POLICIES AND GUIDELINES
BOY SCOUT TROOP 420
ST. Mary Magdalene Church
Every successful organization operates within a set of guidelines and procedures so it can flourish and grow. Troop 420 is dedicated to helping its members develop into men of character and honor. Troop 420’s adult leaders have created this manual to help Scouts develop their own potential, while helping the troop function at its best. These Procedures and Guidelines apply to all members of Troop 420. The foundation for these policies and guidelines is the Scout Law.
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
Use the Scout Law to guide your actions. The Scout Law will show you how to live as a boy and a man.
1.0 APPOINTMENT OF CHARTER ORGANIZATION REPRESENTATIVE
The Charter Organization shall appoint a representative to serve as liaison to the Troop committee. The Charter Organization retains authority to remove any committee member for cause.
1.1 TROOP COMMITTEE
1.1.1 Purpose of Troop Committee
The Scout Troop Committee shall exist to recruit the adult leadership and to support the Scoutmaster in delivering quality scouting programs in accordance with the requirements of the Boy Scouts of America and the Troop Charter. The Scout Troop Committee shall have authority to remove any leader for cause.
1.1.2 Appointment of Troop Committee
Troop Committee positions are to be reviewed annually prior to re-chartering. The Troop Committee will accept nominations for committee positions and appoint these positions for the new scout year. The current Adult Committee will approve the incoming committee and send any new committee members applications to the Charter Organization Representative
No Committee member shall also serve as Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.
The Troop Committee structure consists of the following positions:
1. Chair
2. Vice Chair
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Chaplain
6. Advancement
7. Outdoor Activities
8. Quartermaster
9. Fundraising
10. Transportation
11. Publicity
12. Member(s) at Large (non-voting)
13. Charter Organization Representative
14. Scout Leaders
1.2.3 Scout Troop Committee Responsibilities
The Scout Troop Committee shall be responsible for recruitment of adult leadership, administration, and coordination of the Troop.
1.2.5 Committee Meetings
The Troop Committee shall meet at a place and date determined by the committee. To transact business, a quorum of four voting members must be present. Each member is expected to faithfully discharge his/her responsibility to the scouting program. The Scoutmaster shall attend the monthly committee meetings. Each voting committee member may cast a single vote.
1.3 ADULT LEADERS
The Charter Organization shall concur in the installation of the adult leadership as recommended by the Troop Committee.
At least two members of the Troop Committee, to include the troop chairperson or his/her designee, shall interview all applicants of adult leadership positions and shall submit their recommendations to the Troop Committee for approval/disapproval.
1.3.1 Adult Leadership Positions
The Troop Committee Chairperson shall make recommendations for appointments to the following positions. At least two members of the Scout Troop Committee, to include the troop chairperson or his/her designee, shall interview all applicants of Scoutmaster / Assistant Scoutmaster positions and shall submit their recommendations to the Troop Committee for approval/disapproval:
Scoutmaster
Assistant Scoutmasters
1.3.2 Training of Adult Leaders
The Scout Troop Committee encourages that each adult leader receives BSA certified training appropriate to his/her office. All adult leaders are encouraged to complete all leadership training offered by the local Scout Council.
1.3.3 Insufficient Adult Leadership
In the event a sufficient number of adult leaders cannot be secured to support the number of scouts applying for membership in the Troop, the following priorities will be used in the determination of which scouts are accepted and assigned to patrols:
1. Any scout whose parent is currently serving in any adult leadership position.
2. Any scout whose parent has served in a leadership role in the Troop.
3. Any scout who is currently registered in good standing with the Troop.
4. Any scout affiliated/member with the Charter Organization.
5. Any new applicant.
1.4 Merit Badge Counselors
Merit badge counselors are required to be registered with the Blueridge Council through BSA Troop 420. Counselors are required to obtain the current requirements from the Troop leadership prior to counseling Scouts.
1.5 PROGRAM PLANNING AND APPROVAL
Annual Troop activity program shall cycle in August each year. The Scoutmaster and Patrol Leaders Council shall submit each August their respective annual program activity plans and budget needs to the Scout Troop Committee for approval.
2.1 JURISDICTION
Boy Scout Troop 420, as a chartered unit of the Boy Scouts of America, shall operate under the jurisdiction of the Southbounder District, Blueridge Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
2.2 CHARTER ORGANIZATION
St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, 2252 Woodruff Road, Simpsonville, South Carolina 29681, is the charter organization for Troop 420. The Troop is rechartered in December of each year.
2.3 PROGRAM LENGTH
The Troop will maintain an active program all year round. Troop meetings will be weekly at Saint Mary Magdalene’s Catholic Church.
2.4 FEES
New scouts registration shall be paid on a prorated basis, which represents the remainder of the current charter year. Scouts in good standing shall pay at the annual rate for the following charter year. Fee schedules/rates will be determined annually.
