Troop 217 Handbook

 

 

Organization of the Troop

Scouts:

All scouts in Troop 217 will be divided into Patrols. Each Patrol will elect a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader who will serve a term ranging from 6 to 12 months. Each Patrol will choose a Patrol name, “shout” or cheer and a Patrol flag. Patrols will work together as a team and these teams will be the basic building block of the troop organization. Patrol Leaders will be responsible for maintaining order in the Patrol, assigning tasks (ie: cooking and cleaning details, fire and water buddies) while on outings and teaching skills to new scouts.

The scouts will design and run the program within the framework of BSA rules under the oversight of the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee. The Troop committee is comprised of all the Troop’s registered leaders. The liaison between the adult leaders and the scouts is the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). The SPL is elected by the scouts and will serve a term of one year. All scouts will have access to the Scoutmaster at any time, but the SPL will carry the main responsibility for running of the Troop meetings.

Adults:

The Troop Committee consists of parents and community members who have an interest in the scouting program and who have become registered with BSA.

The Troop Committee Chairperson is responsible for holding monthly meetings between the Troop Committee and the Scoutmaster. The committee will also be responsible for maintaining advancement and financial records, organizing fundraisers, providing transportation and reviewing scouts for advancement. Committee meetings will be held the 4th Thursday of each month.

The Scoutmaster is responsible for the development and advancement of the scouts within the framework of the BSA program. The Scoutmaster (SM) may have several Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) who are responsible for specific aspects of adult leadership within the troop. It will not be the task of the SM to dictate the program, this is up to the scouts.

Uniform

The official BSA uniform is described in the scouting handbook. We will use three distinct terms to describe our uniforms: CLASS A, CLASS B AND DRESS UNIFORM. The boys will be responsible for maintaining the uniforms and for appearing in the correct uniform for each event. Uniform classes will be posted in the newsletters or flyers for each event. These terms are NOT found in the handbook, but are used widely throughout scouting.

Class A –

Complete, Official Uniform

Troop numbers, council patch, beret, shoulder loops, hat insignia, and neckerchief will all be available through the troop.

Class B –

Casual Uniform

Dress Uniform

The dress uniform is the same as Class A with the addition of special award items. Boys may wish to display their merit badges on a merit badge sash. The sash is the key feature of the dress uniform. Also, boys who attain the honor of Order of the Arrow will be allowed to wear this sash as part of the dress uniform. The dress uniform will be worn at all Courts of Honor, Scout church events, council and district award events and other special occasions.

New scouts will be allowed time to put their uniform together. During the first six months, new scouts will be exempt from uniform inspections since compliance is expensive. All scouts will be encouraged to donate uniforms that they have outgrown to the Troop for distribution to new scouts. The Troop Quartermaster will maintain these uniforms.

The uniform is an outward sign of the scout’s commitment to the ideals of our organization. When we appear as a unit, we represent all scouts in the worldwide fellowship. Our pride in self, and pride of unit are directly linked to our appearance and behavior. The uniform is the first impression we give to the public so it must be the best impression every time.

Behavior

Scouts and adults are expected to live by the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scout Motto. Compliance with these tenants is mandatory at ALL scout events and troop activities. Alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco and profanity will not be tolerated by scouts or adults during troop activities. Behavior should be commensurate with the activity: there are times for quiet and times for loud exuberance, the scouts must recognize the difference and adjust behavior accordingly. Scouts and adults who violate these simple rules or disrupt meetings or activities will be asked to leave the troop.

Meetings

From April through November Troop 217 holds meetings at the Gambrill Park Tea Room (off Rt 40 near the Dan Dee Restaurant).  During winter months we hold meetings in the basement, fireplace room of Holy Family Catholic Community’s rectory, 3240 Old National Pike, Middletown. Meetings will take place in the first, second, and third Thursdays of the month. If school is cancelled due to weather on a meeting day, the meeting is cancelled.

The fourth Thursday is reserved for Committee meetings and the meeting of the Patrol Leader’s Council. The PLC will meet with the Scoutmaster and the Committee on this night to plan the program and meetings. All meetings of Troop 217 begin at 7:30 p.m. Summer meetings will be held on the first and third Thursday unless otherwise noted.

