1-2-2008 Pack 172 Planning Meeting
7:30-8:30pm St. Mark School Library


In Attendance:                 Rich Kovach,Bill Lobdell, Michele Appleby, Evelyn Lesko, Julie Kovach, Helen Levine, Bob Tremallo, Michael Matis,Ken Poisson, Kevin Newcomb

 

 

**December Pack Meeting:  -hosted by Den 3. Meeting went well. Keith Ferrara stepped in and did a talk about the food banks and the spirit of giving to those less fortunate. Good job Keith for "winging it" when the guest speaker was a no show. We had a good amount of food collected which was delivered to the food pantry by Den 3. We will continue this at all future pack meetings and the hosting den will deliver the donations to Sterling House. Distribution of wreath incentives went smoothly. The cost to the pack was slightly lower this year than last year. Julie will contact Keith Ferrara to make sure a thank you note was sent to John Valus who stepped in as this year's Santa. The scouts all seemed to enjoy his visit.

 

**Pack finances:  -Helen Levine reported that we have roughly $4800, which is slightly ahead of last year at the same time. We have plenty of money in the BSA account to cover awards.

 

 

**BJ Fundraiser:  -We are waiting for an update on this from Michele Shedlock, Julie put in a call as well as an e-mail, but has not been in touch with Michele. She will speak to her at their next den meeting.

 

 

**Holiday Caroling:  -This event chaired again by Helen Levind went very well. We had about 12 or so scouts and their parents and siblings. This was a good size group considering that we carol up and down the halls of all 4 floors. Cub Scout Pack 172 is the only group that does this, and it is appreciated by Lord Chamberlain so that those residents who are unable to make it to the recreation room can still enjoy our scouts and share in their holiday spirit. Helen once again outdid herself by providing antlers, bells, santa hats and caroling books for all.

 

**Roundtable:  - Jan. 15 Mike Matis ~~ The new location for these meetings will be at the Church of Latter Day Saints located at 30 Bonnie View Drive - accross from the Trumbull Shopping Park (Main Street entrance). Helen Levine will contact Jonathan Glassman to get further information on the date and time of the meeting, and Julie will post it into the minutes when received.(revision: this month due to Holidays the meeting will be the third Tuesday, after this it returns to the 2nd Tuesday.)

 

**January Pack Meeting:  -January Pack Meeting will be hosted by Dens 5 & 11 (Abed & Witkowski).Rick has asked that he speak on Global Warming. Our theme for the month is "Cub Scout Car Show" so Rich Kovach will ask that he tie it into that theme somehow, maybe car emissions etc. Awards for the January Pack Meeting should be sent to our Awards Chairperson Frank Eannotti no later than January 9th (1 week prior) so that he has time to prepare the awards. Any information to be entered into the Pack Meeting Program should be to Julie Kovach by that date as well so that she has time to format the program and complete the printing of said program.

Pack Meeting Host Dens:
January Den 5 & Den 11
February Den2 & Den 4
March Den 7
April Den 1 & Den 10
May Den 8 & Den 6

 

**Movie Night– January 25, 2008:  -Julie Kovach, Bob Tremallo and the parents of Den 6 Webelos 1 have stepped up to chair this event. The time will be : Doors open at 6:00pm, 1st movie starts promptly as 6:30pm "Baby's Day Out" 1 1/2 hours long. Intermission 8:00 - 8:15pm. 2nd movie starts at 8:15pm This movie has not yet been decided, but will be age appropriate. Popcorn, "bug" juice and 1 candy bar will be provided to each scout. Pizza will be available for $1 per slice and additional candy will be available for 25 cents. Scouts should sign up with their den leader and den leaders should send that count to Julie Kovach no later than Saturday January 19th so that shopping can be done. A flyer to post on the fridge will be available at the January Pack Meeting.Scouts may bring blankets or sleeping bags to watch the movies on, however this year will not be a sleepover.

 

**Games Night - February 13th Pack Meeting (Dens 2 & 4 will host):  -Profits from this will go to the "Polar Plunge" Jacob Rainey fund.This fund will help pay for the medical expenses for one of our own who is currently facing a disease know as Kawasaki disease. Every den builds a carnival type game. All scouts and siblings may play the games for a nickel apiece (don't forget your rolls of nickels). Tickets will be given out for play, 1 ticket for play, 2 tickets if the scout won. No more than 2 tickets should be given out for an individual game. Tickets are to be redeemed for prizes. Scouts should pay for 1 game at a time and then go to the back of the line if they would like to play again. Helen has already started looking for prizes. Helen will print up revised flyers with instuctions for new leaders and parents. It has been decided that there will be no snack table this year, den leaders please advise your parents.