2.5 DUES/ACTIVITY FEES
Troop dues are $2.00 per week or $90.00 per year. No awards will be presented to a boy whose dues are delinquent. Any Scout in need of financial assistance to comply with dues policy should contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairperson for special arrangement/assistance.
Any unused funds left for a Scout that is no longer affiliated with Troop 420 should first go toward any unpaid portion of his dues. The remainder to be placed in a “Scout Special Needs” account to be used by scouts having financial needs. These needs to be reviewed on an individual basis by the Scoutmaster or Scoutmaster in charge of said event, the Committee Chair and the Treasurer.
Scouts may be required to pay activity fees for use of state parks, camps, or camporee. These must be paid to the camp master or Scoutmaster in charge prior to the event or the scout will not be allowed to attend.
2.6 ATTENDANCE
The intent of this policy is to maintain an active Troop throughout the year. Any Scout who misses four consecutive troop meetings without notifying the Scoutmaster will be considered inactive and no longer in good standing and will be placed on probation subject to the following actions:
1. The Scoutmaster will notify the Scout and his parents or guardian of this action.
2. If a Scout on probation misses another patrol meeting or troop meetings, the scout will be dropped from the troop roster. The parents or guardian will be notified of this action in writing under the signature of the Scoutmaster and the Oversight Committee Chairperson.
3. A Scout who is normally active, but for valid reasons (prolonged illness, extended vacation, sports, and etc.) has missed patrol and troop meetings will not be penalized as long as the parent/guardian contacts the Scoutmaster.
4. An inactive Scout is not considered active and in good standing until all past dues are paid. A dropped Scout is no longer considered a registered Scout and must reapply for admittance into the Troop. If a waiting list exists, the Scout will be placed at the end of the list as with any new applicant.
2.7 BEHAVIOR
A Scout is required to live by the Scout Oath, Law, and Motto. Behavior, which is inconsistent with the published guidelines by the Boy Scouts of America or with good patrol discipline, cannot be tolerated. The Scoutmaster/designee may suspend any misbehaving scout for one or more troop meetings and/or troop activities upon the notification of the Scout’s parents or guardian. Serious or consistent misbehavior will be referred to the Scoutmaster and may result in suspension or discharge of the Scout from the Troop. The decision to drop a Scout may be appealed to the Troop Committee.
Parents are encouraged to attend Patrol and Troop meetings periodically with their son and to offer support and encouragement to the scouting program. Scout functions should always have the Scout as their principle focus, and full support of the Troop Leadership is encouraged to avoid unnecessary distraction from this focus. It is the responsibility of the parents or guardian to ensure their scout is transported to and from Patrol and Scout meetings on time. Under no circumstances shall leadership abandon a Scout who has not been picked up on time. It is the parents or guardians responsibility to ensure that two deep leadership is present at a Scout function before they leave their son. Parents/guardians should remain long enough to verify that the scout function has sufficient two deep leadership to proceed.
Tobacco Products, the consumption of alcoholic beverages, or profanity are not permitted at any scout function.
2.7.1 Hazing
Pledge periods, demeaning behavior or hazing is specifically prohibited.
2.8 AWARDS
When a Scout in good standing satisfies the criteria outlined in his Boy Scout handbook, he is qualified to receive the specified award. The scout must show evidence of completion of the requirement and must submit this to a Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster will initial and date the Scout’s handbook in the appropriate area. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster’s are not permitted to sign their son’s books. Advancements will be conferred through the Board of Review who will ensure the Scout has met the requirements for the award, but not to retest the Scout. The review will be a face-to-face meeting between the committee members and the Scout as outlined in the Guidebook. If the interview is successful a representative from the Board of Review will sign the handbook. Should a Scout’s review be unsuccessful another review will be scheduled.
The Court of Honor ceremony is the formal means of recognizing the achievement of the Scout. The Troop committee has approved three Court of Honors per year (normally May, August, and December). The Advancement Chairperson is responsible for coordinating and conducting the Court of Honor.
The Eagle Court of Honor is a special ceremony aside from the normal Court of Honor. The Eagle Court of Honor is scheduled after the Scout has received notification from the National Boy Scout Council that he has been awarded the Eagle Rank. The Eagle Coordinator is responsible for coordinating and directing the Eagle Court of Honor. In addition to the Eagle Coordinator’s effort to support and coordinate an Eagle candidate’s COH, the troop will purchase a NESA one-year membership, Eagle pins for the candidate, mother and father, and place the Eagle name and date of Eagle on the Troop 420 Eagle Plague.
All BSA approved awards to be paid for by Troop 420.
The Troop will replace any lost award at the expense of the Scout.
