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We keep these, as some have called, "light duty" positions. We expect them to fulfill minimum requirements in order to earn the position. Scribe 1. Keep minutes at the PLC meetings and email them to troop members 2. Record attendance at all troop functions and provide them to the Troop Advancement Coordinator 3. Collect money before Troop Campouts from those Scouts attending the outing Librarian 1. Check MB Books in and out 2. Maintain MB Books 3. Update MB Library as BSA updates MB Books 4. Prepare MB Books for Merit Badge Days and Summer Camp Historian 1. Write an article about recent campouts and activities for the Troop Newsletter 2. Maintain a troop photo album 3. Maintain a troop scrapbook 4. Take photos at troop activities Quartermaster 1. Check equipment in and out 2. Check tents out after campouts to those scouts that use them and check them back in 3. Follow up on all returns 4. Keep the trailer and equipment room clean and organized 5. Help the Equipment Coordinator maintain equipment Chaplain's Aide 1. Work with the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster in charge of the campout to establish a Saturday night Church Service 2. Help coordinate Scout Sunday within the troop Order of the Arrow Troop Rep. 1. Promote Camping within the troop by posting signup sheets and making announcements at the troop meetings 2. Promote attendance to OA Functions by making announcements at troop meetings 3. Help coordinate Troop Elections for OA Membership Conducting Church Services and strongly encouragin attendance to Scout Sunday is very important. Our 12th point of the Scout Law tells us that a Scout is Reverant. In an essay titled Out of 100 Scouts it mentions that """"Twelve of that one hundred will be brought into contact with church and continue to be active members."""" For those twelve out of the 100 the Chaplian's Aide position may have made an influence on their lives. Another note, as some have already mentioned, delegating the responsibilties of troop leadership is important. For those troops that do not use the Scribe, Historian, or Librarian positions who takes attendance, maintains troop history, or checks books in and out? If it's adult than we are doing something that a scout can do. If it's an Assistant Senior Patrol Leader or another scout with a leadership position why are we adding to their job, which should already be challenging enough.

I joined Cub Scouts as a Tiger Cub and joined a scout troop 1n 1998. In 2006, after ageing out in September 2005 I earned the rank of Eagle. As a scout I served as Senior Patrol Leader three times. The first time was when the troop finally made its transition from being adult ran to scout lead. We established the Patrol Leader's Council and the groundwork for how it runs in our troop and what it does. My final time as Senior Patrol Leader ended a week or two before my 18th birthday. I did this because our Scoutmaster asked me to train two 8th graders in the position of Assistant Senior Patrol Leader/Senior Patrol Leader by doing it with them. As a scout I also served as a Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster and High Adventure Patrol Leader. I earned 28 Merit Badges and earned the World Conservation Award. I was elected to the Order of the Arrow and served as a Chapter Chief and Committee Chair. I also cowrote the troop newsletter and ran the troop website for a year and a half. During my last term as Senior Patrol Leader I took the directive from our Chartered Organization Rep. to write and put into rule guidelines for eligiblity of our Jr. Leaders and how the elections are suppose to be done. During the same term I took the directive from our Committee and put into rule Shopping and Menu Planning guidelines that put a method to it. The last thing that I did was write a Senior Patrol Leader Handbook that better explains how the Senior Patrol Leader in our troop does things. It is still used. Since my 18th birthday in 2005 I have served, and continue to serve, as our City's Coordinator for Scouting for Food organizing the packs, troops, and crews in our city for their routes and collecting/sorting the food. I have served on staff for District Klondikes and Camporees. I coordinate a practice Klondike for our troop and we invite local Webelo dens because they cannot go to District Klondikes. In our troop I have serve as our New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, Chairman for our Spaghetti Dinner and Pancake Breakfast and Co-Membership Coordinator. For the Chairman position I basically supervise parents in the fulfillment of their positions and as Co-Membership Coordinator I am training a new parent in the responsiblities of the Membership Coordinator. I have served as Website Administrator, Newsletter Advisor, and Cartridge Recycling Fundraising Coordinator. Even though I have served in many leadership positions and earned the rank of Eagle perhaps the best things I keep from Scouting is 1. The time that that I shared with my dad as he served as Scoutmaster for four years. He died in the summer of 2006. The times that we spent canoeing and camping together created many memories that I hold dear. 2. Summer 2006 when I served on Camp Staff. It's amazing the people that will remember you and that continue to look up to. What's more amazing is the friendships (with other staff members) that you create and the things that you learn about yourselves.

