Andrea Matthews Rich Seminara Michael McMahon Art Dunn
Joyce Murphy Carolyn Neighbor Walter Dorf Ken Whalen
Christine Freitag
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. The number of Scout Camperships awarded has increased. Popcorn and pie sales were good. The quality of some of the pies this year was less than satisfactory. The pie company will be notified.
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. Grocery script cards have been very useful.
§ Spaghetti Dinner is scheduled for Feb. 28, 2010.
§ Carol Dorf is doing an excellent job in coordinating can recycling.
§ A workday at the can bin is scheduled for December 5, 9 AM to 10:30 AM.
§ The Book Fair is scheduled for April 10 – 11 at the Armory.
Activities: Rich Seminara and Michael McMahon are our Activities Coordinators. Additional adults are always needed to help coordinate one of the many troop activities. The Troop is grateful to Marie Siller for her years of work as our Activities Coordinator.
§ 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.
§ Renewals of the Troop and Crew Charters have been initiated.
§ Jan 22-24 – Skiing campout
§ Jan 30 – Klondike at RVYC
§ Refer to the Troop 288 Fall and Winter schedule of coming events on cards sent to each 288 Scouting family. Planned events include West Point Camporee, Washington DC, the White House, Family Campout, Book Fair, Spaghetti Dinner, Summer camps, 2010 Jamboree, and a Manhatten Revoltionary Trail hike.
§ A schedule of Troop Activities can also be found on our excellent website at www.bsa-Troop288.com.
§ Aluminum can collection will be publicized in the Township Newsletter and by fliers to each family.
§ Jan. 31 – Scout Sunday at Annandale Reformed Church and Troop Dinner at Immaculate Conception Church.
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 and is in training for this job. Adult Applications are being updated.
Cub Scouting: Cub Scout recruiting has gone well in recent years. The number of Cub Scouts and Webelos in our community has increased. Webelos weekend on October 10 -11 was successful with 134 attendees. Status of local Cub Packs and Dens was updated regarding Scout Troop selection by Webelos. Cub Scouts will start visiting our Troop in January.
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. A water skiing weekend is being planned for next summer.
· Planning for future Philmont Crews continues for Scouts, Crew Members, and Adults.
Website: 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:
· Organization of the Troop closet at the church continues, since it is still in disarray.
· Troop 288 families who have Troop equipment stored in their homes should return the equipment promptly.
· Organizing the Troop trailer’s storage space continues.
Advancement:
§ Updated requirements for rank advancement will go into effect soon.
· Rank advancement for our New Scouts is going well.
§ 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.
§ Each Eagle Scout Candidate is being guided comprehensively in a detailed, kind, and caring manner.
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.
§ The Committee discussed methods to increase the attendance, Scout Spirit, motivation, cooperation and interest in Scouting of a number of Scouts in the Troop.
§ Additional Merit Badges are being added by BSA. Revisions in current Merit Badge forms are taking place and new forms will be used when available.
New Business:
§ Karen Terpe is our new fundraising coordinator and has presented several excellent new ideas for fundraising by the Troop. They included buying scrip gift cards from local businesses at a discount and then having the gift cards sold to the public at face value or used to buy food and supplies for camping.
· 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.
· 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 County Freeholders have approved the placement of plaques on the site of completed Eagle Projects.
· A good number of Scouts have signed up for Jamboree and Trexler Summer Camp.
· The High Bridge Food Pantry has moved to Clinton. The Troop will continue to support it.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 7, 2010 at 6:30 PM at Casa Meo Mexican Restaurant in High Bridge. Note the earlier starting time. Spouses are invited as guests of each Committee Member.
Boris G. Ivovich MD
Committee Secretary