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To have a really great troop, we need really great youth leadership.
All Scouts First Class and above need leadership experience in order
to advance. As our troop grows, we will be placing increasing
emphasis on youth leadership positions. We will be giving our
youth increased responsibilities and expecting them to treat these
seriously.
This week I'd like to discuss all of the remaining positions that
we are likely to fill. While the positions I discussed last
week,
SPL, ASPL, PL, and APL are essential to the operation of the troop,
those below, scribe, historian, librarian, quartermaster, troop guide,
and den chief are not. These are all appointed positions that
are filled when the Scoutmaster and SPL determines that there is both
sufficient work for them and volunteers eager to do the work.
The first for of these positions, scribe, historian, librarian, and
quartermaster, work on the same six month election schedule as other
positions. The last two, troop guide and den chief, have
different schedules. As before, for each position, I've provided job
descriptions, requirements, and the method by which these offices are
filled. Some of this codifies things we have done in the past.
Some of it is new. No new policies apply to the term of office
of any current boy leader (We have had no published policies in the
past and none of this is retroactive).
Discretionary Positions: The following positions are
appointed at the discretion of the SPL and Scoutmaster. There is
always work for these positions, however they are less central to the
operation of the troop than SPL, ASPL, PL, and APL.
5) Troop Scribe
a) Job description: The Troop Scribe acts as the secretary of the
troop. His weekly responsibility is to take attendance and count
the number of scouts in each patrol that are correctly uniformed for
the meeting. He also takes attendance at campouts and other
events. He must report the attendance to the Scoutmaster at the
end of each evening or event. The Troop Scribe also takes
minutes at all planning meetings and makes these available to the
Scoutmaster and other troop members and leaders. The Troop
Scribe must attend all planning meetings but he does not have a vote
at such meetings.
b) Requirements: Scouts of any rank can be Troop Scribe. They
are encouraged to participate in Junior Leadership Training if they
have not done so. While everyone misses an occasional meeting or
outdoor event, outstanding attendance is essential to the Troop
Scribe's job. In order to receive credit for leadership, the
Troop Scribe must participate in the vast majority of troop meetings
and events. While no specific number of permissible absences is
specified, the expectation is that the Troop Scribe will miss a
maximum of four (4) regularly scheduled meetings during his six month
tenure. While no specific number of permissible absences is
specified, the expectation is that the Troop Scribe will attend at
least two thirds (2/3) of the camp-outs and other troop events during
his six month tenure.
c) Method of election/appointment: The Troop Scribe is
appointed from among volunteers by the SPL in consultation with the
Scoutmaster. The Troop Scribe must have volunteered for the
position. Should no scout volunteer, the position must remain
vacant.
6) Troop Historian
a) Job description: The Troop Historian makes a written and
pictorial record of the members of the troop and their activities
during his six month tenure. The minimum requirement is that the
Troop Historian produce a binder that includes photographs and names
of each active member of the troop, pictures from at least two regular
troop meetings, and photographs and other documentation for at least
two thirds (2/3) of the non-meeting activities. This
binder becomes property of the troop and must be presented to the
troop at the Court of Honor immediately following the end of the Troop
Historian's term of office. A web site meeting the same
requirements may be submitted in lieu of the binder. The Troop
Historian is welcome to attend all planning meetings, but does not
vote at such meetings.
note: Troop Historians should understand that they must pay for the
materials they use. The troop will not reimburse for photo
developing or the purchase of binders, plastic sleeves, or other
materials.
b) Requirements. Scouts of any rank can be Troop Scribe.
The only requirement for the Troop Historian is that he presents the
completed binder (or website) as described above. Historians
should understand that they will receive no credit at all if their
materials are not submitted.
c) Method of election/appointment: The Troop Historian is
appointed from among volunteers by the SPL in consultation with the
Scoutmaster. The Troop Historian must have volunteered for the
position. Should no scout volunteer, the position must remain
vacant.
Discontinuous Discretionary Positions: The following positions are
appointed on an "as needed" basis. It is not yet clear that
there are always projects for those who hold these positions. If
the Scoutmaster and the SPL determine that there are inadequate
ongoing duties for the holders of these positions, they will not be
filled.
7) Quartermaster
a) Job Description: The Troop Quartermaster organizes and maintains
control over the equipment owned by the troop. He organizes and
controls the inventory of the equipment room. He checks all
equipment to determine if it is in proper operating condition and, if
it is not, works with youth and adult leaders to determine if it
should be repaired, discarded, and/or replaced.
Note: In some troops, this is a key position. In our patrol
system, each patrol appoints a patrol quartermaster for each event
requiring equipment. Since patrols own and control their own
equipment, it is not clear that a troop quartermaster is required.