Okay, so the dinner happened Friday night. It was a good learning experience. We have an adult leader who has been going to a local community college to earn an associate degree in cooking. I asked him to cook. I think we both learned important lessons inregards to precooking things and assigning specific duties to those that help him during the dinner in the kitchen. Many different businesses donated items for the dinner itself. Dean's Milk, Panera Bread, a local meat locker, two local bakerys, Olive Garden, and a local business ($125 for advertising during our dinner) our past Scoutmaster worked for. So most of our expenses were covered by these donations. We did the placemat idea listed above this post. I think many people liked it. We included wording that talked about joining Boy Scouts. Our Silent Auction did not go as well as I would have hoped. Most of our items had only 1 or 2 bids on them. We had three items with multiple bids. We had to lower our minimum bids on a few items. I think that next year I may look for some bigger items. We did have people wait up to an hour and a half to eat. That had to do with not having food ready at 6pm when the doors opened. During the next week or two I'm going to be creating a list of necessary improvements and changes.

We have received many donations from different sources and have purchased the items we need for Friday. I'll let everyone know what was donated and the overal success of our dinner later this weekend. The only problem I have now is that when I have free time (ie: sitting around and looking at Scouter.com) I start to feel very nervous about the event and its details. Any tips to calm my nerves?

In some Districts and Councils the Eagle BOR are the responsiblity of the troop. In our district we have 1 district rep on the Eagle BOR, that's it. I would lay down the exact expectations that you expect him to meet. Explain what he has to change in order to meet those expectations. Give him a deadline to make improvements and meet the expectations. Let me know that if he doesn't meet them or at least make improvements (based on your decision) that you cannot and will not be able to pass him on his Eagle Scoutmaster Conference. We had a scout this past summer (August 2007) ready for his Scoutmaster Conference. In August 2006 our pervious Scoutmaster past away. Our new Scoutmaster had not gotten to know the scout because of his inablity to attend troop functions. The Scoutmaster set an expectation that he attend the meetings that he could for the duration of the meetings. He told the scout that if his attendance did not increase he would not be able to conduct a Scoutmaster Conference. The scout's attendance increased and the scout continues to attend meetings (his 18th Birthday was in October).

We meet most Mondays from 7pm until 8:30pm. The only Mondays we don't have meetings are when major holidays (Christmas, 4th of July, Labor Day, etc.) fall on Monday. We will meet on holidays such as MLK Jr. Day and Columbus Day. We also don't meet the week of Summer Camp. We usually have at least two weekend activities a month for the troop. They may be Service Projects, Campouts, Merit Badge Opp. Days, Fundraisers, Day Trips, etc.

""""If the SM has delegated lower level advancement item signoff to a PL, Troop Guide or ASM, and that person signs off on a requirement, the requirement is completed, period. """" Sure that requirement is done, but the Scoutmaster Conference may not be completed. If the Scoutmaster feels that the skills are not learned (forget mastering them) the Scoutmaster doesn't need to complete the Scoutmaster Conference. He can tell the scout to go home and practice the skills and then come back in a week or two.

Quality Control in Advancement, don't we already have it? In order for a scout to advance in rank they have to pass a Scoutmaster's Conference and Board of Review. While the members of the BOR are not allowed to retest skills the Scoutmaster can retest all he wants. We also have the Scoutmaster in other ways that he serves. He should be watching over his Assistants and supervising their practice of advancement. IT should be up to each individual Scoutmaster to rely his expectations to the Assistant Scoutmasters and any older scouts that he has allowed to sign off books.

The sad thing is that this isn't the first time I've heard about Christmas Trees (being used as a fundraiser) were stolen from Boy Scouts. Speaking of trailers our Boy Scout Roundtable Commish. spoke at the last Roundtable about how that was the number 1 thing stolen from troops and members of scouting. He then made a pitch, for I think it was, the Denver Boot?

