Fulfilling The Functions

To fulfill its responsibilities, the troop committee operates with each member having a responsibility- Membership/Relationships, Advancement, Outdoor/Activities, Health and Safety, Finance/Records, Service/Good Turn, Troop Chaplain, Parents’ and so on. It should also operate as a committee of the whole. On a large troop committee, you might be one of two or three members in a job position such as Advancement, or Outdoor/Activities.

Thus, each member of the committee should have specific responsibilities, dividing the whole job among the membership to carry out the pledge made at the time of the application for the charter.

Exercise care: to see that in no instance do committee members encroach upon the rightful responsibilities of the Scoutmaster or his Assistants, or the Boy Leadership.

Chairman

• Organize the committee to see that all functions are delegated, coordinated, and completed.

• Maintain a close relationship with the Charter Representative.

• See that leadership and committee take advantage of training opportunities.

• Interpret national and local council policies to troop.

• Work with Scoutmaster in preparation of agenda for troop committee meetings.

• Call, preside, and promote attendance at monthly troop committee meetings and any special meetings that may be called.

• Ensure troop representation at monthly District Roundtable.

• Secure top-notch, trained individuals for camp leadership.

• Arrange for charter review and recharter the troop annually

• Help the Charter Rep. and the Unit Commissioner with the Charter Presentation

Secretary

• Keep minutes of meetings, report them back at the next meeting, and send out committee meeting notices.

• Handle publicity.

• Prepare family newsletter of troop events and activities.

• Work with the Records clerk to plan family night programs and activities.

• Assist Troop Record Clerk in annual membership inventory.

Troop Records Clerk / Membership & Relationships

• See that the troop sets membership goals and adopts and carries out a troop-recruiting plan.

• Conduct annual membership inventory and inspection program.

• Arrange for proper welcome of Webelos Scouts graduating into troop.

• Invite all Webelos Scout families to assist with troop program.

• Conduct troop resource survey.

• Help plan family night programs and activities.

Advancement

The larger the troop, the more people are needed to serve here. As well as an Advancement Chairman every troop ideally should have at least 1 Eagle Advisor, 2 or more for a troop of over 40 boys. 1 adult could head up Merit Badge work and resources. Another adult could focus, with the help of the Troop Guide on the First Class tracking, being an advocate in regards to the troop program planning. ASMs are a great resource for this because they tend to be along with the troop on outdoor activities and camping.

• Check to see that Scouts advance in rank.

• Arrange monthly troop boards of review.

• Attend an Eagle Preview Meeting at least once. The Lake Minnetonka District Advancement Committee holds them biannually. See to it that all Life Scouts (and a parent) attend one soon after they progress to that rank.

• Work with the Scoutmaster and Eagle candidates to select Eagle Advisors. These may be people on the District Advancement Committee but often are drawn from troop resources.

• Familiarize all with the Check List for Eagle Scouts.

• Know who the Minnetonka District Advancement Chairman is.

• Conduct Star, Life and Eagle boards of review at least quarterly.

• Advise or conduct Tenderfoot-First Class boards or review.

• Conduct quarterly courts of honor.

• Chair a parent committee to plan Eagle Courts of Honor working with individual Eagle candidate families to make sure each Court of Honor is personalized.

• Develop and maintain a troop-merit badge counselor list.

• Register new merit badge counselors as such with the Viking Council.

• Make prompt report on the correct form to council service center when a troop board of review is held.

• Secure badges and certificates for rank advancements and merit badges earned by Scouts.

• Work with Scoutmaster or Assistants and troop scribe in maintenance of all Scout advancement records.

• Work with librarian in building and maintaining a troop library of merit badge pamphlets.

• With the Scoutmaster familiarize the Patrol Leaders with the National Scout Patrol Award (Baden Powell Patrol Award), and encourage them to work for it.

Outdoor Activities /Transportation & Equipment

• Help in securing permission to use camping sites.

• Encourage monthly outdoor activities or special activities.

• Promote the National Camping Award, 20 days and nights a year.

• Promote- through family meetings- attendance at troop camp outs, Camporees, and summer Scout camp to reach the goal of 10 days and nights of camping for each Scout.

• Serve as transportation coordinator.

• Supervise and help procure camp equipment.

• Work with Scoutmaster or ASM and youth Quartermaster on inventory, storage, and proper maintenance of troop equipment.

