Re: Troop Committee Descriptions
(no name) ((no email))
Thu, 23 Jul 1998 05:26:48 +0000
Merl posted a listing of what his Troop uses as part of their
Troop's Committee; most of them are in line with the current BSA's
Troop Committee Guide.
I have a personal problem with some of them, however; remember that
Merl stated that
>These are not by BSA. They may not exactly conform
>to a description of roll as defined by BSA. They are what works
>for my Troop.
The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters (as their PRIMARY role)
should NOT be a part of the Troop's Committee; I do like the job
descriptions, though...
>Scoutmaster Mike Hilsabeck Home: 742-0406 Work: 748-9444
>The Scoutmaster is responsible for the overall program. Maintain
>the goals and ideals of scouting and "Deliver the Promise". His
>emphasis is on working with the scouts and developing youth
>leadership within the troop. Coordination of all Boy Scout (youth)
>committees. Counsels with and approves all Eagle Project/Eagle
>Applications, as well as conducting all Scoutmaster
>Conferences for advancement.
>
>1st Assistant Scoutmaster:
>
>The 1st Assistant Scoutmaster will assist the Scoutmaster in the
>areas of: Patrol Leader Council; Junior Leader Training; Annual
>Planning Conference, Scout Positions of Responsibility;
>Advancement eligibility, and Scoutmaster Conferences.
This, I STRONGLY disagree with:
>Advancement Committee: The advancement committee members are the
>Scoutmaster, Committee Chairman, 1st Assistant Scoutmaster, (and
some other positions)
Again, while Merl stated "if you don't like this, don't use it", NO
Troop (including Merl's) should have the Scoutmaster and Assistant
Scoutmasters (as PRIMARY roles) serving on a Troop Committee.
"Explain "Assistant Scoutmasters (as PRIMARY roles), please..."
In larger Troops, and established Troops, a Scoutmaster may have
one, or several Assistant Scoutmasters. These men and women occupy
this position as their PRIMARY or SOLE responsibility to the youth
of that Troop. In smaller Troops, because the leadership has to
stretch to accommodate the various important positions which MUST
be occupied, sometimes Troop Committee members *must* mulitple as
Assistant Scoutmasters, or simply, the jobs required of the ASM
don't get done and the program suffers. But their PRIMARY role is
that of being a Troop Committee member, NOT that of being an
Assistant to the Scoutmaster.
PRIMARY ROLE Assistant Scoutmasters should NEVER serve on
committees. They have enough to do without the extra workload. I
would strongly caution but not outrightly discourage Troop
Committeemembers/Assistant Scoutmasters from doing their Troop
Committee roles, because that's how we got them involved in
Scouting. But I would caution them to distance themselves from
advancement and review issues because it could present problems on
down the road that the Troop doesn't want to deal with!!
("What kinds of problems??" The biggest seem to be right now with
advancement, as we discuss here on Scouts-L over the past few
months off and on. The problem has come up frequently when a Scout
is participating in a Board of Review for a rank and in attendance
is the Scoutmaster and/or Assistant Scoutmaster(s), actually asking
the questions and conducting the Review, because "they are
committee members". Wrong answer, says the BSA. We've also talked
about who to get if you cannot get a full committee...there are
several creative ways to accomphish the membership requirement
WITHOUT having a "commissioned leader" (Scoutmaster, Assistant
Scoutmaster) present. Signatures do get checked and advancement
denials have been overturned; and when it comes down between what
the BSA's Advancement Guide and what a Troop's bylaws state, the
Advancement Guidelines (along with local Council interpretation of
those guidelines!) goes. )
The other position I have a problem with is:
>Roundtable Commissioners
>The Roundtable Commissioners represent the Troop at Roundtable
>held by Eagle District the 2nd Thursday of the month at Kirk of
>the Hills 7:30 p.m.
Huh? Howcome the Scoutmaster and his or her Assistants aren't there
to represent the Troop...that's why Roundtables exist at the Boy
Scout level; besides, Roundtables give the Scoutmaster and his
Assistants...
>an opportunity to gain additional >training, learn important
>information regarding upcoming scouting events; receive programs
>that can been used in troop and exchange ideas from other troops.
>This networking is important for the troop to maintain its
>position in the forefront of scouting.
And is why the Scoutmaster and Assistants, NOT a Troop-appointed
"Roundtable Commissioner representative", SHOULD be the ones
attending this monthly meeting!! Actually, your ENTIRE ADULT CADRE
should be there at Roundtable (you know what they say about "the
more ears that hear something...")
Merl has a great set of position descriptions, which while not
conforming to the standard BSA job descriptions, are important jobs
and something that a parent can easily "get his or her hands
around" and start working on. However, those two issues above
should be closely looked at within your Troop, Merl, so that your
Troop can avoid pitfalls caused by "improper members of the Troop's
Committee" reviewing advancements. I know you probably HAVEN'T had
any problems now....but there's no guarantee that it won't happen
in the near future!
Settummanque!
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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