We let the drivers choice one of three options: 1. reimbursement for only gas 2. reimbursement for mileage at $.47/mile 3. donating their gas many of our adults simply donate their gas. when the want reimbursement they'll go after option number 2. The money is paid out of the general troop fund, which is money from dues and the troop's split of fundraisers (which is usually always 25% of the profit with the troop also getting reimbursed for any expenses occurred during the fundraiser). We do multiple fundraisers and added a couple of this year to help pay for transportation. The fundraisers that we do include Cartridge Recycling (general fund), Canopy Rentals (general fund), Pancake Breakfast and Spaghetti Dinner (75% scouts/25% troop), Fair Parking (90/10), and a Car Wash (75/25).

I was in Boy Scouts from 5th until 12th grade as a scout (I'm now only 20). My dad became the Scoutmaster when I was in 8th grade. My experience in scouting drastically changed. I enjoyed the opportunities that I shared with my dad inregards to scouting. My dad really enjoyed the summer water activities that included canoeing and river rafting. After he became Scoutmaster (after not being involved as an Adult Leader) these activities became more fun for me. The first three years in scouting were tough. I didn't enjoy them and felt like quitting. Having my dad get involved was a way of spending time with him. Point blank: I enjoyed him being in scouts. HOWEVER, there were many activities, events, and projects that I helped him with that I really didn't want to. The time that I spent in Scouting drastically increased because of his role in scouting. He was expected to attend Patrol Leader Council meetings, all troop meetings, Troop Committee Meetings, Roundtables, and supplemental adult leadership training. While he was Scoutmaster I served as Senior Patrol Leader (twice), Jr. Assistant Scoutmaster, and High Adventure Patrol Leader. I felt pressured into serving in these positions and doing my absolute best in these positions since my dad was Scoutmaster. I would encourage parents to get involved in their son's scouting experience. It's a time to watch the sunrise together, to splash water at each other while rafting, to meet each other's friends, to let go of the teen's attitude that their parents are embrassing. My dad died last year when I was 18. I am happy that he decided to do scouting with me and with the troop. He shared many experiences with us that I wouldn't have had otherwise. He was always looking for ways to connect with the scouts. I remember the times that he played two hand touch football with us, or the time that we spent Sunday morning simply floating down the Wisconsin River with our canoes, and much more. I'll admit that having him serve as Scoutmaster was tough in some aspects at some points, however it was the best thing that we did together and shared.

Let me answer Gold Winger's question with something that he stated in a pervious topic regarding fundraising; """Boys cannot be expected to anything other than horse around at the PLC while the SM plans the activities. They shouldn't have to keep track of their accomplishments or know where they stand for advancement, they just don't have the brainpower even though they are taking calculus in the 9th grade.""" Now if that is true then the answer to why we have so many adults should be apparent. Why place all the planning and tracking advancement onto just a few people? Why risk quickly draining these volunteers when you could have specific program and administrative responsiblities identified and then assign each one to a different adult? Have someone to coordinate BOR, have someone to enter information into TroopMaster (or your selected program), and a few serving as Patrol Advisors, have another incharge of buying equipment, and a different person in charge of mainting equipment, and so on.... Actually scout's can plan on their own and identify what they want. Trust them to do this. Use the adults that your training tells you is okay. Remember that the Committee Handbook let's us know that it is okay to recruit extra adults to help complete responsiblities of other adults (ie: The Committee Handbook lists the newsletter responsiblity as part of the Secretary's duties. Logic would tell us that if we have extra adults this is something that can be delegated outwards. The Senior Patrol Leader handbook and Scoutmaster Handbook does not mention the Newsletter as part of the Scribe's responsiblities).

