2-6-2008 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, Keith Ferrara, Alan Derosa, Kathy Rainey

**January Pack Meeting: -hosted by Den 5 & 11. Meeting hosted by the Abed and Witkowski dens went well. We will continue and encourage participation in the food donations to Sterling House at our Pack Meetings. We need to tweek the award’s portion of the meeting. Scouts will continue to be called up for awards by den and should remain up there until the entire den has received any awards. At that point they should receive their applause. Parents should be encouraged to come up with their scout. Any scout unable to make it to the meeting and due an award should notify their den leader, who should in turn advise our awards chairperson Frank Eannoti to hold their award for presentation at the following pack meeting. Cubmaster Rich is coming up with a new format to make awards special and memorable for the scouts. This will be used for the first time at Blue and Gold.

**Pack finances: -Helen Levine reported that we have roughly $4900 in checking and $300 in the BSA account. We are approximately $100 ahead of last year at this time.  

**Roundtable: - Jan. 15 Mike Matis attended this meeting. Our pack was awarded 110 cars for going above our recruitment numbers from last year. Council advises us to be sure to start recruitment of leadership positions for survival of the pack. Other packs have folded as a result of the lack of parents willing to step up into leadership positions. Mike also reminds all who attend the Roundtable to bring back flyers of opportunities offered by the Council. These events will not be chaired by the Pack but the Pack will get the information to our scouts and then parents can decide if it is something they would like their scout to participate in and go through Council to make arrangements.

**Movie Night– January 25, 2008: -Julie Kovach, Bob Tremallo and the parents of Den 6 Webelos 1 stepped up to chair this event. We had roughly 95 in attendance including scouts, siblings and parents. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and it was discussed whether we should return to a sleepover in the future or keep it as an evening event. The overnight would cost the pack the salary of overtime pay to keep a custodian in the building overnight. This will be discussed in the future. Popcorn was donated by Bow Tie Cinnemas in Trumbull. Pizza was purchased from Tony’s of Huntington Inn at a discount. Candy was purchased from BJ’s. McDonald’s of Stratford donated cups and tops. All other paper products and coffee were donated by Mrs. Kovach. We also had a microwave for the first time to heat up cold pizza. A total of 15 pizzas were ordered. Through the cooperation of our scouts and parents, cleanup only took about 15 minutes and we were able to leave before the custodian’s shift was over. Candy that was left was handed off to Helen to be used at Games Night.

**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. Flyers with further information on this disease will be made available at Games Night to educate people about this little known 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. This pack meeting is being hosted by dens 2 & 4. (Levine/Matis) Helen has already picked up prizes and dens 2 & 4 are going to bake after all. Dens should send Helen the name of their game and let her know if they are in need of a table. She will advise Julie how many table are needed and Julie will call SHL to advise. Any questions from den leaders should be directed to Helen Levine. All Blue and Gold reservations and payment should be turned in to Michele Appleby tonight.

**Blue & Gold - February 24th: -Blue and Gold is scheduled to be held at Oronoque Country Club from 2pm - 6pm. Our theme this year is Pirates. Invitations were distributed at the January Pack Meeting as well as e-mailed to everyone. These should be returned to Michele Appleby not later than the February Pack Meeting (games night). Dens are to make skullies and a den flag for the pirate ship(please select a name for your ship). There will be a pirate chest with goodies on each table. After everyone has arrived at the table the scouts and siblings may take one of each item from the chest and then share whatever may be left. Entertainment will be GinaMarie Entertainment – a pirate songs/ dances/ and pirate hunt at a cost of $400 for 45 – 60 minutes. The scout gift will be a pack t-shirt, Al Derosa will get sizes and numbers from Michele and contact the company to order the shirts. Pinewood Derby kits and rules will also be distributed. Michele is checking with Frank Eannoti to see what date he needs all awards lists in as there will be many awards, she will e-mail everyone this information. Volunteers are still needed for set up and break down, please contact Michele to volunteer. Guest that will be invited this year are : Bryan Felty, Den Chiefs; Richie Kovach, Tommy Valus, Freddie Kaesman and Robbie Kimball, also the principal of St Mark’s Mr Adzima, and principal of Second Hill Lane School Mr. Noga. The pack will pay for these dinners.

**Pinewood Derby – March 29: -Cars and rules to be distributed at Blue and Gold. First weigh in at March Pack Meeting 3/19. Michele has confirmed with SHL. Doors will open at 9 am for set up, Bill Lobdell chairperson would like to see some new volunteers step up to help with set up. Cars were received at the January Roundtable saving us about $300. Trophies were donated by the Shriners Car Club saving us about $50 - 60. Julie will reserve the projector with Librarian Mrs. Kalagian. Bob Tremallo and Al Derosa will run the race laptop. Either Bill Lobdell or Keith Ferrara will bring the laptop. Music and sound will be run by Rich and Richie Kovach. Michele and Evelyn will help with the snack table. Keith Ferrara will take care of the pizza order(possibly from Vazzy’s). All scouts must be registered by 1pm to race. The race should begin at 1:15pm. Keith will also help with the registration cards to help move the line along. Michele will handle the scout pictures at the beginning of the event. Julie has to work that day but will make the goodie bags and send them to the event with Rich, anyone having any items for the goodie bags should get them to Julie in advance ie: pens, magnets, etc. donations of items such as these from your place of work. Bill will pick up raffle items to be raffled off during the event.

**Leadership / Event Chairpersons: - Michele handed out a sheet listing our current leaders and chairpersons. There is much concern over the openings that will happen as our scouts graduate to boy scouting and their parents who have served this pack so well move on as well. We will be talking to our parents and advising them of the need to step up and volunteer. Keith Ferrara brought up how he was part of the pack at Wilcoxson and at that time did not step up. This pack folded and he came to Pack 172 with a new found appreciation for the need to step up and volunteer. He has also found that his son’s get more out of the organization as a direct result of his involvement in a leadership role. All leaders present discussed the need for experienced leaders to mentor younger leaders so that as we all move on we know that the pack will not fold and be left in capable hands. This is the oldest Cub Scout Pack in Stratford and we need to be mindful of that as we go forward and be good stewards of the pack. Julie has asked Brian Duca to discuss with his wife Laurie the possibility of co-chairing the pack next year, as Julie moves on after next year and wants to make sure someone knows what to do. Julie has asked Kathy Rainey to co-charter rep with her next year for the same reason. Julie asked Brian Duca to consider the possibility of doing the wreath fundraiser next year, he will check with his wife and advise me. We do not want our current leaders to overload so we need to ask other parents to help with leadership roles as well as events. Kathy Rainey suggested that each den take on an event and chair it, as Den 6 did for Movie Night. We think that Brian Kelly would make an excellent Awards Chairperson for next year with a younger scouting parent to co-chair as Brian moves after next year as well, Mike Matis will discuss this with him.

**Cubmaster Minute: -Rich advised everyone of the Pomperaug District dinner this Saturday night at 6pm. This is at your own expense if anyone would like to attend please contact him for more details. Also Friends of Scouting is slated to come to our March Pack Meeting for a 10 minute presentation, he will contact the Poissons to advise them.

Next parent planning meeting will be March 5th at 7:30. All Cub Scout Pack 172 parents are invited!

Meeting adjourned at 9:15pm.

Respectfully submitted by Julie Kovach filling in for Pack Secretary Michele Shedlock.