Dear Parents and Scouts

WELCOME

Dear Parents and Scouts,

We are glad that you will be joining Troop 3000. The Scouting Movement is one of the largest and oldest youth organizations in the world. As a part of this organization you will soon learn that it is immediately known and respected by many people throughout the world. You will soon discover the life long benefits of being a part of scouting and we are pleased that you have chosen Troop 3000 as your doorway into an exciting and relevant part of your life. This handbook is to help you learn more about scouting and our troop and we hope that it will be useful to you. Please read this along with the first pages of the Scout Handbook. Any questions that you may have can be answered by one of our troop leaders. Both parents and scouts should read this handbook and familiarize themselves with the operation of the troop.

Troop 3000 Membership Policy

Membership in Troop 3000 is open to all boys who are 11 years of age or who have completed the 5th grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouts and are at least 10 years of age but are not yet 18 years of age. In addition to these age requirements of the BSA, the Troop 3000 Troop Committee has further established a policy for membership in Troop 3000 that requires the boy to meet one or more of the following additional criteria for membership: was previously a member of Cub Scout Pack 3000 or is an active member of Birmingham United Methodist Church or has an older sibling who was/is a member of Troop 3000. Exceptions to this policy are made at the sole discretion of the Troop Committee and not the Scoutmaster or any other adult leader of Troop 3000.

Meeting Schedule

Troop 3000 meets at 7:00 p.m. every Monday of the month in the Scout Hut at Birmingham United Methodist Church (BUMC). The only exception to this schedule is when a holiday falls on a Monday and then we do not meet on the holiday. The first, third and fifth Mondays of each month are regular Troop meetings for all scouts to attend. The second Monday of each month is Advancement night on which certain scouts will meet with various leaders and Merit Badge Counselors for the sole purpose of completing individual advancement requirements and Scoutmaster Conferences. Not all Scouts will find it necessary to attend this meeting. A scout will attend this meeting only if he has specific advancement or merit badge requirements that he wants to complete. Any scout may attend this meeting, however, for the purpose of fellowship with other scouts that are not working on advancement items. Scouts may simply “hang out” in the Scout Compound on this night if they want to. The fourth Monday of each month will be the Troop Leader Council (TLC) and Patrol Leader Council (PLC) meetings only. These meetings consist of the Scoutmaster Corps (TLC) and the Senior Patrol Leader, Asst. Senior Patrol Leader and Patrol Leaders (PLC). BUMC is the Chartering Organization of both Cub Pack 3000 and BSA Troop 3000. Troop 3000 was organized in November, 2006 as a boy led troop offering a variety of outdoor activities and unique experiences designed to develop leadership and outdoor skills in each scout. The adult leadership is also trained to facilitate scout leadership through the use of the EDGE principle of skill development – Explain, Demonstrate, Guide and Enable. We want scouts to lead the troop under the guidance of adult leaders including planning and preparation for troop outings and weekly meetings. As scouts develop self-confidence, self- reliance and personal responsibility, so, too, will their opportunities increase for leadership in the Scouting program.

Parental Involvement

Troop 3000 and its leaders believe strongly in the character building that comes from following the Scout Oath and Scout Law. We also believe strongly in parent support of your scout’s participation in troop activities. Scouting policy requires that two trained adult leaders shall be present at all troop activities; this includes any small group activities (two adult leaders with each group). A troop needs many trained adult volunteers to keep the program running and as such, we welcome parents to become trained, active supporters of Troop 3000 to insure an exciting and varied program. Troop 3000 requires all adults who wish to participate in meetings and activities to become a registered scouter with the troop and the Atlanta Area Council, BSA. Perhaps you would like to become a Merit Badge Counselor or provide other support roles as needed from time to time. For those who wish to become an Assistant Scoutmaster or trained leader, there are a series of adult training courses that must be completed that will help you develop the necessary skills for becoming an effective leader in the programs and outings of Troop 3000. If you have interest in becoming a trained leader for Troop 3000, please contact the Scoutmaster or one of the Assistant Scoutmasters to discuss your areas of interest.