Some have mentioned that a troop should have fundraisers but not neccesarly push them. That has really been the attitude of our troop. We have 1 big fundraiser a year that each scout and parent is expected to work. It's parking cars for the county fair board. We do it from Wednesday through Sunday and have about 40 hours that need to be delegated to scouts and parents. Throughout the rest of the year we have a few other fundraisers, but none are "required" and none of an expectation for sales amounts. These include; 1. Cartridge and Cell Phone recycling. we simply have a box in the troop meeting room and put a reminder in our monthly newsletter. nothing more. 2. Canopy Rentals we have done this for years. The tents date back to the early 1980's but are kept in great condition. It has been spread word of month and by promoting (once a year when we set one of the tents up at Fair Parking so the scouts have a place to eat or relax---some work all day). 3. Popcorn Sales We do kinda of push this one by tying the Salesmanship MB in at Troop Meetings. We encourage each scout to establish their own goals. We discuss good ways of selling and bad ways. Then incentives are usually provided at each troop meeting for selling (ex: sell to at least 2 teachers, sell to a member of our Chartered Organization, etc.) 4. Spaghetti Dinner A lot of work is actually done by the adults. We do publicity (run an article in the chartered organization newsletter, chamber of commerce newsletter, email our email contacts, and post flyers in local businesses). We also do a Silent Auction where adults are asked to ask businesses for contributions. However, the scouts are not required to sell tickets. We have provided an incentive where if a scout sells $xx worth of tickets he will receive $yy toward their scout account. Again we have provided incentives similar to popcorn sales. As you can see we try to avoid fundraisers where something useless (popcorn, wreaths, candy, etc) are sold. Instead we try to provide a service (cartridge recycling) or something that people were going to do anyways (canopy rentals and silent auction---have in December---Christmas Shopping). Because of the type of fundraisers we do and the fact that scouts aren't "required" to work we usually have great success. Scouts are okay with participating because they aren't forced to, but compensated if they do.

In our troop we have 3 active Assistant Scoutmasters. Each is assigned to a patrol to also serve as its Patrol Advisor. This is no different than having an Assistant Scoutmaster assigned to the High Adventure Patrol or New Scout Patrol. They serve exactly the same way. Our Newsletter Editor helps the Scribe and Historian produce a newsletter. We have the core positions of the Troop Committee delegated (CC, SM, Treasurer, Advancement Coordinator, Activities, Equipment, Secretary, Life to Eagle, Website, and Newsletter) who help the scouts that are also assigned to similar positions (SPL, ASPL, Scribe, Quartermaster, and Historian) We have 3 Assistant Scoutmasters that are active and are appointed to a patrol to serve as Patrol Advisor and also help the Scoutmaster advice and guide the SPL, ASPL, and TG. Our at large committee members are adults who; 2 served as ASM, 1 served as CC, and the 1 served as Advancement Coord. They are adults who have spent time with the troop and wish to remain somewhat involved in the program, but cannot spend the time they used to. These parents help with Board of Reviews and attend the occasional committee meetings. We have parents who help with Membership (which used to be assigned the New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster). We have a few the help carry out our Spaghetti Dinner and Pancake Breakfast (Silent Auction Coordinator, Publicity, Ticket Sales, and Kitchen Coordinator). Each adult that we recruit is given a specific program or administrative responsiblity. If they are suppose to be working with a scout they are reminded of that and are doing a good job. As I mentioned before my experience as an adult leader who has worked with the new scouts shows that scouts who have parents that become involved will stay in the program. They'll probably stay involved even if they don't attend summer camp. The key to retainment is getting parent involvement. This is something that they can spend time together doing and sharing. Having time to do things together is decreasing each and every year because of structured schedules we expect kids to have. However, parents need to know what there role in the troop will be and how the Troop Committee and Scoutmaster expects it to be carried out. If they want to serve as an Officer of the Troop Committe, the Coordinator of a Fundraiser, or an Assistant Scoutmaster let them know that they should be trained. At least push New Leaders, Fast Start, Youth Protection, and Troop Committee Challenge (in our troop all ASMs are trained with Troop Committee Challenge training as well).

The position of Patrol Advisor, as I view it, is important. The Patrol Leader needs an advisor just like the Senior Patrol Leader has in the Scoutmaster. The patrol needs a watchful eye just like the New Scout Patrol has from the Troop Guide. However, it is important that the position be performed correctly. The Patrol Advisor is not there to make decisions or appointments. They are not there to contradict any decisions, if they are scout appropriate, made the Patrol Leader. They are simply there to help the Patrol Leader keep the patrol on track, back up the decisions of the Patrol Leader, and ensure that leadership training is delivered to the Patrol Leader through the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster. The Patrol Advisor should know what the Patrol Leader Council planned for each troop meeting. The Patrol Leader should inform the Patrol Advisor of the goal for each patrol meeting. They should then make sure that the goal is actually carried out and, if it isn't, let the Patrol Leader know that at the end of the meeting. They are there to make sure that once the patrol feels menu planning is completed that it actually is. They should attend grocery shopping trips with the patrol and as the patrol shops make sure that they get everything they need and that they don't overspend. The job should be simple. If possible it should be filled.

