Committee Chair Report

Meeting started at 8:05 AM.
Mr. Dillon said that our storage facility expired last Wednesday. We have a late fee of $9.00 since we’re late. The Committee agreed to keep the 10 x 10 site since the 5 x 10 site was only $120 less per year for one-half the space. Mr. Kim will get a check from Mr. Langworthy and pay our annual fees.

Website / Newsletter

Mr. Warrick said website is running very smoothly without failures. ISP is paid up until March 2003. Added Rush Creek Camp out photos. Landon Applegate Eagle photos have been added. Camp Bartle on website. Averaging around 400 hits per month.
Out site is getting a lot of positive press. It is useful and fun. Very informative and very current.

Scoutmaster Report

· Mr. Wilt wanted to thank everyone for the flowers sent to his father’s funeral.

· Had a great camp out at Trotter’s Land. Had a cooking contest with great participation. Pretty successful in that regard. Outstanding display of cooking by some of the older scouts. They will collect on their rewards at the next camp out in January.

· We have some scouts that have not been very active and we may lose some come re-charter in March.

· Shawn Phillips has transferred out of the Troop to a Troop sponsored by his church. We really didn’t have any scouts at his age level and he didn’t attend school with any of the scouts in our Troop so he didn’t really get linked up with another scout buddy.

· PLC Meeting will be held on 04-January-2003.

· January Camp Out will be 18^th and 19^th of January. One night camp out with Webelos at Camp Wisdom.

· February is Group Dynamix in Carrollton, Texas on February 8^th to the 9^th.

· Our March 2003 campout is now set for the last weekend of the Coppell Spring Break. This seems like a really bad weekend to try to have a Spring Camporee. We will discuss whether we will schedule another camp out weekend for March.

Outdoor Activities

· January Camporee at Camp Wisdom. Will have permission slips out at next meeting. We will be leaving on Saturday morning, 18-January-2002, and returning on Sunday, 19-January-2002.

· February is Group Dynamix, $29.00 per scout. 8:00 pm to 8:00 am on Saturday, 08-February-2003, to Sunday, 09-February-2003. We want at least one adult per every eight scouts.

· April 11^th to 13^th, Cisco to Jim Bob’s. Justin Webb will firm up dates. More information will be provided later.

· May 16^th to the 18^th are scheduled dates but no location has been provided yet. Mr. Wilt will work with Justin Webb to firm up location options. Sand Island Beach is right off of Camp James Ray. Mr. Smith suggests that we consider this for a camp and canoe weekend.

· June 14^th and 15^th is still scheduled for a camp weekend. Mr. Wilt will discuss with Justin Webb. They were going to go spelunking to caves near New Braunfels.

· Camp Bartle dates are June 18^th to June 28^th. $235 per camper. ½ due by February 28^th. Two camp masters are $130.00 each. Participation is limited to 13 years old and older and Star rank and up. This camp is located in Missouri. This is an “extra” camp and not a “replacement” for Camp Hale. We have requested to have four (4) adult leaders. Since Dr. Lacey is the scheduled Scoutmaster for this event, he has been called away for medical issues. We have reserved for twelve (12) scouts and four (4) adults. We can expand that if we need to but will have to be done when the first deposit is due in February.

· Camp Hale dates are July 20^th to July 26^th. Cost is $150.00 per scout. First deposit of $10 per scout is due January 15^th. This is the camp that we expect the majority of Scouts to attend. You are not excused from Hale because you decide to attend Bartle.

Transportation Report

· There are no issues currently per Mr. Rabbitt.

Treasurer’s Report

· Mr. Langworthy presented the balances of Troop accounts. The Troop is still solvent although outflows exceeded inflows for the previous month.

· Mr. Langworthy had agreed to do a Krispy Kreme Doughnut fundraiser with a two to three week fund raising period and then deliver them three times over a six-week period. He will have it finalized for next Committee meeting in January.

Equipment Report

· Mr. Green suggested that we have a sign out sheet that includes whether propane bottles were emptied and need to be replaced for Mr. Kim. Mr. Kim will put a sheet on the door of the trailer that will allow you to record usage and needs.

· Mr. Ghaly will buy the Troop a printer for Advancement use.

· Mr. Dean told Mr. Smith that he may have found someone to paint the top of the trailer.

OA Report

· OA Elections will take place on February 11^th. Mr. Wilt will have a ballot prepared that will indicate which scouts are eligible to participate. 15-nights of camping in the past two years with at least one long-term camp. The list of eligible scouts is quite long currently and will be printed out at the end of January. You need to have 50% plus one vote of the scouts that are eligible to vote present that evening. They will be told that they can vote for more than one person to be in OA. If an adult was in OA as a youth, we can reactivate their membership now.