The troop committee oversees the troop providing support in the areas of fundraising, logistics and institutional relations. The troop committee supports the Scoutmaster in planning activities, scheduling the troop annual calendar and making logistical arrangements necessary for carrying out an effective program. In addition, the troop committee supports the advancement program in assisting with Courts of Honor, Boards of Review and recruitment of merit badge counselors from parents within the troop. Parents can provide troop support in the areas of merit badge counseling, special events preparation and transportation services. Parents enjoy a key role in the success of Scouting. You help motivate your son, provide moral support, and help as you can when called upon by the troop adult leadership. Your excitement and involvement rubs off on your son. Please encourage your son to participate regularly in meetings and all troop activities. Active participation in the life of the troop will lead to his advancement in rank.

Troop Organization

A troop consists of all the registered scouts in a unit. This troop is divided into patrols, usually groups of 7 to 9 scouts. Each patrol elects a patrol leader and the patrol leader chooses an assistant to help him. The boys will vote on a patrol name, establish a patrol cheer and make a patrol flag to show their membership in a patrol.

Youth Leadership

A major goal of Scouting is developing leadership in our youth. Boy Scout troops are actually run by its boy leaders under the guidance and supervision of the Scoutmaster Corps. Youth leadership is also a key aspect of rank advancement for Boy Scouts once they achieve the rank of first class. The highest youth leader is the Senior Patrol Leader, or SPL. He is elected by the scouts for a term of six months to represent them as the top junior leader in the troop. The SPL runs the troop activities with the Scoutmaster’s guidance. The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader or ASPL assists the SPL and is the second highest-ranking junior leader in the troop. The ASPL acts as the SPL in the absence of the Senior Patrol Leader or when called upon. He also provides leadership and training to other junior leaders in the troop.

The patrol leaders and assistants have a key role in helping the Senior Patrol Leader and adult leaders accomplish the goals of the troop. Patrol leaders are elected every six months. The Patrol Leader appoints an Assistant Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader represents his patrol at the Patrol Leaders’ Council. Good leadership of the patrol is critical in order for the overall troop to have an effective program. Junior leaders make up the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC). The PLC is the organizing body of the troop, planning all of the activities and meetings of the troop. With the advice of the Scoutmaster, the SPL, as the top junior leader, leads this monthly meeting.

Troop Guides

New scouts will be assigned to a regular patrol but they will also participate in a new scout patrol separate from the other scouts for their first year. They will have an older scout in the troop who has achieved the rank of Life or Eagle assigned to their new scout patrol. Troop Guides assist new scouts in making them feel comfortable during their first year as scouts as well as helping them achieve the rank of First Class during their first year.

Troop Committee

The Troop Committee consists of registered adults whose primary responsibilities include selecting a Scoutmaster for the troop and then supporting the Scoutmaster so that he can deliver quality troop programming and activities without having the burden of handling troop administrative duties. The troop committee supports the scoutmaster in implementing the yearly activity plan, insuring financial support for the troop through fundraising activities, establishes and administers policy, provides for long range and strategic planning, and resolves issues which may arise from time to time as a result of troop activities.

The Troop Committee consists of the Charter Organization Representative, Chairperson, Finance and Administration Chairperson, Outdoor/Program Chairperson, Advancement Chairperson, Quartermaster and Foodmaster. Other committee positions such as Adult Training and Strategic Planning may be added. Committee members must be registered adults, complete Youth Protection training, and Troop Committee training. The committee meets on a monthly basis or as scheduled by the Chairman.

Scoutmaster

The Scoutmaster has the responsibility for operating the troop program. His responsibilities are to train and guide boy leaders to run their troop, help boys to grow by encouraging them to learn for themselves, and guide boys in planning the troop program. He is to work with and through responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys. The Scoutmaster also conducts Scoutmaster Conferences.