Asking a question that simply requires a verbal response is different than asking them a question that requires action during a Board of Review. Per the National Website (scouting.org) a Board of Review is how the troop committee (or the Eagle Scout board of review) tracks the progress of a Scout to determine his understanding of the ideals of Scouting and how he applies them in daily life in the troop. This review is not and should not be an examination or retest of skills learned. Rather, it is an attempt to determine the Scout's attitude and his acceptance of Scouting's ideals, both in the troop and outside of it. The board should get a sense of the importance that the Scout attributes to Scouting in his home life, at school, and in the troop. It also shows how the Scout perceives the troop and its adult leaders. Throwing that scout a rope is not determining the Scout's attitude or acceptance of Scouting's ideas. Asking him what different parts of the Scout Law or Oath means to him should help gain an understanding the scout's understanding of Scout's ideals. On a Side Note: I will agree that First Class rank shows that a scout has begun to have a basic groundwork of scouting's ideals and skills. However, in the real world no one outside of scouting will ever care if you reached First Class. There are two things to share in the real world; 1. I was in Boy Scouts and 2. I am an Eagle Scout. I'm not going to pay someone extra for advancing to First Class. However, I'll be impressed with someone who was in Boy Scouts and with someone who is an Eagle Scout.

My last two seasons as a Little League Umpire I have seen that parents are trying to live through their kids. If the kid doesn't enjoy playing baseball that's okay, they'll stay, because Dad played. Next time your at a game see how the coach coaches. Chances are that it'll be an aggressive, direct style. See what things the parents complain about. My experience as a Membership Coordinator and New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster has shown me that those scouts whose parents become active will remain in the troop longer. I feel that this is because of the number of activities teens are active in today. The parents are more likely to push their kids toward activities that they can do together because they don't have a lot of time already to do things. As far as adult participation goes I don't see it as a bad thing in scouting. There are a number of things that we have that can be delegated to parents. Right now our trop has adults to fill; Committee Chairman, Scoutmaster, Treasurer, Advancement, Activities, Equipment, Secretary, Life to Eagle Coordinator, Website, Newsletter, 5 extra Committee Members who serve as time allows, Fundraisers (2), New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster, an Advancement Assistant who encourages those scouts who are stuck on a rank to advance, High Adventure Assistant Scoutmaster, Patrol Advisors (3), and Parents that help with Membership and coordinating our Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction. As long as these parents can be taught that it is a boy led program and they are their to help the scout who may be assigned to a similar position then we should be okay. As far as parent involvement in sports I don't know if it is a good thing. The simple reason is because of how aggressive they usually become.

Expect boys to do the unexpected and you will see the unexpected become the new excepted. During my first year on Boy Scout Summer Camp Staff the Camp Director had to skill lessons that he shared each week during the closing fire. The first involved listening and setting the example. He told you to clap on three, but showed the example of clapping after three. The other involved reaching higher heights. He instructed all the scouts to raise their arm as high up as they could. He then instructed them to raise it higher. Gold Winger stated in his post that """Boys cannot be expected to anything other than horse around at the PLC while the SM plans the activities.""" As I opened with expect the scouts to do things you wouldn't normally expect. With training and direction scouts will plan and you will quite satisified in the results of a Boy Led troop. The Scoutmaster is appointed to train scouts in delivering the program. The Scoutmaster is not there to plan the activities himself. As with fundraising set the example yourself, as adults. Be the firsts to sign up. Show euthasim. Work hard during the fundraising. If you started not expecting the scouts to work fundraisers, show the example like this, the unexpected will become expected. Setting the example goes far. Expecting the unexpect should be a rule of thumb.

