Troop Committee

From MeritBadgeDotOrg

Revision as of 14:10, November 6, 2008

Description

The troop committee is responsible for conducting the business of the Troop, setting policy, and helping the Scoutmaster and Scouts with the outdoor program and other planned activities. The Committee also has the responsibility to provide adults for Boards of Review. This is an important responsibility and is one area we can always use more help. The Committee consists of parent volunteers who fulfill various roles on the Committee.

The Boy Scouts require that a unit have a Committee Chairperson and at least two other Committee members.

Positions

Chartered Organization Representative

The Chartered Organization Representative is the direct contact between the unit and the Chartered Organization. This individual is also the organization's contact with the District Committee and the Local Council. The chartered organization representative may become a member of the district committee and is a voting member of the council.

Troop Committee Chair

The Unit Committee Chair is appointed by the chartered organization and registered as an adult leader of the BSA. The Unit Committee Chair appoints and supervises the unit committee and unit leaders.

Troop Secretary

The unit secretary is appointed by the Committee Chair to keep minutes and records, send notices, and handle publicity.

Troop Treasurer

The Unit Treasurer is appointed by the Committee Chair to handle troop funds, pay bills, maintain accounts, coordinate the annual Friends of Scouting campaign, and supervise fundraising.

Troop Equipment Coordinator

The Unit Equipment Coordinator is appointed by the Committee Chair to work with the quartermaster and is responsible inventory, storage, and maintenance of unit equipment.

Troop Outdoor/Activities Coordinator

The Unit Outdoor/Activities Coordinator is appointed by the Committee Chair to secure tour permits and permission to use camping site, serve as transportation coordinator, ensure a monthly outdoor program.

Troop Membership Coordinator

The Unit Membership Coordinator is appointed by the Unit Committee Chair to help ensure a smooth transition of new Scouts into the unit and orientation for new parents.

Troop Advancement Coordinator

The Unit Advancement Coordinator is appointed by the Committee Chair to ensure that the unit has at least monthly boards of review, quarterly courts of honor, and that the unit has goals of helping each Scout advance a rank each year and for new Scouts to reach First Class rank during their first year. The Advancement Coordinator is also responsible for record keeping and submitting Advancement Reports.

Troop Training Coordinator

The Unit Training Coordinator is appointed by the Committee Chair to ensure training opportunities are available, maintain training records and materails, and is responsible for BSA Youth Protection training.

Troop Chaplain

The Unit Chaplain is appointed by the Committee Chair to provide spiritual tone, guide the chaplain aide, give spiritual counseling, and promote the regular religious participation of each member.

Advisers

Scoutmaster & Assistant Scoutmaster(s)

The Scoutmaster is the adult responsible for working directly with the Scouts to help them create the program for the troop. The Scoutmaster trains boy leaders to run the troop by providing direction, coaching, and support.

An Assistant Scoutmaster is one of the adult leaders age 18 or over who assist the Scoutmaster in delivering the troop program.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Qualifications

“ Qualification. Adults citizens, or adult non-citizens who reside within the country, may register with the Boy Scouts of America in any capacity if they agree to abide by the Scout Oath or Promise and the Scout Law, to respect and obey the laws of the United States of America, and to subscribe to the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle. All leaders must be 21 years of age or older, except assistant Scoutmasters, assistant den leaders, assistant Cubmasters, assistant Webelos den leaders, and assistant Varsity Scout coaches, who must be 18 or older. ”

— Adult Application, No. 524-501A PDF (420 KB) (Previous editions obsolete.)

Additionally,

References

• 36 BSA Monthly Troop Programs with Troop Meeting Plans (free & online), Printed: Vol I - Vol II - Vol III - Resources
• Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops (ILST) - Troop Meeting Planner - Campfire Planner - Resource Survey - Troop Committee Challenge
• Senior Patrol Leaders Handbook - Patrol Leaders Handbook - Scoutmaster Handbook - BSA Nameplates

• Applications: New Unit - Adult Application
• Fundraising, Popcorn, and the importance of Individual Youth Accounts
• Advancement - Advancement Report - First Class-First Year - Advancement Campout - Merit Badge Day - Individual Record

Online or classroom Leader Training

Youth protection (MANDATORY) – every registered adult must be re-certified every two years.

New Leader Training for new Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout and Venturing leaders includes:

• Fast Start Training – online training you can take right now.
• Basic Leader Training includes:
  • This Is Scouting (formerly New Leader Essentials) – online overview of values, history, aims, and methods.
  • Leader Specific Training – provides the specialized knowledge a new leader needs.

BSA Online Learning Center – provides a variety of materials courses.

• Other: Roundtable – University of Scouting – Trainer’s EDGE (formerly Trainer Development Conference)

Outdoor Leader Training

In addition to fulfilling other requirements, some unit leaders need outdoor-specific training.

• Cub Scout Pack: BALOO – To have a Pack camp-out, at least one unit leader must be BALOO trained.
• Webelos Den Leaders: Outdoor Leader Skills for Webelos Leaders (OWL) – To have a Webelos Den camp-out.
• Scoutmaster & Assistants and Varsity Scout Coach & Assistants: Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills – To have a camp-out.
• Wood Badge – Advanced Leadership skills for Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Venturing, district and council Scouters.
• Seabadge Underway – Advanced Leadership skills for unit, district and council Sea Scouters.

Other outdoor-related links

• Camping Links
• Outdoor Awards Links

Boy Scout Troop Committee
(Adult Leaders)

Troop Committee Chairman	Secretary	Treasurer	Advancement Chair
Equipment Coordinator	Activities Chair	Membership Chair	Training Chair
Fundraising Chair	Public Relations Chair	Friends of Scouting Chair	Scouting for Food Chair
ScoutParent Unit Coordinator	Chaplain
Reports to: Chartered Organization Representative		Advisers: Scoutmaster & Assistant Scoutmaster(s)

Troop Positions of Responsibility
(Youth Positions)

Senior Patrol Leader  Asst.(s)	Quartermaster	Junior Asst. Scoutmaster(s)	Order of the Arrow Rep.
Patrol Leader(s),  Venture Patrol Leader,  Asst.(s)	Historian	Instructor(s) & Troop Guide(s)	Chaplain Aide
Scribe	Librarian	Den Chief(s)	Bugler & Musician
Advisers: Scoutmaster,   Troop Committee Chair,   Assistant Scoutmaster(s)