Minutes
Parents / Committee Meeting
Occoneechee Council Troop 314
Monday, January 23, 2006
The followings are in attendance: Kaye Poole, Sherri Colquitt, Robin Thomas, Dave Pederson, Jean Stephano, Michael LeBlanc, Paul Casadonte, John Jennings, Whitney Touch, Lorna Hodge, Pon Phongsavath, Chris Poole and Joe Rhoden.
Information on 2006 Friends of Scouting Campaign was provided by Mr. Dallas Brickhouse, volunteer from the Occoneechee Council Falls District. Pledge forms were distributed and collected. Committee members and parents who weren’t present at the meeting may get a Campaign donation phone call. Donation support is essential income to the council as it accounts to one third of the council budget last year. An example of $120 annual pledge is the average cost of providing service and support of one scout.
Kaye Poole opened the committee agenda with votes on this year re-charter fee; subsidies from troop budget to this year summer camp, and troop covering leaders cost for summer camp.
The committee decided that the troop membership fees stays $45. Each boy who worked during the Christmas tree sales will receive $50 assistance from the troop budget to use toward their summer camp fees. A budget of $520 is set a side to cover 4 leaders who will accompany scouts to summer camp. If more than 4 leaders go, the $520 allowance will be divided according to the number of leaders who attend summer camp. Reimbursement for the person who pulls the trailer during camping trips will be with a gas receipt. Budget concerns were about decision on the limit of the number of van rentals per year so that over spending doesn’t occur. Dave Pederson stated that typically 3 rentals are used per year. Robin McClintock suggested some fund put aside for equipment repair or replacement due to wear and tear for budgeting purpose. Currently, part of a tent is missing. So the troop is just one tent short and no other repair is needed. Kaye reminded everyone to turn in the signed page of the troop handbook and a signed photo publishing permission sheet. She stills hasn’t gotten these requirement from all parents and scouts.
Chris Poole thanked parents/committee for their involvement and support. He asked the committee if the boys could have an opportunity to petition the rules from the Troop Handbook they think are unjust. The committee decided that the By Laws from the handbook are made to be enforced. The boys must obey the laws even unjust. This issue was brought when soft drinks were brought with during the last camping trip by some of the parents.
Supplement income to Christmas Tree Sales to strengthen troop budget in case of slow sales or higher amount deposits required during tree order. Dave Pederson suggested our troop providing a service as supporting staff to the Annual Astronomers’ Star Party held at Camp Reeves. The scouts could cook a spaghetti dinner and sell tickets for it to staff members and participants of the event. He will coordinate the details of the service with the astronomers and give us more information later. Twenty scouts may need to assist and opportunities of getting astronomer merit badge are possible. This event may be held in mid November. It would be a weekend trip.