TROOP 433
TROOP COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
April 10, 2006

Note: action items are underlined
Present, Scott Betlach, Kelvin Vartti, Lee Hunt, Dennis Lindeke, Mike Checky, Steve Frost, Fred Koerschner, John Norlien, Steve Lindlof

 PLC Report:  

• Elections next Monday. 

Minutes / Newsletter:

• Minutes Approved.

Roundtable Report:

Newsletter:

• March newsletter has been sent.

Treasure Report.

• About $2500 in troop account and about $2100 in the popcorn fund which is a good balance for this time of year.
• NOTE:  When parents write a check to Troop 433, please write reason for the check in the memo section.
• Fred mentioned that the church/school does not have insurance on the troop trailer, the trailer contents and the troop supplies stored in the Ark garage.  Mike C. indicated that the chartered organization really owns the troop inventory and if the troop folds the items will go to the church.  Steve L. will check with the church / insurance company and report back at the next meeting.

Outings / Trip Reports:

• 4/15/06 Eight scouts and a few adults are going to Trailblazer this weekend.
• 4/21/06 -> 4/22/06  OA Spring Fling, Camp Kiwanis
• This is a service opportunity for a Boy Scout campout for all scouts.
• 4/29/06    Scouting for Food,–
• Dennis will provide a signup sheet for scouting for food.  Lee will try to pick up a patch for scouting for food at the district office. 
• 5/20/06  STAR*fun Council Valley Fair Day
• Currently there is a low signup for the STAR*fun but scouts can still sign up next Monday even though the cost will be going up by $5 to $30. 
• Pack 433 is going to Valley Fair and will buy the food (Brats and Chicken breasts) which the troop will cook for the troop and pack.
• The district is going to have a cracker barrel on Friday night and a Campfire on Saturday night.
• Phillippo has a camp opening that the Liger Patrol possibly wants to go on.  Spencer received the information at the PLC.
• 6/17/06 Be part of the Northern Star's whitewater team that takes on the St. Louis river near Duluth in rubber rafts..  Scouts must be twelve years old to participate.
• 8/5/06->8/12/06  Tomahawk 2006
• Signup continues.  Lee H. mentioned that it appears that the Camping Signup board appears to have worked better than handing out camping flyers.  Lee will provide a camping signup board at the next meeting.
• Manypoint –
• Mike C. suggested that the Troop should offer the older patrols to go to Many point for the summer of 2007.  There is a signup deadline to reserve the sites by May 1 for $50. 
• Manypoint has more older patrol high adventure type activities that may be more attractive to older scouts who have attended Tomahawk over the years.
• The committee voted on paying up the $50 to reserve campsites for the lottery for the summer of 2007, however with a different date than Tomahawk.  The committee picked the July 15, 2007 weekend to attempt to reserve campsites at Manypoint.  Mike C. will assist in picking the campsites.
• There are also opportunities to camp in South Dakota.  Fred indicated that Mike should bring additional information to the next committee meeting.
• Patrol Outings
• The Eagle Patrol went to vertical endeavors and the six scouts who participated earned their climbing merit badge. 
• The cost was $40 per head and Fred recommended it as a good patrol outing.
• Isle Royal High Adventure.
• An information planning meeting was held on 4/9 with information given to the scouts about the possible Isle Royal trip.  The next planning meeting will be 5/7 at the Wibergs house.  At this point the scouts are going to take over in planning the details.  Scott B. mentioned that he can assist with the backpacking merit badge and he suggested that the boy get their hiking boots as soon as possible to start breaking them in. 

Transition Document

• Lee wrote up a new scout Transition Guide that he handed out draft copies.  Steve asked if this could be used for all scouts, with general information for Troop 433.  Lee mentioned that initially it was set up for the Weebelos transition but it could evolve into more general document for all scouts.
• Lee mentioned giving it directly to the boys in addition it can be posted on the web site.
• Mike also had a North Star Council “Welcome to the Adventure of Boy Scouting” guide which give a general overview of Boy Scouts.  It was then mentioned that the guide that Lee is putting together should contain details about Troop 433.
• Lee has a list of the eight Webelos that are transisting to the Troop.
• Troop Guides:
• We need troop guides for  the new patrol and the two first year patrols for last year.
• We probably need three troop guides.  The troop guides would need to go Tomahawk with the three patrols and would be their patrol leader at Tomahawk.

Pancake breakfast.

• There was a planning meeting on 4/3 with a large turnout of scouts and adults.  There will be another subcommittee meeting after next Mondays meeting.

Cooking Demo at May Roundtable.

• Our troop will have a cooking demo at the May roundtable.  Bob T is coordinating some Dutch oven cooking.  They will be serving at 8:00 at the breakout.

Advancement:

• Eagle projects –
• Eagle projects may be reviewed at either the committee or with a sub-committee.  Mike C. suggested that the scouts work with an Eagle coordinator first, then a sub-committee and then the full committee.  Scott mentioned that the full committee will give the scouts more ideas faster and it also gets the scouts out of their comfort zone when presenting to a larger group.

Equipment:

• The troop storage in the Ark Garage needs to be organized. 
• Steve F. volunteered to be the adult coordinator.
• There was concern over storing the Propane tanks in the garage.  The troop may want to invest in an outdoor plastic storage container.

Training.

• Troop Committee challenge.  Fred will pick dates for the committee to get trained.  Fred will follow up.

New Business: