This Page Last Updated on 03/11/2006
The Troop is organized into two major components. They are the Troop Committee run by the Troop Committee Chairperson (Committee Chair) and Troop Program run by the Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) with the assistance of Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) and various Troop Junior Leaders. The Troop Committee’s primary function is to support the Troop’s Program. The Program side of the Troop is responsible for planning and executing the Troop’s Program. We will now examine more in depth these two Troop components.
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The Troop Committee is responsible for providing adult support to the Troop’s Program. The Troop Committee is headed by the Troop Committee Chairperson (Committee Chair) who works with the Scoutmaster and his or her various Committee members to make sure that the Troop is able to run a good Scouting Program. The Troop Committee is made up of primarily parents of Scouts in the Troop. Below are brief descriptions of what some of the major Committee positions do to support the Troop’s Program.
The Committee Chair is responsible for overseeing and recruiting all Troop Committee functions and supporting the Troop’s Program. He or she has a lot of other Adults that assist them with carrying out the Troop Committee’s functions that include, but are not limited to:
The Troop Treasurer is responsible for all of the Troop’s finances. He or she pays all of the bills associated with the Troop and deposits money that is collected into the Troop’s bank account. He or she also maintains individual Scout accounts with the Troop that contains money earned through fundraising activities, transportation fees, and deposits from parents that can be used to pay fees associated with the Troop. When a Scout drops out of the Troop, the money in the Scout’s account reverts to the Troop’s general fund. There are also accounts for each Patrol. The Patrol accounts contain money that is deposited by Patrols from extra food money that was not used when buying food on campouts. The money in Patrol accounts can be used by Patrols to purchase additional supplies, food, and materials needed by the Patrol.
The Troop has a Spaghetti Dinner Committee that plans, organizes, and runs the Troop’s annual Spaghetti Dinner fundraiser. The Spaghetti Dinner is the Troop’s major fundraiser each year. The Spaghetti Dinner Committee gets donations, plans the dinner, runs group and individual ticket sales by Scouts, and organizes the dinner on the date of the dinner. All Scouts and parents are expected to work a shift or do other support for the Spaghetti Dinner. When selling tickets to persons who cannot attend the dinner, Scouts can advise them that they can donate their ticket to a senior citizen. About 75% of the money of each ticket sold goes into that Scout’s individual account. About 75% of the money collected from group ticket sales is divided up among the Scouts that sold tickets and deposited in their individual Scout accounts. Prizes are provided based on the number of tickets sold.
The Troop also participates in the Council’s Popcorn Sales each Fall. The Troop gets a portion of the money collected from the sales, the rest goes to the Scout Council to support it’s operations. All of the money from the Troop’s portion is deposited in the individual Scout account of the Scout who made the sale. Prizes are provided based on the amount of money raised.
Scouts going on specific trips and Patrols can also hold their own fundraisers to raise funds for various trips and activities. Patrols and Scouts interested in holding a specific fundraiser should contact the Committee Chair and Scoutmaster first for guidelines.
It is important for Scouts to participate in the Troop’s fundraisers. The Troop’s operation requires money to provide a quality program. The cost of the various camps that the Troop attends can be expensive. Raising money through fundraising can help offset the amount of money that parents need to pay for trips and make it possible for all Scouts to fully participate in the Troop’s Program.
The Troop’s Summer Camp Coordinator is responsible for organizing the Troop’s annual summer camp at Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. He or she keeps track of sign ups, payments, and makes sure that all of the various forms for camp are collected and properly filled out.
There are also other Adults that may coordinate other major summer trips from time to time, such as Philmont, a House Boat Trip, National Jamboree, or trip to Hawaii.
The Troop’s Advancement Committee is responsible for running the Troop’s Advancement Program. They maintain the Troop’s Advancement records, purchase awards given out at Courts of Honors, and conduct Boards of Review for Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life Ranks, and Eagle Palms. A Board of Review is the last step in attaining all of the Ranks except Scout Rank and Eagle Scout. At least three members of the Troop’s Advancement Committee meet with each Scout during a Board of Review to discuss the Scout’s experiences in the Troop and to make sure that each Scout has successfully fulfilled the requirements for each Rank. The Board of Review is also the forum where the Troop Committee gets information on the quality of the Troop’s Program. The Advancement Committee may also conduct Boards of Review with Scouts who are not advancing to find out if they need any assistance.
There is no Board of Review for Scout Rank and the District Advancement Committee conducts Boards of Review for Eagle Scout.
The Camping Chair is responsible for making reservations for the monthly camping trips that the Troop goes on. From time to time, we are unable to get the reservations for the campgrounds we want and alternate campgrounds need to be reserved.