• Help train the troop youth and adults on the safe use of all equipment.

• Secure Tour permits when necessary

Finance/ Records (Treasurer)

• Handle all troop funds. Pay bills on recommendation of Scoutmaster and authorization of troop committee.

• Maintain checking and savings accounts.

• Train and supervise the troop scribe in record keeping.

• License troop trailers and water craft.

• Keep adequate records in the Troop Financial Record Book.

• Supervise the camp savings plan.

• Report to the troop committee at each meeting.

• Give leadership to the preparation of the annual troop budget.

• Have a simple annual audit of troop finances.

• Present a simple financial report to the parents at the annual parent meeting.

• Work with the fundraising team on money earning projects including obtaining proper authorization.

Fundraising

• Develop, train, and coordinate the annual holiday wreath sale team.

• Evaluate and Coordinate any other fundraising event that may be necessary to defray cost of High Adventure program.

Service/Good Turn

• Stimulate community Good Turns and service projects. Check with the Polaris District Executive for opportunities to work with the Scouts with special needs.

• Serve as counselor for advancement service projects.

• Serve as an Eagle Scout advisor

• Promote an emergency service plan.

• Promote service projects for our chartered organization, the Lions.

• Help the Scoutmaster with arrangements for the River Clean Up, and the Memorial Day commitments, Rails to Trails, Friends of the Library, Scouting for Food, and Watertown Food Shelf.

Health and Safety

• Make sure troop medical forms are kept current on all members- boys and adults alike.

• Supervise meeting place inspections for safety.

• Promote good health and safety conditions in meeting place and at sites used for outdoor activities.

• Coordinate first aid, aquatics, and safety program resources.

Troop Chaplain

• Give Guidance to troop Chaplain Aide.

• Promote regular participation of each member in the activities of the religious organization of his choice.

• Encourage Boy Scouts to earn their appropriate religious emblem.

• Provide opportunities for Boy Scouts to grow in their relationship to God and their fellow Scouts by encouraging the attendance of Scout Worship at District and Council activities and participation in a scout led worship on troop camp outs.

• Visit homes of scouts in times of illness or need.

Duties of Adult Troop Leaders

Troop Leaders

Lead by helping each Scout help himself. They identify each Scout's characteristics and habits in order to understand him and help him to feel they have his welfare at heart. They encourage each Scout in troop activities and lead through their own example--by living the Scout Oath and Law as expected of the Scouts. Here again, Exercise care: to see that in no instance does any member encroach upon the rightful responsibilities of the Scoutmaster or the Senior Patrol Leader.

The Scoutmaster

• Trains and guides boy leaders to run their troop

• Encourages boy leaders to take advantage of council and district training opportunities

• Works with and through responsible adults to give Scouting to the boys

• Helps boys to grow by encouraging them to learn for themselves

• Guides boys in planning the troop program. First by guiding the Patrol Leader's Council through Junior Leader Orientation Training and then an annual planning conference, then through monthly planning PLC follow-ups

• Attends Troop Committee meetings and reports the activities of the Troop

• Attends (or sends an ASM) monthly District Roundtable to plug into the District activities and further training opportunities

Assistant Scoutmaster (Activities)

• Serves as the troop leader in the absence of the Scoutmaster

• Is responsible to the Scoutmaster for program and activities of the troop

• Works with the assistant senior patrol leader

• Coordinates joint WEBELOS den / troop activities

Assistant Scoutmaster (Physical Arrangements)

• Is responsible to the Scoutmaster for troop physical arrangements

• Works with the troop quartermaster and the outdoor committee member

• Arranges for use of troop equipment by the Webelos dens

• Is responsible for the care and neat appearance of all equipment

• Is responsible for health and safety in all troop affairs

Assistant Scoutmaster (Patrol Advisers)

• Serves as adviser for the troop guide, patrol leaders or leadership corps

• Serves as a resource person for the patrol or corps

• Supports the troop guide or patrol leader with advice and counseling

• Recruits others to assist as need be

Assistant Scoutmaster (High Adventure ASM)

• Serves the troop as the High Adventure Connection, serving as a resource person and Advisor to Crew Chiefs

• Promotes US National, and World Jamborees, serving as a resource person and a contact between Troop and Council with information and applications for National and World Scouting Events.