2.9 UNIFORM
The uniform shall be worn at all Scout functions. Troop uniform policy class A or B may be waived at the discretion of the Adult Leadership for special activities or outdoor functions. Class A is considered to be the standard Boy Scout uniform. Class B is considered to be the specified or selected Scout tee shirt or golf type shirt as designated by the troop.
Troop 420 will give Cub Scouts bridging into the Troop neckerchief, slide, and patches.
Troop 420 will furnish ribbons for mother’s pins.
2.9.1 Scout Uniform
1. Scout khaki shirt with red shoulder loops and appropriate patches (see 2.9.3)
2. Troop 420 neckerchief and slide (or substitute earned through scout activities)
3. Green Scout web belt and brass buckle
4. Scout trousers/shorts (blue jeans/shorts)
5. Troop 420 approved hat/cap (optional) (all Scouts to have same style and color)
6. World Scout Crest mandatory.
7. Shoes with enclosed toe and heel or ankle strap when appropriate.
2.9.2 Adult Leader Uniform
1. Scout khaki shirt with red shoulder loops with appropriate patches
2. Troop 420 approved hat (optional)
3. Neckerchief and slide of choice (optional)
4. Green Scout web belt and buckle of choice (or leather substitute with earned buckle)
5. Olive drab shorts with official Scout socks (optional) or
6. Olive drab long pants or blue jeans
2.9.3 Insignia
Only badges of rank of office, council patch, OA Patch, World Scout crest emblem, service pins, religious emblems, unit patch, patrol patch, quality unit patch. U.S. flag, BSA Certified Trained patch, Service Pins, earned religious emblems, and earned knots may be affixed to the uniform. All insignia shall be affixed in accordance with the Boy Scouts of America Insignia Guide. The Scout Handbook shows where to affix insignia.
Other activity patches (e.g., hiking or camping patches) are not to be permanently affixed to the uniform. However, they may be button looped for attachment to the right pocket flap button.
3.0 FIELD TRIPS, CAMP OUTS, AND HIKING EXPEDITIONS
Field trips and camp outs or hiking expeditions shall be conducted in accordance with the regulations and guidelines of the Boy Scouts of America. In order to qualify as a scouting function any trip out of the district geographic jurisdiction must be pre-approved by the Blue Ridge Council by completing and having the appropriate signatures on the BSA Tour Permit.
A permission slip signed by a parent or guardian is required for every scout to attend any Patrol or Troop field trips, camp outs or hiking expeditions. In the case of disciplinary problems of a severe nature, the adult leadership in charge of the scouts taking part in the outing has the authority to call the parents or guardian of the offending Scout and request his immediate removal. Further disciplinary actions as outlined in paragraph 2.7 may occur upon the discretion of the Scoutmaster. The scoutmaster may impose, with the approval of the Troop Committee, additional requirements and restrictions for the specific outing.
We will participate in a religious service when camping on Sunday, where possible.
Scouts are not allowed to pull the Scout trailer.
Scouts may drive to scout functions in Greenville County or in adjoining counties with written parental permission. Scouts can never transport scouts other than siblings or people not affiliated with Troop 420. The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scout Masters under the age of 21 may not transport scouts.
1. The tour leader must file a BSA Local Tour Permit Application at the Scout Office.
2. Prior approval by a committee representative and the Scoutmaster must be obtained.
3. Four adults must be present at all times, two of which are registered leaders in Troop 420 and two adults.
4. Parental permission must be obtained for each participating Scout via a parent’s signature on the Troop 420 outing form.
5. For each participating Scout, the following items should be obtained:
a. A copy of applicable medical insurance cards, or a parent/s statement indicating no insurance.
b. A medical release signed by a parent releasing Troop 420 adult leaders’ representatives to seek medical care if necessary.
c. A list of allergies (if applicable).
6. Outings must be held within Greenville county or any adjoining counties.
7. The patrol outing should be presented by the patrol leader to the Patrol Leader’s Council, or discussed with the Senior Patrol Leader.
8. The patrol outing cannot interfere with regularly scheduled Troop 420 activities. Participation in patrol activities should be in addition to (and never in lieu of) participation in troop activities.
4.0 TROOP JUNIOR LEADER TRAINING
All members of the Patrol Leaders Council will be required to attend Junior Leader Training (JLT) during their tenure as a Junior Leader. The Training Coordinator will conduct this training during each rotation of the Patrol Leaders Council. Troop elections are normally held during the months of September and March in order to provide boys the required 6 months holding a leadership position within the troop. JLT shall be conducted as soon as practical after Troop elections, but not more than one month from the elections.
5.0 PATROL LEADER’S COUNCIL M EETINGS
Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) meetings shall be conducted monthly.
6.0 Historical changes
2005/01/12 – Adopted first draft.
2005/05/16 – Changed weekly dues.