Troop 288 Committee met at the home of Joyce Murphy on May 7, 2009 from 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM.
Andrea Matthews Rich Seminara Jay Murphy Carolyn Neighbor
Joyce Murphy Art Dunn
Treasurer’s Report: Andrea Matthews presented the Treasurer’s Report. The financial status of the Troop is satisfactory. The current financial report is available for review. Collections and expenses for the past year and month were reviewed. Troop bank deposits and certificates were reviewed.
Fundraising: Every Family in the Troop should participate in each of our fundraising efforts.
§ Every family should be taking part in the collection of cans in neighborhoods, at home, and at work. Cans may be taken to the bin at the firehouse on Rt. 31 or stored at home until can workday. PLEASE CRUSH CANS PRIOR TO PUTTING IN THE BIN. Improved family participation in can collection is needed, given the high payment for recycled cans currently available.
§ Karen Terpe has graciously volunteered to coordinate fundraising.
§ Carol Dorf is doing an excellent job in coordinating can recycling.
Activities: Marie Siller is our Activities Coordinator and does an excellent job. Additional adults are always needed to help Marie and to volunteer to coordinate one of the many troop activities. A task list is available for coordinating trips.
§ A number of adults have signed up for Troop Committee membership and leadership in activities, advancement and fundraising.
§ Boards of Review adults as back-ups are needed during troop meetings.
§ May 1-3 – Snuffy Hollow Invitational Camporee, Thompson Park, Jamesburg, NJ – was a unique camping experience enjoyed by all. Troop 288 Scouts did very well in the competitions.
§ May 16 – Day of caring service project at Annandale Reformed Church, 9 AM to 2 PM.
§ May 25 – Somerville Memorial Day Parade
§ May 29-31 - Family Campout in Baltimore – multiple activities will be available. June 12-14 – PUCO at Round Valley Youth Center.
§ June 28 – July 4 – Frontier Camp at Green Mtn. Council Camp in Vermont.
§ July 12-18 - Trexler Summer Camp. 41 Troop 288 Scouts have signed up for Trexler.
§ August 22-23 – PLC Planning Weekend.
§ Sept 19 – Shooting Merit Badge weekend.
§ Sept 25-27 – Teetertown Camporee – planning will begin soon.
Record Keeping: Any changes or additions of personal information for scouts and parents should be forwarded to Christine at c.freitag@embarqmail.com or 236-7967. Updated Troop 288 Rosters and Committee Lists are available and updated regularly. Thank you, Christine, for your fine work in keeping our records updated. Please notify Christine if your e-mail address has changed. New Troop 288 families are invited to add their information to our records. Advancement documentation and dates need to be made available for records. New Scouts will be added to our records. Linda Jaszyn has graciously volunteered to help with Records Keeping.
Cub Scouting: Cub Scout recruiting has gone well in recent years. Troop 288 has recently welcomed 17 new Scouts to the Troop. The number of cub Scouts and Webelos in our community has increased. Troop 288 Den Chiefs are doing an excellent job working with local Cub Scout Packs.
Financial Assistance through camperships is available and needs to be tied to the recipient Scout’s efforts in fundraising, motivation, Scout spirit, participation in service activities, approach to Scouting, and attitude, as well as family need. Financial Assistance from the Troop to families in Troop 288 and Venture Crew
188 facing financial difficulty in meeting Scouting expenses is supported by the Troop Committee. Candidates should demonstrate active participation in Troop fundraising activities. Troop families are invited to identify a fellow Troop family needing assistance and to share that information with our Scoutmaster. In the future Summer Camp discounts will be made available to Scouts who make good sales of popcorn. Camperships are available for Troop 288 families who have had recent job losses.
Venturing:
· Scouts graduated from 8th grade, age 14 years, and Star rank, are eligible to join Venture Crew.
· Venture Crew committee meetings are scheduled for the first Monday of each month, unless it is a Holiday.
· Don Stieh is providing great leadership for the crew.
· Venture Crew activities have been outstanding and well attended.
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Newsletter: Updated news regarding the Troop is being added to the website. Mary and Don Bean have graciously volunteered to take on leadership and organization of the Troop 288 website. Recent significant improvements in our website have been noted. Visit the site at www.bsa-Troop288.com. Our Newsletter is currently dormant.
Quartermaster:
· An adult quartermaster assigned to each patrol may be helpful to keep equipment organized and available.
· Prevention of equipment loss needs continued emphasis.
· Keeping the trailer clean and tidy after camping has improved.
· Lights are needed inside the storage area of the trailer.
