Troop Policies and Procedures. Troop 218. Boy Scouts of America. Inland Northwest Council

Transcription

1 Troop Policies and Procedures Troop 218 Boy Scouts of America Inland Northwest Council Thunderbird District Covenant United Methodist Church Spokane, WA January 2010 This information is provided in the interest of better communication between Troop 218 scouts, leaders and parents. This document contains policy and other information about scouting and the troop program. Please feel free to contact your troop committee or Scoutmaster if you have any suggestions or questions.

2 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 2 MEMBERSHIP... 2 REGISTRATION AND FEES... 2 TROOP OPERATION... 2 ATTENDANCE... 2 MEETINGS... 2 ELECTRONICS... 2 OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES... 2 ADVANCEMENT... 2 RELIGIOUS AWARDS... 2 UNIFORMS... 2 TROOP ELECTIONS... 2 AWARDS... 2 AWARD PROCEDURES... 2 SCOUT CONDUCT... 2 DISCIPLINE... 2 PARENT/GUARDIAN SUPPORT... 2 TROOP POLICY STATEMENT... 2

3 INTRODUCTION Welcome to Troop 218. This troop was formed in April of Scouting is an experience that is full of opportunities and learning that will last a lifetime. You are limited only by your own willingness to participate and advance in Scouting. This requires both the work of the Scout and the willing support of the parent. This document fully explains the policies and programs of Troop 218. Please read it carefully. Troop 218 operates within the BSA and INW Council policies and guidelines and specifically adheres to the youth protection guidelines set forth in the Guide to Safe Scouting. Scouts will need the following items: Boy Scout Handbook Boys Scout Uniform Shirt Boy Scout Neckerchief (the first one is provided by the troop) Neckerchief Slide Uniform Insignias INW Council Patch Numerals: Arrow of Light Patch (if it has been earned) Epaulets o Red if wearing the traditional shirt o Green if wearing the new centennial shirt All of these items are available from the Scout Shop located at 411 W. Boy Scout Way in Spokane, next to the Spokane Arena. Your scout will also need certain outdoor items for the basic requirements for hiking and camping. The Scoutmaster and his assistants are available if you any questions about these items.

4 MEMBERSHIP A scout must have completed the 5 th grade, earned the Arrow of Light, or be at least 11 years old and not yet 18 years old and meet the eligibility requirements of the BSA. A scout must also complete the registration requirements identified in the Registration and Fees and Troop Operation sections below. When a scout transfers to or from another troop, he shall review his advancement record with the Advancement Chairperson. When leaving Troop 218, he shall request that his records be forwarded to the new troop or given to his parent(s)/guardian(s). Adult membership shall meet the requirements as specified by the BSA and must be approved by the head of the chartered organization or a designated representative. REGISTRATION AND FEES A new scout joining the troop must be officially registered with the Boy Scouts of America using the official registration form. A scout transferring from another troop should have the proper transfer papers from that troop as well as having filled out a new registration. Registration forms can be obtained from the Committee Chairperson. The completed registration form, together with the fees, is given to the Committee Chairperson. The BSA registration fee is paid upon entering the troop and annually in December thereafter. Re-registration fees for scouts and scouters may be paid from the troop treasury at the discretion of the Troop Committee. Fees for the scouts and adult scouters will be those established by the BSA. Applications must be submitted with full payment.

5 TROOP OPERATION Dues All scouts are required to pay dues to help offset the cost of troop operation. Dues are established by the Troop Committee. At the time of this writing, the dues are $300 annually. Dues cover items such as: Yearly BSA Registration Awards, rank advancement and patches Campout equipment like tents, tarps, axes, poles, bins, stoves, lanterns, propane Troop trailers and maintenance and repair Adult fees for summer camp Fuel charges for drivers traveling extraordinarily long distances Good turn items for our sponsoring organization (such as carpet cleaning) Campground fees Gifts for outgoing leaders T-shirts at summer camp and some high adventure campouts Fees for merchant account Fishing gear for fishing campout Porta-potty for Shoot-o-rama Some training costs for both scouts and adult leaders Some food costs at certain events Upfront payment for events Rental of pool for swimming merit badge Scouts whose dues are not up to date, will be restricted from the following activities until dues are paid: Monthly outdoor activity Patrol activities No rank or merit badges will be presented Transfer papers for scouts leaving the troop will not be given Boards of Review (i.e. rank advancement)