Assistant Scoutmasters

The Assistant Scoutmasters also play a strategic part, for they support the Scoutmaster and share the challenge. Assistants should be assigned specific program responsibilities. A Scoutmaster may have as many Assistant Scoutmasters as desired, depending on his needs.

Youth Protection

BSA is very concerned with child abuse and drug abuse. To become a scout, one of the joining requirements is to discuss with his parents “How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse”. This guide is found in the front section of the Boy Scout Handbook and is the only requirement a parent may sign off. The Atlanta Area Council provides training for all adult leaders in youth protection. All adults who work directly with the scouts must be registered with the Boy Scouts of America and must have Youth Protection training. A youth protection video with age appropriate material is available to the troop.

Advancement

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: Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle. The higher he climbs, the more challenging his tasks and the more rewarding.

The purpose of the advancement program is to spur a Scout to learn, to achieve, and to mature. Through consistent advancement, scouting’s aims are reinforced repeatedly.

If you are advancing from the Cub Scout program, you will find the advancement system in the Boy Scouts is different. In the Cub Scout program, a den usually advances together through den activities organized by the adult leader. In Boy Scouts, individual initiative is the primary force behind rank advancement and especially for the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. Parents are encouraged to follow their son’s progress in the Scout handbook and to stay up to date with their scout’s progress.

Our mission and expectation is to advance new scouts to the rank of First Class in their first year of membership. To do this, scouts will work in a new scout patrol with an adult leader and a troop guide in order to achieve this goal. Scout handbooks should be brought to every meeting and activity. This is very important so that the scout’s progress can be promptly recorded. Please encourage your scout to advance through the ranks.

Troop meetings and outings are planned to contain skills instruction that will help both new and experienced scouts earn rank advancement. This is why the troop attendance policy requires a scout to participate in 75% of the troop meetings and 75% of the troop outings in order to advance. Once a skill is learned and demonstrated, the scout may have his handbook signed off by the Scoutmaster, or an assistant Scoutmaster including the requirement for “Scout Spirit”.

The basic camping and scouting skills are taught in the first three ranks: Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class. The next three ranks, Star, Life and Eagle, are more individualized, where a scout develops his personal interests and more advanced life skills. He develops these interests and skills through demonstrating leadership and earning merit badges.

It is the policy of Troop 3000 that Scouts shall not be allowed to begin work on merit badges until such time that they have completed their basic skills required for the rank of First Class. Certain exceptions to this rule can be made by the Scoutmaster as it relates to Summer Camp scheduling or in the case where an individual scout has a unique opportunity or extraordinary experience in which a merit badge requirement can be completed. Consequently, merit badges will not be awarded to a scout until such time that the scout has completed his advancement to the rank of First Class. A scout must have permission from the Scoutmaster to begin working on a merit badge and must obtain a signed “blue card” from the Scoutmaster prior to commencing work on any specific merit badge. This policy insures that each scout possesses the basic skills of scouting prior to embarking on special interest areas within the program. Experience has shown that this method of advancement leads to greater success in the program in the long term and to a stronger connection to scouting in general.

Leadership

A very important objective of the scout program is to prepare the scout for the future. Leadership is one of those skills that the program teaches and gives the scout an opportunity to practice. Leadership in scouts is a skill that involves planning as well as directing your fellow scouts to the successful completion of projects. Each advancing rank requires the scout to build his leadership skills. The scout can demonstrate leadership as a Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Den Chief, Scribe, Librarian, Historian, Quartermaster, Bugler, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Chaplain Aide, Instructor, or Order of the Arrow Troop Representative. In addition, your Scoutmaster may offer leadership positions for special projects or events. For the rank of Star, a scout must successfully plan an event and make a diligent effort at accomplishing the project through other members of the troop. The trail to the rank of Life gets harder. The scout must not only plan, but must be successful in achieving their project goal. This experience will give the scout confidence necessary to begin the final climb to the rank of Eagle. The Scoutmaster will meet with each scout of the rank of First Class and above on an individual basis to develop leadership goals needed for his next rank.

