[Troop139] Troop 139 Parent 1/8/13 Meeting Minutes

[Cabrera,Benedict]

Dear All,



Please find the meeting minutes from last Tuesday's meeting.  Please note that we still have a few things to get done. Specifically developing a schedule for the scouts Tuesday night meetings and determining our monthly trip agenda.  That should be covered this coming Tuesday.



*         Gordon reviewed the meeting agenda.

(1)        Meeting Attendance

(2)        Troop Youth Leadership

(3)        Spring Summer Schedule

(4)        Troop Meeting Adult Attendance

(5)        Camping Adult Supervision

(6)        Merit Badge Counselor Sign up

(7)        Committee Positions other than Fundraising

(8)        On Line Training for Adults

(9)        Youth Protection and Protecting God's Children

(10)    Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster Training

(11)    Wood badge Training



*         Finance meeting was discussed. The troop agreed that those attending the jamboree would be getting $400 per scout.



(2)        Meeting Attendance:

o   Gordon discussed the need for the scouts having consistency on meeting and camping event attendance.



(3)        Troop Youth Leadership:

o    There are various leadership positions in a Patrol:  Patrol leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, Quartermaster, Scribe.

o   Patrols form a Troop. The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) takes charge of the Troop. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader takes charge of the Troop when the SPL is occupied.

o   A more senior Scout could be an

o   Instructor is a role when there is a special skill I.e. Water safety Instructor, First Aid, etc. or a Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.  They mentor the SPL and give feedback the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters from the Scouts, in addition to the direct response given by the Patrol Leaders Council.

o   Jeremy and Dino have been made Junior Assistant Scoutmasters.

o   What does all this means? it means that they need to have various leadership positions in order to get Eagle Scout.

o   Troop meetings will be more structured and there will be a schedule.

o   ***Carolyn volunteered to be the Parent Schedule Coordinator***



(4)        Spring / Summer Schedule

o   Need to ID who's going to Annapolis.

o   Nobe will in Feb. 8-10 and will be camping outside.

o   Ben asked if we could do a Gettysburg trip since its been a couple of years since we were there last.

o   John brought up the point of doing a High Adventure weekend this year.

o   Ben mentioned that he could setup a tour of Covanta Energy power plant in Union NJ.

o   Gurz suggested Camp Citta or other similar camps.



(5)        Troop Meeting Supervision

o   There will be adult supervision at each meeting.  There will be 4 adults per meeting and you will be rotated through.  This will mean that each family will be required to support 10-12 scout meetings.

o   Question was asked whether parents should be allowed to fill out a troop meeting roster schedule instead of having the meeting assigned.  Gordon expressed concerns around taking this approach, but left it to Carolyn to administer.



(6)        Adult Supervision of Camping Trips

o   Need to have parent support and participation or the trips won't work. Need to have 1 adult to every 5-6 scouts.



(7)        Merit Badge Counselor SignUp

o   Any scout that goes for Eagle board must have the cooking badge.

o   We need multiple coverage on these badges.  Everyone must have first aid but many others are not like cycling.

o   Gordon asked us to fill out the merit badge forms.

o   Ben asked what changes this year? We've filled these out the last three years and no one has done anything with it. The NNJC requires annual renewal of Counselors.

o   How do we avoid having any Scout call us all the time? Especially since the council does not like us to state that we're only available for 139.  You tell them you can do it but on the night that you will at a Scout meeting or a specific meeting date at St. John's.

o   What is the requirement to be a Merit Badge Counselor? You need to complete the Youth Protection, Leader Protection and on line Merit Badge Counselor training.

o   You need to have an adult for every sixth scout. It's very important that someone else besides a scouts parent pushes the scout along. The counselor can be that person.

o   ***Sandra agreed to coordinate Counselors and parent resources and training.***



(8)        Positions Other Than Fund Raising

o   Gurz Gungil will be our new Committee Chair, taking over for Diana Valencia who is going to continue as the Fundraising Chair.  Food Coordinator may be needed.  Gordon can provide insights to this position.

o   Quartermastering and Trip Coordinators will come from the Assistant Scoutmasters.



(9)        Youth Protection and Protecting God's Children

o   This is required training for all parents involved with Scouts.

o   You take this training to remind you of do's and don'ts. As an example at an event years ago, a new Assistant Scoutmaster drank beer around the Scouts, a week after completing his training.  This was not acceptable nor condoned.



(10)    >>Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster Training

o   We can't be chartered if we don't have these.

o   For those of you who have taken Scoutmaster training, we strongly recommend Wood Badge training. It's a two, three day weekend effort.  Women are encouraged to take this as well as men.



(11)     Woodbadge Training:

o   Gordon said he would send out information on this.

o   Requires a two three day weekend commitment.



*         John brought up the poker night being sponsored by the parish. He asked that everyone support the event. He wants to get the money before the event.