Troop 288 Committee met at the home of Joyce Murphy on Feb. 5, 2009 from 7:30 PM to 9:45 PM.
Andrea Matthews Rich Seminara Jay Murphy Carolyn Neighbor
Joyce Murphy Rick Jaszyn Paul Procopio 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.
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.
§ Earth Day and our Spaghetti Dinner are forthcoming fundraisers.
§ Earth Day will be April 25.
§ Spaghetti Dinner is scheduled for March 1. Walter Dorf is working hard to plan the event at the church.
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.
§ Board of Review adults as back-ups are needed.
§ Jan 24 – Troop Dinner at Readington Reformed Church was well planned and great.
§ Jan 25 – Scout Sunday at Annandale Reformed Church was well done by Troop 288.
§ Feb 6-8 – District Klondike at RVYC.
§ Feb 20-22 – Winter weekend at Camp Minsi.
§ March 1 – Spaghetti Dinner
§ March 6-8 – Cabin Camping at Glen Crey
§ April 25 – Earth Day
§ May 29-31 - Family Campout in Baltimore
§ July 12-18 - Trexler Summer Camp.
§ A Troop 288 calendar has been printed covering September 2008 to August 2009 and is available and has been distributed to each Troop 288 family
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.
Cub Scouting:
Cub Scout recruiting has gone well in recent years. Troop 288 has recently welcomed many new Scouts to the Troop. The number of cub Scouts and
Webelos in our community has increased. Many Webelos from local Cub Scout Packs have shown interest in Troop 288.
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.
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.
Newsletter:
Articles for the Troop Newsletter are always welcomed from Scouts and Scout leaders. Adult leaders for the newsletter and the website are always welcomed. A
website carrier and an update of the website are needed and were discussed. Mary and Don Bean have graciously volunteered to take on leadership
and organization of the Troop 288 website.
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.
· Outfitting of the trailer continues.
· No new equipment is currently needed by the Troop.
· 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 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.
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 will be 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.
§ Troop formation and financing for Troop 288 Scouts attending Jamboree in 2010 were discussed.
§ Fundraising projects and camperships may be used to facilitate financing for some Scouts.
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.
· Central NJ Council BSA will be moving from its current Route 1 location to a new location on Rt. 130.
· 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.
· Art Dunn reported that Troop 288 family contributions to Friends of Scouting have been excellent this year.
· Eagle Scout Candidate Nick Vitovitch presented a detailed outline of his proposed Eagle Project at Round Valley Youth Center. The Committee noted his attention to
details, his scheduling of work, his enthusiasm, and his recruitment of volunteers as well as his familiarity with the materials he plans to use. He is aware of the limited time still
available to complete his Eagle Project.
· The Troop Committee had a detailed and extended discussion concerning the maladaptive and dysfunctional behavior of a number of Scouts in the Troop. A non-punitive
plan of correction was explored and will be initiated, emphasizing Scout Spirit and adherence to the Scout Law to each Scout as he matures in Scouting and learns not to exhibit
unhealthy interpersonal behavior.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 5, 2009, at 7:30 PM at the home of Joyce Murphy. .
Boris G. Ivovich MD
Committee Secretary