Merit Badges

Once a scout reaches the rank of First Class, merit badges become the main advancement tool. There are over 125 merit badges to choose from. You can work independently on merit badges, take merit badge classes at summer camp, and/or attend merit badge clinics. The first step in beginning work on a specific merit badge is to inform the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairperson and obtain a signed merit badge blue card. The next step is to obtain the Merit Badge Pamphlet for that badge and read it to be sure that it is a Merit Badge that the you want to work on and that you understand the requirements that are expected of you to complete that merit badge. You will then need to contact a merit badge counselor. The Advancement Chairperson maintains a current list of merit badge counselors for each merit badge offered in the BSA. Contact a counselor for guidance and expectations. Remember, when doing a scouting activity, use the buddy system. After completing the merit badge, your counselor, and then the Advancement Leader will sign the blue card before it is turned in to the Advancement Chairperson. To achieve the rank of Eagle, a scout must earn at least 21 merit badges, 12 of which are required. See the Scout handbook for more information on merit badges.

Scoutmaster Conference

Each of the six ranks contains the requirement “Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference”. The purpose of the conference is to develop, over a period of time, an increasing level of understanding and trust between the Scoutmaster and each Scout. Then the Scoutmaster can be increasingly effective in helping the boy get the most from Scouting.

Advancement is the scout’s responsibility. The scout should save all written work and projects you do for merit badges and rank. After all the requirements of a rank are completed, the scout must arrange a meeting with the Scoutmaster, called the Scoutmaster Conference in which the scout’s progress is reviewed.

Board of Review

When a scout has completed all the requirements for a rank, including the Scoutmaster Conference, he appears before a board of review. This consists of at least three and not more than six troop leaders (registered adults). Scoutmasters and relatives do not participate in the board of review. The review has three purposes:

To make sure the work has been learned and completed. To find out what kind of experience the boy is having in his patrol and troop. To encourage the Scout to progress further.

The board of review is not a time to retest the Scout, but to determine the Scout’s attitude and his acceptance of scouting ideals. It is also time to review those Scouts who are not advancing.

It is the responsibility of each scout to:

Call the Advancement Chairperson one week ahead to schedule a Board of Review. Boards of Review will be held from time to time as determined by the Advancement Chairperson. Appear before the Board in a complete Class A uniform. Have his Scout handbook complete and ready to be reviewed. Star, Life, and Eagle ranks require additional information to be documented and reviewed with the Board. BE PREPARED.

Court of Honor

The accomplishments of our scouts and leaders are recognized at an impressive formal ceremony called the Court of Honor. At this event, all Scouts who have advanced since the last court of honor will be recognized before an audience of families, friends, chartered organization officials, and troop leaders. Courts of honor are held several times a year. They are scheduled in place of regular troop meetings and are held in the church fellowship hall. This is the time when full uniform, including the sash and any medals should be worn. Parents’ attendance is important and a very easy way to demonstrate an interest in your son’s scouting progress.

Activities

Troop 3000 strives to keep busy with a variety of fun events. Each month our youth leaders meet with guidance from the Scoutmaster and assistance from the troop committee to plan interesting and fun activities. Our program will include an outdoor activity each month. Some of these activities may include:

Summer Camp Troop Campouts Canoeing/Rafting Caving/Cycling Rappelling/Climbing Hiking/Backpacking Community Service Projects Chartered Organization Projects Council or District activities such as: Jamborees/Camporees/High Adventure

See the troop calendar for a schedule of events and feel free to make suggestions to your troop or patrol leaders. Please check the Troop 3000 website for an updated calendar of events and meetings. www.troop3000.org

Equipment

The following equipment is required:

Scout uniform (shirt and pants/shorts) with patches, troop hat, scout belt, scout socks, troop neckerchief, neckerchief slide, scout handbook.

