Troop 2 NewsCenter

Committee Meeting Minutes - April 2008

Called to order: 7:15 pm (NEW MEETING TIME)

Present: J. Armata, D. Armata, P. Sobierajski, T. Michelson, S. Vinton-Delmore, B. Donahue, C. Stewart, T. Ruscitti, P. Novak, B. Hopkins, J. Crowley, D. Bertonazzi, N. Elia, T. Pittsley, R. Amour, L. Williams, M. Fitzpatrick, D. Fitzpatrick, J. Waclawik, R. Asson

Minutes from March meeting not yet approved. – Minutes are not being mailed to new scouts’ homes – T. Michelson will follow up with new roster

Senior Patrol Leader Report – not present – J. Armata reports that Jr. Leadership doing a good job planning the meetings

Medical Officer Report – Debbie Armata – following up with med forms needed – everyone who needs an updated physical received a new form to complete

Scoutmaster Report – Jack Armata

• Crossovers all at Scout rank (or just about)
• all Life Scouts have Eagle required leadership positions

Advancement Report – not present – (J. Bradley was at Scout meeting)

Service Opportunities/ Eagle Projects

• check emails because many Eagle projects will be in process – Eagle Scout candidates will be looking for other Scout volunteers to assist – time spent assisting counts as service time for younger Scouts
• Friends of Milford Bike Trail asked that sections of the Trail be adopted by the various Troops/Packs in town to keep clean/beautify. J. Armata asked for motion to adopt a section – B. Hopkins believes the Troop needs a clarification of exactly what the adoption entails – discussion ensued – agreed to find out the specifics before the Troop commits to the project.

Outdoor Trips/Activities Report

• April – Spring Camporee – May 2 – May 4 – Hopkinton State Park
• Advancement Day – tentative date 5/10 – no plans yet –
• Memorial Day weekend – flagging/Camporee/parade/luncheon – “Milford Scout” (Boy/Cub/Girl) Camporee organized by Ray Hirx and Chuck Clark – in planning stages – will be held at Votolato Field Saturday after flagging – dinner by patrol – bonfire – skits – songs- home Sunday – parade Monday – Veterans lunch following parade - Mike Shain has volunteered to organize the veterans luncheon on Monday – and Troop 2 will pay for luncheon
• Whitewater rafting – June 22
• Summer Camp – July 20-25 – six adults going to camp: J. Armata, T. Pittsley, J. Bradley, P. Sobierajski, S. Rugoletti, A. Keefe
• MASSJAM will be October 11, 12 & 13, 2008 at the Barnstable County Fair Grounds – Scouts from all over the country – Matt Fitzgerald volunteered to be Tripmaster and liason – the campout will be National Camporee Style – each Troop will be allotted a specific size lot – all equipment and people must fit into the space – very crowded – J. Armata suggested a trial run with equipment and Scouts at one of the parks in town once the Troop knows how big their plot of land will be
• New England Experience – Scottish Scouts visiting in Oct. 2008 – will not be here for MASSJAM – Troop 2 will have list shortly of what is expected of the hospitality homes – 20-22 Scouts/Scouters will need to be housed
• Yellowstone – tabled until Summer 2009 – cost should be between $650 - $750 – it will be all tent camping

Quartermaster Report – P. Novak

• several tents need to be repaired – Perry will do repair work
• this summer Troop will have a “Clean up Lock Up Day” when all of the equipment is taken out of the Lock Up and it is cleaned out
• Troop is looking for volunteers to tow the Trailer to various Campsites when needed – J. Crowley volunteered to grease the wheel bearings.

Chairperson’s Report – Paul Sobierajski

• Committee Meetings will be held at this new time going forward – During the Scout meeting on the 2nd Thursday of the month (7:00 – 8:15)
• Scouting fees for 2009 will be voted on at an upcoming meeting – probably rise to $75 with NO fundraisers (except camp fundraiser – optional) – Troop will still hold bi-annual Pasta Dinner/Silent Auction
• Adult Volunteers/Merit Badge Counselors – always looking for adults to teach merit badges – anyone interested should contact Jack Armata – the adult must sign-up with Council to be an authorized MB Counselor
• Jack is currently updating a list of Troop 2 Merit Badge Counselors currently on file – (if any readers were authorized to be counselors they may want to contact him with the information to ensure they are on the list)
• Amy Donahue – new Family Life MB Counselor
• Bob Nealon – new Personal Fitness Counselor

Treasurer’s Report – not present – Troop in the black

Fundraising Update – Shannon Vinton-Delmore

• Still following up with Gillette Stadium
• Silent Auction scheduled for November 1, 2008 in the Bell Tower Room – Sub-Committee first meeting 4/15 – much help will be required (donations, decorations, ticket sales, cooking, baking, etc.)
• Summer Camp candy fundraiser started – Shannon has candy – Scouts must pay for box of candy $50 – Scout then sells the candy and keeps the money – the Troop will then issue checks to the Scouts to reimburse for Camp cost before Camp at the rate of $25 per box (ie. Scout must pay for camp in full and then be reimbursed $25 for each box of candy he sells) – this fundraiser is optional – it is only to defray the Scouts cost of camp – the Troop does not profit

Training Report – not present – no report

Old Business – J. Armata

• Natick Troop 2 (a special needs troop) is hosting a Court of Honor for its first Eagle Scout – Jack Armata will be the Master of Ceremonies and Troop 2 Milford will play an active role in the ceremony – it will be held on Sunday, June 8 at 1:00 at the Natick Elks Club on Speen St.
• approval from the Committee was granted for the Troop 2 Milford Scouts to serve the meal (waitering) and clean-up after the event – parents are also invited to help
• A invitation is also issued for all Troop 2 Milford Eagle Scouts to attend (Troop 2 Natick has none to rise when the call is made to join the honoree on stage)

New Business

• Camporee 2009 – J. Armata would like to present to Council that Troop 2 Milford sponsor the 2009 Camporee – the theme would be “Cooking” – it would include MB stations and a cooking competition – discussion of publishing a cookbook and selling it to raise money also was mentioned - no vote taken

ADJOURNED: 8:15 pm