, because of a potential conflict. Getting worried! If it doesn’t happen soon, need to go back to Jefferson. We will make a decision next meeting. Jefferson is changing principals, so we will need to recheck.

Good Turn for America: (5/23) Food Drive and Pancake breakfast are in there. The church suppers need to be put into it. We had two scouts who did not show up this month and the church was not happy. This was their busiest one. No reminder calls were given this time. Terry suggested a letter to Bill Ziemke as well as suggestions to prevent it from happening again. Phil will write it. (6/27) MaryAnn said that it is not printed-out yet, but the information is entered. Phil wrote a letter to Bill Ziemke and read it to the committee. A copy is also being given to the church pastor. Do we have a scribe writing thank you letters? (No Scribe.) Eric will get a thank-you letter to the Karate demonstrators.

Religious Retreats: (4/25) MaryAnn said we need to encourage members to go to the religious retreats.
(5/23) There is a conflict with our troop schedule in September. We will not be attending. (6/27) MaryAnn says plans are moving forward. Only one has shown an interest.

Insurance: (3/21) Our regular insurance is due to renew July 6th. (6/27) Craig sent a check out. Terry asks that we get a copy. Sandy will call and get a fax of it since it runs out during summer camp.

Numerals and Patrol Medallions: (3/21) Terry sent for a quote. From DeKalb: $2.25 ea. for 100; $1.55 for 250, and $1.47 for 300+. He had a quote for the extra “35 years” strip. The troop decided not to go with the extra strip. The committee decided to order 250 patches. Patrol patches: there are no stock patches that match our patrols. Welsh Industries in DeKalb would charge $5 a piece or blank patches for $1 each. Greg Sparks will look into it during his next trip to India or Shanghai. (4/25) Patches came in and Terry rejected them because they were not acceptable. (5/23) Greg Sparks dropped the blank patrol medallions off in India. He is getting pricing on 200. Terry is still working on numerals from Welsh Industries. Patch is larger and numbers are too skinny. (We have 250 bad patches.) He suggested changes by email and Welsh emailed a picture of a correction. That needs changing too. More suggestions have been submitted, but no final reply. (6/27) Terry said it is still in-process. Lois talked to Greg Sparks; minimum order is 2000. Lois wanted to check with Necchi New Home center to see if they could get them. Phil said that there are people who would be willing to put the time in there if we give them the blanks. Paul suggested talking to his wife, which he will do (Midge has a fancy, new machine. Lois will talk to her also.

Merit Badges/Counselors: (3/21) The troop needs more physical fitness merit badge counselors. A couple of volunteers spoke up, including Greg Sparks. We can bring up the need for more counselors at Family Night. Another idea is to pick a badge and do it on a weekend every other month. Richard suggested a merit badge campout. (4/25) “Merit Badge work every other month.” Do we want to do that, or is anyone interested in doing a one-day MB? Summer camp provides their own merit badge cards. Woodcarving possibility for late summer. (5/23) Greg Sparks and Eric Schmidt are working on getting the troop information updated at District; also, we need to update troop website. Encourage counselors to help guide and counsel the boys. We need to tell boys what is required for them to complete the merit badge. Suggested that we need to plan one every month. Suggested that we even work on some that are Eagle required ones that cannot be done in a day, but give scouts a jump start. Merit Badge Learn and Earn is scheduled for next Spring. Mark Rauschenberg is a Merit Badge counselor for about 12 badges, we need to get him here, at least for the computer one. (6/27) OK

New Business

Next Committee Meeting (July 25, 2006) This is the night of Severson Dells. Suggested we move it to the week before, July 18th.

Bike Hike Campout (Sept 16 17, 2006): who is sponsoring it, what trailers are available, where are we going? Eric will run it again. He has 2 trails picked-out. Homework needs to be done.

Adult Training (Sept 20, 2006): Dannette is planning on going to the campout.

Sporting Clays for Scouting (Sept 23, 2006): Terry has a flyer and that is it.

WEBELOS Open House (Sept 26, 2006): Sandy will take care of it.

Wreath Sales (Sept 26, 2006): Paul McCaffrey will take care of it.

Health Forms: Lois wants to be in charge of it.

Eagle forms on District website, MaryAnn discussed. Oh! Ida Bolen is the new District Coordinator.

We have a candidate for Popcorn Kernel.

Adjourned at 9:28 PM