Troop 551: Policies & Guidelines
Table of Contents
Troop Meetings
Attendance
Uniform
Troop Budget
Dues & Fees
Fundraising
Camping Trips
Cost of Trips
Transportation
Troop Equipment
Personal Equipment
Summer Camp
Leadership
Advancement
Merit Badges
Service Projects
Training Requirements
Medical Forms
Disciplinary Guidelines
Member Responsibilities
Unit Responsibilities
Troop Meetings
Day: Each Tuesday night 7:30 to 9:00pm at the Upper Merion BaptistChurch from September through June, except the Tuesday after each camping trip when we will have a Patrol Leaders Council meeting. If Schools are closed because of a weather emergency there will be no meeting that night.
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Attendance
Active participation and regular attendance is expected at all troop meetings, patrol leader council meetings, camping trips, and other troop scouting activities. Scouts should notify their Patrol Leader or the Senior Patrol Leader if they are unable to attend a meeting or event. Exceptions can be made for good reasons (school activity, family obligation, etc.). The Scout should also telephone his Patrol Leader for any missed information when he is unable to attend an activity.
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Uniform
Complete uniforms are expected to be worn while traveling to and from all camping trips and activities unless told otherwise by the Senior Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster. No exceptions! Uniforms must have all the insignia in the proper place and be worn correctly, with pride, by each Scout. There is a uniform exchange program which we have instituted to help defray costs and recycle usable uniforms.
The uniform includes the following:
-Shirt
-Pants
-Scout web belt
-Scout socks
-Troop Neckerchief
-Slide
-Council strip
-Red shoulder loops
-551 unit numerals
-Rank patch (as earned)
-Service stars (as earned)
-Quality unit patch (as qualified)
-Position patch for office held
-Arrow of Light patch (if earned as a Cubbb Scout)
-Religious knot (as earned) this knot anddd heroism awards are the only knots permitted on the youth uniform.
-OA lodge flap (as qualified)
-Merit badge sash with earned merit badgeees for special occasions
-OA sash for special occasions (as qualifffied)
-Last activity patch
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Troop Budget
The troop budget is a plan for receiving and spending troop funds. Each year, the Troop Committee examines the size of the troop and its needs. Based on the program features, equipment needs (new, repaired, or replaced equipment), awards, registrations, and special events, we estimate monetary needs for a quality program. This amount is supplied through the Scouts' dues and any fund-raisers needed to balance the budget.
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Dues &: Fees
Scouts are expected to pay their first year registration fees ($25). Additionally, dues are $3 per month (September through June) for a total of $30 per year. They can be paid in advance or on a monthly or weekly schedule. If a scout decides to quit or leave they will not receive any reimbursement. It is each Scout's responsibility to make sure his dues are up to date.
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Money Earning
The Troop Committee estimates monetary needs for a quality program. Thru the money earning activities like the car wash, yard sale and popcorn sales the troop gains exposure to the community and money to supplement the troop needs that the scouts' dues do not cover to balance the budget. The troop committee can allow a percentage, up to 50% of the money earning profit, as an incentive, to be set-aside for each scout that participated in the money earning event depending on a balanced budget. If money earning efforts fail, each Scout in the troop will be assessed an equal share to balance the budget. Money earning projects helps keep the cost of Scouting down.
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Camping Trips
The Scout must attend the meeting before an outing in order to go on the outing, unless he has a valid reason, approved by the Scoutmaster, as to why he can't attend the meeting. If the patrol leader or assistant does not intend to go camping, he must assign a temporary patrol leader for the trip.
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Cost of Trips
Each Scout must take a turn buying the food for a camp out. At least two weeks before the camping trip each scout must turn in a permission slip and the money for an event. This will allow adequate time to plan the event and to supply funds to the scout buying the food. The normal estimate for a local campout cost is about $15. This should cover $10.00 for food and $5.00 for patches and registration. The troop committees' job is to estimate the cost of each trip and set the price to achieve a zero balance. The scout must give a receipt to the Treasurer for the food bought. If a patrol exceeds their budget, it is up to them to make up the difference. Any refunds will be paid out to the Scout at the next meeting. These refunds will not be pout into the Scout's personal account.
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Transportation
Scout parents are expected to take turns providing transportation for their son's Patrol and equipment during Scout outings and activities. When an adult drives his/her vehicle on one of our outings, he/she may deduct the cost from income taxes as a contribution to a non-profit institution. This helps keep the cost down for those Scouts who may not be able to go if we charged more. Reimbursement for gasoline, tolls, and other related transportation expenses, however, will be included in the cost for any long excursions over one hundred miles one way. All Scouts and Scouters are required to follow traffic laws and to wear seat belts at all times while traveling.
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Troop Equipment
Troop 551 has a considerable amount of camping equipment including tents, cooking equipment, storage equipment, etc. This equipment was purchased over the years and is worth a considerable amount of money. To replace it due to carelessness or malicious conduct would divert Troop funds from other, more worthwhile uses, such as trips, awards, etc. Every adult and Scout is expected to take proper care of this equipment. This includes proper usage, storage, and cleaning. Malicious destruction of Troop property will be subject to disciplinary action and replacement.
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Personal equipment
Scouting is based heavily on the outdoor experience for advancement and personal development and as a result it requires some additional equipment that the Scout has to provide. The following is a minimum list of items needed for a campout.
-Sleeping bag
-Ground pad
-Mess kit
-Silverware
-Flashlight
-Backpack
-Hiking boots
-Uniform and change of clothes
-Rain gear
-Basic first-aid kit
-Compass (optional)
-Pocket knife (once qualified)
-Canteen or water bottle
-Boy scout handbook
-Boy scout field book (optional)
Scouts must get approval by the Scoutmaster to bring personal tents or extra equipment for the various scheduled activities. Radios, Walkmans, tape players, Game Boys, or any noise producing devices that fall into this category will only be allowed during traveling to the camp-out, and only if they are played on a silent mode or with earphones. They must be locked in the transport vehicle during the campout. Failure to comply will result in the confiscation of the device. The device will be returned to your parent's upon return to the Church at the end of the campout.
