BSA Troop 39 Policy – revised 23/Sept/2007

Meetings

Boy Scouting is a year-round program. Scouts attend meetings a few times each month. Troop Meetings are normally held on Thursday nights at the Maple Elementary School Gymnasium, and occasionally at the Troop House in the Sussex Village Park. Meetings start at 7:00 PM and last until approximately 8:30 PM. One or more outings are held every month, usually on weekends. The boys may also meet for Patrol meetings and outings if their patrol decides to have them. It is not mandatory for a Scout to attend all of these meetings and outings, especially if he is involved in sports or has a school, church or family commitment. Scouts are strongly encouraged to attend as often as possible so they continue to advance, stay informed, and help the troop plan and conduct its program.

Troop leaders (Scouts and adults) meet once a month at a Patrol Leader's Conference (PLC). These are usually on Thursday nights also prior to the Troop meeting. Troop leaders are required to attend the PLC or to arrange for their assistant to attend.

Court of Honor ceremonies are held four times a year. These are special meetings for the Scouts and their families. Scouts are formally recognized for any advancement since the last Court of Honor. Information is presented on Troop activities, Scout advancement and account status, and other topics. Social time with refreshments follows the meeting. Scouts are required to attend these meetings.

Outings

Troop 39 provides the Scouts with the opportunity to be involved in a variety of events throughout the year. We encourage the Scouts to participate in as many of the outings as possible, since they are used as a means of advancement. Parents, in addition to the Scoutmasters, are often needed on these outings to provide transportation and are encouraged to attend with their son. Scouts are usually required to wear Class A uniforms while travelling to an outing. Everybody travelling in cars MUST wear a seat belt.

The cost of these outings range from about $15 for a weekend campout to about $225 for a weeklong summer camp. This pays for food, gas (for longer trips), and admission/activity fees. Permission slips are handed out for each outing and they must be turned in with payment by the deadline date. In most cases, fees are non refundable once the Troop has spent the money for food or fees. Troop 39 and the Potawatomi Area Council provide funds through camperships to Scouts who might not otherwise be able to afford outings. Camperships are usually handled on a matching basis (the Scout pays half and the Troop pays half). Contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman for more information on camperships.

Adults joining the outing will be charged the same amount as the Scouts, but the gas expenses will be reimbursed on trips over 50 miles if they transport Scouts.

Uniforms

The Scout uniform is an important part of Scouting. There are two types of uniform that the Scouts will be required to wear:

Class A - This uniform consists of a regulation khaki Scout shirt, neckerchief or bolo, and pants or shorts. It is not necessary for the boys to wear regulation Scout pants or shorts. The type of long pants and shorts that will be considered acceptable is left to the discretion of the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters for each occasion. The Scouts are provided with one free Troop neckerchief (deposit required). If needed, additional neckerchiefs can be purchased. Class A uniforms are required for Troop meetings, Board of Review, Court of Honor, at evening meals on outings, and at other times specified by the Troop leaders.

Class B - This uniform consists of pants or shorts and the Troop 39 T-shirt (or other Scouting related T-shirt such as Long Lake, River Rats, Jamboree, etc. Troop T-shirts will be available to purchase once a year. Class B uniforms are worn on outings at times when Class A's aren't required. The Troop 39 T-shirt is recommended when the Troop will be in public or with other Scout units.

Other clothes may be worn on outings as long as they are not obscene or offensive, as determined by the adult leaders.

Dues

Each boy is required to pay $24 a year for dues. This fee is automatically deducted from the Scout's account in February. If a Scout does not have enough funds to cover the dues, he will be contacted. If a boy joins the Troop as a new Scout mid-year, the dues will be prorated on a basis of $2 per month.

Scouts transferring from another unit (troop or pack) must pay a $1 transfer fee, $12 deposit for a custom Troop 39 neckerchief, and $10 for a custom Troop 39 T-shirt. Once the Scout has earned the rank of Second Class, the $12 deposit will be credited back to the boy's account.

