GOALS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

ABOUT THIS BOOKLET

INTRODUCTION

PARTICIPATION POLICY

TROOP MEETINGS

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

UNIFORMS

CAMPING TRIPS AND HIKES

SUMMER CAMP

SUPERVISION

ADVANCEMENT AND BOARDS OF REVIEW

GOALS OF THE BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated to provide a program for community organizations that offers effective character, citizenship, and personal fitness training for youth.

Specifically, the BSA endeavors to develop American citizens who are physically, mentally, and emotionally fit; have a high degree of self-reliance as evidenced in such qualities as initiative, courage, and resourcefulness; have personal values based on religious concepts; have the desire and skills to help others; understand the principles of the American social, economic, and governmental systems; are knowledgeable about and take pride in their American heritage and understand our nation's role in the world; have a keen respect for the basic rights of all people; and are prepared to participate in and give leadership to American society.

ABOUT THIS BOOKLET

This booklet is intended to give our new and old members a view of how the program should be run from year to year. It has approximated individual costs, Troop yearly budgeting , a yearly calendar, and names and numbers of all current Scouts and Scouters.

INTRODUCTION

Troop 118 was established in January 1995 from the remnants of the former West Point Troop 18. Troop 18 was established in the 1930’s and was active through 1978. The chartering organization is West End Baptist Church. The church (as the sponsoring organization) will appoint a representative, the Chartered Organizational Representative. This individual will register with the troop as an adult leader and should attend basic leader training.

PARTICIPATION POLICY

If a scout is unable to attend a troop/patrol function, he is to inform his patrol leader prior to the function. He is expected to contact his patrol leader to find out what he missed at that function.

Each scout is required to provide a permission slip signed by his parent(s) or guardian for each outing. A scout will not participate in any activity other than normal troop/patrol meetings unless a permission slip is received by the Scoutmaster. The permission slip is a troop form and includes a medical power of attorney which should be taken on each outing. Parents will provide the troop a copy of a current BSA physical examination form within 30 days of the boy joining the troop. This form must be updated each spring prior to summer camp time.

The troop committee will obtain a tour permit for any outing which requires that permit (BSA rules).

TROOP MEETINGS

Troop meetings are normally held on Monday nights from 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Occasionally, the meeting may be rescheduled, If rescheduled, all scouts and leaders will be notified by the Scoutmaster/Senior Patrol Leader.

After a scout arrives at a meeting, he will not leave until the meeting is complete or he is picked up by parents or other authorized person(s).

The Patrol Leader's Council will conduct an annual meeting to develop the Yearly Calendar of activities for the troop. The meeting will be led by the Senior Patrol Leader. After the calendar is complete, the Senior Patrol Leader will present it to the troop committee for review and approval.

The Senior Patrol Leader will lead a monthly meeting of the Patrol

Leader's Council to review the monthly plan and to determine specifics of each weekly meeting. This meeting is planned for the last Monday of each month.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS

The troop committee provides support for the Scoutmaster and the troop program. They will assist in matters of administration and policy. They review and approve the yearly planning calendar, provide primary operation of unit fund raising activities, provide transportation for troop outings, maintain records of advancement and plan Courts of Honor, and act as liaison between the troop and the chartered organization.  The troop committee will meet at least monthly to review the troop program and determine what assistance is needed. They will respond to direct requests for help by the Scoutmaster.  Troop Committee Meetings will not be held during Troop Meetings. The Troop Committee Meetings will normally be held on the third Thursday of the month.  The Troop committee chairman will insure that at least three members are available to conduct Boards-of-Review as required. Boards-of-Review may also be held following the monthly Troop Committee Meeting if time permits. Special committee meetings may be called at any time to discuss matters which require immediate attention.  All Troop committee members must undergo Troop Committee Training, on the Council or Troop level and must be registered.

UNIFORMS

CLASS A UNIFORM:

Official Scout shirt, with all badges, patches, and insignia.

Official Scout pants or shorts

Official Scout belt

Official Scout hat (optional troop hat)

Official Scout neckerchief

Official Scout socks

Troop Neckerchief: Green/Gold, official BSA.

CLASS B UNIFORM:

Same as Class A, except the Scout shirt is replaced by any official Scout Tee shirt (OA, summer camp, etc)

Troop hat: official Scout baseball style

Troop T shirt: Not determined at this time. Subject to committee approval.

Being in uniform means being in complete uniform. This includes wearing all items listed above, shirts tucked into pants, neckerchiefs and hats on. The uniform will not be worn except at officially recognized Scout functions and troop activities. The Senior Patrol Leader should schedule monthly uniform inspections. Patrol leaders should inspect their patrol members each week.

CAMPING TRIPS AND HIKES

Troop 118's goal is for each scout to have at least 15 nights of camping each year. The yearly calendar will be planned to achieve this goal. Every boy should attend each campout and summer camp in order to meet advancement requirements.

SUMMER CAMP

Troop 118 will plan to attend a council summer camp each year for at least a week. A committee member will assume responsibility for planning and publicity. Details concerning when, where, and cost will be made available at the earliest possible date to permit families to plan the week and for the scout to work to earn money for camp attendance. Footlockers are recommended to make easy access and to secure personal items during the week.

SUPERVISION

A minimum of two registered adult scouters are required for all troop functions. Ideally, there will be one adult for each five or six boys. If two registered adults are not able to attend, the function will be cancelled. Participation by troop parents in all activities is strongly encouraged.