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Summer camp
Troop 551 encourages every Scout to attend summer camp. Camp scholarships are available to anyone needing financial assistance. The Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman can provide this information, and all inquiries are kept confidential. Partial payment is usually required.
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Leadership
All Scouts in leadership positions must demonstrate their Scout spirit by wearing the Scout uniform properly, their attendance at Troop and District events, as well as the way they live the Scout Oath and Law in and out of Scouting. The junior leaders must set the example for the rest of the Scouts to follow and it is mandatory that they attendance the monthly Patrol Leaders Council Meeting. If for any reason they can't attend or miss too many, they should relinquish their position.
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Advancement
All Scouts are encouraged to advance in rank as well as their Scouting skills and knowledge according to his own ability and ambition. All ranks require a Board of Review after all the other requirements for that rank have been completed. The Scoutmaster recommends the Scout upon satisfactory completion of the Scoutmaster Conference. Boards of Review are scheduled as required, upon the availability of at least three members of the Troop Committee. The Scout must appear before the board of review in full uniform. Parents should encourage their son along the Scouting trail by working at his own speed. Remember, Scouting is supposed to be a fun experience, too!
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Merit Badges
No Merit Badges can be started without the approval of the Scoutmaster. The Scout needs to obtain a blue card signed by the Scoutmaster before he starts a Merit Badge. As the buddy system is employed in Scouting, the buddy (not necessarily a Scout) must be identified to the Scoutmaster before issuing the blue card. The Assistant Scoutmaster for Merit Badges will provide the name of a qualified counselor for the Scout to contact. The scout should contact the counselor once he has a blue card signed by the Scoutmaster. See the Merit Badge Procedures at the end of this guideline. Furthermore, Merit Badge Counselors must be approved by the Council Advancement Committee and registered with the Boy Scouts off America before they can counsel Scouts.
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Service projects
The Patrol Leaders Council, with guidance from the Scoutmaster, develop the troop service projects. Troop service projects must be well planned and properly led, and should fulfill the following expectations:
-Be real and significant.
-Be democratic
-Be clearly defined.
-Be well prepared.
-Include reflection and recognition.
Cheerful active participation from each Scout is expected. All service projects needed for rank advancements must be approved by the Scoutmaster, before it is started. This will prevent the Scout from doing a project that may not fulfill the requirements for that rank.
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Training
To become effective leaders, scouts need training. Training is an ongoing process that begins immediately when a Scout accepts a new job in his unit or when he is elected as a leader within his patrol or troop. In Scouting the process begins with a session called an introduction to leadership. The Scoutmaster, or his designee, conducts this session. This session will be informal, conducted with individual boys or with small groups (all of the new patrol leaders, for example). At this session the scout will be given an outline of the responsibilities of the position, who it reports to and where to go for assistance when he needs it.
The second step in training is the troop junior leader session, which provides the boy with a broader understanding of ways he can work with other junior leaders to make the troop a success, and it gives him strategies for dealing with many of the challenges he is likely to face. This training is designed for the elected troop leaders (senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, troop guides, patrol leaders and Venture patrol leader). Upon completion of this training phase, the youth is qualified to wear the “Trained” emblem on his uniform.
The Scoutmaster with the help of trained Assistants and Scouts should conduct the training following the guidelines of the Junior Leader Training Kit.
Silver Stag Training is upon recommendation of the Scoutmaster. The committee should approve half the payment of the training course upon completion for one scout per year. The selection of scout to attend should follow the order of Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol leader and Potential Scout Leader, at the discretion of the Scoutmaster.
Every Adult Leader is encouraged to attend a Basic Leader Training Courses. But the Committee Chairman can recommend the Scoutmaster or Adult Leader to attend Wood badge training and it is recommended that the committee approve payment, in full, for the training that would benefit the troop.
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Medical Forms
All Scouts must have on file with the Troop Medical Officer Assistant Scoutmaster a medical authorization form. The Class I and Class II medical form is contained in the same form. The Class one is good for one year and covers most normal camping trips and activities. The Class II form is for anything over 72 hours in duration or of a high adventure nature and is good for 3 years. Any scout required to take medication will supply instructions in a sealed medicine container with the scouts name printed on it. It is the responsibility of the scout to get the medication from the adult assigned as the Medical Officer at the appropriate time and all medical information will be kept confidential among the adult leaders.
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Disciplinary guidelines
Discipline is required of all members, youth and adult, participating in scouting events and is the responsibility of the Adult Unit Leader in charge. The BSA has the expectation that all participants in the Scouting program will relate to each other in accord with the principles embodied in the Scout Oath and Law. The Guide to Safe Scouting lists the following as policies of the BSA.
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Member Responsibilities
All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, and drug and alcohol have no place in the scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout’s membership in the unit.
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Unit Responsibilities
Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance in dealing with it.
The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members.
The unit committee should review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youth’s membership in the unit.
If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scout’s membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scout’s membership, it should promptly notify the council of the action.
The unit should inform the Scout executive about all incidents that result in physical injury or involve allegations of sexual misconduct by a youth member with another youth member.
Each Cub Scout den and Webelos Scout den and each chartered Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team and Venturing crew shall have one leader, 21 years of age or older, who shall be registered and serve as the unit or den leader. A unit leader may not serve simultaneously in any other position within the same unit. The head of the chartered organization or chartered organization representative and the local council must approve the registration of the unit or den leader on the appropriate form.
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