Eventually, your son will need a backpack and pack cover, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow (if desired), mess kit with utensils, propane stove (“Pocket Rocket” at REI), tent, rainsuit (no ponchos) and hiking boots. The suggested equipment list for camping is available from the Scoutmaster. Every effort should be made by parents to assist the scout in obtaining the proper equipment necessary for participation in troop outings and camping trips. Please feel free to contact the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters for assistance or recommendations regarding camping equipment.

Scout uniforms and equipment (including merit badge books) are available at the Atlanta Scout Shop. See flyer in notebook for locations and hours.

The troop also sells extra hats, neckerchiefs and t-shirts with the troop name and logo imprinted. The t-shirts, or any scout t-shirt are considered as a “Class B” or activity uniform. See uniform policy.

All equipment and clothing should be marked with the scout’s name. Engravers work very well on metal such as cooking gear. Colored nail polish works on identifying utensils. Laundry markers should be used on clothing, sleeping bags or other cloth items.

Informed Consent/Permission Slips

A permission slip or informed consent form signed by a parent or legal guardian is required before a scout can participate in any Troop 3000 activity. Informed Consent Forms/Permission slips will be available for parents to sign at the time health forms are submitted or at the time of registration or re-chartering. Please take the time to read it and completely fill in all the required information and return it to the Scoutmaster.

Medical

Upon joining, each scout is required to have a health history form filled out and kept on file with the troop before participating in any troop activities. A parent must update these forms annually. Scouts are required to have a physical exam by a doctor every year and prior to participating in any troop activity or high adventure activity, i.e. summer camp. A medical form must be signed by the physician. Medical forms are valid for 12 months. Please let us know if your son has any medical problems or takes medication on a regular basis. Adults must also have a medical form on file with the troop to participate in any troop activitiy.

Medications

Communication

While scouts usually hear the details of our events at meetings, this important information is not always passed along to parents. Ask your scout after each meeting to share this information with you. Troop activities will be announced by e-mail as a general rule. Our website is another way for you to stay informed about the troop and become involved in our activities. www.troop3000.org

Finances

Troop Registration is an annual fee of $125. This covers your scout’s membership in Troop 3000 from January 1- December 31 of each calendar year. This includes a troop hat, troop neckerchief and slide, and scout handbook. Dues include a subscription to Boy’s Life Magazine and all registration fees. The troop usually re-charters itself with the Atlanta Area Council in December of each year for the following year’s membership.

The troop plans several fundraisers during the year. These funds are needed to pay for advancement badges, maintaining troop equipment and other needs. It is necessary for all scouts to participate in these efforts. Popcorn sales are the primary fundraiser for Troop 3000 and this usually takes place in September/October of each year. The troop committee always welcomes any tax deductible donations that you may offer to the troop to assist the program.

Fees are established for each outing to pay for food, camping fees, transportation and other expenses as required.

Attendance Policy

Scouts are expected to attend all troop meetings on the schedule and participate in the other troop activities. The Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leaders are expected to attend the monthly Patrol Leaders’ Council meeting in addition to the regular troop meetings. A 75% attendance in both troop meetings and outings is necessary to meet leadership requirements, especially for those scouts first class and above. The Troop Scribe or Patrol Leader will take attendance at all troop functions and record attendance with the Assistant Scoutmaster for Advancement. The Troop Scribe will record the attendance for the SPL and ASPL. For the purpose of this policy, attendance is defined as being on time, in uniform, and participating with good scout spirit.

Camping Policy

Scouts must always follow the buddy system during camping trips and troop outings. Each scout should make plans to have a tent buddy for each troop camping trip and during summer camp. As a matter of Troop policy, scouts shall not be allowed to sleep alone in a tent until they have achieved the rank of First Class.

