BOY SCOUT TROOP 21

 BY-LAWS

Hi! Welcome to Boy Scout Troop 21.  We’re very happy to have you and your son aboard.  Your son wanted to join Scouting because it is fun.  You may be assured he will enjoy himself.  Our Chartered Partner is Pleasant View Baptist Church.

Those who know little about Scouting are of the opinion that it is a hiking and camping club.  Hiking and camping are some of many things we do.  Scouting is a values oriented program with three aims.   Those aims are good character, citizenship and physical and mental fitness.  In addition, your son will learn self-reliance and leadership skills.

These by-laws were prepared and adopted by the troop committee.  Our by-laws and our Troop Rules & Guidelines are our rules of operation.  A review of these documents will introduce you to our Boy Scout Troop, and inform you of what is expected of boys, their parents and the troop leadership.

Boy Scouting is open to boys in the sixth grade (or higher grades) or ages eleven through seventeen.  Webelos Club Scouts that have earned their Arrow of Light Award may graduate into our troop at ten and one-half years of age.

Your son’s rank advancement begins with Tenderfoot and continues on to Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle Scout.  Your son will find the requirements for his rank advancement outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook.  Junior leaders in the troop approve some of the rank advancement requirements but only adult leaders sign them off.  A Boy Scout’s parent approves no advancement nor will the Scout’s parents serve as the Scout’s merit badge counselor.  There are numerous badges and awards, other than rank advancement, that may be qualified for.  In addition, there is a Religious Award program. 

Each denomination has its own religious reward.

The Scout Patrol is a group of five to eight youth.  The patrol leader (a youth) is elected by his peers.  The patrols may meet and sometimes camp overnight independently of the Troop.  It is our policy that these activities have adult or parental supervision.  The patrol leader must submit a plan of each of these activities, including proposed adult supervisors, to the Scoutmaster for prior approval.  The Boy Scout Troop is made up of all of the patrols meeting together weekly.   The troop generally has an outdoor activity once a month.  The Scout Troop always meets with adult supervision.  The troop is boy led by the Senior Patrol Leader or (SPL).  The Senior Patrol Leader is to be elected by his peers. The adult leadership of the troop consists of the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster(s) and members of the Troop Committee (or parents) who assist with the supervision of the youth leadership.  The Scoutmaster is similar to a coach.  The Scoutmaster’s primary function is to train the (youth) junior leaders of the troop to plan and lead their own activities, both in and outdoors.

Boy Scouts are expected to be properly uniformed.  The uniform consists of a Boy Scout shirt, trousers, web belt and buckle, socks, neckerchief or bolo, slide and cap.  The uniform includes proper insignia.  Your son will be provided a uniform inspection form displaying all of the uniform parts and proper placement of insignia.

Your son will require a minimum amount of camping equipment.  This equipment will consist of:

Sleeping Bag, bedroll or blanket Poncho (rain gear that also serves as a ground cloth)

Vittles Kit (knife, fork and spoon)  Mess Kit (cooking pan, plate, cup, pot, lid)

Boy Scout utility knife                    Hiking Boots

The Boy Scout Handbook                    Small flashlight

Painter (small piece of rope)

As you can see, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money to equip your son for scouting activities.  Many of the above items may be found around the house.  Boy Scouts are expected to pay dues and camping fees as outlined in the Troop 21 Rules and Guidelines. We recommend that Scouts be encouraged to read their Boy’s Life Magazine, which is paid for as part of the annual dues. It has been statistically proven that Scouts who read Boy’s Life advance quickly, retain membership longer and get more out of the program.  Any youth member unable to afford the proper uniform, equipment and fees should advise the Scoutmaster.  Alternate methods of obtaining necessary items can be arranged.  Dues will be used to offset advancement expenses and other items as outlined in the Troop 21 Rules and Guidelines. The troop operates on an annual budget, which is funded by various money earning projects, popcorn sales, etc., throughout the year.  All Scouts are expected to earn their way.  Scouts and parents are expected to participate in the money earning projects to assist funding the troop.

