Troop 1 Parents Meeting

Monday May 5, 2003

 

PRESENT:  Ken Boss, Dana Jenson, Chris Klaren, and Steve Murphy

 

OLD BUSINESS:

1) Review/approve previous meeting minutes – the minutes were approved.

 

2) Treasure's report – The troop has $2340 in the general fund with another $1000 in the scouts’ individual accounts.  Outstanding bills and receipts are as follows:

 

   $2340 Current balance

   -3238 summer camp fees

   - 197 trailer tire, wheel, LP tank carrier

   + 600 summer camp fees from Troop 1

   + 800 summer camp fees from Troop 144

   -----

   $ 305 expected balance

 

There are still several scouts needing to make payment for 2003 troop dues as well as payment for summer camp.  Dana will email invoices to those still owing money as our cash flow is severely affected by the low balance.

 

3) Review activities for last month:

3.a) Rank Advancements – Al was not present, but there has been no Board of Review activity in the last month.

 

3.b) Troop service - setting up for Easter mass.  Setup on Saturday morning and teardown Sunday evening went great and did not take long due to the good turnout both days.

 

3.c) Paintball, April 26 – 6 scouts and 2 adults participated, and most, if not all, had a great time.  Many of the participants are already making plans to do this again.

 

3.d) Backbone Campout, May 2-4.  It was a great campout and camp was cleared before the rain started Sunday morning.  Grilled Cajun trout hors d'oeuvres were the special treat Saturday evening.

 

4) Review scheduled activities for current month:

4.a) Troop fundraiser May 7 – Al has offered to make a donation to the troop treasury in exchange for spring yard work.  Scouts should meet at Al's house, 4147 Suburban Drive, Waterloo, Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM.  Scouts should bring rakes and gloves.  Al will have smores and maybe hot dogs afterwards.  Scouts should contact Ken or Dana if they would like to share a ride out and back. There was some discussion that a scout parent has considered making a similar offer.

 

4.b) St. Ed’s Spring Carnival Water Balloon Launch, May 14.  Steve commented that this activity will need a lot of help from the troop.  Pack 25 has offered to help also as they are not setting up the Pinewood Derby track this year.

 

5) 2003 Summer Camp update – please make payment for summer camp promptly when Dana emails the notices.

 

6) Summer campouts & activities.  We had a short discussion on whether or not we should schedule July and August campouts this year, with summer camp at the end of June and early July.  A campout will likely be scheduled in August sometime before school starts.  The remainder of this discussion was deferred for the next parents’ meeting.

 

7) Troop recharter update – the charter renewal was submitted to the Council the second week of April.  Total costs were $350.72 for the renewal that expires April 30, 2004.

 

8) Troop budget fundraiser – The general fund has, or will soon have, a relatively low balance due to the summer camp cash flow crunch, and the need for some new camping equipment (see New Business item 1).  The group discussed potential quick fundraisers, such as campaigning for pop cans, to provide a quick cash infusion for the budget and give the scouts some ownership to the operation of the troop.  We will discuss this at the next troop meeting with Al.  The troop registered for one or more UNI Dome cleaning events starting sometime next fall, with the potential to earn $200-$1000 per event.  Two mid-sized events would alleviate much of the budget pressure we are currently experiencing.

 

9) Outdoor Activities Chairman update – Although some interest was expressed for more information, no one volunteered for the job.  We will either directly ask a troop adult to assume this duty or drop the matter entirely.

 

10) Philmont 2004 – Two opening remain for scouts to attend this high adventure trip.  The group agreed that we should keep these open for Troop 1 scouts through at least the end of this year before opening them up to scouts from other troops.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

1) New camping equipment – It was very evident at the last campout that we are in need of more cooking equipment as we ask the scouts to do the majority of the cooking at the campouts within their patrols.  We only have one two-burner LP stove that works reliably (the second has been worked on repeatedly but does not work or works poorly).  It appears that 2 more LP camping stoves are needed, 3 stove stands, at least one 1 LP tree for the new-style LP bottles, and at least one hose.  Expected cost is $250, and Ken will shop around to see if we can get better prices.  Dana will put a note in the church bulletin asking if anyone would like to donate some of this equipment. 

 

2) There was no further new business and the meeting was adjourned.

 

NEXT PARENTS MEETING:

Monday, June 2, 7:00 PM, St. Ed’s cafeteria

 

TABLED FOR FUTURE MEETINGS:

* Troop trailer insurance (Al, indefinite)

* Aug 7-18, 2004 Philmont High Adventure, (June 2003)

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

* Flapjacker pancake breakfast ticket sales – how do we improve? (Dec03)