We are chartered by a United Methodist church. The COR is very active and attends Roundtables, Committee Meetings, Court of Honors, and serves on the District Advancement Committee as the Eagle Board Coordinator. As a troop we encourage scouts to participate in helping at church events. We attend Scout Sunday and our scouts are usually commended by the members for their excellent behavior. BUT, during the last year we had the first visit from the Board of Trustees Chairman to our Troop Committee meeting. He informed the committee that our local community college, who has some classes at the church, noticed their things being touched and moved. He informed us that they had felt we were doing these things and that we either needed to stop now or find a new meeting place. During the past 5 years we have also broken 1 window with a basketball and were blamed for a crack that appeared in the entry door. We know we broke the window, but didn't quickly take responsiblity for the door. Also we have been asked to donate to some of their different funds, which we have not done. No one on their end has made a futher point, but I wonder what they actually think.

If your pervious unit had Scout Accounts your new unit may be able to get some money. Some districts and councils advise that the troop committee set a policy that allows money directed toward one's scout account to follow that scout. The following is a paragraph from my district: ""Transfers to Other Units It is common that if a Scout transfers to another Scouting unit that has Scout Accounts, that the money in the Scout's account can be transferred to the new Scout unit upon a request to do so. The Scout can never directly receive the money in such a transfer. It must always be given to the new Scouting unit."" This is why, in our district, a Webelo can crossover and start with money in the Boy Scout Scout Accounts. I would check with your Troop Treasurer, Chartered Organization Rep, Unit Commish, and/or District Executive to see what guidelines and regualations exist in your area.

Scout Executives on the Council and District levels put a lot of time into their work. They are constantly having to work with district volunteers and professionals from higher levels. They have to be concerned with membership, fundraising, and budgeting. I am a 20 year old college student and have asked both professionals and district volunteers about becoming professional scouts. The district volunteers know how hard the work is and they'll let you know. Plus keep in mind that a lot of district exectives are paid around $40,000. The same amount that a construction supervisor would be paid. Somewhere they have to make a little bit more to make the job and the responsiblities worthwhile.

The Scoutmaster's Handbook does bring up that a Scoutmaster wearing a plain uniform with just his Council Strip, Unit Number, and Scoutmaster patch cannot be found to be in bad taste. I have two knots, my AOL and Eagle. I wear both of them. I wear them because as a Scout both advancement patches were part of my uniform. When I aged out I was given both of the knots by my Advancement Coordinator and changed them just like I did with my Senior Patrol Leader patch to Assistant Scoutmaster patch. LongHaul mentioned that we should set the example for advancement by earning our knots. I do not feel that scouts will not feel like advancing if they don't see adults earning knots. In our troop I am one of two leaders with any knots. Our Chartered Organization Rep. has several. However, during the past year we have had 7 scouts reach Eagle and are on pace to have our 2007 recruits to First Class within their first year in the troop. I also feel that wearing knots should be a personal decision. If you want to earn the knots go ahead and earn them. If you don't want them then don't apply for them. However, let each side decide for themselves. There is nothing wrong with nominating someone for an award that will result in a knot or establishing a James West Fellowship for an adult, but if they don't want to wear the knots don't feel offended or object. If they do wear the knots and you don't also don't feel offeneded or object. The things that I wear correctly on my own uniform are my personal decisions.

A few years ago the Patrol Leader's Counci and Troop Committee adopted the Discipline Plan that our Council/District encourages each unit to adopt. Under this plan the following have certain responsiblities: All Troop Leaders must set the example for the Scout Oath and Law The Scoutmaster or an Assistant may do the following: 1. first offense issue a verbal warning without yelling or lecturing 2. second offense at same meeting have a Scoutmaster Conference 3. third offense at the same meeting call parents the second time a scout is sent home the Scoutmaster will discuss the problems with the scout's parents the third time he will be placed on probation and excluded from all activities for one month if a scout is sent home a fourth time he and his parents will meet with the Troop Committee. A decision will be reached regarding if the scout should remain a member of the troop.

TroopMaster has a section where you can track Adult Achievements just like you do Scout Achievements. When you transfer from one unit to another Boy Scouts has an official form that can be filled out by your Advancement Coordinator and given to the new one.

I have 2 Leader Knots on my uniform. They are my Eagle Rank and Arrow of Light Award. I have only been an adult leader for 2 years and am working on finishing my adult leader training. I think something to keep in mind when discussing this is what the Scoutmaster Handbook makes point to and that is a Scoutmaster that keeps his uniform simple is never found to be in bad taste.