Adult leadership
The Program or Operations side
The Scoutmaster:
The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster works directly with the Scouts. The Scoutmaster can be male or female, but must be at least 21 years old. The Scoutmaster is selected and recruited by the troop committee and approved by the chartered organization representative.
The Scoutmaster's duties include:
Assistant Scoutmasters:
The Assistant Scoutmasters fulfill obligations to the troop, the Scoutmaster, with the assistance of the troop committee, recruits assistant Scoutmasters to help operate the troop. Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned specific program duties and reports to the Scoutmaster. They also help provide 2 deep leadership. An assistant Scoutmaster may be 18 years old, but at least 1 assistant Scoutmaster in the troop should be 21 or older, so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence. A troop should recruit as many assistant Scoutmasters as possible.
You can find more information in the Troop Leader Guidebooks Vol 1 and 2
http://www.scoutstuff.org/book-troop-ldr-gde-vol-1.html#.WMlh78m1uUk
http://www.scoutstuff.org/book-troop-ldr-gde-vol-2.html#.WMliGMm1uUk
The Scoutmaster is the adult leader responsible for the image and program of the troop. The Scoutmaster works directly with the Scouts. The Scoutmaster can be male or female, but must be at least 21 years old. The Scoutmaster is selected and recruited by the troop committee and approved by the chartered organization representative.
The Scoutmaster's duties include:
- Train and guide youth leaders
- Work with other responsible adults to bring Scouting to boys
- Use the Methods of Scouting to achieve the Aims of Scouting
- Meet regularly with the Patrol Leaders Council for training and coordination in planning troop activities
- Attend all troop meetings or, when necessary, arrange for a qualified adult substitute
- Attend troop committee meetings
- Conduct periodic parent's sessions to share the program and encourage parent participation and cooperation
- Take part in annual membership inventory and uniform inspection, charter review meeting, and charter presentation
- Conduct Scoutmaster conferences for all rank advancements
- Provide a systematic recruitment plan for new members and see that they are promptly registered
- Delegate responsibility to other adults and groups (assistants, committee) so they have a real part of troop operations
- Supervise troop elections for the Order of the Arrow
- Make it possible for each scout to experience at least 10 days and nights of camping each year
- Participate in District and Council events
- Build a strong program by using proven methods presented in Scouting literature
- Conduct all activities under qualified leadership, safe conditions, and the policies of the Chartered Organization and the Boy Scouts of America.
Assistant Scoutmasters:
The Assistant Scoutmasters fulfill obligations to the troop, the Scoutmaster, with the assistance of the troop committee, recruits assistant Scoutmasters to help operate the troop. Assistant Scoutmasters are assigned specific program duties and reports to the Scoutmaster. They also help provide 2 deep leadership. An assistant Scoutmaster may be 18 years old, but at least 1 assistant Scoutmaster in the troop should be 21 or older, so he or she can serve in the Scoutmaster's absence. A troop should recruit as many assistant Scoutmasters as possible.
You can find more information in the Troop Leader Guidebooks Vol 1 and 2
http://www.scoutstuff.org/book-troop-ldr-gde-vol-1.html#.WMlh78m1uUk
http://www.scoutstuff.org/book-troop-ldr-gde-vol-2.html#.WMliGMm1uUk
The Administrative Side
The Troop Committee
The troop committee is the troop's board of directors and supports the troop program. There is no maximum limit to the number of committee members. The minimum number is three adults ages 21 or older. Their responsibilities include:
*Ensures that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained.
*Ensures that all youth leadership is approved, registered, and trained and current in Youth Protection training
*Ensures that all Youth Protection policies and guidelines are followed
*Provides adequate meeting facilities
*Advises the Scoutmaster on policies relating to Boy Scouts 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
*Serves on boards of review and courts of honor
*Supports the Scoutmaster in working with individual boys ad 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.
Our troop committee runs well with the following positions filled:
Committee Chair
Duties
*Organize the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated and completed.