Troop Maintenance Fee

The Troop provides equipment for outings and activities, such as stoves, lanterns, gas, tents, cooking gear, water jugs, coolers, food tubs, trailers, flags, training tools, merit badge books, etc. Such equipment requires maintenance and occasional replacement or repair. The Troop has a $50 fee per Scout to cover the costs associated with this community equipment. This fee is automatically deducted from the Scout's account in February. If a Scout does not have enough funds to cover the fee, he will be contacted. If a boy joins the Troop as a new Scout mid-year, the dues will be prorated on a basis of $5 per month up to the total of $50.

Fundraising / Scout Account

During the course of the year the Fundraising Committee will provide opportunities for the Scouts to earn money for scouting expenses. The money the Scout earns through fundraising will be put into his Scout account. This money can be used to pay for Scout outings, dues and equipment maintenance fees. It can also be used to purchase scouting equipment by filling out the Equipment Purchase form and submitting it to the Troop Committee. If the Troop Committee approves this request, then the Scout will be reimbursed from his account after he turns in the receipt to the Troop Treasurer.

Upon occasion, the Troop may identify a significant expense which cannot be covered by the normal Troop maintenance fee. Examples include the need to replace a trailer or a large number of tents. The Troop may then conduct a special fundraising activity to help fund this special need.

Advancement

When a boy joins Boy Scouts, he has a rank of Scout. He then starts working on Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class requirements. These requirements are listed in the Scout Handbook. The Scout may work on these requirements at home, at Troop meetings, and on Troop outings. Only the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters can sign off the Scout's book when he completes each requirement.

The Scout may also work on Merit Badges. These are separate programs that teach a scouting skill or about a hobby or occupation. They are required for advancement for the rank of Star, Life, and Eagle. When a boy wants to earn a Merit Badge, he must contact the Scoutmaster for his approval and the name of a Merit Badge Counselor. If he approves, the Scoutmaster will give the Scout a signed merit badge card. The Scout will then call the Merit Badge Counselor and set up an appointment. He must go to the Counselor with another Scout or with a parent. He may not go alone for his own protection.

A Scout or parent can contact the Troop Advancement Chairperson and check on the advancement status. The troop will support and guide a scout to advance but it is the Scout's responsibility to work on the requirements. Parents can help motivate and remind the scout, if desired.

Scouts will be presented the badges they earn at a Troop Meeting shortly after they earn them. Formal recognition will also be held at a Court of Honor.

Service Projects

One of the methods of Scouting is to provide service to the community which supports the Troop. Service time is a requirement for the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle. The Troop acknowledges this responsibility in a variety of Service opportunities. Troop 39 is responsible for road easement clean-up 3 times per year along Highway 164 between Silver Spring Road and Plainview Road. It also provides clean-up in the Sussex Village Park at least twice per year. Service projects by Life Scouts for their Eagle rank occur several times per year. Other service opportunities are provided by the Troop or the community from time to time, such as food drives, helping the Cub Scout Pack 39, assisting in Lisbon or Sussex Park projects, helping at Dozer Days, participating in community parades etc. Any Scout may also provide service on their own to eligible organizations or events, with the prior approval of the Scoutmaster. Examples include helping at a YMCA camp, cleaning at a Village fire department building or helping a community dance group conduct an event.

Board of Review

After a boy completes the requirements for a rank, including a Scoutmaster's Conference, he will go to a Board of Review. A Board of Review is conducted by adults from the Troop who are not the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmasters. They will interview the Scout to determine if he has satisfied the requirements for the next rank. They also discuss the Scout's opinions about Boy Scouts and the Troop and his short-term and long-term goals in Scouting. If the Board feels the Scout is ready, they approve his rank advancement.

It is mandatory that a boy be in a Class A uniform at his Board of Review. He must also bring his handbook with all requirements signed by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster

Eagle Court of Honor

The Eagle Court of Honor is to be organized by the Eagle Scout and his family, with input from the Troop Committee and the Court of Honor Coordinator. The Troop will pay for postage and stationery for the dignitary's letters and programs. The Troop will also spend up to $35 for a gift for the Eagle Scout.