Troop 3 Bylaws
Here are the current
bylaws for Troop 3, Grafton, VA
Organization and
Charter
The name of this
organization is Boy Scout Troop 3. It operates under a
charter granted to Grafton Baptist Church, located at the
corner of Dare Road and George Washington Memorial
Highway (Route 17). The purpose of the organization is to
carry on a Scouting Program for purposes of character
development, citizenship training, mental and physical
fitness in accordance with the charter and Bylaws of the
Boy Scouts of America.
This charter is issued by
the National Council on a yearly basis and must be
renewed before the last day of January each year.
Committee
The Troop committee must
consist of a Charter Organization Representative, a
Committee Chairman, and a minimum of two other adults,
per BSA policy. Any adult at least 18 years of age is
eligible to register as a committee member. The committee
should include a vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, and
committee members responsible for advancement,
transportation, membership, and other provisions as the
committee finds necessary.
Committee meetings are
held on a regular basis, normally the third Tuesday of
each month at 7 PM. However, the date and time may be
modified by the Committee Chairman.
A Troop 3 quorum is
considered convened when any four Committee Members are
in attendance. With this understanding of a quorum, any
business carried out and voted on will become Troop
policy providing a majority vote is received.
It is established that,
the Committee Chairman (or Vice Chairman in his/her
absence) can only vote in the event of a tie. It is
further established that the Scoutmaster has no official
vote on the Committee. The Scoutmaster is permitted to
present troop reports and/or requests at committee
meetings.
Meetings
Troop meetings are held
weekly on Tuesdays at 7 PM at Grafton Baptist Church. The
weekly meeting schedule may be modified by the
Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader to allow for school
activities, holidays, or any unforeseen problems.
All troop meetings must
have two registered adult Scout leaders present, one of
which is fully trained and at least one is required by
BSA policy to have current Youth Protection Training. All
troop outings must have at least two registered adult
Scout leaders present, one of which is fully trained and
at least one is required by BSA policy to have current
Youth Protection Training. Planned activities/meetings
must be cancelled if these requirements are not met.
Patrol meetings are held
on a weekly basis during the regular troop meeting.
Additional patrol meetings may be held by the Patrol
Leader when approved by the Senior Patrol Leader and/or
the Scoutmaster. A monthly Patrol Leaders Council will
take place following the regular weekly troop meeting.
This meeting will take place the second Tuesday of each
month.
Any Scout absent three
consecutive troop meetings or three consecutive camping
activities may be placed on inactive status unless the
Scoutmaster is notified by the Scout involved and the
absence is excused by the Scoutmaster. Reinstatement may
be requested after an interview with the Scout and his
parent(s) with the Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman.
Membership
The size of the troop membership will
remain unlimited provided the Scoutmaster and Troop
Committee feel there is sufficient adult leadership to
safely carry out all activities. Should the Scoutmaster
and Troop Committee decide by a joint consensus that
there is insufficient leadership for the size of the
troop membership the following priority selection
procedure will be implemented:
Boy Scouts transferring from existing
programs.
Webelos from feed Packs (Packs 3, 54, 154, 155, and 200).
New boys to the Scouting program.
Any boy desiring membership should
contact the Scoutmaster. Assignment to a patrol must be
agreed upon by the Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader,
and the Scoutmaster. Transfer from one patrol to another
is subject to the approval of the Patrol Leaders
involved, the Senior Patrol Leader, and the Scoutmaster.
Dues are collected monthly. The amount
of the dues is approved by the Troop Committee.
Awards
The troop will furnish all the basic
awards that are presented to the Scouts at the Court of
Honor. These include the various service pins, badges of
office, ranks, mother's pins, and merit badges with the
appropriate cards. Dues must be kept in a current status,
failure to do so will result in the Scout's awards being
withheld. Scouts will be held responsible for the cost to
replace lost or damaged awards.
In order for a Scout to earn awards, he
must meet the requirements stated in the current Boy
Scout Handbook, specific Merit Badge booklets, and those
outlined in the adopted Troop 3 Advancement Guidelines.
Requirements should be initialed off at weekly troop
meetings by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.
Presentation of rank badges will be after successful
completion of the Scout's Board of Review. Formal
recognition of rank advancement and other awards,
including merit badges, will be at the Troop Court of
Honor.
Troop Courts of Honor will be held
quarterly or as deemed necessary by the Troop Committee.
Troop Court of Honors will be used to recognize both
Scouts and Leaders. Eagle Court of Honors are planned and
carried out by the Eagle candidate and his parents. The
date and time should be coordinated with the Scoutmaster
if use of Grafton Baptist Church facilities will be
required. The troop has its flags and "props"
that may be used by the Eagle candidate upon request.
The Troop Committee is responsible for
the confirmation and documentation of all rank
advancement, including merit badges, but short of the
Eagle Scout rank. The Eagle rank is done at the district
level, sent through the Colonial Virginia Council, and
completed at the National BSA office in Irving, Texas.
Outings
All outings planned by the troop or
patrols must have the approval of the Troop Committee.
Permission slips signed by a parent are required for all
Scouts attending the outing. A Tour Permit is required
for each troop or patrol outing, especially when the
event happens away from the normal meeting place (Grafton
Baptist Church). These must be signed by a committee
member and the tour leader.
