Troop 288 Committee met at the home of Ann and Ken Whalen on July 23, 2009 from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Andrea Matthews Rich Seminara Ron Seidorf Christine Freitag
Suzy Molyneux 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. Several camperships were given this year. Expenses on awards and rank advancement increased. Dues collection was down. The Troop 288 Committee expresses its gratitude to Mrs. Charles Summerill for her recent memorial donation.
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.
§ Popcorn sales were lower this year.
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.
§ July 26 – Eagle Ceremony for John Procopio.
§ July 28 – Miniature Golf at Pine Creek
§ Aug 4 – Bowling at Oakwood Lanes in Washington
§ Aug 8 – Eagle Ceremony for Adam Freitag.
§ Aug 11 – Movie night in Phillipsburg
§ August 22-23 – PLC Planning Weekend at Glen Gray.
§ Sept 1 – Safety course for rifle and shotgun merit badges
§ Sept 8 – Regular Tuesday Troop meetings resume at Annandale Reformed Church
§ Sept 12 – Annandale Yard Sale – Popcorn sales by Troop 288
§ Sept 19 – Shooting Merit Badge weekend.
§ Sept 25-27 – Teetertown Camporee – planning has begun. Hot dog sales, staffing by parents.
§ Oct 10-11 – Webelos Weekend.
§ October 2009 – Pie and popcorn sales
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.
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. Troop 288 Den Chiefs are doing an excellent job working with local Cub Scout Packs. Webelos weekend is scheduled for Oct 10-11, 2009. A new Cub Pack in Whitehouse is being formed.
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. Attendance at events except for indoor climbing has been poor recently. Members are not outdoor oriented. A meeting is needed to plan, discuss goals, and re-energize the Crew.
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 needs to be addressed, since it is still in disarray.
· Troop 288 families who have Troop equipment stored in their homes should return the equipment promptly.
· A weekend for maintenance of Troop equipment is needed.
Advancement:
· Rank advancement for our New Scouts is going well.
· Scoutmaster Conferences and Boards of Review will be coordinated in late August.
§ 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.
Scoutmaster’s Report:
§ Court of Honor is scheduled for October 6 or 13, 2009.
§ 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.
§ 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.
§ 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.
§ Updated shoulder patches will be purchased; nametags will be updated and purchased for the new Scouts and adults.
§ Trexler Summer Camp, July 12-18, was reviewed in comprehensive detail by Suzy Molyneux. Attendance was good and the Troop received the Campsite Cleanliness Award. Areas needing improvement by the Troop included latrine etiquette and family commitment to a full week of camping. A meeting with parents to address areas needing improvement may be planned. The Trexler camping experience is great.
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.
· Annandale Town Yard Sales will take place September 12, 2009.
· Shooting weekend is planned for September 19. Venture Crew 188 may participate with Troop 288.
· 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.
The next Committee meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 27, 2009, at 7:00 PM at the home of Joyce Murphy. The meeting may include members of the Venture Crew Committee to discuss plans and goals of the Venture Crew as well as its future.
Boris G. Ivovich MD
Committee Secretary