Troop Committee Training
Table of Contents
Scouting for Boys 11 through 17……………………..………Page 2
Scouting Ideals & Methods
The Organization of Scouting………………..……….………Page 3
The National & Local Organization
Troop Leadership
Troop Committee Organization and Responsibilities…….…Page 4
Page 13-18 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
The Paperwork of Scouting……………………………………Page 9
Forms
Troop Finances…………………………………………………Page 9
Page 23-26 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
Troop Expenses
Financing Troop Expenses
Advancement……………………………………..……………Page 10
Page 27-32 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
Who Can Serve on a Board of Review?
Eagle Scout Projects
Eagle Scout Board of Review
Court of Honor
Eagle Court of Honor
Troop Committee Meeting……………………………………Page 12
Page 33-34 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
Meeting Agenda
Key Functions of the Troop Committee
Adult Scout Training……………………………….…………Page 13
Page 38-41 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
Training
Roundtable
Youth Protection Training & Guidelines
Sexual Abuse
Standards of Youth Protection
The Outdoor Program & BSA Policy………………………Page 15
Page 35-39 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
The Program
Tour Plans
Transportation
Types of Troop Camping
Unauthorized & Restricted BSA Activities
Rechartering………………………………………….………Page 18
Journey to Excellence
Planning the Annual Troop Program………………………Page 19
How the Yearly Scouting Calendar is Achieved
Planning Tools of the Patrol Leader’s Council
Presenting the Plan to the Troop Committee
Items the Troop Committee Must Add to the Calendar
The Calendar is presented at Parent’s Night
Needed LDS Resources…………………………..….………Page 21
LDS Safety Manual
Scouting Handbook
Needed Scout Office Resources……………….…….………Page 22
Troop Committee Guidebook
Guide to Safe Scouting
The Chartered Organization Representative
Other Helpful Guides & Forms at the Scout Office ………Page 28
Page 40-43 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
Scouting for Boys 11 through 17
What makes Scouting an effective tool?
It is through reaching the Aims and Means of Scouting.
The Aims of Scouting are:
· Character Development
· Citizenship Training
· Mental Physical
The Objectives of Scouting are:
· Developing desirable character traits
· Developing self-reliance
· Growth in leadership abilities
· Promoting service to others
· Training in participant citizenship
· Building physical fitness
How Does Scouting Reach It’s Aims and Objectives?
It is through the Ideals and Methods of Scouting.
The Ideals of Scouting are the:
· Scout Oath
· Scout Law
· Scout Motto
· Scout Slogan
Boy Scout Oath (or Promise)
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Boy Scouts has a general set of principles that the boys are expected to follow. You can apply a similar oath to your own life.
On my honor, I will do my best:
To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law,
To help other people at all times,
To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.
Scout Law
A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
The Scout Law is a summary of character issues that scouts pledge to follow. They have been modified to apply to you.
Trustworthy
I tell the truth. I keep my promises. Honesty is part of my code of conduct. People can depend on me.
Loyal
I am true to my family, leaders, friends, community and nation.
Helpful
I am concerned about other people. I do things willingly for others without pay or reward.
Friendly
I am a friend to all. I am a brother or sister to others in my group. I seek to understand others. I respect those with ideas and customs other than my own.
Courteous
I am polite to everyone, regardless of age or position. I know good manners make it easier for people to get along together.
Kind
I understand there is strength in being gentle. I treat others as they want to be treated. I do not hurt or kill harmless things without reason.
Obedient
I follow the rules of my family, group and organization. I obey the laws of my community and country. If I think these rules and laws are unfair, I try to have them changed in an orderly manner rather than disobey them.
Cheerful
I look for the bright side of things. I cheerfully do tasks that come my way. I try to make others happy.
Thrifty
I work to pay my way and to help others. I save for unforeseen needs. I protect and conserve natural resources. I carefully use time and property.
Brave
I can face danger even if I am afraid. I have the courage to stand for what I think is right even if others laugh at or threaten me.
Clean
I keep my body and mind fit and clean. I go around with those who believe in living by these same ideals. I help keep my home and community clean.
Reverent
I am reverent toward God. I am faithful in my religious duties. I respect the beliefs of others.
