WELCOME TO TROOP 507

September 20, 1999

A Guide to Boy Scouting, Basic Troop Rules and Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Boy Scouting?

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.

Boy Scout Program Membership

Boy Scouting, one of the membership divisions of the BSA, is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light Award or have completed the fifth grade, or who are 11 through 17 years old. The program achieves the BSA's objectives of developing character, citizenship, and personal fitness qualities among youth by focusing on a vigorous program of outdoor activities.

ADVANCEMENT RANKS

Unlike Cub Scouting, which many of you are familiar with, Boy Scouting is a youth-lead organization. The boys learn how to organize and lead the Troop. After training, and with supervision from the adult leaders, the boys run the troop.

The boys in the Troop will be working through the following ranks

Tenderfoot

Second Class,

First Class,

Star,

Life,

Eagle.

As they travel on their trail to Eagle they will not only learn how to lead a team to a goal, but they will actually lead teams of scouts in a number of situations.

There are many definitions of advancement, but the Scouting definition might well be, simply, "the art of meeting a challenge." For that is exactly what the Boy Scout advancement program asks the boys to do. The Boy Scout advancement program provides a ladder of skills that a Scout climbs at his own pace. As he acquires these skills he moves up through a series of ranks, for which he is awarded badges. The higher he climbs the more challenging his tasks -- and the more rewarding.

Achievements include:

· Learning skills that qualify for Scouting’s more rugged and exciting outdoor challenges.

· Developing body and mind, growing self-confidence, and helping younger Scouts climb the advancement ladder.

· Discovering how it feels to go further -- in so many ways -- than he ever though he could.

We don’t look at advancement as a goal, but as a natural outcome of a planned, quality Troop program.

There are four steps of advancement:

· The Boy Scout Learns.

· The Boy Scout is Tested.

· The Boy Scout is Reviewed.

· The Boy Scout is Recognized.

Advancement Through First Class

From the time the Scout enters the Troop through the time he earns advancement to First Class, he is learning basic scouting skills to enable him to camp, hike, swim, cook, tie knots, administer first aid, and perform other tasks in the outdoors and to work as a member of a team. With those first steps the scout begins to build themselves physically, mentally, and morally. He will start to live with the Scout Oath and Law. Soon he will learn the symbolism inherent in the Scout badge; he will learn that there are three points of the trefoil which stand for the three parts of the Scout Oath: Duty to God and country, duty to other people, and duty to yourself. The goal of this Troop is for the Scout to achieve the rank of First Class within his first year in the Troop. This is a sign that the scout has mastered the fundamentals of scouting and can begin to start the long process of learning to lead others, refining the learned skills and learning additional skills.

Advancement from First Class to Eagle

From the achievement of First Class onward through Eagle, the Scout will be demonstrating leadership; performing service projects, earning merit badges and using the skills learned while achieving the rank of First Class. The next ranks he will earn are Star and Life. These ranks are harder to obtain than the earlier ranks, but are also more interesting for the older scouts. Upon completion of all the requirements for Star and Life the Scout will be eligible to work for Eagle. The original principles, the Scout Oath and Law now have fuller meaning for the Scout and their understanding of them is much greater. The final steps towards Eagle are filled with leadership experiences.

Details for advancement are contained in the Boy Scout Handbook, which every Scout should obtain as soon as possible after joining the Troop. Take a look at Chapter 1. This short chapter has an advancement summary through First Class.

Merit Badges

The goal of the merit badge program is to expand a Scout's areas of interest and to encourage the Scout to meet and work with adults in a chosen subject. Merit badges are earned by a Scout working with a registered merit badge counselor. The Scout is required to contact the counselor to arrange for times and places to meet with the counselor. When the Scout completes the work on the merit badge the counselor will inform the Scoutmaster that the Scout has completed the requirements for that badge. Merit Badges earned will be presented to the Scout during the Troop's quarterly Court of Honor.

All parents of Troop 507 Scouts are encouraged to become Merit Badge Counselors. Please fill in the attached Troop Resource Survey and return to a Troop Leader.

Boards of review

When a Scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, he appears before a board of review composed of members of the Troop committee. The purpose of the review is not an examination. Rather it is to determine the Scout's attitude and acceptance of Scouting's ideals; to ensure that the requirements have been met for advancement, to discuss the Scout's experiences in the Troop and the Troop's program, and to encourage him to keep working towards advancement. A Board of Review may also be held to counsel a boy about his lack of progress toward advancement.

Courts of Honor

Troop 507 will conduct a Court of Honor on a quarterly basis. The Court of Honor recognizes all Scout appointments, elections, awards, and advancements since the last Court of Honor. Adult recognition may be presented prior to the opening of the Troop Court of Honor. It is the responsibility of the Troop's Advancement Chairman and the Master of Ceremonies (MC’s role is assigned to a Boy Scout and doing this is necessary to earn the communications merit badge) to plan and conduct the Troop Courts of Honor. The Troop Committee will support the Courts of Honor as requested.