Uniform Policy

The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. Wearing the uniform is also an action that shows each scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of scouting. All uniforms should be neat, clean, and fit properly. The complete official uniform includes the scout shirt, scout pants or shorts, scout belt and buckle, and scout socks. Troop 3000 has chosen to wear a specific scout hat, and a neckerchief with slide. This is referred to as a “Class A” uniform. Each scout should wear his full uniform including a merit badge sash and any medals for the Court of Honor and other ceremonies. If your scout loses any part of his complete uniform, he should purchase the missing item from the troop as soon as possible to keep his uniform complete.

A “Class A” uniform is worn for all troop meetings and outings and at any time while being transported to and from a troop outing.

For informal wear or outdoor activities, Scouts may wear a troop or camp t-shirt or other BSA related shirts with scout pants, scout socks and scout belt. We refer to this as a “Class B” or activity uniform. Please – no other items except scout related clothing.

Discipline Policy

The scouts are expected to participate in the meetings. If the scouts do not participate or are disruptive, action will be taken to correct the situation. Under normal situations, the Patrol Leader or other scout leader will issue a warning to misbehaving scouts. If the activities continue, the Patrol Leader, the Senior Patrol Leader, or other scout leader will speak to the scout. Should the misbehavior continue, the Scoutmaster and another adult leader will review the situation with the scout. This may result in the scout being prevented from participating in the next troop activity or outing or in the extreme case - a call will be made to the scout’s parents and they will be asked to pick up their scout and take him home. If a scout is prevented from participating in the next troop activity or is sent home, he will be placed on probation for 6 months. The following list of items must be completed before the scout is removed from probation.

Probation Requirement

A scout must complete or do the following:

Must personally want to be a Scout. Show Scout Spirit Have no violations of the Scout Law. Must complete a service project for the troop. Must apologize and replace any items damaged or destroyed. Must complete a defined advancement schedule. Must have regular meetings with the Scoutmaster to track advancement. The Scoutmaster may request a parent accompany the scout at all times, at all meetings and outings during probation.

Failure to meet the requirements for probation will result in the scout being asked to leave the troop.

There may be other situations in which a scout is placed on immediate probation for a 6 month period. This will occur at the sole discretion of the Scoutmaster and is usually the result of the scout’s violation of BSA rules and regulations as specified in “The Guide to Safe Scouting.” (e.g., stealing, possession of a weapon, fireworks, drugs, alcohol, drug use, threats of bodily harm to other scouts or adult leaders.) Possible expulsion from Troop 3000 may also result from a violation of BSA policy without a 6 month probation period in the case of serious violations. Please speak with the Scoutmaster if you have questions or concerns about this policy or require further information or clarification.

Event Payment Policy

The troop will have to charge fees for most outdoor events to cover the cost of food, supplies, transportation and fees. Information will be provided in advance and payment is requested by a deadline. In some cases, deposits will be requested by a specific date. Such deposits will be your notification of intent to participate and will be forfeited if you later elect not to participate. Only those scouts and adults who notify by the specified date will be guaranteed to participate. Please make all checks out to BSA Troop 3000. Fees will not be refunded.

In some cases, parents or guardians will be invited to attend events with the troop. Events will be cancelled if we cannot arrange adequate parent or guardian participation for supervision or transportation or in such cases that hazardous weather conditions prevent us from holding the outing or event. In such cases, fees will be refunded.

Dues Policy

Annual dues are payable on or around December 1 of each year to be applied to the following calendar year of a scout’s participation. Unpaid dues will result in scouts not being allowed to participate in outdoor events or receiving awards. For special arrangements, see the Troop Committee Chairman or Scoutmaster.

Food and Nutrition

Proper preparation for scout outings includes preparing appropriate menus, a duty roster for meals, and planning time for cooking and cleanup. Some general rules apply:

Prepare and make BALANCED MEALS. Cook what you bring, eat what you cook. Bring proper equipment and take care of this equipment. Healthy snacks. Milk, juice, or powdered drink mix with water.