The troop quartermaster thus only has a meaningful job when there are
specific tasks to be done regarding troop equipment.
b) Requirements: When a Scout is appointed Quartermaster, he
will meet with the Scoutmaster and SPL as well as other adult leaders
to determine a list of goals for his six month tenure. This list
of goals must be in writing and must be posted in the equipment room.
The Scout will only receive leadership credit for holding the
Quartermaster position if, in the opinion of the Scoutmaster he has
done his best to meet the goals he and the other leaders have set.
c) c) Method of election/appointment: The Troop Quartermaster is
appointed from among volunteers by the SPL in consultation with the
Scoutmaster. The Troop Quartermaster must have volunteered for the
position. Should no scout volunteer, the position must remain
vacant.
8) Librarian
a) Job Description: The Troop Librarian organizes and maintains
control over the troop library. In consultation with other youth
and adult leaders, he determines books and other equipment to be be
acquired. He checks books out to both scouts and adults.
He is responsible for maintaining both books and library room in good
condition.
Note: It seems to me that simply checking a book in or out a few
times over a six month period is not enough to qualify as leadership.
So, at least provisionally, like the quartermaster's job, the
librarian's is only meaningful when there are specific tasks to be
done.
b) Requirements: The librarian must be available to check books in
and out. This means he must be present at the vast majority of
meetings. While no specific number of permissible absences is
specified, the expectation is that the Troop Librarian will miss a
maximum of four (4) regularly scheduled meetings during his six month
tenure. While no specific number of permissible absences is
specified, the expectation is that the Troop Librarian will attend at
least two thirds (2/3) of the camp-outs and other troop events during
his six month tenure. In addition, When a Scout is appointed
Librarian, he will meet with the Scoutmaster and SPL as well as other
adult leaders to determine a list of goals for his six month tenure.
This list of goals must be in writing and must be posted in the
library. The Scout will only receive leadership credit for
holding the Librarian position if, in the opinion of the Scoutmaster
he has done his best to meet the goals he and the other leaders have
set.
Irregular Positions: The following two positions are irregular in
that their appointment calendar is different than the other positions
and whether or not they are filled depends on factors that are largely
beyond our control.
9) Troop Guide
a) Job Description: The Troop Guide works with incoming scouts in
the New Scouts Patrol. He helps them organize, select and name
and create a flag. He facilitates their transition to Scouting
by working with them to complete all procedures relative to the smooth
running of our scouting program. The Troop Guide is expected to
spend a substantial amount of time with the New Scout Patrol at each
meeting and event.
Note: Of course, having a troop guide depends on having a
sufficiently large New Scout Patrol.
b) Requirements. To be Troop Guide a scout must rank First
Class or above and have at least one full year of experience in Troop
1954. While no specific number of permissible absences is
specified, the expectation is that the Troop Guide will miss a maximum
of four (4) regularly scheduled meetings during his six month tenure.
While no specific number of permissible absences is specified, the
expectation is that the Troop Guide will attend at least two thirds
(2/3) of the camp-outs and other troop events during his six month
tenure.
c) Method of election/appointment: The Troop Guide is
appointed from among volunteers by the SPL in consultation with the
Scoutmaster. Troop Guides are appointed only at the April troop
elections. By the end of their six month tenure, the New Scout
Patrol should be ready to proceed without them. Therefore, no
troop guides are appointed in October.
10) Den Chief
a) Job Description: The Den Chief works with a Webelos I or Webelos
II Cub Scout Den. He serves as a role model for younger boys and
helps the adult Den Leader accomplish his goals. His duties are
largely set by the Cub Scout Den Leader.
b) Requirements: To be a Den Chief, a scout should rank First
Class or above and have at least one full year of experience in Troop
1954. A Den Chief is expected to attend the vast majority of the
regular meetings of his Cub Scout Den as well as Troop 1954. He
is encouraged but not required to go on trips and campouts with his
Cub Scout Den. For a Den Chief to receive leadership credit, the
adult Den Leader must certify that he has filled his responsibilities
adequately.
c) Method of election/appointment: Den Chiefs are generally
appointed in response to requests from Cub Scout Dens. The Den
Chief is appointed from among volunteers by the SPL in consultation
with the Scoutmaster. Den Chief appointments do not correspond
to the troop election cycle. Instead, to the degree possible,
they run concurrently with the September to May Cub Scout schedule
(generally, cub dens do not meet as dens in the summer).
Ideally, Den Chiefs are appointed in September and serve until May.
However, they may be appointed at any time. They will only
receive leadership credit for months served between September and May.
Next week, more on financial aid.
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