TROOP 23

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

TROOP HANDBOOK

 

SPONSORED BY

 

KILLEARN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

 

 

REVISION:  ____

 

EFFECTIVE DATE:  _____________

 

REVISION DATE:  _______________

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

SECTION	DESCRIPTION	PAGE
1	Purpose	2
2	Youth Membership	2
3	Youth Leadership	2
4	Troop Adult Organization and Membership	3
5	Uniforms	5
6	Activities and Meetings	5
7	Campouts	6
8	Advancement	7
9	Code of Conduct	8
10	Discipline	8
11	Fundraising Activities	9
12	Troop Finances	10
13	Scholarship Program	11
14	Amendments	13
15	Miscellaneous	13
Appendix A	Troop Adult Position Details	14
Appendix B	Long Term Investment Strategy	16
Appendix C	Scholarship Forms	18
Appendix C	Scholarship Program Funds Transfer Request Form	19
Appendix C	Meeting Inspection Report	20
Appendix C	Service Hour Record Form	21
Appendix D	Examples of Acceptable Service Hour Projects	22

 

           

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

I.   Purpose   3

II.   Troop Adult Organization and Membership   3

III.   Troop Youth Membership   5

IV.   Troop Officers and Structure   6

V.   Activities and Meetings   7

VI.   Advancement   8

VII.   Uniforms   9

VIII.   Behavior   10

IX.   Discipline   15

X.   Fund Raising Activities   15

XI.   Troop Finances   18

XII.   Amendments   23

XIII.   Miscellaneous   23

Appendix A  ……………………………………………………………………………………..24

 

 

1)   Purpose

A)             The purpose of this handbook is to outline the organization, policies and procedures for Boy Scout Troop 23.

B)              Should there be a conflict between this handbook and any official policy or procedure issued by the Boy Scouts of America, the official Boy Scouts of America policy or procedures shall apply.

            Troop Adult Organization and Membership

Troop Committee

A Troop Committee shall be maintained and is responsible for the following activities:

Setting Troop policy

Selecting and approving Troop adult leadership

Developing, approving and monitoring the Troop’s budget

Addressing major disciplinary actions

Addressing youth membership issues

Review and approve Eagle projects

Review and recommend Eagle Candidates

Troop Committee Organization

Committee Chairman – Chairs committee meetings; helps develop Troop budget; helps with Troop adult leader training.

Assistant Committee Chairman – Acts in the absence of the Committee Chairman.  Is the Chairman-Elect.

Committee Secretary – Maintains minutes of Committee Meetings.

Treasurer – Maintains records of Troop’s financial activities.  Makes deposits and disbursements.

Chartered Organization Representative – Liaison between the Troop and Killearn United Methodist Church.  Must be a member of KUMC.

Committee Members – Attend Committee meetings, vote to approve budgets, policies and Troop actions.

Scoutmaster – Is the Troop Adult leader.  Plans and coordinates the activities of the Troop.   Provides leadership and direction to other adult leaders and Scouts.

The Troop Committee shall meet on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM.  The Chairman may call any other such meetings as are needed to address Troop business.

All members of the Troop Committee shall have full rights to make motions, raise issues and vote on issues before the Troop Committee.  Members must be registered with the Troop and Council to be able to vote.

Troop Adult Leadership

The Troop adult leadership is comprised of the following positions:

Scoutmaster – Is the Troop Adult leader.  Plans and coordinates the activities of the Troop.   Provides leadership and direction to other adult leaders and Scouts.

Assistant Scoutmaster(s) – Works with Scoutmaster and Scouts at campouts, meetings, etc.

Quartermaster – Responsible for Troop equipment.  Organizes ,purchases and maintains equipment.  This position is typically held by a person who also serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster.

Junior Assistant Scoutmaster – Same duties as Assistant Scoutmaster with the following restrictions:

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The Troop adult leadership is responsible for implementing the Troop policies, procedures and activities.

All adult leadership positions shall be approved by the Troop Committee.  The Troop Committee reserves the right to ask any adult leader to step down for any reason.

Other Adult Volunteer Positions

Camping Coordinator—Responsible for planning and making all camping logistics for the Troop’s monthly camping trips.  This position is not required to attend the campouts.

Summer Camp Coordinator – Responsible for coordinating the logistics for summer camps (Wallwood and Camp Daniel Boone).  This position is not required to attend the summer camps.

High Adventure Camp Coordinator – Responsible for the planning of any Troop high adventure trips.  This position will typically attend the high adventure trip.

Advancement Coordinator – Responsible for maintaining all Troop advancement records, obtaining badges, communicating rank and merit badge information to the Council.

Eagle Ceremony Coordinator — Responsible for preparation and planning for all Eagle ceremonies.

Christmas Tree Chairman – Responsible for annual Christmas tree sales fundraiser.  Makes tree procurement arrangements, coordinates tree lot staff, monitors and accounts for tree sales and disbursements.

Merit Badge Counselors – Works with Scouts on assigned merit badges.

Others as Required – Other volunteer positions may be identified from time to time.

Miscellaneous

Adult Leaders must attend the annual Troop Safety meeting

Any adult who serves in a Troop adult leadership position (Section IB above) is required to meet certain minimum training requirements including Basic Fast Train within the first three months and Scoutmaster fundamentals within one year.