· Organization of the Troop closet at the church needs to be addressed, since it is still in disarray.
· Each patrol should have a quartermaster to work with the Troop quartermasters to facilitate coordination.
Advancement:
· Rank advancement for our New Scouts is going well.
§ Advancement mentoring and guidance to Eagle Scout Rank for Life Scouts continues.
§ Eagle Scout candidates with poor Troop attendance will be meeting with our team of adult Eagle Scout Advisors.
§ Ron Seidorf is the Troop’s Board of Review Chairperson.
§ The Eagle Scout Candidate Expectations written agreement specifically lists the commitment requirements of the Eagle Candidate regarding Troop event attendance and Scout Spirit prior to earning the Eagle Rank. Eagle candidates are expected to maintain their presence and participation in Troop activities throughout their Scouting years.
§ A Troop Committee Team has been established to counsel Eagle Scout Candidates who are not demonstrating Scout Spirit, participation in Troop meetings and events, as well as not being good role models for younger Scouts.
§ Progress reports on individual Life Scout candidates for Eagle Rank were updated in detail by Art Dunn.
§ Art Dunn, Eric Shick and Chris Neighbor are the Troop’s Eagle Advancement Mentors and will work together to provide each Eagle candidate with both a challenging and emotionally comfortable Eagle Project Flow Plan, individualized for each Scout. The nature of their guidance and monitoring will depend on the personality, individuality, motivation, interest and strengths of the Eagle candidate. The mentors will work together for the best interests and success of the Scout as he matures on his road to Eagle.
§ Procrastination, poor planning, and postponement of work by some Scouts have been identified as areas needing modification and improvement for the timely advancement of Eagle Candidates.
§ Three Troop 288 Scouts were recently elected to Order of the Arrow.
Scoutmaster’s Report:
§ Nametags for Scouts have been distributed to Scouts and should be worn.
§ Troop 288 families are asked to RSPV to invitations to Eagle Award Ceremonies to facilitate planning by families. Every Scout should try to attend each Eagle Ceremony and be in uniform.
§ Jamboree – July 26 to Aug 4, 2010 at Fort AP.P. Hill, Virginia; planning has begun.
§ A merger of Jenny Jump and Hunterdon Arrowhead Districts has taken place and will continue in Central NJ Council. The new name is Pahaquarra District.
§ A permanent site for Boy Scout Jamborees starting in 2013 is being sought.
§ Boy Scout Uniforms will be changing in design and color. The 100th Anniversary Logo is good. New uniforms have more pocket room, have Velcro, and are quick-dry material. They will be available soon, but not mandatory until 2010.
§ The Committee discussed methods to increase the attendance, Scout Spirit, motivation, cooperation and interest in Scouting of a number of Scouts in the Troop.
§ An adult advisor for each patrol would increase its organization and motivation.
§ Our Troop Charter has been updated.
§ Updated shoulder patches will be purchased; nametags will be updated and purchased for the new Scouts and adults.
§ Contacts to suggest potential Eagle Projects in the community were discussed.
§ An outdoor classroom at a local grade school may be a potential Eagle Project.
§ Special events by the District and by our Troop to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Scouting in 2010 were suggested and discussed.
New Business:
· The Troop is trying to locate missing equipment. The importance of returning Troop equipment needs to be emphasized to each Scout and to each Scouting family.
· An adult assigned to each patrol would guide and develop the patrol and help individual boys.
· The Committee supports giving financial support to a Troop Scout needing help to attend Jamboree.
· Many younger Scouts may need an adult, parent or older Scout as a role model to motivate enthusiasm, interest and participation in Scouting.
· Central NJ Council BSA is now located at 2245 USS Highway 130, Suite 106, Dayton, NJ 08810.
· Pahaquarra District Committee needs an adult representative from each troop in the district to plan events and fundraising, as well as retention and advancement.
· Mess kits have been ordered and will be available.
· Annandale Town Yard Sales will take place in September.
· Shooting weekend is planned for September 19. Venture Crew 188 may participate with Troop 288.
· Three Eagle Ceremonies are planned this summer.
· A list detailing each Troop Committee Job Description has been developed by Chris Neighbor. It is well written and interested Troop 288 adults are invited to consider filling the vacant positions listed. The list is available from our Scoutmaster.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 4, 2009, at 7:00 PM at the home of Therese and Eric Shick, 3 Bristol Court, Annandale – 908-735-7985. Note the new location and starting time for the June meeting. Please bring a folding chair for this outdoor meeting, weather permitting.
Boris G. Ivovich MD
Committee Secretary