6 Fund Raising Events Dues do not cover all expenses incidental to operation of the troop. Therefore it is necessary to have several fund raising events during the year. The scout s earnings will be held in the troop treasury, in his name, and will be available for use for scouting activities or equipment. The following apply to use of the scout s funds: To use funds for an activity, the scout must present a note from his parent(s) Equipment will be reimbursed by presenting a receipt to the Troop Treasurer Questions about appropriate use will be resolved by the Scoutmaster and the Troop Committee. Unclaimed balance, if any, remaining in the scout s account upon his leaving the troop will be transferred to the troop general account. ATTENDANCE 1. The troop will schedule various activities during the year. These include: Monthly troop meetings Monthly outdoor activities Long term summer camp Scout Camporees Service Projects Troop, District, and National Fund raising activities Quarterly Court of Honor Eagle Court of Honor Activities scheduled by the Patrol Leaders Council 2. It is to the benefit of each scout to attend these activities regularly. Accordingly, a Scout is expected to attend 60% of these events to demonstrate Scout Spirit, which is a requirement for rank advancement. a. Scouts holding a position of leadership are expected to attend 80-90% of these events during their tenure. 3. A scout must attend at least two troop meetings per month to be eligible to attend the monthly outdoor activity. This is to ensure that he knows all of the requirements for the activity such as equipment needs, safety knowledge, skills needed, fees, etc. This may be waived by the Scoutmaster on an individual basis depending on the requirements of the activity.

7 4. The troop realizes that there are times when a scout cannot attend meetings and activities. Events such as school activities, homework, family events, vacations, etc. are excusable absences when known in advance. Therefore, if a scout cannot attend a meeting he should notify his Patrol Leader or another scout who will be attending the meeting and explain his absence. 5. A scout who is absent from all troop activities for more than one month or who misses the troop outdoor activity for three consecutive months may be requested to have a Scoutmaster conference with his parents present. 6. Patrol meetings at times other than troop meeting nights are encouraged and are a vital part of the Scouting program. Scouts are expected to attend these meetings or notify the Patrol Leader if he cannot attend.

8 MEETINGS 1. Troop meetings are from 7:00pm until 8:30pm on Mondays in the gym at Covenant United Methodist Church. Scouts should arrive and be picked up on time. 2. Patrol meetings, in addition to the troop meetings, are encouraged and are scheduled by the Patrol Leaders as necessary. 3. The Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) is composed of the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides, Instructors and Troop Scribe. This group meets one night (typically the second Tuesday) each month. 4. Troop Committee meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at the Church in Room 13 at 7:00pm. All parents/guardians are encouraged to attend. ELECTRONICS Scouts are encouraged to leave electronics at home. This includes MP3 players, personal video devices, and electronic game systems. These items are NOT allowed at Troop meetings and will be taken away until the end of the meeting. These items are allowed in vehicles during long travel, but are to be left in vehicles once in camp. Cell phones are allowed at troop activities. However, inappropriate use will result in removal until the end of the activity. Texting or talking on the phone during a troop meeting is NOT allowed. OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES 1. There will be at least one Troop activity scheduled for each month (except December). Once planned, the activity will be carried out unless extenuating circumstances (such as safety, lack of transportation, lack of adult leadership) prevent it. 2. A morning devotional service should be held on each activity extending into Sunday. 3. Individual Patrol outings must be submitted in advance to the Scoutmaster for approval. 4. In all cases, the use of liquid fuels or fires will require adult supervision.