Dues for all Committee Members, Adult Leaders and Volunteers shall be paid by the Troop.  The Troop shall not pay for Boys Life for Committee Members or Volunteers.

2)   Troop Youth Membership

A)             Troop membership shall be open to any boy who has completed the fifth grade, or has earned the Arrow of Light, or is at least 11 years of age but is not yet 18 years of age.

B)              To remain a member in good standing, each youth shall:

1)               Maintain registration with the Boy Scouts of America by payment of annual dues, including insurance and Boys Life fees;

2)               Attend and actively participate in at least 70% of the Troop activities;

3)               Abide by and follow all rules, policies and procedures of the Troop.

3)       Troop Youth LeadershipOfficers and Structure

A)             Composition of Troop OfficersLeadership

1)               Troop officers leadership shall include:  Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s), Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders, Quartermaster, Instructor, Scribe, Librarian(s), Historian(s), Chaplain Aide(s) and Troop Guide(s).  Detail job descriptions may be found in the Junior Leader Handbook.

2)               The Senior Patrol Leader shall be a member of the Troop Committee.

B)              Troop Officers leadership must meet the following requirements:

1)               Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader must be Star or higher;

2)               Patrol Leaders and Appointed positions must be First Class or higher, except for “New Scout” patrolsand Assistant Patrol leaders must be Second Class or higher;

3)               Be All leaders must be a member in good standing for at least the three consecutive months prior to the elections.

C)              The Senior Patrol Leader and, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) shall be elected by a majority vote of the Troop.

D)             Patrol Leaders and Assistant Patrol Leaders shall be elected by majority vote of each Patrol.

E)              Officers Leadership shall be elected on a semi-annual basis with terms of six (6) months.  Elections will be held in March and September of each year.  Terms will run from April 1 to October 1.

F)              All remaining leadership positions will be appointed by the Scoutmaster.

G)             Should a vacancy arise in any position prior to the end of the term, except for Senior Patrol Leader, the Senior Patrol Leader shall appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.

H)        Should the position of Senior Patrol Leader become vacant before the end of the term, the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader shall assume the responsibilities of the Senior Patrol Leader and appoint a new Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.

I)           Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC)

1)               The PLC is comprised of the Scoutmaster, all Scout leaders and Committee members by invitation.

2)               The voting members of the PLC shall be the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader(s) and other elected or appointed Scout leaders.

3)               All PLC decisions are subject to review and approval by the Senior Patrol Leader, Scoutmaster or Troop Committee.  Should any PLC decision be overturned, anyone may petition for a written decision and call for reevaluation of the decision.  Should there be a remaining conflict; the Troop Committee shall have the final decision authority.

4)               The PLC will ordinarily meet on a monthly basis on during a regular Scout meetingthe Monday following campouts.  Additional PLC meetings may be called by the Scoutmaster, Troop Committee, Senior Patrol Leader or two thirds (2/3) vote of the Troop.

5)               PLC meetings shall be open to any registered Scout in Troop 23.

6)               The PLC is responsible for:

(a)             Developing an annual Troop plan in October of each year that outlines the major Troop plans for the coming year.  The Senior Patrol Leader shall present this plan to the Troop Committee for approval.

(b)            Reviewing and providing input to the Troop Committee on the Troop’s annual budget.

(c)             Address all matters of business, projects, and policies or decisions which otherwise involve the Troop.

(d)            Activate committees, as needed, for designated purposes, including, but not limited to, Activities, Advancement, Ceremonies, Programs and Publications.

(e)             Making recommendations to the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee on Scout disciplinary matters.

7)          All decisions by the PLC shall be by majority vote of voting members.  A quorum of 50% of the PLC membership shall be required for any vote to be valid.

 

4)   Troop Adult Organization and Membership

A)             All adults (over 18 years of age) volunteering their services to Troop 23 are required to submit a current “Adult Application (form 28-501) and register with the Troop and the Suwannee River Area Council.

B)              Troop Committee

1)               A Troop Committee shall be maintained and is responsible for the following activities:

(a)             Setting Troop policy

(b)            Selecting and approving Troop adult leadership

(c)             Developing, approving and monitoring the Troop’s budget

(d)            Addressing major disciplinary actions

(e)             Addressing youth membership issues

(f)              Review and approve Eagle projects

(g)             Review and recommend Eagle Candidates

2)               Troop Committee Officers consist of the following positions:  (See appendix A for details on positions)

(a)             Committee Chairman

(b)            Assistant Committee Chairman

(c)             Committee Secretary

(d)            Treasurer

(e)             Chartered Organization Representative

(f)              Committee Members

(g)             Scoutmaster

3)               Unless otherwise set by the Committee Chairman, the Troop Committee shall meet on the last Thursday of each month at 7:00 PM.  The Chairman may call any other such meetings as are needed to address Troop business.

4)               All members of the Troop Committee shall have full rights to make motions, raise issues and vote on issues before the Troop Committee.  Members must be registered with the Troop and Council to be able to vote.

C)              Adult Leadership

1)               Adult leadership is comprised of the following positions:  (See Appendix A for details on positions)