The Court of Honor is a public ceremony, and is a chance for the Scouts to be publicly recognized for their achievements. Parents and all other interested individuals are be encouraged to attend.

Volunteer Scouters

Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Boy Scouting program. They serve in a variety of jobs - everything from unit leaders to chairmen of troop committees, committee members, merit badge counselors, and chartered organization representatives. Included as part of this package is an explanation of the adult positions that need to be filled in order for the troop to operate effectively.

Like other phases of the program, Boy Scouting is made available to community organizations having similar interests and goals. Chartered organizations include professional organizations; governmental bodies; and religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, and citizens' groups. St. Peters Episcopal Church is the chartered organization for Troop 507.

Each chartered organization appoints one of its members as the chartered organization representative. The organization is responsible for leadership, the meeting place, and support for troop activities.

Who Pays for It?

Several groups are responsible for supporting Boy Scouting: the boy and his parents, the troop, the chartered organization, and the community. Boys are encouraged to earn money whenever possible to pay their own expenses, usually through District sponsored and troop sponsored fundraisers.

Scouts and or their parents also contribute dues (currently $50 per year) to their troop treasuries to pay for budgeted items. Troops obtain additional income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Scouting through the United Way, Friends of Scouting campaigns, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This income provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.

Aims and Methods of the Scouting Program

The Scouting program has three specific objectives, commonly referred to as the "Aims of Scouting." They are character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness.

The methods by which the aims are achieved are listed below in random order to emphasize the equal importance of each.

Ideals

The ideals of Boy Scouting are spelled out in The Boy Scout Oath and The Scout Law. The Boy Scout measures himself against these ideals and continually tries to improve. The goals are high, and as he reaches for them, he has some control over what and who he becomes.

Patrols

The patrol method gives Boy Scouts an experience in group living and participating citizenship. It places responsibility on young shoulders and teaches boys how to accept it. The patrol method allows Scouts to interact in small groups where members can easily relate to each other. These small groups determine troop activities through elected representatives.

Outdoor Programs

Boy Scouting is designed to take place outdoors. It is in the outdoor setting that Scouts share responsibilities and learn to live with one another. In the outdoors the skills and activities practiced at troop meetings come alive with purpose. Being close to nature helps Boy Scouts gain an appreciation for the beauty of the world around us. The outdoors is the laboratory in which Boy Scouts learn ecology and practice conservation of nature's resources.

Advancement

Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.

Associations With Adults

Boys learn a great deal by watching how adults conduct themselves. Scout leaders can be positive role models for the members of the troop. In many cases a Scoutmaster who is willing to listen to boys, encourage them, and take a sincere interest in them can make a profound difference in their lives.

Personal Growth

As Boy Scouts plan their activities and progress toward their goals, they experience personal growth. The Good Turn concept is a major part of the personal growth method of Boy Scouting. Boys grow as they participate in community service projects and do Good Turns for others. Probably no device is as successful in developing a basis for personal growth as the daily Good Turn. The religious emblems program also is a large part of the personal growth method. Frequent personal conferences with his Scoutmaster help each Boy Scout to determine his growth toward Scouting's aims.

Leadership Development

The Boy Scout program encourages boys to learn and practice leadership skills. Every Boy Scout has the opportunity to participate in both shared and total leadership situations. Understanding the concepts of leadership helps a boy accept the leadership role of others and guides him toward the citizenship aim of Scouting.

Uniform

The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Boy Scouting is an action program, and wearing the uniform is an action that shows each Boy Scout's commitment to the aims and purposes of Scouting. The uniform gives the Boy Scout identity in a world brotherhood of youth that believe in the same ideals. The uniform is practical attire for Boy Scout activities and provides a way for Boy Scouts to wear the badges that show what they have accomplished.

Outdoor Activities

Local councils operate and maintain Scout camps. The National Council operates high-adventure areas at Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, the Northern Tier National High Adventure Program in Minnesota and Canada, and the Florida National High Adventure Sea Base in the Florida Keys. About 70 councils also operate high-adventure programs.

The BSA conducts a national Scout jamboree every four years and participates in world Scout jamborees (also held at four-year intervals). Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia, was the site of the 1997 National Scout Jamboree.

Publications

The BSA publishes the Boy Scout Handbook (more than 35 million copies of which have been printed); the Junior Leader Handbook, which offers information relevant to boy leadership; the Scoutmaster Handbook; more than 100 merit badge pamphlets dealing with hobbies, vocations, and advanced Scoutcraft; and program features and various kinds of training, administrative, and organizational manuals for adult volunteer leaders and Boy Scouts. In addition, the BSA publishes Boys' Life magazine, the national magazine for all boys (magazine circulation is more than 1.3 million) and Scouting magazine for volunteers, which has a circulation of 900,000.

Conservation

Conservation activities supplement the program of Boy Scout advancement, summer camp, and outdoor activities and teach young people to better understand their interdependence with the environment.

