Falmouth Boy Scout Troop 93
Sponsored by: The Falmouth Congregational Church
TROOP # 93 POLICIES AND GUIDELINES:
This is to welcome you to Troop 93.In the following you will find policies and guidelines. These rules were developed by the Parent Troop Committee and the Boy Scouts of America. They were printed to provide members and parents with policy guidelines. Troop 93 will abide by the Boy Scout of America policies and procedures as outlined in the “Guide to Safe Scouting” handbook. These policies apply to attendance, community service, advancement, troop leadership, dues, behavior, weekly meetings, fund raising, medications, transportation and youth protection.
ATTENDANCE:
A scout in good standing needs to attend meetings, be current with dues and participate in fund raising and service projects. We understand and encourage scouts to be interested and involved in other activities as band, sports, church, etc.
RULE 1. Scouts are expected to actively participate in troop program unless he has an legitimate reason for an absence. Excused absences will be granted if the patrol leader is notified before the meeting or event.
RULE 2. Attendance at two or three meetings before each outdoor activity or trip is required for participation. The Scoutmaster will make final decisions about valid reasons for an excused absence.
RULE 3. Scouts with eight un-excused absences will not be included in the troop charter renewal. He will need to fill out a new scout application with full payment of any back dues.
RULE 4. Patrol leaders and assistants with five un-excused absences will be expected to review with the Scoutmaster if they wish to continue with the leadership position.
COMMUNITY SERVICE:
A scout performs community service. Each year every scout must participate in one or more service projects. Examples are Eagles Projects, Scout Camp Projects, Community Projects, etc.
ADVANCEMENT:
All scouts will have an equal opportunity to advance according to the requirements of the Boy Scouts of America. All requirements for advancements are contained in the Scout Handbook. These requirements form the basis for the troop advancement. Any scout with questions about advancement should contact their Patrol Leader, Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters. All scouts should always be in uniform during all meetings.
Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures states only that an approved merit badge counselor may counsel any youth member, including his or her own son, ward or relative. merit badge counselors can coach their own son or close relative only if the boy is part of a group of boy scouts that are all working on the same merit badge.
A scout is responsible for notifying the Scoutmaster when he is ready for a Scoutmasters Conference. After this conference, he will give his book to the Advancement Chairperson at least one week before the Board of Review.
Scouts approaching advancement to Eagle must appear before the Scoutmaster in full uniform and present his project for approval. After approval, the scout must meet with the Parent Troop Committee in uniform to present his project. After Committee approval, a project is sent to the Boy Scout Office for final approval. Eagle Projects must not start until approval by the District Advancement Committee.
TROOP LEADERSHIP:
Leadership positions are very important to the troop program. When a leader cannot attend a meeting or event, he must relay all needed information to his assistant. Elections are held annually for Patrol Leaders and Senior Patrol leaders Scouts elected to Senior Patrol Leader must hold rank of Star Scout. All other positions will be appointed by the Scoutmaster.
WEEKLY DUES:
It cost money to run a troop. Weekly dues are $1.00 per week. We collect the dues in September for the whole scouting season. This money is needed for troop chartering, badges, deposits for outing, etc. Dues must be current for a scout to participate in troop activities. Also if you scout is not current in dues badges will not be awarded for advancement. When he is absent from a meeting, dues is expected if the scout is there or not.
BEHAVIOR:
The Scoutmaster will document disciplinary concerns. The process will be the following:
1. First warning and counseled by Scoutmaster
2. Second warning and counseled by Scoutmaster in the presence of his parent(s).
3. Patrol Leaders meet to determine formal action.
There are no informal warnings or first warnings for the following offenses:
1. Physical fighting.
2. Threatening bodily harm with weapons or tools to used as weapons.
3. Caught in the act of theft.
4. Verification of sexual situations involving other scouts.
5. Open flame in tents.
6. The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and / or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members. Adults will not participate in a scouting event after drinking alcoholic beverages.
7. Use of tobacco at scout functions. The use of tobacco products at any Boy Scout of America activity involving youth participation is prohibited.
The Parent Troop Committee will be responsible for adult discipline.
WEEKLY MEETINGS:
Meetings will be Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All scouts are to come to the meetings in uniform, handbook, notebook and pen or pencil.
Meetings may be canceled due to storm conditions. When there is NO SCHOOL IN FALMOUTH, there will not be a meeting unless notified.
Troop 93 is a scout run organization. Even though it is an scout run organization parents are a vital part of that organization. Parent participation is necessary.
FUND RAISNG:
A variety of fund raising projects are conducted throughout the year. Participation is required for all scouts. Again, excused absences will be approved by the Scout Master.
MEDICATIONS:
If your son needs medication for any reason, you will need to do the following:
1. Medication must have his name in it.
2. Medication must be in its original bottle or in an acceptable container.
3. There must be written instructions on when to give and how much.
4. Medications must be given to the Scoutmaster.
TRANSPORATION POLICY:
The safety of the boys is imperative and the following rules shall be strictly followed:
RULE 1. Any person driving scouts for a troop event must meet with the Boy Scout of America requirements for age, insurance and licensing.
RULE 2. Scouts will not be allowed to ride in the rear of a pickup or without a seat belt.
RULE 3. We car pool as much as possible and need parents to help transport.
RULE 4. Trip will not be automatically cancelled because of school cancellation. Your Patrol Leader will call you if the trip is postponed.
RULE 5. The Troop Insurance form must be filled out.
YOUTH PROTECTION:
Adults are not allowed in tents with scouts. A parent may sleep in the same tent as their son when the son is the only scout in the tent.
Two deep leadership is required at all times. This will require four or more adults on a camp trip or event. A trip may be canceled if there are not enough adults attending. We will require that two adults transport a scout for medical attention, while a minimum of two adults stay at the camp out with the remaining scouts. This is a Boy Scout of America policy.
CANCELLATION POLICY:
We will not be able to refund trip money unless a cancellation is done by due date of the trip. At that point food will be bought and all money is non refundable.
MISCELLANEOUS:
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES
During trips, scouts are not allowed to use or have in their possession cell phone, laptops, DVD players, video recorders and similar personal electronic devices. If such items are found during a trip they will be held by the Adult Leaders and returned when we arrive home. The individual use of MP3 players or other playback devices is allowed during troop quiet time providing they are used with headphones so as not to disturb others.
Adult Leaders in charge of a trip involving extremely long travel times may at their discretion allow the use of personal electronic devices during the commuting time. Additionally, at Adult Leaders discretion, they may also ban all use of MP3 players or similar devices and hold them for the duration of the trip if in their opinion the use of these devices are disturbing others or otherwise disrupting the trip in general.
CHANGES IN POLICY:
Changes in Troop # 93 policies will be made as needed. All changes will require Parent Troop Committee approval.
After reading, please sign attached sheet and return to the Scoutmaster.
Thank You
I have read and understand and plan to follow all policies and guidelines.
Scout Signature:_______________________________________________ Date:_____________
Parents and or Guardians signature:______________________________________Date:__________
______________________________________Date:__________