9 5. The Outdoor Code is our Troop policy on outdoor activities. It is the responsibility and duty of each scout to abide by this code. Outdoor Code As an American, I will do my best to Be clean in my outdoor manners, Be careful with fire, Be considerate in the outdoors, and Be conservation-minded. 6. Departure and return times for each outdoor activity will be announced in advance. Parents/guardians providing transportation should arrive at the pickup point minutes prior to the scheduled departure. Departure times will be established at the monthly PLC meetings. Parents/guardians need to be on time to pickup returning scouts. 7. Swimming will be permitted during outdoor activities under adult supervision only and in compliance with BSA rules. 8. Federal and State boating laws will be observed at all times during activities that use boats or canoes. 9. Wood tools (knives, axes and saws) will be used in accordance with the Boy Scout Handbook and only by those scouts who have earned the Tote-N-Chip award. Any misuse of a wood tool results in the loss of one corner of the card. Loss of all corners or a major misuse or misconduct involving wood tools will result in the loss of the card and associated privileges. In this case, a Troop Leader will collect the tools for safe-keeping and the scout will have to re-qualify in wood tool use. 10. Only those scouts who have earned the Fireman Chit will be allowed to work with fires. This includes building a fire, adding wood to an existing fire, and putting fires out. Any inappropriate use of fire or actions involving fire will result in the loss of one corner of the card. Loss of all corners or a major misuse or misconduct regarding fire will result in the loss of the card and associated privileges. In this case, the scout will have to re-qualify. 11. Scouts attending a Troop or Patrol outdoor activity must meet their share of fees and other costs prior to going on the outing. 12. The PLC, with concurrence of the Scoutmaster or other adult Troop Leaders, may remove any scout from the outdoor activity for unsatisfactory conduct. The troop provides much of the equipment that is needed for outdoor activities. This includes: stoves, lanterns, tents and tarps. After an outdoor activity, a scout may be assigned a piece of equipment to take home and dry out (especially a tarp, tent or

10 canopy). The scout is expected to return the equipment to the Quartermaster as soon as possible, at which time it will be inspected by the Quartermaster. Equipment that is found to not be in good working order should be reported to the Quartermaster. ADVANCEMENT To ensure that advancement is an integral part of the Troop 218 program, the following policies will be followed: 1. Opportunities will be provided for a new scout to advance to the rank of First Class within one year of joining the troop. 2. Opportunities will be provided by the troop to aid scouts in obtaining merit badges. 3. Scouts who are not yet First Class will bring their Boy Scout Handbook to all meetings and outdoor activities. 4. Showing Scout Spirit is a requirement for all scout ranks. Consistent attendance at Troop, Patrol and outdoor activities is required to show proper Scout Spirit. 5. Leadership opportunities will be available to all scouts for advancement purposes either to elective or appointive offices in accordance with BSA requirements. Scouts should familiarize themselves with the roles and responsibilities of the leadership positions. The roles and responsibilities can be found on the troop website or in the troop library. 6. Scoutmaster conferences will be held as necessary. The Scoutmaster or a designated assistant will be available on meeting nights for these conferences (or as scheduled individually). Conferences shall be scheduled in advance. 7. Boards of Review will be held on troop meeting nights. Scouts will schedule these Boards with the Advancement Chairperson in advance so that appropriate arrangements can be made to ensure the proper leaders are present. RELIGIOUS AWARDS The twelfth point of the Scout Law is A Scout is Reverent. The Boy Scouts of America, through various religious institutions, provides a scout the opportunity to study his faith and earn the Religious Medal of his faith. Troop 218 encourages each scout to participate in the program

11 UNIFORMS 1. Class A uniform shall be defined as: a) the official khaki scout shirt (with red epaulets and appropriate patches), b) the neckerchief (black with the Scout insignia) and c) the patrol patch. This uniform is to be worn at the first and last Troop meeting of each month. 2. The Class B uniform is defined as any BSA, Chartered Organization or scout T- Shirt. This uniform is to be worn at troop meetings (other than the first and last meetings of the month). 3. Formal uniform is defined as: The Class A uniform (as described above) with the addition of the merit badge sash. This uniform is to worn at all Scoutmaster Conferences, Boards of Review, Awards Presentations and Courts of Honor. There will be no exceptions to this rule. The scout will not be permitted to have a Board of Review if not in uniform. 4. The appropriate uniform is to be worn at all Troop events unless prior notice is given by the Scoutmaster. 5. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are expected to wear their uniforms (class A or B as appropriate) at all meetings and outings as deemed appropriate. A bolo tie may be worn in place of the neckerchief. 6. The black neckerchief approved by the troop will be worn at Courts of Honor and other formal occasions with no exceptions. Any other neckerchief can be worn at all other activities. 7. The collar of the shirt is be worn out over the neckerchief. Class A shirts must be tucked in. 8. Proper wearing of the uniform is part of showing Scout Spirit.

