Boy Scouts of America Troop 77 -
Falkville, Alabama

TROOP 77

Arrowhead District

Falkville/Hartselle Community

Parent Guide

and

Operations Manual

Arrowhead District

Greater Alabama Council

2009

Introduction

Background:

Troop 77 is a Boy Scout Troop chartered by Fairview Church of God within the Greater Alabama Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The Mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law  The Boy Scouts of America breaks that mission down into three specific aims or goals.

·        CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

·        CITIZENSHIP TRAINING

·        MENTAL & PHYSICAL FITNESS

Table of Contents

BSA Training

Troop

     Organization

     Advancement

     Discipline

     Funds

     Equipment

     Service Projects/ Good Turns

     Court of Honors

     Elections

     Activities

Committee

     Parent Involvement

     Support

Charter Organization

     Role

BSA Training

Scouts – The SPL and PLs will go through the Youth training course with the Scoutmaster within two weeks of accepting their position. Then the SPL will train the other Troop leaders in their positions and award them the trained patch.

Scouters (adults)- Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters need to complete all training and receive the trained patch within six months of accepting the position or move to a Committee position within the Troop.  Committee members need to complete their training also within six months. This is to ensure that the boys will have trained leaders who know how to carry out the program and follow the BSA guidelines.

BSA TRAINING:

BSA offers training for members of Boy Scout Troops.  The following table shows the training Troop members are expected to complete. 

TROOP

            Organization

The Troop consists of Patrols made up of 4- 8 boys led by a Patrol leader elected by the members. The Patrols make up the Troop which is led by the Senior Patrol Leader who is also elected by the Boys with the Scoutmasters Approval. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters advise the Spl and Pl’s as the boys learn how to lead and run a troop. The  Scoutmasters intervene when necessary or may change direction based on safety, budget constraints, etc…

The Troop Committee supports the Troop and Scoutmaster in running the BSA program. The Committee is responsible for choosing adult leaders with the approval of the Charter Organization Rep, procuring and maintaining equipment, fundraising, advancement , training of adult leaders, recruiting, maintaining the troop account, approving the yearly activity calendar,  securing tour permits and transportation, assisting in discipline issues with members, setting  the yearly budget,  and  recharter. It is comprised of  Scouts Parents and meets monthly.

            Advancement

1 .The Troop follows the four step advancement program laid out in the Boy Scout Handbook. A Scout learns, is tested, is reviewed and is recognized..

2. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are the only individuals who can sign off on requirements as listed in the Scout Handbook.

3. It is the Scouts responsibility to schedule Board of Reviews if he does not make the scheduled reviews.

4. The Troop will hold 3-4 Court of Honors per year to recognize Scouts Acheivement.

The      Court of Honors recognizes all Scout appointments, elections awards, and advancements since the last Court of Honor. It is a Public Ceremony . Parents and all other interested individuals are encouraged to attend.

5. The Troop will document all Merit Badges with BSA blue cards.

6. Scouts are encouraged to advance in Rank and on Merit Badges. However advancement is left up to the individual and each Scout is allowed to advance at their own pace. Some Scouts will advance faster than others for many reasons such as the number of extracurricular activities they are involved,  the number of meetings they attend, parental involvement or the lack thereof, and simply just because they worked harder on the requirements.

7. Scouts must bring their Scout Handbooks to all meetings and outings.They cannot get signed off without their handbook.

Discipline

1.      Boys that consistently demonstrate behavioral issues such as disrupting meetings, bullying, hazing, bad language, being unsafe on outings, not following Scoutmasters direction will be counseled with the Scoutmaster and parent together.

2.      more severe discipline problems such as injury to others, damage to property , etc.. will be turned over to the Troop Committee for review.

Funds and Fees

1.      Annual Registration Fees are currently :

$10 for national BSA membership for adults and youth

$48 for Troop membership or $4 per month ( covers badges, awards, and other expenses incurred by the Troop

$10.80 for Boys Life Magazine

$1.00 for Insurance

2.      Additional Fees may be charged  for outdoor activities such as entrance to parks, food, etc.

.

3.      Fundraising activities will be planned by the Troop committee throughout the year for the boys and parents to participate in. After the Troop budget is met, additional funds raised by the scout will be placed into his individual account to defray scouting costs such as Summer Camp, Philmont, Sea Base, etc..

Equipment

1.      It is BSA policy that troop equipment is ultimately owned by the Chartering Organizaton and the BSA (if the Troop disbands, the troop equipment reverts to them).

2.      The Chartering Organization should maintain loss insurance on the troop equipment

3.      Troop equipment is normally purchased with troop funds at the direction of the troop committee.

4.      Individuals are not expected to purchase troop equipment at their own expense

5.      Scouts or Scouters may check out troop equipment for personal use as long as it does not interfere with ongoing troop programs. Checkouts must be done with the troop Quartermaster. Equipment should be returned in a state of good repair and clean..

Elections

1.      Troop elections with be held twice a year for the following positions with the below guidelines:

2.       

Senior Patrol Leader – Should be a older Scout at least First Class Rank. Must attend at least  75% of the meetings and outdoor activities. Anyone that is unable to fulfill these requirements should step down and allow someone else to lead to give the Troop until they have time needed to serve as Spl.

Patrol Leaders- Should be a First Class Scout and attend at least 50% of the meetings and outside activities.

Troop Positions – will be appointed by the SPL with the Scoutmasters approval.

Activities

The Troop is committed to having ten outdoor campouts per year with one of them being a high adventure outing. Scout activities are held with adherence to the policies of the BSA Guide to Safe Scouting, Safety Afloat, Swim Defense, Leave No Trace Camping, Wilderness Use Policy, and Transporation Guidelines.

Attendees at Outings must be a active Scout or Scouter or have a BSA application on file and approved by the Scoutmaster. No relatives, friends, etc.. not on file are permitted at Scout Outings. Also no Pets or firemarms are allowed. Prescription medications must be turned over to Scoutmaster for safety reasons with the instructions on giving them.

Requirements for rank advancement will be worked into outdoor activities with the purpose of helping the Scout achieve the rank of First Class. Scouts are responsible for contacting the Scoutmaster if they miss a outing or meeting to learn how they can work on the skills or information they missed.

Service Projects and Good Turns

The Troop will perform at the minimum a one hour service project each month with the approval of the Scoutmaster.

The Troop will have the goal of performing one large service project each year such as roofing a pavilion at a park.

Good Turns are deeds that individual Scouts or patrols do daily or weekly for relatives, friends, neighbors etc.. such as cutting grass for someone sick or helping someone move, etc..

The Troop will assist a Scout with their Eagle Project when needed with Scoutmaster approval.

Committee and Parents

The Troop Committee /Parents

The Troop Committee functions as an administration and support organization for the Troop. The Troop Committee takes care f the non-program issues surrounding the Troop. For example: monthly newsletters, Troop funds, fund raising activities, membership drives and Pack coordination, activity permits, and coordination, advancement records, procurement and maintenance of Troop equipment. The committee meets monthly. The meetings are open and parents are encouraged to participate and be members of the troop committee since their sons are members of the troop that it supports.

Charter Organization

The charter organization will ensure the church provides a weekly meeting place for the troop and assist in selection of adult leaders and maintain a active pack to compliment to Troop recruitment. It will also assist in supporting the Scout program as one of its Youth programs and help with yearly recharter.

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