 

**Blue & Gold - February 24th:  -Blue and Gold is scheduled to be held at Oronoque Country Club from 2pm - 6pm. A $250 deposit will be sent in by Michele Appleby. The menu will be the same as last year. We will try to keep within our budget this year of $3000 for the event. Michele Appleby our chairperson for this event has decided on a pirate theme. Den leaders should have their scouts make "skull caps" or "doo rags". Julie will write our leader skit. Michele has e-mailed Napster the shadow puppeteer but has not heard back yet. Rich will send her the name of a magician he has seen in case the other doesn't pan out.Michele will see if Rick Abed would be willing to DJ again this year, the kids all had so much fun when he got them up dancing. Bill Lobdell will order the Pinewood Derby cars to be passed out at the dinner. Michele Appleby will look into having t-shirts made as out scout gift this year.

 

 

**Miscellaneous - host):  The "Opt Out" letter written by Michele Shedlock and reviewed by Michele Appleby will be sent out this week from Cubmaster Rich and Assistant Cubmaster Billas soon as they receive the list of names from Michele Appleby. Scouting families who did not participate in the candle funraiser and did not "opt out" at registration are being asked for the $20 opt out fee. The opt out fee in lieu of participating in the candle fundraiser assures that the Pack has the available funds to run a quality program.
- We still have a few scouts that have not paid their registration fees. Michele Appleby will give Cubmaster Rich these names and he will contact them immediately. If they are unable to pay the registration fee then they will not be allowed to participate in the Pack programs, including den meetings, pack meetings etc. This is very significant because they are not covered by insurance until their registration fee has been received.
- It has been brought up that at the Tiger den meetings, some parents are not staying with their Tigers. Part of the Tiger Program is that the adult is required to stay at the meeting. Den leaders should advise their parents of this and let Cubmaster Rich know if it becomes an issue, and then he will personally discuss it with the parent.
- At future Pack Meetings we will start awards with our Webelos scouts and then work down the ranks. This is because our older scouts and parents know how the awards portion of the meeting takes place, and will allow our younger scouts to "model up". Helen thanked Ken for this wonderful idea.
- Assistant Cubmaster Bjill and Cubmaster Rich asked Michele Appleby to send them the current roster listing all dens and currently registered scouts.

 

**Cubmaster Minute:  -Rich was unable to complete the paperwork for our Quality Unit. He will contact Jonathan Glassman to see if their is the possibility of an extension on time. Rich still needs to be updated on the current training statis of all leaders within our pack. Phase I is available for completion online.

Phase I
a. Youth Protection Training (YPT) must be completed by Registered Leaders at least once every three years. In this regard, every Registered Leader in Connecticut Yankee Council must complete YPT between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007. New Leaders who join Scouting after November 15, 2007 must complete YPT within 45 days of their initial registration. YPT must then be completed at least once every three years thereafter.
b. Every Registered Leader must complete Fast Start Training (program specific) by December 31, 2007. This is a one-time requirement for all Leaders. New Leaders who join Scouting after November 15, 2007 must complete Fast Start Training within 45 days of their initial registration.
c. Merit Badge Counselors (who serve in no other position) must meet the YPT requirement, but are exempt from meeting the Fast Start Training requirement.
Registered Leaders who fail to complete both Fast Start Training and YPT by December 31, 2007 will not be permitted to reregister for 2008.

Phase II
“Direct Contact” Leaders must also complete Phase II Training Requirements, listed below, in addition to Phase I Training Requirements. “Direct Contact” Leaders are Leaders directly involved with Youth, and include Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters, Cubmasters, Den Leaders, Assistant Den Leaders, Venture Crew Advisors and Venture Crew Assistant Advisors. For purposes of this program, Merit Badge Counselors are not considered “Direct Contact” leaders.
a. Basic Leader Training must be completed by December 31, 2008. This is a one-time requirement. New Leaders who join Scouting after June 30, 2008 must complete Basic Leader Training within 180 days of their initial registration.
b. Basic Leader Training consists of New Leader Essential Training plus Leader Specific Training. For Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters, Basic Leader Training also includes Introduction to Outdoor Skills Training.
c. Commissioners must complete Commissioner Basic Training by December 31, 2008.
“Direct Contact” Leaders who fail to complete Basic Leader Training by December 31, 2008 will not be permitted to reregister for 2009. .

 

**Open forum   -Fishing Derby will be chaired by Kevin Newcomb. He will contact council to reserve the "pines" and will make copies of the registration form to be distributed at the January Pack Meeting. All registrations will be sent directly to Council.
- Pinewood Derby budget for this year will be $500. Bill would like goodie bags made again, he has some things that can go into them.
- Roosevelt Forest Campout will be chaired by Kevin Newcomb. He will look into May 17th as our date. Tigers may come for the day, but may not sleep over. All other scouts may come for the day and sleep over if they would like to. Each scout MUST have an adult chaperone. Further information will become available as we get closer.

 

 

Next parent planning meeting will be February 6th at 7:30. All Cub Scout Pack 172 parents are invited!  

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:00pm. Respectfully submitted by Julie Kovach filling in for Michele Shedlock, Pack 172 Secretary.