Scout Motto and Slogan
You can apply the Scout motto and slogan as your own.
Motto
Be prepared
Slogan
Do a good turn daily
The Methods of Scouting are:
· Using the Ideals
· Team Methods
· Outdoors Program
· Advancement
· Association with Good Adults Leaders
· Personal Growth
· Leadership Development
· Scout Uniform
``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````
· Advancement
o The boys work to earn merit badges, which develops competence in knowledge and skills.
o An accumulation of merit badges earns the boy rank advancement after passing a Board of Review.
o Advancement brings recognition. The boy is awarded his new rank at the next Scout Meeting & Court of Honor.
· Adult Association – Boys need the good male role models in their lives.
· Outdoor Program – The fun in the program which is the attraction for boys.
· Personal Growth – Merit Badges makes well rounded boys as they learn about different fields of knowledge.
· Leadership – Boys learn leadership by doing it.
· Patrols – It fills boys’ basic need to belong. It gives them experience in group interaction. It is used to promote: group camaraderie, cooperation, and knowledge or skills through competitive activities between patrols.
· Uniform – Helps the boy feel he belongs to the group, builds pride, loyalty, and self-respect. It encourages good behavior and a neat appearance.
· Patrol Method – Adult leaders counsel boy leaders, and then let them direct the patrols through Shadow Leadership.
· High Adventure – Helps provide older boys with team-building opportunities, new and meaningful experiences, practical leadership application, and life-long memories.
Why Does the Church Use the Scouting Program?
It is because the Aims and Objectives of Scouting match the purposes of the Aaronic Priesthood.
The Purpose of the Aaronic Priesthood
· Become converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and its teachings
· Serve faithfully in priesthood callings
· Give meaningful service
· Prepare and live worthy to receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and temple ordinances
· Prepare to serve and honorable full-time mission
· Obtain as much education as possible
· Prepare to become a worthy husband and father
· Give proper respect to women, girl, and children
______
You can see that you have plenty of help in the organization above you, you just need to know where to look.
Troop Leadership
· Scoutmaster
· Assistant Scoutmasters
· Senior Patrol Leaders (Youth)
· Patrol Leaders (Youth)
· Chartered organization representative
· Troop Committee
Troop Committee Organization and Responsibilities
KEY TROOP COMMITTEE POSITIONS
Pages 13-18 in the Troop Committee Guidebook
• Chairman
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Advancement Coordinator
• Outdoor/Activities Coordinator
• Chaplain
• Training Coordinator
• Membership, Boy’s Life, and Re-registration Coordinator
• Equipment Coordinator
Troop Committee Chairman
· Organizes the Troop Committee and sees that it functions appropriately.
· Presides over the Troop Committee Meeting or any special meetings that may be called
· Insures troop representation at monthly roundtables
· Prepares and agenda for these meetings and promotes attendance
· Interprets national and local BSA policy for the troop.
· Maintains a close relationship with the Chartered organization representative and the Scoutmaster.
· Chief recruiter of adult leadership. LDS Troop Committee Chairman often turns names of potential Troop Committee members into the Bishop, but the Bishopric recruit/call all adult leaders.
· Arranges for annual charter review and recharter
· Plans the charter presentation
Troop Committee Secretary
· Attends the monthly Troop Committee Meeting to take the minutes and keep the Committee on the agenda.
· Presents the Troop Annual Plan on Parents Night, to the parents with the help of the other members of the Committee.
· Keeps parents abreast of upcoming Troop activities and the needs of the Troop, by telephone, and /or by newsletter. LDS Troops get troop activities out to parents through monthly or quarterly Ward Newsletters.
· Read the minutes of the previous Troop Committee Meeting at the beginning of the next Troop Committee Meeting.
· Handles publicity
· Conducts the Troop Resource Survey (See Scout Office)
· Plan for family night programs and activities.
· Send out notices of committee meetings.
Troop Committee Treasurer
· Maintain checking and savings accounts and pay bills on recommendation of the Scoutmaster and has the authorization of the troop committee. LDS Troops turn moneys over to the Ward Clerk who puts in the Scouting fund.
· Help come up with money-making Boy Scout projects for the boys to do.
· Obtaining project authorization from BSA and the charted organization.