Advancements

Mrs. Kressmann said that Brent Linz’s Eagle ceremony is this afternoon at St. Ann’s Church.
We are having trouble getting the Turk’s Head slide instructions on the website. Mr. Wilt will work with Mr. Warrick. Mrs. Kressmann said there is a website that Mr. Hohnholt told her about with regard to making knots and she will pass that along.
We may need to get more aggressive to get scouts to participate in Golden Acorn. Ms. Cauley will call the parents of those that are eligible to participate.
We need to be more consistent with regard to protecting youth’s names on the website.
Landon Applegate has earned his Eagle! Congratulations! He also got nominated to three academies! Again, congratulations!
Merit Badges and advancements are due to Advancement by the 14^th of January 2003. This is the close out date for the next Court of Honor that will be held in January.
Mr. Wilt will set up a Service Project opportunity for Scouts so they can get some Service Hours before 14-January-2003 deadline.

Membership

Mrs. Lacey sent letters to Packs in Coppell informing them of what we’re doing and inviting them to participate in some of our activities (astronomy camp out, etc.). 50% of Webelos did not cross over last year.
Mrs. Lacey said the Troop needs to complete criminal background checks for every adult this year since it has to be done once every three years. Medical and surgical waivers will be issued to be completed by all scouts. This is in addition to other medical information forms that are collected.
Boy Scout insurance covers adults on a secondary basis and covers up to the $300 of deductible on your primary policy. If there is no primary medical insurance, this policy becomes primary. You must follow Boy Scout policy and the event must be related to an approved scouting event. This information came from Mr. Wilt.
The Troop also needs to collect information about which adults are authorized to teach merit badge classes.

Senior Patrol Leader

No participation by SPL or ASPLs at this meeting.

Chili Supper

· The final report on the Chili Supper was issued. The Troop earned less this year than in prior years but can cover the 32 scouts that are qualified to participate in the Buck Auction.

High Adventure / Venture

· Cavalcade Philmont 2003. Mr. Smith has led some horseback riding sessions. We have one opening for a scout now.

· Philmont 2004. We have come up with the selection criteria for Philmont 2004. It is listed below:

1. Scout Interest – any eligible scout will need to show interest in attending. Sign up sheets will be available throughout December. This will allow the scout to make the decision to participate. This does not mean the scout will be selected for the trek!

2. Participation – Scout participation records for the period 01-November-2001 through 31-October-2002 will allow for a full year of activity. The Troop’s minimum criteria remains 60% participation at both meeting and camping.

3. Active vs. Passive Participation – Preference will be given to Scouts who have actively attained the required participation level. Scouts with a high number of excused absences (passive participation) will not be considered at the same level as Scouts with fewer absences or who have served well in a leadership position.

4. Previous Philmont Participation – Scouts who have not been to Philmont will be given first preference for slots.

5. Age – Scouts who will age out without another opportunity to attend.

6. Commitment – Any Scout who is selected must commit to future participation of 60% for both meetings and campouts until Philmont. He must also commit to attend training hikes in addition to scheduled campouts.

It is the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters in charge of the Trek who have the final decision on which Scouts participate.

Alternates will be selected and they will be expected to train along with the other scouts. A $50 deposit is due by 14-January to Mr. Green. The deposit is due at Philmont by 31-January-2003. The dates of the trek are June 11^th to the 23^rd 2004. We have from 16-18 slots for scouts to participate. There are a total of 24-slots available.

Additional Announcements

If you want something in the December newsletter, Tuesday, 17-December-2002 is the deadline. Please E-Mail to Mr. Ghaly (cghaly@dallas.net).
We need to have some grub master training because we have problems with food provisions (too much, too little). Mrs. Ezzell has offered to lead this if needed.
Mr. Wilt provided detailed Camp Bartle information at the conclusion of the meeting which is included with these meeting minutes.

Camp Bartle

Information Sheet

Scouts and Adults,

In 2003, we are going to summer camp at Camp Hale in Oklahoma from July 20^th through the 26^th. This is for the entire troop and all troop scout leaders are expected to attend. We will also expect our new scouts to attend.

A small group is also going to Philmont on a Cavalcade, riding horses, from 5 through 10 July. The individuals that make up the group for this High Adventure have already been selected.

In addition, we have arranged an opportunity to spend a session at Camp Bartle in Missouri. Our camp is from June 19^th through June 28^th. Please note that this is a 10-day event with an additional day of travel at the beginning. The travel plan is to leave early on Wednesday the 18^th and spend the night near camp in a motel. We plan to come directly back to Coppell on Saturday the 28^th. It is approximately a 12-hour trip.

We are offering this extra opportunity to scouts 13 years and up who are at least of Star rank, before the camp begins, and who are about to begin their third year of summer camp. We have reservations for 12 scouts and 4 adults. Dr. Lacey will act as Scoutmaster for this camp.

Cost: The cost of camp is $235 per person plus cost of food and lodging of a one night stay prior to camp in a motel. The first $118 is due by February 21. The remaining $117 is due by April 25.

For additional information on the camp, please see the web site at http://www.hoac-bsa.org/. Look under Camping.

If you have questions, please ask either Dr. Lacey or myself.

Chris Wilt

Scoutmaster

Troop 840

Attendees

Committee Chair Report

Membership

Information Sheet