The Troop T-shirt Coordinator is responsible for purchasing Troop T-shirts and Sweatshirts. This is usually done two to three times per year.
The Hospitality Coordinator is responsible for reserving, planning, and coordinating the Troop’s Court of Honors. Most of the Troop’s Court of Honors are held at either a school auditorium or a park on either a Tuesday or Friday evening or a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.
The Troop holds four Court of Honors, usually in September or October, December, March, and June. Court of Honors are a time for the entire Troop including families to celebrate the accomplishments of all of the Scouts in the Troop. All Scouts and their families are expected to attend even if they are not receiving any awards at the Court of Honor. In addition to Merit Badges and Rank Advancement, the Troop Committee Member, Adult Leader, Junior Leader, Scout, and Patrol of the Quarter Awards are also given out at the Court of Honor. There is also often a slide show of the Troop’s activities from the previous months.
Tour Permits are required for all Troop and Patrol activities not held at the Scout Shack. The Tour Permit Coordinator files Tour Permits at the Westside Service Center for all Troop activities. Patrol Advisors are responsible for filing Tour Permits for Patrol Activities.
At least one Adult over 21 years of age must be at all Patrol and Troop activities. If the activity is a campout, hike, or an activity that involves travel then at least two Adults over 21 years old, one of which must be registered with the Troop, must be present at all times. There are other requirements for outings, please refer to the Troop’s Outing Guidelines. Some activities are not approved for Scout Troops or have age restrictions. Please refer to the Safe Guide to Scouting for details.
The Scoutmaster (SM) and Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) run the Troop’s Program. Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) or Patrol Advisors (PA) and the various Junior Leaders in the Troop assist them. The Troop’s Program is Scout run with the Adults acting as Advisors.
The Patrol Leader’s Council (PLC) is the group of Scout Junior Leaders that plan and run the Troop’s Program. The PLC is lead by the Troop’s Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). Various Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders that are also voting members of the PLC assist him. Each Patrol’s Patrol Leader (PL) and Troop Guide (TG) are also voting members of the PLC. If a Patrol’s PL is unable to attend a PLC Meeting then their Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) should attend in their place and they can vote for the Patrol. If neither the PL or APL for a Patrol can attend, then the PL should make sure that another member of their Patrol attends to represent their Patrol as a voting member. The Troop Scribe attends PLC Meetings to take the minutes of the meetings, however they are a non-voting member. APLs may also attend, but may not vote unless their Patrol’s PL is absent. The Scoutmaster and ASM / PA may also attend as non-voting advisors.
PLC meetings should be held monthly to review the Troop’s Program and plan future meetings and activities. PLs should also make Patrol Reports on what their Patrols are doing and what their Patrol members like and dislike about the Troop’s Program.
The Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) is responsible for planning the Troop’s Program during two PLC Planning Conferences that are held over the summer and in December. During the summer Planning Conference, the PLC plans all of the campouts for the year so that reservations can be made ahead of time and Scout’s families can reserve the dates of the campouts. The Troop and Patrol meetings from September through the first Tuesday in January are also planned. During the December Planning Conference, Troop and Patrol meetings from January through June are planned as well as any revisions to the campout locations or dates.
The Troop follows the Culver City Unified School District calendar. The Troop meets from the Tuesday of the second week of school in September through the last Tuesday of school in June. The Troop does not meet during Winter or Spring Break. Campouts are held monthly from September through May. Sometimes the Troop goes camping in June too. There is no campout in December due to the Holidays. Sometimes a few activities are planned during the summer. The Troop Committee schedules Camp Emerald Bay and other major trips during the summer. The Troop usually goes to Camp Conrad Chinook in February and April is usually the District Camporee.
One of the Scoutmaster’s main roles is to be an advisor to the SPL and his ASPLs. The Scoutmaster also assists with training the Patrol Leaders and other Junior Leaders. The Scoutmaster also conducts Scoutmaster’s Conferences that are needed for Rank Advancement. The Scoutmaster is also a resource for Scouts if any problems arise. The Scoutmaster also handles any major disciplinary problems in the Troop.
The Scoutmaster is also responsible to make sure that the Troop’s Program meets BSA Safety guidelines and Troop Policies.
Assistant Scoutmasters support the Troop’s Program by assisting the Scoutmaster in supervising Scouts at Troop activities and by carrying out various Program related duties.
Patrol Advisors are ASMs assigned to a Patrol. They are responsible for supervising Scouts in their Patrol at Patrol meetings and on campouts. Their primary purpose is to ensure safety of Scouts. They also are advisors to their assigned Patrol Leader, Assistant Patrol Leader, and Scouts.
