Welcome to the Boy Scouts!
We are delighted to have you join the thousands
of other families in Boy Scouts.
The following pages represent the By-Laws of Troop
151,
chartered by Elizabeth City Rotary Club,
Any previous Troop 151 guidelines or rules
are null and void.
These By-Laws have been read and approved by
the Charter Organization,
the Troop Committee,
and the Scoutmaster.
Yours in scouting,
Dr. James Watson, Charter Organization Representative
David Watkins, Committee Chairman
Daniel Travers, Scoutmaster
SECTION I
GENERAL BY-LAWS OF TROOP 151
1. The By-Laws will be reviewed every two years by troop leaders. The next review will occur in spring 2009.
2. All boys must meet the following BSA age requirements:
a. Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.
3. The troop shall be made up of no more Scouts than adequate leadership can be provided for by the troop. Adequate leadership includes two registered and trained adults at a minimum for all events. For each new patrol (group of 4-10 Scouts) added, a minimum of one additional qualified registered adult shall be added. The two-deep leadership method and buddy system for the Scouts shall be followed at all times.
4. All troop leaders and troop committee members must complete leader training within the first year of joining and any required recertification training within six months of expiration in accordance with the BSA and Tidewater Council policies.
5. The troop committee will meet once each month. The troop committee voting members shall consist of all adults registered with troop 151.
6. Weekly
troop meetings will be held at
7. Each registered Scout is encouraged to participate in as many meetings/events as possible. If a Scout misses four consecutive meetings without prior notification, the Scoutmaster and/or Assistant Scoutmasters will be responsible for follow up with the Scout and his parents/guardians about lack of attendance/participation. If the unscheduled absences continue, the Scout will be placed on an inactive list until re-charter when he will be dropped from the troop roster.
8. The uniform for all Scout events with exception of Scoutmaster approved outdoor events will be the BSA shirt, pants or shorts, troop neckerchief and slide, belt and buckle, socks, and hat. The activity uniform consisting of BSA pants or shorts, troop t-shirt, belt and buckle, socks, and hats may only be worn at Scoutmaster approved outdoor events. All registered leaders should obtain an approved BSA uniform as soon as practical.
9. All Scouts shall be accompanied by a parent/guardian for Court of Honor ceremonies and other awards/special event meetings.
10. Electronic equipment (handheld PDA’s, laptop computers, DVD players, IPOD’s, Game Boy’s, etc.) is not allowed at ANY troop event with exception of Scoutmaster approved electronics.
11. Permission
slips and medical information must be received for each Scout prior to any
troop field trip. The troop and/or patrols
must inform the troop committee or troop committee chairman prior to going on
any event. A tour permit must be filed
with the Tidewater Council for all events that take place greater than 25 miles
from the
Section II
Financial Items
1. Each adult leader will be provided with material and literature to run their patrols and/or troop function. The troop will pay adult leader registration fees and insurance.
2. The troop will regularly spend money for advancements including badges of rank, merit badges and other approved awards. The troop committee advancement chairman will be responsible for these purchases from the Tidewater Council Scout Shop or from the BSA catalog. Any registered adult troop leader is authorized to make purchases at the request of the troop committee advancement chairman as necessary.
3. All purchases aside from the above mentioned advancements must be approved in advance of purchase by a majority of the troop committee members present at the troop committee meeting. All purchases must be submitted for reimbursement within 30 days of purchase.
4. Patrols will not be permitted to collect any dues.
5. Due to the cost of the troop charter, the following monetary policies will be implemented:
a. All boys will need to pay the Boy Scouts of America an initial $22.00 for registration (this will cover registration, trip accident insurance and Boy’s Life Magazine). A transferring Scout that has paid for the current years’ registration will only pay a $1.00 transfer fee. The registration fee and transfer fee are subject to increases as BSA policies change.
b. No registration fees will be incurred after initial registration to cover expenses for re-charter, troop materials, advancements, etc.
c. Each Scout must participate in fund raising sales to include a minimum of $200 in popcorn sales or pay annual dues of $70 to the troop. Dues will be prorated for all Scouts who join after the beginning of the Boy Scout year commencing on 1 January. (NOTE: Parents of new Scouts who join after popcorn sales have been completed that are unable to meet this requirement should consult with the Scoutmaster. Sponsorship is available for those with financial hardship.)
d. A Scout will earn a $50 tuition toward summer camp for every $500 in popcorn sales (e.g. $500-$999 results in $50 tuition, $1000-$1499 results in $100 tuition, $1500-$1999 results in $150 tuition, etc.). This is an excellent way for a Scout to pay for all his summer camp expenses.