ADVANCEMENT AND BOARDS OF REVIEW

When a scout has completed the requirements for advancement, he will present his Boy Scout Handbook/merit badge card (blue) to the advancement chairman for verification and posting to troop records. He will then be eligible for a Board-of-Review. A Board-of-Review conducted by at least three Troop Committee members, excluding the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, is required for each rank except Eagle. The Eagle Board-of-Review requires at least 5 adults, two of which must be from the District or Council advancement committee. The boy will arrange for a Scoutmaster conference and will arrange for a Board-of-Review after the conference. To schedule a Board-of-Review, the scout should do the following:

1. Inform his patrol leader at least one week in advance.

2. The Patrol Leader will inform the Senior Patrol Leader who, in turn, will inform the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will notify the advancement chair and the committee chair.

3. Boards-of-Reviews will be normally conducted as scheduled on the calendar during the regular Meetings if time permits.

4. Scouts will be in Class A uniform to meet the Board.

5. Scouts will present their Scout Handbook to the board president for review.

SCOUTMASTER CONFERENCE

Scoutmaster conferences are normally conducted when all requirements for a rank are complete. This permits a final check prior to the Board-of-Review. During the conference, the scout's record is reviewed and the conference date is recorded for future reference. Each scout is responsible for his own progress record. He maintains his records in his Scout Handbook / progress pamphlet. This is the primary record for all ranks and requires careful upkeep.

MERIT BADGES

When a scout is interested in a particular merit badge, he should:

1. Consult his Scout Handbook and Requirements book.

2. Obtain a merit badge pamphlet. The troop has a library and some may need to be purchased at the local Scout supply center.

3. Meet with the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman and express a desire to work on the merit badge. The Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman will refer the boy to a counselor and issue a merit badge card for use by the scout/ counselor.

4. Contact the counselor for guidance and assistance.

5. The counselor will sign the merit badge card after he/she has ascertained that the scout has completed all requirements and deserves the badge. The scout will then return the card to the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters.

6. The card will be reviewed for accuracy and completeness, the troop advancement chairman will be notified, and a progress report will be forwarded to the Council office.

7. The merit badge will be presented at the next Court-of-Honor.

COURTS OF HONOR

Courts-of-Honor will be scheduled quarterly. The Troop Advancement Chairman is responsible for preparing the Court and will assure that all badges of rank/merit and other awards are available for the Court. The Senior Patrol Leader will conduct the Court (e.g. program).

LEADERSHIP

Leadership is a very important aspect of the Scouting program. Since leadership experience is required for advancement to Star, Life, and Eagle; each scout should strive to hold at least one of the many leadership positions in the troop. Some of the positions can be elective, but some are assigned by the Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader. Leadership training should be held periodically throughout the year. At least once during the year, a formal training period should be held for each scout in a leadership position. The Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader will be responsible for attending the council’s Junior Leader Training Camp.

RADIOS / TAPE PLAYERS

Radios, tape players, or other electronic devices may not be brought on or used during camping trips. This will permit maximum use of available time for Scouting activities. Items of this nature which are brought along on camping trips will be confiscated by the Scoutmaster/Assistant Scoutmasters and will be returned at the end of the trip.

ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND DRUGS

The use of any of these items is inconsistent with the aims of Scouting and use will not be permitted. Any scout using or participating in the use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs will be brought before the Scoutmaster and the troop committee for appropriate action. Parents will be informed and asked to participate in disciplinary action. Sometimes adults associated with the program are smokers. This should not be hidden from the boys, but should be kept to a minimum. Therefore, the following adult smoking rules apply to Troop 118 operations:

1. No smoking at troop meetings. This includes areas away from the boys.

2. Smoking at campsites will be limited to an area around the campfire or in the adult campsite only.

3. Outdoors, all adults will "field strip" cigarettes or other smoking material and keep filters, etc. to dispose of in a trash receptacle.

FINANCES

The troop operates under BSA guidelines and will use a "Budget Plan". The Budget will determine a yearly cost per boy and adult. It is the troop’s goal that no boy be required to pay any money to the troop other than an initial cost of $ 40 and their weekly dues. Uniforms and personal supplies are not covered under the budget plan.  Patrol dues ($1.00 per scheduled meeting) are due no later than the last meeting of each month and are payable whether the scout attends the meetings or not. The patrol scribe will collect dues during the patrol meeting. If back dues are owed, the scout will not be eligible for awards. Upon payment of all dues (in full), the scout will be again be eligible for all awards. The patrol dues will be used solely to provide patrols with their own money for transportation, supplies and equipment.  The purchase of awards, materials, etc. for the troop will be made by individuals authorized to do so by the troop committee after the purchase has been approved by the troop committee. All receipts will be turned in to the treasurer.  Several troop fund raisers may be planned during the year in order to meet our budget. All of these fund raisers require the approval of the troop committee and the District. The profit for the fundraisers will be divided up per boy depending on their participation in the fundraiser.  The treasurer will provide a financial report to the committee during the monthly meeting.

CODE OF SCOUT CONDUCT

Scouts are expected to observe common courtesy and good behavior at all times. Disciplinary problems of a minor nature, encountered during the patrol meetings, may be handled by the patrol leader. The Senior Patrol Leader should handle minor problems encountered during the troop meeting. The following action will not be tolerated by Troop 118 scouts:

1. Use of foul language

2. Shoving, grabbing, kicking, etc.

3. Running, horseplay, or "goofing off" during the troop meeting.

Actions resulting from misconduct:

1. A warning from the Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader.

2. Supervised discipline from Junior Leaders.

3. Counseling by the Scoutmaster.

4. For serious or repeated offenses, the scout will appear before the Troop Committee. The Troop Committee will a decide on the punishment to be administered.

ELECTIONS

Election of boy leaders will occur every six months (normally in March and September). To be eligible for the office of Senior Patrol Leader a scout must:

Be at least a First Class scout

Have been active in the troop for at least four months.

Be eligible to complete six months as a scout.

Note: any or all of these requirements may be waived by the

Scoutmaster.

For further information on elections and requirements refer to Troop 118 Leadership Guide.