In most cases, the cost of food is included in the event fees. Smoking and Drinking

It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America that the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances is not permitted at encampments or activities nor on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America. It is prohibited at any activity involving participation of youth members. For the parents and leaders who use tobacco products, you are requested to do this away from the scout camp or activity so that it is out of sight of the scouts.

Electronic Equipment

The use of cell phones, Ipods, tape players, TVs and electronic devices are generally prohibited on troop events and during troop meetings. The one exception to this policy is the use of these items when travelling to or from a troop outing on the bus or in the car and used in a way that is not disturbing to others. These items may be collected by the Scoutmaster during troop meetings, outings or events to be returned to the scout at the end of the meeting, outing or event.

All such use is subject to further restriction by the Scoutmaster as he deems necessary.

Ax, Saw, and Knife Policy

To carry a knife or use a saw or ax, a scout must have a Tot’n Chip with at least one corner in tact and dated for the current year. The Tot’n Chip is granted after completing instruction on the proper use of these devices. If an axe, saw, or knife is, in the opinion of the Scoutmaster, misused, the scout loses a corner of the Chip. When all four corners are gone, the scout loses the right to carry or use an axe, saw or knife until he has completed the instructions again. When a knife, saw or axe is being misused by a scout in a dangerous way, or is in some way out of compliance with the rules and regulations stated in “The Guide to Safe Scouting” the Scoutmaster reserves the right to confiscate the item and it will not be returned to the scout.

Swimming Policy

BSA policy requires scouts to meet minimum requirement in order to swim or be in the water as part of a scout function. The Blue Tag swim certificate test indicates the scout’s swimming ability. The Blue Tag is valid only for the calendar year the test was taken in. Normally, the troop will coordinate testing for the Blue Tag along with the event that requires it. The test is also available at summer camp. ADULT LEADERS

Position Description

Scoutmaster Carries out all troop programming and activities.

Committee Position Organizes the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated and carried out. Prepares troop Committee Chair committee meeting agendas. Recruits troop volunteers. Organizes and obtains food and supplies for all troop Foodmaster camping trips and outings. Records minutes of committee meetings and Secretary distributes to committee members. Oversees publicity, troop newsletter, and troop resource survey. Handles all troop funds. Maintains checking account. Trains & supervises troop scribe. Supervises money – Treasurer earning projects. Leads preparation of annual troop budget and reports to the troop committee. Secure permission to use camping sites. Work with Camping/Outdoor quartermaster on inventory, storage and maintaining troop equipment. Serve as transportation Program Chairman coordinator. Promote National Camping Award. Attain the goal of one outing per month. Encourage scouts to advance in rank. Arrange & Advancement conduct monthly Board of Review. Assist with Court of Chairman Honor. Maintain merit badge counselor list. Work with troop scribe to maintain scout advancement records. Encourage other adults to become merit badge Merit Badge counselors. Maintain merit badge counselor list making Counselor sure the proper paperwork is filed. Distribute 'Blue Cards' and assign merit badge counselors. Provide spiritual tone for troop meetings & activities. Troop Chaplain Give guidance to chaplain aide. Encourage boys to earn their religious emblems. Chartered Serves as liaison between troop and the chartering Organization organization, Birmingham United Methodist Church. Representative Helps recruits adults. Assists with annual re-charter. Organizes, maintains and secures all troop equipment Quartermaster (s) In the Scout Hut. Communications / Maintains the troop website, membership list and e- Website mail circulation list. Membership/Webelos Maintains the troop relationship with the Pack to insure Liason continuity between the Pack and the Troop. Attends Pack meetings and is available to all Cub Scouts in the Pack, especially Webelos 2’s, as the contact person for the troop for answers to any questions about the Troop or Boy Scouts in general.

Volunteer Positions

Volunteer positions are always available. See the Committee Chairman to volunteer.