*Maintain a close relationship with the chartered organization representative and the Scoutmaster
*Interpret national and local policies to the troop
*Prepare troop committee meeting agendas
*Call, preside over, and promote attendance at monthly committee meetings and any special meetings that may be called
*Ensure troop representation at monthly roundtables
*Secure top-notch, trained individuals for camp leadership
*Arrange for charter review and recharter annually
*Plan the charter presentation
Secretary
Duties
*Keep minutes of meetings and send out committee meeting notices
*Handle publicity
*Conduct the troop resource survey (this is not something that our secretary does)
*Prepare and share a family newsletter or web page calendar of troop events and activities (this is not something that our secretary does)
*Plan for family night programs and family activities (this is not something that our secretary does)
*At each meeting, report the minutes of the previous meeting
Treasurer
Duties
*Handle all troop funds. Pay bills on the recommendation of the Scoutmaster and authorization of the troop committee
*Maintain the troop's checking and savings accounts
*Train and supervise the troop scribe in record keeping (this is not something that our treasurer currently does)
*Keep adequate records
*Supervise money earning projects, including obtaining proper authorizations
*Supervise the camp savings plan
*Lead in the preparation of the troops annual program budget
*Lead the Friends of Scouting campaign
*Report to the troop committee at each meeting
Advancement coordinator:
Duties
*Encourage Scouts to advance in rank
*Work with the troop scribe to maintain all Scout advancement records (this is not something that the advancement coordinator currently does)
*Arrange quarterly boards of review and courts of honor
*Develop and maintain a merit badge counselor list (this list is developed by district and provided to the scoutmaster and advancement coordinator)
*Make a prompt report on the correct form to the council service center when a troop board of review is held. Secure badges and certificates
*Work with the troop library to build and maintain a troop library of merit badge pamphlets and other advancement literature
Report to the troop committee at each meeting
The troop committee is the troop's board of directors and supports the troop program. There is no maximum limit to the number of committee members. The minimum number is three adults ages 21 or older. Their responsibilities include:
*Ensures that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained.
*Ensures that all youth leadership is approved, registered, and trained and current in Youth Protection training
*Ensures that all Youth Protection policies and guidelines are followed
*Provides adequate meeting facilities
*Advises the Scoutmaster on policies relating to Boy Scouts 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
*Serves on boards of review and courts of honor
*Supports the Scoutmaster in working with individual boys ad 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.
Our troop committee runs well with the following positions filled:
Committee Chair
Duties
*Organize the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated and completed.
*Maintain a close relationship with the chartered organization representative and the Scoutmaster
*Interpret national and local policies to the troop
*Prepare troop committee meeting agendas
*Call, preside over, and promote attendance at monthly committee meetings and any special meetings that may be called
*Ensure troop representation at monthly roundtables
*Secure top-notch, trained individuals for camp leadership
*Arrange for charter review and recharter annually
*Plan the charter presentation
Secretary
Duties
*Keep minutes of meetings and send out committee meeting notices
*Handle publicity
*Conduct the troop resource survey (this is not something that our secretary does)
*Prepare and share a family newsletter or web page calendar of troop events and activities (this is not something that our secretary does)
*Plan for family night programs and family activities (this is not something that our secretary does)
*At each meeting, report the minutes of the previous meeting
Treasurer
Duties
*Handle all troop funds. Pay bills on the recommendation of the Scoutmaster and authorization of the troop committee
*Maintain the troop's checking and savings accounts
*Train and supervise the troop scribe in record keeping (this is not something that our treasurer currently does)
*Keep adequate records
*Supervise money earning projects, including obtaining proper authorizations
*Supervise the camp savings plan
*Lead in the preparation of the troops annual program budget
*Lead the Friends of Scouting campaign
*Report to the troop committee at each meeting
Advancement coordinator:
Duties
*Encourage Scouts to advance in rank
*Work with the troop scribe to maintain all Scout advancement records (this is not something that the advancement coordinator currently does)
*Arrange quarterly boards of review and courts of honor
*Develop and maintain a merit badge counselor list (this list is developed by district and provided to the scoutmaster and advancement coordinator)
*Make a prompt report on the correct form to the council service center when a troop board of review is held. Secure badges and certificates
*Work with the troop library to build and maintain a troop library of merit badge pamphlets and other advancement literature
Report to the troop committee at each meeting
Position descriptions below can be found in the Troop Committee Guidebook http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/literature-media/training/guidebook-troop-committee.html#.WMlXgcm1uUk
