SCOUT TROOP #237 POLICY MANUAL

DEFINITIONS:

1. "Activity" shall mean any and all Troop events, including, but not limited to, meetings, camping, hikes and fundraisers. This term shall encompass everything the Troop does at any time and at any place.

2. "Adult Leader" shall mean the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and any registered adults.

3. "Scout" shall mean all scouts registered to the Troop.

4. "Guests" shall mean all non-registered people.

UNIFORM:

1. All Scouts are expected to be in complete uniform, as more particularly detailed in the Scout manual, for all Scout activities, unless otherwise specified by the Scoutmaster.

2. The Troop shall continue to maintain an experienced uniform program. The program shall be administered by the Scoutmaster who shall have the authority to establish the terms and conditions of the program. Uniforms remain the property of the Troop and shall be returned by the Scout when their use is complete.

The Troop welcomes donated uniforms.

DUES:

1. All dues must be current before a Scout will be allowed to participate in any advancement, Council, District, or Troop Activities.

Any Scout who is $15.00 or more in arrears on weekly dues will be temporarily suspended from all Troop activity including meetings.

No dues shall accrue while a scout is on suspension, however, the Scout will be required to pay all fees for his rechartering or he will not be rechartered.

Reinstatement will not occur unless all dues, prior to suspension have been paid.

The Troop will pay attendance fees and other costs associated with District and Council events as well as for the Wolfeboro Weekend from accumulated dues. Scouts shall be individually responsible for fees and costs of all other activities.

ACTIVITIES:

1. Troop equipment is not the property of the individual scout. Scouts will use the equipment in the proper manner for its intended purpose.

Equipment is subject to normal wear and tear and will break from time to time. Scouts shall immediately report any damage to or loss of equipment to the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster or Senior Patrol Leader.

If any equipment is damaged or destroyed by misuse, it will be repaired or replaced, as the case may be, by the party or parties responsible. Parents will be held financially responsible for damage or loss caused by their children.

Failure to repair of replace may result in disciplinary action, including, but not limited to, immediate suspension by either the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or adult leader in charge and possible expulsion by the Troop Committee.

The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or any adult leader in charge is empowered to make an immediate, on-site, disciplinary decision as the situation may warrant.

2. Under no circumstances whatsoever will there be open flames of any kind or of any nature in a tent.

Matches, lighters, or other items used for starting fires shall only be used to start a fire authorized by the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader or other adult leader.

3. There shall no be food of any kind (including candy) kept in tents. Food attracts animals that enter tents and can cause serious harm to Scouts.

All scouts shall bear the individual responsibility of removing all food items from their clothing and backpacks, etc. before entering or placing equipment in the tent.

4. There will be no alcohol, tobacco, or drugs of any nature used by or in the possession of any scouts at any scout activity including meetings.

5. Scouts shall not engage in any fighting, vulgarity, profanity, name calling, or the like.

6. Scouts shall not carry nor use knives or axes until they have earned the "Totin Chip".

Knives, axes, and the like shall be used only for their intended purposes.

7. The parent of any scout on medication or with known allergies shall notify the Scoutmaster of same in writing signed by same. The Scoutmaster is not responsible for administering medication.

8. Parents of scouts participating in any troop activity shall be available or reachable during the period the scout is participating in the activity.

Violation of Troop policies can result in the immediate removal of the scout from the troop activity and the parent must be available or make arrangements for the scout to be picked-up and returned home.

9. Scouts shall be properly attired and equipped for any troop activity. The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, or adult leader in charge has sole discretion to assess the attire and equipment of each scout for the activity and is authorized to prohibit participation if, in their sole judgement, the scout is not properly attired and/or equipped.

10. Guests attending activities must be approved in advance by the Scoutmaster or his authorized representative and shall be required to abide by the same policies set forth herein when and where applicable.

DEPORTMENT:

1. Scouts shall at all times conduct themselves in accordance with the Scout Law and the Scout Oath as set forth in the Scout manual. Further, Scouts shall follow all policies and principals established by the Abnaki District and the Daniel Webster Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

2. Scouts shall at all times be mindful that other activities are conducted at the First Church Congregational and Scouts shall at all times conduct themselves so as not to interfere or disrupt other church activities.

3. There shall be no shouting, yelling, running or jumping or any other boisterous or noisy activity unless authorized by the Scoutmaster or an adult leader.

PARENTS:

1. Parents are expected to deliver their children at all scout meetings by escorting them to the scout meeting room and further shall pick up their Scout(s) in the scout meeting room.

Parents shall not attend troop meetings unless approved by the Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.

3. Parents can expect a monthly calendar scheduling all scouting events. A calendar will be given to each scout to be brought home.

4. Troop committee meetings will take place on the third Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the First Church Congregational. All parents are strongly encouraged to join the troop committee and participate. There is need for adult participation to provide better programs for the Troop.

5. Parents are expected to provide transportation to Troop activities provided they meet the requirements which may be established by Council, District, the Troop Committee, Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster.

6. Parents shall not attend any Troop activity having consumed alcohol or illegal drugs.

7. Parents are expected to participate in fund raising activities conducted by the Troop.

8. Parents will be requested to provide refreshments for Troop activities.

Parents and Scouts are expected to be on time for all activities.

VENTURE PROGRAM:

Crew Setup

1. The venture crew must have an ASM and one other adult specifically assigned to the crew. If the ASM is under 21, the other adult must be at least 21. (BSA)

2. There must be at least three (3) scouts. (BSA)

3. The crew is not a patrol in itself. It is made up of selected scouts from all patrols. The crew will meet apart from the troop meetings.

4. The crew is not to interfere with the troop's programs at council, district or troop events.

5. The crew chief cannot hold other positions in the troop.

6. The crew will be reset after the completion of each ultimate adventure. Each ultimate adventure will last no more than 4 months.

Crewmember Eligibility

7. The scout must be 14 years of age.

8. The scout must have attained the rank of star.

9. The scout must have participated in at least 75% of the troop activities. (BSA)

10. The scout must have the scoutmaster's approval. His approval is to be based on the scouts behavior and his interest in participating in the crew.

11. If a crewmember leaves he will not be replaced until the next ultimate adventure if the crew has already started its training.

12. A crewmember can leave the crew at any time he wishes.

13. Habitual misbehavior is a reason for dismissal.

14. Lack of participation in crew events or not intending to participate in the ultimate adventure is reason for dismissal.

SCOUT ACCOUNT:

1. A Scout Account will be set up for each Scout.

2. The account will be a part of the Troop bank account and tracked by the Troop Committee Treasurer.

3. Money for the account will come from:

a) 50% of the profit that the individual Scout sells in the annual troop fundraiser,

b) money the parent would want to put in to save for summer camp (as approved by the committee), not to exceed camp cost,

c) any funds approved by the committee.

4. Disbursement of money from account:

a) for summer scout camp (e.g. HVSR with troop, Mead Base, Philmont Scout Reservation, etc.) with parents deposit disbursed first,

b) Troop events not covered by troop account,

c) National Scouting events,

d) basic Scout uniform, pants, shirt, hat, neckerchief, slide, merit badge sash, or scout socks.

5. Closing of account:

a) when the scout leaves the troop and/or scouting, the money left in his account will be put into the troop account,

b) any personal deposits remaining in account will be returned within 30 days of leaving troop/scouting,

c) if the scout turns 18 and becomes an ASM in the troop, the money in his account can be used to buy a new uniform for him and then what is left is put into the troop account.

Scout Troop 237 Policy Manual adopted March 9, 1994.
Venture Program amendment approved by committee on December 4, 1997.
Scout Account amendment approved by committee on November 19, 1998.