Troop 1 Parents Meeting

Monday July 5, 2004

PRESENT: Kirk Brownson, Steve Davis, Al Degenhardt, Bruce & Kathy Demsky, Mary Euritt, Dana Jenson, Chris Klaren

OLD BUSINESS:

1) Review/approve previous meeting minutes. The minutes were approved.

2) Treasurer's report. After bills & deposits, the Troop general fund balance is approximately $1600, Scout accounts about $1000, and $300 is in the new Troop Campership fund.

3) Review activities for last month:

3.a) Rank advancements. 37 merit badges were earned last month (35 at summer camp). 31 special awards were presented, C.O.P.E. (2), Fire Chip (11), Polar Bear Swim (3), Totin Chip (4), Trail to Eagle (11). 3 Scouts received their Ordeal membership in the Order of the Arrow, 3 Scouts attained Brotherhood membership with the OA, and 1 adult leader was called out for Ordeal. Congratulations to the Scouts and leaders involved!

3.b) Paintball Games, June 12. The paintball games were held and several Scouts earned the “bruise of courage”, and the stories afterwards indicated everyone had a good time. A count of the participants was not available as none of the accompanying adults were at this meeting.

3.c) Summer Camp Jun 20-26 update. 18 Scouts (11 of them first year) attended camp at Ingawanis and had a great time. In addition to the earned merit badges described previously, the Scouts have another 20 or so partial merit badges to complete, many in Archery and Rifle Shooting. Craig Drewelow and Mike Potter were at camp all week with Al and the Scouts. The twin water balloon launchers provided lots of fun, and the Scouts were well behaved throughout the week. The family picnic was Friday night, and the Troop left shortly thereafter. A very good experience for everyone involved.

3.d) Sturgis Falls fundraiser. 18 leaders and parents served beer at Tourist park on Saturday night raising the initial $300 for the Troop Campership fund. Everyone was amazed at the amount of liquid refreshments served from 8:30-11:30 PM, and we must have done a good job as we have been asked back for next year.

3.e) Hiking Merit badge. A 20 mile hike was held on June 27, resulting in 2 Scouts completing their (5) 10 mile hikes and the final 20 miler. There are a number of other Scouts in the process of completing the remainder of their requirements within smaller groups.

4) Review scheduled activities for current month:

4.a) Tristan Euritt Eagle Court of Honor July 11. Tristan’s Eagle Court of Honor will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 505 Franklin St., Waterloo at 1:30 PM. All Troop 1 Scouts are to arrive early at 12:45 PM in Class AA full dress uniforms (see website). All Scouts should also plan to attend practice for the Court of Honor at 6:00 PM Friday evening July 9 at the church.

4.b) Tubing/canoeing July 16-18. The campout is planned for Elgin, Iowa, and details will be forthcoming after the Troop meeting on July 11.

4.c) Philmont Scout Ranch Jul 26 – Aug 9. The group has been training during the Hiking merit badge. We trained with packs at the UNI Dome June 28, and held a shakedown campout July 4-5. More meetings and training are planned before we leave in 3 weeks.

5) Personal Fitness merit badge. Many of the first and second year scouts have completed, or nearly completed, the preliminary requirements for the Eagle required Personal Fitness merit badge. The initial baseline physical evaluation will be held this Saturday, July 10, at 9:00 AM at the West High track along Easton Ave. Scouts should be dressed appropriately and prepared for one minute of situps, one minute of pushups, a one mile run, and sit & reach stretching. Body measurements of shoulders, chest, abdomen, upper arm, and thigh will also be recorded. Parental help is needed to minimize the time needed to complete this activity. The next day at the Scout meeting, the Scouts will need to present a plan they will follow for the next 12 weeks to improve in each of the activities. Refer to the website for the merit badge requirements.

6) Backpacking merit badge update. None of the Scouts have interest in earning this merit badge and it will not be pursued any farther.

7) Troop tent inventory update. A new 4-Scout tent was purchased for $80 at WalMart. Another tent is being considered, as well as a new lantern.

8) Pop can fundraiser results. The fundraiser was very successful, raising $319. Another pop can drive is being considered for Labor Day weekend.

9) Retaining wall relocation fundraiser. The troop was asked by a St. Ed’s parishioner to relocate a flower garden retaining wall 6’ closer to their house. 4 adults and 5 scouts worked for a little more than an hour and raised $300 for the general fund.

10) Troop Campership fund discussion. The purpose of the fund as proposed is to help Scouts get to camp or campouts that otherwise would not be able to go due to financial hardships. The fund would provide seed money for summer camp to supplement money earned by the Scout, campership money from the Council, and Flapjackers camperships. The Troop Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman, and the Treasurer would consider requests and allocate funds. The $300 from Sturgis Falls will be used to establish the fund, and special fundraisers will be held through the year to replenish it. Chris will draft a proposal to consider at an upcoming meeting with the intent to include it in the Parent’s Guide.

NEW BUSINESS:

1) Adult Leader Position Training. The group discussed developing basic descriptions of the adult Troop positions and including it in the weekend Junior Leader training to be held in August. We need an adult leader to coordinate this effort.

2) Junior Leader Training – Al discussed the need to hold Junior Leader Training after the Troop leadership elections in July. As mentioned above, this training is needed to be held in August to get the new patrol Leaders and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader off to a great start.

3) Troop trailer discussion. The group discussed the current state of the trailer, which appears to be somewhat overloaded when full of the Troop and Scouts’ gear. Steve will ask Ken to ask the dealer that sold us the trailer what the cost would be to trade in our trailer for a new double-axle trailer, at most 2 feet longer than our current trailer. Is there a chance that we can just upgrade to a heavier axle/wheel combination? Or, do we really need to haul everything we have everywhere we go? The intent is to get an idea of the cost involved to determine its feasibility.

4) Free Bowling for Scouts Aug 28, Maple Lanes. Maple Lanes is offering free bowling for Boy Scouts 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Scouts may arrive individually or in groups.

5) Troop 1 Court of Honor – The group discussed and agreed to hold a Red/White banquet August 15 to present the awards to the Scouts that have earned them in the last year. The cookout will start at 5:00 PM at St. Ed’s school with the program following shortly thereafter in the cafeteria. More information will be forthcoming.

6) Campout dates. Al asked the group for guidance in scheduling campouts on the first Saturday/Sunday of the month to provide scheduling consistency. Conflicts with major holidays would roll to the next weekend. The group agreed to try starting this in October after the Fall Camporee.

NEXT PARENTS MEETING:

Monday, August 23, 2004, 7:00 PM, St. Ed’s cafeteria

TABLED FOR FUTURE MEETINGS:

* Troop trailer insurance (Al, indefinite)

* Boundary Waters 2005 (Steve, when appropriate)

* Jul 25-Aug 3, 2005 National Jamboree (when appropriate)