Troop 507 Leadership Positions

A common misconception about Boy Scout Troops is that the Scoutmaster and his or her assistants are responsible for the operation of the Troop. While the Scoutmaster and assistants do have many responsibilities, the operation of the troop breaks down into two areas:

Positions and responsibilities that reside at the Committee level

Positions and responsibility that reside at the Troop level

Committee Organization and Responsibilities

The troop committee is the troop's board of directors and supports the troop program. But you ask, "What does the troop committee do?" The troop committee does the following:

Ensures that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained. In case the Scoutmaster is absent, a qualified assistant Scoutmaster is assigned. If the Scoutmaster is unable to serve, a replacement is recruited.

Provides adequate meeting facilities.

Advises the Scoutmaster on policies relating to Boy Scouting and the chartered organization.

Supports leaders in carrying out the program.

Is responsible for finances, adequate funds, and disbursements in line with the approved budget plan.

Obtains, maintains, and properly cares for troop property.

Ensures the troop has an outdoor program (minimum 10 days and nights per year).

Serves on boards of review and courts of honor.

Supports the Scoutmaster in working with individual boys and problems that may affect the overall troop program.

Provides for the special needs and assistance some boys may require.

Helps with the Friends of Scouting campaign.

Assists the Scoutmaster with handling boy behavioral problems.

The Committee meets monthly on the last Thursday of the month. The meetings are held at St. Peter’s church in the parish hall and begin at 7:15 P.M. and end no later than 9:00 P.M. The meetings are open and attendance is encouraged by all parents or interested adults.

As the troop committee works on behalf of the chartered organization (St. Peters Episcopal Church), our troop must be operated within the organization's policies.

The chartered organization must also approve all adult leaders. The chartered organization representative is your liaison to the troop's operating organization. As a member of the chartered organization, that person will guide you on the organization's policy. The representative will also know the most effective ways to get the organization's assistance and maintain a mutually satisfactory working relationship with the chartered organization.

In the chartered organization relationship, the Boy Scouts of America provides the program and support services, and the chartered organization provides the adult leadership and uses the program to accomplish its goals for youth.

The troop committee's primary responsibilities are supporting the Scoutmaster in delivering quality troop program, and handling troop administration.

TROOP 507 COMMITTEE POSITIONS AND MEMBERS

CHAIRPERSON

Name: Marv Rosen

Phone: (H) 321-6433

Duties:

Organize the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and completed.

Maintain a close relationship with the chartered organization representative and the Scoutmaster.

Interpret national and local policies to the troop.

Prepare troop committee meeting agendas.

Call, preside over, and promote attendance at monthly troop committee meetings and any special meetings that may be called.

Ensure troop representation at monthly roundtables.

Secure top‑notch, trained individuals for troop leadership.

Arrange for charter review and recharter annually.

Plan the charter presentation.

Ensure troop leaders and committee members have opportunities for training.

Maintain an inventory of up‑to‑date training materials, videotapes, and other training resources.

CHARTERED ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE

Name: John Schaffer

Phone: (H) 829-4931

Is a member of the chartered organization

Serves as head of "Scouting department" in the organization

Secures a troop committee chairperson and encourages training

Maintains a close liaison with the troop committee chairperson

Helps recruit other adult leaders

Serves as liaison between your troop and your organization

Assists with unit rechartering

Encourages service to the organization

Is an active and involved member of the district committee

EQUIPMENT COORDINATOR

Name: Mel & Larry Harris

Phone: (H) Mel- 323-6587 Larry 330-2280

Duties:

Supervise and help the troop procure camping equipment.

Work with the quartermaster on inventory and proper storage and maintenance of all troop equipment.

Make periodic safety checks on all troop camping gear, and encourage troops in the safe use of all outdoor equipment.

Report to the troop committee at each meeting.

CHAPLAIN

Name: Vacant

Phone:(H)

Duties:

Give guidance to the chaplain aide.

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.

Report to the troop committee at each meeting.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

Name: Vacant

Phones: (H)

Duties:

Help in securing permission to use camping sites.

Serve as transportation coordinator.

Ensure a monthly outdoor program.

Promote the National Camping Award.

Promote, through family meetings, attendance at troop campouts, camporees, and summer camp to reach the goal of an outing per month.

Secure tour permits for all troop activities.

Report to the troop committee at each meeting.

ADVANCEMENT

Name: S Shenoy

Phone: (H) 324-8204

Duties:

Encourage Scouts to advance in rank.

Work with the troop scribe to maintain all Scout advancement records.

Arrange quarterly troop boards of review and courts of honor.

Develop and maintain a merit badge counselor list.

Make a prompt report on the correct form to the council service center when a troop board of review is held. Secure badges and certificates.

Work with the troop librarian to build and maintain a troop library of merit badge pamphlets and other advancement literature.

Report to the troop committee at each meeting.

SECRETARY

Name Debbie Wood

Phone: (H)

Duties:

Keep minutes of meetings and send out committee meeting notices.

Handle publicity.