Boy Leadership
The Senior Patrol Leader and the
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are appointed by the
Scoutmaster, with recommendations from the Assistant
Scoutmaster(s). Troop Guides and Instructors are also
appointed by the Scoutmaster. Patrol Leaders, Assistant
Patrol Leaders, and all other troop positions are elected
by the Scouts. Elections are held semi-annually to
facilitate the six month criteria for holding a troop
position towards rank advancement. Patrol Leaders may
appoint patrol members to patrol jobs, these do not count
towards rank advancement. Junior Assistant Scoutmaster
assignments are at the discretion of the Scoutmaster. All
Scouts elected or appointed to a position may be removed
by the Scoutmaster. Failure to do the duties of the job,
lack of attendance, or poor Scout Spirit may be grounds
for removal.
A Den Chief may be assigned to a local
Pack den to serve as the Den Leader's assistant. Den
Chiefs are chosen on the recommendation of the
Scoutmaster and the approval of the Den Leader and
Cubmaster.
As a "Boy run Troop" the
following is a reminder to all Scouts, those in
leadership positions or not, per BSA policy: "Any
form of hazing, initiations, ridicule, or inappropriate
teasing are prohibited." Along these lines no Scout
may discipline another Scout. This will impact on the
signing off of Scout Spirit for rank advancement and/or
removal from leadership position.
Taken from Guide to Safe Scouting,
"Hazing and Initiations", page 35.
Adult Responsibilities
The Troop Committee Chairman
registration is approved by the Charter Organization
Representative. All other adult registrations are
approved by the Committee Chairman and the Charter
Organization Representative. Committee members may be
assigned responsibilities by the Committee Chairman. The
Scoutmaster is responsible for Assistant Scoutmaster
assignments.
The Scoutmaster is responsible to the
Troop Committee for the troop's weekly program. The
Scoutmaster and Patrol Leader Council will develop the
yearly program. The Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader
will present the yearly program to the Troop Committee
for its approval. The Troop Committee will publish the
yearly program after it is approved. The yearly program
should include troop outings, council events, Court of
Honors, fund-raisers, etc.
Uniforms
Uniforms will be worn by the
Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Junior Assistant
Scoutmasters, the Senior Patrol Leader, and the Assistant
Senior Patrol Leader. Uniforms should be obtained within
30 days after registration. Committee members are
encouraged to acquire Scout uniforms.
Uniforms will not be worn at any fund-raising
function except when approved by BSA guidelines.
General appearance-good posture, clean
face and hands, hair combed, and neatly dressed.
A Class "B" uniform should be
worn to all meetings when not wearing the Class "A".
The Class "B" uniform is defined as being any
BSA approved tee shirt or the green Troop 3 tee shirt
with neat jeans or shorts. The Class "A"
uniform is required for inspections, first Tuesday of
every month, Scoutmaster conferences, Board of Reviews,
and all Court of Honors.
The following constitutes the Class
"A" uniform:
1. Cap-not required. If the Scout ball
cap is worn, the visor is in front.
2. Neckerchief-mandatory. The troop has
its own neckerchief which may be purchased. It should be
worn folded and placed snuggly around the neck and held
in place with an approved slide. There will be six inches
from the top to the point of the triangle. The front ends
should hang loose and not be tied. When worn with the
uniform shirt, it should be place under the collar. Boys
who have reached the rank of Eagle may wear either the
Eagle Scout neckerchief, bolo, or the troop neckerchief.
3. Neckerchief Slide-May be official
Scout slide or appropriate home version.
4. Shirt-Official Scout, either long or
short sleeved.
5. Belt-Official, required when wearing
official Scout shorts or trousers. Required when
advancing to Star, Life, and Eagle. Any, required when
wearing shorts or trousers with beltloops.
6. Trousers or shorts-Official,
required when attending summer camp or advancing to Star,
Life, and Eagle. Neat trousers or shorts required at all
other times.
7. Socks-Official, required when
wearing Scout trousers or shorts. Required when advancing
to Star, Life, and Eagle. Any required at all other times.
8. Shoes-Clean and compatible with good
appearance. Tennis shoes are acceptable. Cleats are
prohibited on church floors.
9. Insignia-All insignia will be
official BSA and will be worn in accordance with current
BSA insignia guidelines.
Budget
The Troop annual budget will run in
concurrence with the charter year (Jan. 31 - Dec. 31). It
is the policy of the Troop Committee that dues paid by
the Scouts will cover the cost of the various service
pins, badges of office, ranks, parent pins, and merit
badges with the appropriate cards. This may be
supplemented by special fund-raising activities at the
discretion of the Troop Committee.
Annual registration fees for Scouts and
Leaders will be set by the Troop Committee in November of
each year. These fees may change based on National BSA
requirements. Fees will include monthly dues,
registration, and Boy's Life magazine (if desired). Dues
are paid monthly throughout the calendar year (January-December).
Dues should be kept paid to date or ahead. These fees
will be published for the troop no later than 1 December.
The troop neckerchief and the troop tee
shirt may be purchased at cost. These are not fund-raising
items.
Outings will be paid for by the
individual Scout. This fee is usually for food and/or
transportation and is normally set a week prior to the
outing. Most Council sponsored events require an
additional fee which covers the Council insurance and a
patch. Upon final arrangements or the week prior to any
outing a Scout who has signed up must pay all those fees
involved..
Complaints
Any complaints in regards to the troop
should first be taken up with the Scoutmaster or
Committee Chairman. If the complaint cannot be
satisfactorily resolved, then it should be taken to the
Charter Organization Representative. After all other
means have failed, complaints may be taken to the
District Executive.
Revised Bylaws approved by Troop
Committee on 20 November 2001.
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