Location:  Mollie Malone’s in Forest Park

Agenda

1. Succession plan update – Scoutmaster
2. Succession plan update – Youth Leadership
3. Calendar review – remainder of year
4. Planning calendar review – next year
5. Advancement update
6. Open discussion

Here is my proposed agenda for tonight’s meeting at Mollie Malones (7:30 p.m.)

1. Update on ASM signup for Camp outs – Kevin
2. Update on ASM signup for Troop meetings – Dave
3. Instruction update – Mike and Steve
4. Requirements check-off: review sessions and Scoutmaster Conferences
5. Additions to Troop calendar – Mike
6. Troop Committee report – Mike
7. Other Business – All

The helps can be found here – orienteering program helps

Topics to be covered:

First Class 1 – Finding Directions without a compass day or night.

Description

Video – F1

First Class 2 – Orienteering/ Heights and Distances

Description – same as above

Video – F2

Materials to use:

Program helps – found here

Meeting plan guides – found here

Scout advancement videos – found here

TROOP 66 ASM MEETING
May 9, 2009

(1) ASM Organization and Training
– Prior approach had certain ASMs supporting certain boys
– Now will organize into program groups
– Charlie will work with SPL re running the troop meeting
– Curt’s role has been to rotate among boys while doing instruction. Also takes attendance for troop records
– Bob Conrardy will back up Charlie
– Quartermaster oversight job is a big role that will change due to patrol accountability. (e.g., with change to patrol flys and individual picnic tables, rather than a central eating area at camp)

Tom Riordan will be new ASM – Quartermaster.

Mark will be quartermaster emeritus and work with Eric and Tom to get ready by September.

We are planning Quartermaster workdays on a Saturday and Sunday.  We will build or refurbish propane boxes that hold stoves, etc.

(2) New Older Scout Patrol Organization
– “Blue” Patrol = Falcons, Roadrunners, Dragons, Cobras
– “Red” Patrol = Eagles, Red Moon Raccoons, Jaguars, Silver Wolves
Open issue how to apply this change to cooking when camping in cabins

(3) PLC Issues
Various issues were discussed.  One systematic problem is that the older boys no longer need to hold senior troop positions for advancement purposes.

Changes:
Hold PLC meeting right before and after each troop meeting
Meet with parents to talk about this and older boys’ commitment and schedules
Appeal to the older boys to continue to step up for the younger scouts.

Troop Planning Day – a half day meeting toward end of summer, where all the boys are invited to give input into next year’s plans.  Will also try to get back to using themes for each month.

Troop Leader Training – a session run by Curt with help from Mike that will describe what it means to perform various roles and give boys some initial training in how to be successful.
(4) Troopmaster Advancement Reporting – ASMs
– Troop 66 is seen as behind in the % of ASMs that are officially trained.
– ASM Training is an expectation.
– ASM training includes New Leader module, Outdoor Training, etc.
– Some ASMs may be able to train as Committee Members, which requires 3 one-hour courses.

Troop 66 will hold an in-house training day on Saturday June 6th.

Mike also noted that qualified ASMs should give serious consideration to going through Wood Badge training.  This training is structured within the context of the troop lifecycle from Weblos to crossover, to Patrol and PLC.  It also includes leadership training similar to what is done in the Corporate World.  Mike is a Wood badge trainer

(5) Calendar Review
May 29th – Troop Meeting
June 5th – Last Troop Meeting before Court of Honor
June 9th – Pre camp meeting
June 12-14 Campout at White Pines, including Snipe Hunt

Beginning next year, Troop 66 will only accept cross-overs prior to April 15th.  This change is being instituted to better allow Troop 66 to group new scout units and get them working on early requirements on a pace that gets them where they need to be before summer camp.

(6) Troop 66 75th Anniversary

Save the weekend of July 31 – August.  Planning is ongoing, but this is decided so far:

Friday, July 31 will be a campout at Yogi for all Eagle Scouts, former scouts, former leaders, current leaders and current Life Scouts.  No dinner at camp that evening, but breakfast will be served on Saturday morning before breaking camp.

Saturday, August 1 will feature an evening banquet celebration at Grace Lutheran.

Sunday, August 2 will be focused on attending both services in uniform, participating in the services and thanking the congregation for their 75 years of support.  Mike C will deliver a message on scouting at the mission moment portion of the service.  Scouts will run a complimentary brunch in the atrium between services.  Scouts will set up displays on troop history, etc. in atrium.

A list of volunteer opportunities to support this weekend will be distributed before in early June.

(1) Troop Equipment Day (part 2)
Troop equipment will be divided so that each patrol has its own set of camping equipment. At the pre-campout meeting, each patrol would check out its equipment. Would also then check its equipment back in at end of campout. This will hopefully increase accountability for equipment.

Planned consolidation into two consolidated patrols for boys that are first-class and above will allow this to work. This increase the scope of a patrol leader job, but reduce the number of patrol leader positions.

(2) New Youth Leadership
The boys are not really using the patrol leader structure yet. They are just broadcasting requests to the entire group of scouts, rather than asking the patrol leaders to have their patrols do something. Need a training session on this.

(3) Troopmaster advancement reporting
Mr C. gave a report on advancement and where there are instances of scouts falling behind.

It was suggested and agreed that the troop create an orientation for both new scouts and parents of new scouts to explain things like the importance of new scouts keeping up with the advancement of their peer group, so that they move up in rank with the majority of boys, rather than falling back into having to work with a younger group of scouts. Also point out the importance of tracking toward certain levels before summer camp.

It was suggested and agreed that the troop should formalize a list of past Eagle projects, for the reference of those deciding on their own Eagle project.

(4) Calendar Review
Camporee in Trevor, WI is April 17 – 19..

May 9 is CPR training in Elmwood Park. All ASMs are encouraged to attend. The ASM meeting may not happen that day since it conflicts with CPR timing. The patrol leader meeting will immediately follow CPR training and will held over lunch in a restaurant.

May 17 is WaterFall Glen trip

May 22nd is no meeting due to Memorial Day weekend

May 24th is service opportunity serving hot dogs after the River Forest parade.

(5) Camporee planning
Pre campout meeting is Tues, April 14th. The troop needs older scouts to be there, especially for the activities on Saturday.

(6) Philmont High Adventure
Troop 66 has 7 possible slots for boys that want to go. Must respond asap.

(7) Service Project – Le Tour de Shore Charity Bike Ride June 19 – 20 2009
This is available to boys that want to participate

(8) Troop 66 75th anniversary
Will be the weekend of July 31 – August 2, 2009
Campout on Friday July 31
Celebration dinner on Saturday, August 1st
Church services and brunch on Sunday, August 2nd

Campout will focus more on re-uniting Eagles, but all boys are invited, though younger boys will need to be self-sufficient and/or have an adult with them. No dinner, but campfire and light breakfast.

——————————-
Dave Zyer