12 TROOP ELECTIONS 1. Elections will be held every six months. To be eligible for an office, a scout must be a registered, active member of the troop and meet the qualifications stated in the roles and responsibilities of the position. 2. The position of Senior Patrol Leader will be appointed by the adult leadership of the troop. Scouts interested in the position must submit an application and go through an interview process with both the Scoutmaster and the troop committee. 3. The position of Junior Assistant Scoutmaster will be appointed by the Scoutmaster with the approval of the troop committee. 4. All other positions will be elected by the troop via a ballot process. AWARDS The Boys Scouts of America provides unlimited opportunities for young men to grow both in stature and knowledge. The awards program is a vital part of the Scouting program. The primary purpose of the awards program is to quickly recognize the scout for his achievement in scouting. AWARD PROCEDURES Rank Progression 1. Each scout will be sure that his rank progression is recorded in his Boy Scout Handbook with the proper signatures. 2. After completion of the individual parts of the rank, the scout will schedule a Scoutmaster s Conference. After the conference and the Scoutmaster or designated assistant has signed the book, the scout will schedule his Board of Review with the Advancement Chairperson 3. The badge of rank, card and Mother s pin will be presented at the next Court of Honor.

13 Merit Badges 1. The Scout obtains a merit badge blue card and the Scoutmaster signs it. 2. The Scout then finds a counselor and contacts him or her. The librarian or Advancement Chairperson maintains a Merit Badge Counselor List. 3. When the counselor has signed the blue card, indicating all requirements have been met, the Scout gives the completed card to the Scoutmaster for signature and then gives it to the Advancement Chairperson. 4. The badge will be presented at the next Court of Honor. SCOUT CONDUCT 1. The use of profane or unclean language will not be tolerated at any troop function. 2. There will be NO initiation ceremonies such as hazing or other demeaning actions or abuse by any Scout or leader to another Scout. 3. The use of alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, tobacco, or fireworks will not be tolerated at any Troop activity. 4. The Scout Sign is to be respected at all times. It will be used to attract attention to the leader and to signify that quiet is required. 5. The Senior Patrol Leader and all Troop leaders are to be shown respect by all scouts. 6. Destruction or defacing of Troop, private or public property will not be tolerated. 7. Fighting or bullying will not be tolerated. 8. The code of conduct is defined by the Scout Oath, Scout Law and the Outdoor Code. Scouts are expected to follow these guidelines at all times.

14 DISCIPLINE Discipline is normally handled by the Scouts. This usually happens as a normal course of events since Scouts will recognize a problem before it gets out of hand. This discipline will never consist of physical punishment. In all cases, the Scoutmaster will approve of all disciplinary actions. All reported thefts will be investigated by at least an Assistant Scoutmaster and the Senior Patrol Leader. Results of the investigation will be reported to the Scoutmaster for action. Each scout or parent should report any problems immediately to the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Chairperson. In the event a scout is causing a discipline problem in a meeting or an outing that cannot be readily resolved, the parent of the scout will be called to come and pick up their scout immediately. PARENT/GUARDIAN SUPPORT The success of the troop is directly related to the amount of parent(s)/guardian(s) for the positions of Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Committee members, Counselors, Transportation, Campout coordination, etc. Accordingly, Troop 218 requests the following: MOST IMPORTANT Support the scout in your family. Help him achieve his scouting goals Each parent/guardian is expected to donate services as needed to the troop. This may include: Serving on the Committee, being a merit badge counselor, providing transportation to outdoor activities, helping on fund raisers, coordinating campouts, etc. Adults are expected to abide by and demonstrate the Scout Oath and Scout Law. In order to participate in any Troop 218 campout or activity, adults must be registered with the BSA and have participated in (at least) Youth Protection Training. Exceptions to these will be the family camps such as Fish-O-Rama and ski day (other instances are at the discretion of the Scoutmaster and the Committee). TROOP POLICY STATEMENT This troop policy statement has been approved by the Patrol Leaders Council, the Troop Committee and the Scoutmaster. The effective date of this policy is February 1, Changes to this document will be made by approved amendments. Senior Patrol Leader: Scoutmaster:

15 Committee Chairperson: