Attendees: John Benavides, George Kerr, Ed Nichols, Dan Lassiter,
  Charlie Hood, Kathy Dumanski (not a quorum)
Scouts: None
Chair: Mark Steger
Minutes: Mark Steger

1. Calendar
     Dec 27-31: Winter Camp
     Jan  5: Troop meeting (USS Lexington fees due)
     Jan 12: Troop meeting
     Jan 16-19: USS Lexington trip
     Jan 22: Troop Committee meeting

2. Treasurer - Kathy Dumanski
     o December report
       - 4 months YTD income is $16,227. Expenses are $14,168.

3. PLC - Phillip Pool
     o No Scout report
     o Scouting for Mail: Ed Nichols learned of an opportunity for a
       service project building mailboxes for Habitat for Humanity.  The
       opportunity will be presented to the PLC.

4. Roundtable - Ed Nichols
     o Learning Disabilities
       - Adult leaders are reminded to be sensitive to Scouts who have
         different academic and/or social skills. Ability to read, to
         handle pressure, to pay attention, etc., all vary from boy to
         boy.
     o OA dinner
       - The annual Mikinakawa Lodge Order of the Arrow dinner will be
         January 10. Cost is $18 per person, if paid before Dec 29.  The
         reservation form is at http://www.miki.org/pdf/2003ADinReg.pdf .
     o North Trail District Dinner
       - The annual dinner will be January 30. Cost is $15 per person.
         The reservation form is at
         http://northtrail.org/documents/2004%20district%20dinner.pdf
       - Recipients of the district's most prestigious service awards
         will be recognized.  Troop 81's own Ed Nichols has been awarded
         the Y.E.S. award for "Your Extraordinary Service" to Troop 81
         and Boy Scouting.  Congratulations, Ed.

5. Campouts - Dennis McCarthy
     o Dec 27-31: Winter Camp, Camp Cherokee
       - 37 Scouts and 8 full-time adults are signed up.

     o Jan 16-19: Military, USS Lexington (Moose)
       - 37 Scouts and 8 adults are signed up.
       - Cost is $150 per Scout and $100 per adult. Due Jan 5.
       - Fees cover transportation, two nights' stay, including meals,
         on the USS Lexington, and admission fee to the Museum of
         Science and Industry. Scouts are responsible for breakfast and
         lunch on Saturday and snacks on the bus.

     o Feb 13-15: Lashings and Bonfire, Colbaugh Ranch (Pedro)
     o Mar 20:    Pre-Camporee Day Camp
     o Mar 26-28: Camporee
     o Apr 23-25: Canoeing/tubing, Worth Ranch (Badger)
     o May 14-15: Lock-in, Summit Climbing Gym (Badger)

     o Sea Base 2004 - Nancy Sanders
       - We still need a few final air travel reservations to be made
         before we can make plans for ground transportation.

     o Philmont 2005 - John Benavides
       - Bad news. Troop 81 did get a trek in the random drawing, but
         the dates are Aug 13-21, 2005. This will likely overlap with
         the start of school. The chances are not good that we'll be
         able to change dates.  Double-H Ranch, a new Scout high
         adventure camp in New Mexico, will be looked at as an
         alternative.

     o Northern Tier
       - No canoe trips are planned.

6. Meetings - Dave Knust
     o Nothing to report

7. Leadership - Rick Montgomery
     o Nothing to report

8. Advancement - Bonnie Branch
     o Nothing to report

9. Committee - Mark Steger
     o Recharter
       - Troop 81 rechartered 70 Scouts and 46 adults.
         (Last year, it was 81 and 50. In 2001, it was 67 and 39. In
         2000, it was 69 and 32.)

Troop 81 Web site: http://t81.freewebpage.org

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Mark Steger