ASMs and Patrol Advisors are allowed to sign off requirements for Rank Advancement for Tenderfoot through First Class Rank in accordance with the Troop’s Advancement Policy.
The SPL is elected by the entire Troop in the late spring and usually serves for one year. He is the Scout in charge of the Troop. He is responsible for leading the Troop at all Troop activities. He also plans and organizes the Troop’s Program. The SPL may be asked to represent the Troop at District and Council events. The SPL is responsible for leading monthly PLC meetings, making weekly phone calls to Patrol Leaders, and training Patrol Leaders.
The SPL is usually a Scout at least 14 years old and Life or Eagle Rank.
Several Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders (ASPL) appointed by the SPL assist the SPL with executing the Troop’s Program. Each ASPL usually serves for a one-year term. The number of ASPLs is dependent on the wishes of the SPL. ASPLs are usually at least 14 years old and Life or Eagle Rank. The five basic ASPL positions follow.
The ASPL – Program is responsible for planning all Troop meetings. He does this with the help of the Troop Instructors who he schedules to attend Troop meetings to teach Scout skills to the younger Scouts. Once the meetings are planned, he gives the Troop Meeting Plan to the SPL who runs the meeting. He is the primary back up at Troop meetings if the SPL is absent. He works with the ASPL – Troop Competition to integrate the Troop Patrol Competition into the Troop Meeting Plan. He supervises the Troop Instructors.
The ASPL – Campouts and Outings is responsible for planning Program for Troop campouts and outings. He utilizes Troop Instructors, ASPLs, and Patrol Leaders to run Program at Troop campouts and outings. He is also responsible to make sure that all materials for the planned Program are put in the Troop trailer. Once the Campout Program Plan is made, he gives it to the SPL who runs the campout or outing. The ASPL – Campouts and Outings also approves Patrol menus and Duty Rosters and assigns PLC members and the Scoutmaster to Patrols for eating on campouts. He is the primary back up on Troop campouts if the SPL is absent. He works with the ASPL – Troop Competition to integrate the Troop Patrol Competition into the Campout Program Plan.
The ASPL – Personnel is responsible for appointing with SPL approval, training, and supervising various Junior Leaders. He fills in for his assigned Junior Leaders if they are absent or there is a vacancy.
The ASPL – Training and Discipline’s primary responsibility is to supervise the Troop Guides and train, supervise, and assist the Patrol Leaders. He also assists Patrol Leaders with any discipline problems.
The ASPL – Troop Competition is responsible for running the Troop’s Patrol Competition, Code Word of the Week, and Uniform Inspections. He keeps track of the number of points each Patrol has. He determines the Patrol of the Quarter Award based on the Patrol that wins the Troop Competition that quarter. He also helps select the Scout of the Quarter. He works with the SPL, ASPL – Program, and ASPL – Campouts and Outings to integrate the Troop’s Patrol Competition into the Troop’s Program.
The PL of the Senior Patrol is responsible for the largest Patrol in the Troop and is elected for a half-year term by the Scouts in the Senior Patrol. He plans and runs the Senior Patrol’s Program. He represents the Senior Patrol at PLC meetings.
Troop Guides work with the ASPL – Training and Discipline on training and supporting their assigned Patrol’s Patrol Leader. He also assists new Scouts and Scouts that the Patrol Leader is having a difficult time with.
A Patrol Leader leads each Junior Patrol. Each PL is responsible for running their Patrol that includes but is not limited to planning and running Patrol meetings, planning their Patrol’s menu and Duty Roster for the campout, making sure that food is bought for the campout, and supervising their Patrol at all Troop and Patrol activities. Each PL is elected by the Scouts in their Patrol and serves for a half-year term. PLs are also responsible for making weekly phone calls to their Patrols. Each PL is responsible for attending and representing their Patrol at all PLC meetings or making sure that a member of their Patrol is present to represent their Patrol. The PL appoints and trains their Assistant Patrol Leader (APL).
Patrol Leaders should be at least First Class Rank so that they may receive Leadership credit for their next rank. If no one in the Patrol is First Class Rank or no one over First Class wants to be PL, then a Patrol member who is Second Class or Tenderfoot may run for PL.
Each Patrol has an APL appointed by the PL of the Patrol. They assist the PL with making weekly phone calls and other duties. They also fill in for the PL in their absence.
APLs should be at least First Class Rank so that they may receive Leadership credit for their next rank. APLs may not receive Leadership credit for Eagle Rank. If no one in the Patrol is First Class Rank or no one over First Class wants to be APL, then a Patrol member who is Second Class or Tenderfoot may be appointed APL by the Patrol Leader.