Troop 45 Troop Committee Meeting 28 Jan 08 The Hanover Boy Scout Troop 45 monthly troop committee meeting was held Monday, 28 January at the Black Community Center. In attendance were Nick Collins (outgoing chairman), Yorke Brown (incoming chairman), Tim Smith (scoutmaster), Norma Young (treasurer), Byron Young (ASM), Frank Roberts (ASM), and Caroline Tischbein. Nick Collins opened the meeting at 7:05 and proceeded directly to the installation of the new chairman, Yorke Brown. Yorke offered a discussion of Nick's service to the troop over the past twenty years, and the attendees responded with an enthusiastic vote of thanks. Yorke called the business meeting to order at 7:15. Review of Minutes The November meeting, held 10 Dec did not transact any official business, so the minutes of the meeting of 22 Oct 07 were taken as the last official minutes. The minutes were approved as read with the minor correction that the postponed Pulp and Paper trip was to Vermont and not to Maine. Standing Committee and Officer Reports Treasurer (Norma Young): Current cash on hand $2,608.89 plus $372.40 on account at the scout shop. The popcorn sale grossed $1,108, but we also paid the same amount to the Council. Nick indicated that he expected a refund from the council so that we would eventually show a net gain. Advancement (Yorke Brown in the absence of Roger Thompson): Ned Dwyer and Roger Thompson have developed a new advancement tracking system that allows the scouts to see where everyone stands. They have posted an advancement chart in the meeting room and filled it out with appropriate data. Ned is also working on updating the Troopmaster database to make it more useful for tracking advancement in the troop. Scoutmaster (Tim Smith): Activities since the last meeting include Scouting for Food, the Hanover Scouting Event, Survival Campout, Webelos Hike, Mini-Klondike, District Klondike, and the Harris Cabin outing. Planned activities include assisting with the Pinewood Derby, the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the Nunnemacher Cabin-Scout Ski Day-JLT complex, and possible assistance with the Hanover Conservation Commission Breakfast. The troop has implemented a long-term patrol competition involving earning points for performance in various activities (both routine and specific to outings). The award is a very nice wooden ornament to be attached to the winning patrol's flag. OLD BUSINESS o Registration. Nick has completed the registration process. He has not yet received the new official roster. **Action NHC: Procure the charter roster. o Popcorn. Nick completed the popcorn sale as planned. Currently there is no net return, but he expects the council to rebate some of the money we have sent to cover the cost of popcorn we received. There is still some popcorn left over. This product is currently stored in Tim's garage, but Nick plans to remove it, bring it to the troop meeting and try to get scouts to sell the last of it. **Action NHC: Try to dispose of remaining popcorn. o JLT. The chairman ruled that this item is a program matter and outside the purview of the committee. The item is therefore closed. o Pulp and Paper merit badge. The chairman ruled that this item is a program matter and outside the purview of the committee. The item is therefore closed. o Summer Camp. There was some uncertainty as to our plans for summer camp in 2008. We believe that we are registered for Hidden Valley, and all agreed that this was the right choice. We are also not certain that Kevin O'Leary has agreed to continue as camp coordinator. Yorke will contact Kevin, determine if he is willing to coordinate the camp expedition this summer, and get the process of camp planning moving. **Action YJB: Contact Kevin O'Leary, determine his willingness to coordinate camp. If so, determine necessary action to prepare for camp. If not, find a camp coordinator. New Business o ECoH for Hidde deMuinck. We have determined that the best date for the deMuinck Eagle Court of Honor is Wednesday, 26 March. This date requires moving the March Parents Night from its policy-prescribed date of 19 Mar to 12 Mar. **Motion: To change the date of Parents Night to 12 March, and hold the ECoH 26 March. Passed. o Crossover. Both Tim and Yorke have been in contact with cubmaster Mike Campbell about the date for Crossover. Mike wants to do it early, but we believe that our schedule and our readiness to receive the new scouts requires a later date. Tim indicates that Mike may be willing to plan the crossover for the Blue-and-Gold Banquet in April. Tim agreed to pursue this plan with Mike. Nick suggested that registration of the new scouts would be facilitated by getting the transfer application forms completed in advance of crossover. Frank Roberts agreed to take on that task. **Action TPS: Negotiate a suitable crossover date with Mike Campbell. **Action FAR: Arrange to have transfer applications completed in advance. o Parents Meeting: Yorke expressed a belief that we needed to strengthen our communication with parents. He proposed a meeting for all parents about the time that the new scouts arrive in April, a procedure that has worked well for us in the past. The committee agreed that a parents meeting would be useful. Although BSA describes this function as a scoutmaster responsibility, Tim agrees that given his current workload it would be better for the troop committee to take on the task of conducting a meeting. Yorke and Tim accepted the task of scheduling a meeting coordinated with the other activities taking place in late March and April. **Action TPS, YJB: Coordinate scheduling for a Parents Meeting. Following the business portion of the meeting we held brief open discussion of ways of improving the effectiveness of the committee. Most of the suggestions indicated that the first priority should be to improve our methods of communication. The meeting adjourned at approximately 8:30. The next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 25 February at 7:00 pm.