Regular attendance at Troop meetings is an important part of “scout spirit”, which is a required part of all scout advancement. Regular attendance is strongly encouraged. If, due to sports, school or other activities, a boy must miss meetings, he should let the SM or Troop Committee know the length of his absence and any limitation of participation.

Courts of Honor

A Court of Honor is a special troop meeting to award merit badges, rank advancements and other honors to scouts and leaders. The Court of Honor will be scheduled by the Scoutmaster as needed. There will be 3 or 4 such events scheduled for each scouting year. Attendance at the Court of Honor is mandatory for all scouts and highly recommended for all parents.

Camping Equipment

Camping equipment is a part of every scout’s personal gear. The committee will publish lists of recommended equipment and these will be made available through the SM.

Finances

Fundraisers:

Fundraising is the only way for the Troop to pay for camping equipment, gear, supplies, patches, awards, and general operating expenses. Scouts are encouraged to assist the Troop by active participation in fundraisers. This is a measure of “Scout Spirit” and helps to build brotherhood among the scouts.

Scout Accounts:

To help pay for camping trips and gear, the committee can allow the scouts to share in fundraising profits through scout accounts. These accounts will be held by the committee for each boy. Money can be withdrawn by written request. If a boy leaves the troop to join another troop, the troop Scout account will be passed onto the new troop upon written request of the scout. Scouts who leave the troop and do not join another BSA organization will relinquish their scout account.

Dues:

The annual dues for Troop 217 are $60 per year. These dues should be paid by the boys, whenever possible. Payments may be split into 2 installments of $30 each. The first installment is due August 1st, the second is due February 1st. Dues will be pro-rated for boys who join in the middle of the year.

Medical Requirements

Scouts must have medical information on file as follows:

Personal Health and Medical Record – Class 2

Required for every scout, every 36 months for participants under 40 years of age.

Boys may NOT attend resident camp or any event lasting more than 72 hours without this form. Troop 217 will require all scouts to have this form on file with the troop within one month of joining the troop. This form must be signed by a medical professional.

Personal Health and Medical Record, class 3

For all scouters over 40 years of age and for all boys and adults who wish to participate in high adventure activities, Wood Badge training, or World Jamborees.

Advancement

All advancement requirements are clearly laid out in the Boy Scout Handbook. The Troop will assist the scouts as needed or answer any advancement questions.

Troop 217 encourages all scouts to continuously work on advancement. New skills are learned at each rank. Troop 217 follows BSA policies to insure all scouts not only meet the requirements for each level and master each skill but are also guaranteed fair and equal treatment.

The scout takes primary responsibility in completing each skill. The troop provides activities and support so that skills can be learned – such as skill days and camping trips. The parents and scoutmasters give encouragement and guidance.

When a scout has learned a skill required for advancement – see your handbook for a list – the scout asks the scoutmaster to sign the book as soon as possible. Once all the skills for advancement are complete, the scout calls the scoutmaster to set up an appointment for a scoutmaster’s conference. At the scoutmaster’s conference, the scoutmaster and the scout review the skills to insure mastery. It is Troop 217 policy that neither the scoutmaster nor the assistant scoutmasters give scoutmaster conferences to his own son. This insures fairness to all the boys.

Once the scoutmaster has approved the advancement, the scout calls the committee chair for a Board of Review at the next committee meeting. The purpose of this review is to let the scout show his new knowledge and  to give feedback on troop policies and activities. It is Troop 217 policy that the parent of the scout not be present in the room for a Board of Review.

The Board of Review gives the scout a chance to practice presenting himself to a group. When a scout arrives for a Board of Review, he MUST be in complete, official BSA uniform:

A scout not meeting the above requirements will not be given a Board of Review. He will be asked to come back to the next committee meeting for his Board of Review.

(A 6 month grace period is offered to new scouts in the troop – after 6 months all scouts are expected to have a full Class A uniform.).

Once the review is complete, the scout is asked to leave the room while the committee discusses the scout’s answers as well as his presentation (uniform, spirit). The boy is notified immediately of the committee’s decision and rank patch is presented. The rank card is presented at the next Court of Honor.

Updated 8/2005

Rosters

The committee will publish rosters of all scouts and adults registered with the Troop. Each time a new member joins, a new roster will be issued.  A current roster can be found on our web site (www.troop217.org) in the members section.  Please call or email to obtain an account and password.

 

 

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