6. Additional fundraisers may be necessary as determined by the troop committee during budget and activities planning.
Section III
Conduct
1. Disruptive behavior at a troop event shall be referred to the parent/guardian on the first occasion; subsequent disruptions shall be referred to the Scoutmaster and troop committee. Repeated disruptions may lead to suspension and/or dismissal from the troop.
2. There will be no vulgar language, gestures, or offensive clothing at any troop event. Offenders will be asked to leave immediately.
3. Registered Scouts are the responsibility of the adult leaders in charge during all troop events. Parents/guardians are responsible before and after the troop events.
4. To
ensure individual safety, parents/guardians shall drop off and pick up Scouts
inside the
5. ALL NON-SCOUT CHILDREN ATTENDING ANY TROOP EVENT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE ATTENDING PARENT/GUARDIAN. Parents/guardians shall maintain control of their children and not permit them to run freely before, during, or after troop events.
6. Any trips to the restrooms by Scouts shall follow the buddy system.
7. With
exception of the main meeting room and two adjacent side rooms, all other areas
inside the
8. Alcohol, tobacco or substance abuse will not be tolerated either by the Scouts, adult leaders or by any chaperones during any troop event. If adults must use tobacco, they shall do so outside the presence of the Scouts. All parents/guardians, adult leaders and guests of the troop must follow this BSA rule at all times. Parents/guardians should remind all guests of this requirement as to avoid any embarrassment to their guests.
Section IV
Parent/Guardian Responsibilities
1. Parents/guardians should take an all around interest in what their son is doing in Boy Scouts.
2. Parents/guardians should assist their Scout at home while he is working on achievements/electives and help him track completion of the requirements to ensure that the achievements/electives are properly recorded by the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters.
3. Parents/guardians should support the adult troop leadership.
4. Parents/guardians should support troop events by volunteering to assist.
5. Parents/guardians are responsible for their son’s actions during all troop events. Appropriate behavior is always expected. In the event that a Scout is responsible for loss/damage to troop and/or other party property while participating in any troop event, the following action shall be required from the Scout or parent/guardian:
a. An apology from the Scout.
b. Appropriate and reasonable restitution from the Scout or parent/guardian. All disputes as to what constitutes reasonable restitution will be determined by the majority of the troop committee.
6. All required permission slips and/or medical forms will be updated and presented prior to each field trip by the parent/guardian. If any medications are required while on an outing, they must be given to the adult leader in charge along with written parent/guardian authorization and explicit written instructions for administering.
7. In instances where the Scout is responsible and authorized to carry and self-administer his own medication (e.g. Asthma inhalers) per the parents/guardians and physician, the following shall apply:
a. A letter signed by the physician must be provided to the adult leader in charge explaining why the Scout must carry and self-administer any medication.
b. The Scout must not allow other Scouts access to his medication under any circumstances.
8. Your Scout will need the following uniform items (from the Tidewater Council Scout Shop or the BSA catalog) in addition to brown or black shoes/boots. (NOTE: Parents of new Scouts that are unable to meet this requirement should consult with the Scoutmaster. Sponsorship is available for those with financial hardship.)
· BSA Boy Scout Shirt with U. S. Flag
· BSA Boy Scout Red Shoulder Epaulets
· World Crest Emblem Patch
· Tidewater Council Patch
· BSA Boy Scout Long or Short Pants (recommend purchasing new switchbacks convertible pants/shorts)
· BSA Boy Scout Belt and Buckle
· BSA Boy Scout Socks
· BSA Boy Scout Twill Cap
9. Your Scout will also need the following personal items for meetings and/or outdoor events:
10. Upon receiving your son’s completed Boy Scout registration, the troop will provide the following:
· BSA Troop Neckerchief and Slide
· BSA Boy Scout Handbook
· BSA Troop 151 Patch
· Assigned Patrol Patch
Please visit the Tidewater Council website www.tidewaterbsa.com to get more
information and directions to the scout shop in