Boy Scouts are expected to participate regularly and they are expected to live by the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Motto and Slogan.  Discipline is the responsibility of the Scout’s parent.  Disciplinary steps will be as follows:

The youth leaders will attempt to resolve behavior problems without calling for adult intervention, however the Scoutmaster or his assistants will be notified of misbehavior. An attempt will be made by the youth leaders to arrive at a satisfactory resolution.  Lacking a satisfactory resolution, an adult leader will intervene. The Scoutmaster will discuss, with the Scout, his misbehavior and provide a verbal warning, at which time the Scout will join the adult leadership for a cooling off period.  The next time the Scout will be issued a written warning requiring a parent’s signature and will remain with the adult leadership for the remainder of the meeting or day if on a campout or activity.  If the misbehavior is repeated a third time, the Scout’s parents are called and requested to pick up their son.  The Scoutmaster and parents will discuss the misbehavior and the parent will be expected to take corrective action at home.  At that time the Scoutmaster may inform the parent that he/she will be expected to accompany the Scout on all Scout activities for an agreed upon period of time.  Any further misbehavior on the part of the Scout would call for a temporary suspension from all activities for one month, or as a last resort, permanent suspension.  A request for appeal of any disciplinary action may be brought before the troop committee for review.

At the beginning of the Boy Scout Handbook there is a forward pertaining to youth protection.  All parents are required to read and be familiar with the contents.

The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster(s), Committee Chairman, members of the committee and parents who intend to participate with the troop are expected to review the appropriate Fast Start training video.  Likewise, the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster(s) and Committee Chairman are expected to attend both the indoor and outdoor Boy Scout Leader Basic Training within one year of accepting their leadership position.  It is our policy that Committee Members and all parents who intend to camp with the troop also attend the indoor and outdoor Boy Scout Leader Basic Training and/or the appropriate position specific or activity specific training available within one year of accepting their leadership position. Failure to take the proper training will call for resignation or will result in not being re-chartered for the next year.  The Scoutmaster and assistants (Committee Chair and members invited) are expected to wear the complete Boy Scout Field Uniform with the proper insignia to set the example for their Scouts.  At least every two years, all registered adult leaders are required to take Youth Protection Training.

 The troop is organized as follows:

 We are sponsored by a Chartered Organization.  Our Chartered Organization Partner is Pleasant View Baptist Church.  The institution head of our Chartered Organization appoints a Chartered Organization Representative.  That person serves as the liaison between the Chartered Organization and all Scout units they sponsor.  The troop committee elects a committee chairman to lead the committee.  The committee supports the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmaster(s) in coaching the youth leadership.  A complete roster of Troop 21 is enclosed for your convenience.  Members of the troop committee fill various roles.  As an example, we have a person in charge of transportation, a secretary, treasurer, advancement, etc.  All troop leadership is voluntary.  No one is paid for their services except by the smiles from happy Boy Scouts.  The strength of our troop, the good program enjoyed by you and your son, is directly related to the support you are able to provided the troop.  We have volunteer jobs that require weekly, monthly, quarterly and “from time to time” service.  If you are unable to wear a uniform and serve as a leader, you can serve as a member of the troop committee.  You will find the experience fun and rewarding.

 We work from an Annual Program Plan that runs from September through August of each year.  A copy of our current Annual Program Plan is included.  The troop committee meets monthly to assist the leaders in breaking down the annual plan into two-month periods to fine tune activities.  Every two months a two-month calendar of events, depicting what, when, where and who is expected to participate, is distributed.  All questions regarding all meetings and activities should be directed to the Scoutmaster.

 The by-laws and attached Troop Rules and Guidelines herein stated were determined by consensus and majority vote of the Boy Scout Troop 21 Committee.  Any changes or interpretations are subject to committee approval.  The Unit Commissioner assigned to our troop by the Six and Twenty District Commissioner Staff will review all changes to this document.

 All meetings and activities of Boy Scout Troop 21 are accomplished in compliance with all rules, regulations and policies of the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA.  This is to assure the safety and protection of our youth and adult membership.  Again, we welcome you and encourage your support of your son in Boy Scouting!