· Supervise the yearly money-making Boy Scout projects, which are used for running the yearly program in camping, Summer Camp, and Scouting equipment.
• LDS Troops may have one yearly fund raiser, besides ticket sales from Scout-O-Rama.
· Bank the dues collected by the Troop Scribe (boy leader) and keep an adequate back-up record of it.
• In Non-LDS Troops, dues are used for registration fees, Boy’s Life Magazine subscriptions, and the cost of awards and insignia.
• In LDS Troops, dues are not collected from the boys, because the Church covers general expenses, so all boys, rich or poor, can participate in Scouting. However the Church does not cover the Boy’s Life magazine subscription. Money for this should be collected from the parents, for each boy in Scouting.
· Train and supervise the Troop Scribe (boy leader) as needed.
· Prepare annual Troop Budget
· Lead Friends of Scouting campaign in your Troop & your Chartered Organization
· Report to the Troop Committee at each monthly meeting
Outdoor/Activities Coordinator
· Works with the Scout Master and his Assistants to make Scouting fun through camping, activities, and Summer Camp.
· Recruit parents for transportation, skills, and/or needs.
· Sees that activity & transportation BSA safety criteria are met.
• See: GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING ($3.00) or http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=xx&c=ds&terms=money-earning+projects+form&x=13&y=10 for 87 pages of downloadable guide
· File Tour Permits with the Scout Office when the Troop travels to special events or camping. (See Scout Office: Tour Permits)
· Ensures a monthly outdoor program.
· Get permits for camping on State or Federal lands or get permission to use private lands for camping.
· Get appropriate supplies for different types of camping or special activities.
· Promotes the National Camping Award (See Scout Office)
· Promotes “Leave No Trace Camping Award (See Scout Office or www.scouting.org
· Know and use resources such parents and community to help the troop meet it’s goals.
· Help parents understand that the troop is everybody’s responsibility. Help them participate by giving them tasks that have a definite start and finish. Be specific!
· Report to the Troop Committee at each monthly meeting.
Advancement Coordinator
· Encourage Scouts to set goals to advance in rank.
· Develop and maintain Merit Badge Counselors for the troop. Register them with the Scout Office and keep a list of them.
· Work with the Troop Scribe (boy leader) to keep up Advancement Records.
· Update the Scoutmaster on the advancement needs of each boy.
· Fill out the Advancement Report during a Board of Review and promptly turn it into the Scout Office. (See Scout Office: Advancement Report)
• Many of the ranks have a “time in rank” attached to it before the boy can advance to another rank. It starts from the moment the boy passes Board of Review. The Scout Office must have these advances to credit the boy with the rank, especially when his record is checked for Eagle.
· Pick up badges and certificates when you turn in the Advancement Report.
· Set up and attend Boards of Review, monthly, or as needed to promote the boys.
· Set up quarterly Courts of Honor.
· Work with the Troop Librarian (boy leader) in building and maintaining troop library of merit badge pamphlets.
· Report to the Troop Committee at each monthly meeting.
Chaplain
· Provide a spiritual tone for troop meetings and activities.
· Give guidance to the chaplain aide (boy leader).
· Promote regular participation of each member in the activities of the religious organization of his choice.
· Visit homes of Scouts in time of sickness or need.
· Give spiritual counseling service when needed or requested.
· Encourage Boy Scouts to earn their appropriate religious emblems.
o i.e.- LDS Troop: Duty to God
· Report to the troop committee at each meeting.
· LDS Units - Since the chartering organization is the LDS Church, there is no need for a Chaplain. The Young Men’s Leaders, Scoutmaster, his Assistants, and in some cases, the Bishop, act as a Chaplain.
Training Coordinator
· Ensure troop leaders and committee members have opportunities for training.
· Maintain an inventory of up-to-date training materials, videotapes, and other training resources.
· Work with the district training team in scheduling Fast Start training for all new leaders.
· Be responsible for BSA Youth Protection training within the troop.
· Encourage periodic Junior Leader Training within the troop and at the council and national levels.
· Assist in orientation of new parents.
· Be watchful that the troop is taking all steps to ensure the boys' safety. (See: BSA’s - GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING. In addition LDS Units see: LDS SAFETY MANUAL.