BSA Troop 203
Original Adopted Bylaws Dated
Revised
Boy
Scout Troop 203 is chartered by the Boy Scouts of
I.
Purpose of the
Troop
Troop 203 was organized in 1976 to
provide a quality Scouting program for boys ages 11-17, following the guidelines
of the Boy Scouts of America as cited in the Boy Scout Handbook, Scoutmaster
Handbook, the Troop Committee Guidebook, and the Guide to
Safe Scouting.
Scouting’s Objective: To develop future
Leaders of strong character, good citizenship, and physical, mental and moral fitness.
Scouting’s Methods: Scout Promise, Law,
Motto, and Slogan. Patrol system, outdoor program, advancement, adult role
models, boy leadership development, personal growth, scout uniform.
II.
Troop
Organization
The chain of command gives the Scoutmaster
and then the Assistant Scoutmasters principal responsibility for the welfare of
the Scouts at all meetings and on all trips. There shall be a minimum of two
adults, one being a registered leader, at all outings and meetings. The Senior
Patrol Leader and/or the Junior Assistant Scoutmasters are the ranking youth
leaders. The SPL reports to the Adult Uniformed Leaders. Patrol leaders report
to the SPL. Scouts report to their Patrol Leader. The Troop 203 organization
includes the following components:
Chartered Organization
Uniformed Adult Leaders, consisting of
the Scoutmaster, who is appointed by the Committee Chairman, and Assistant
Scoutmasters.
Troop Committee, lead by the Committee
Chairman, who is appointed by the Chartered Organization Representative. Troop
203 Committee Positions are: Treasurer,
Advancement Chairman, Outdoor Activities Chairman, Fundraising Chairman,
Webmaster, Recording Secretary, and Quartermaster. The Troop Committee
treasurer will create and the Committee will approve an annual budget, which
shall be closely monitored and maintained, based on the needs of the Troop.
Patrols, lead by an elected or appointed
Patrol Leader, and overseen by the elected Senior Patrol Leader
Patrol Leader’s Council. The Council duties are to plan and lead the
troop program under the guidance of the Scoutmaster, who trains the members and
has ultimate responsibility over all decisions made. Members of the PLC are the
Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, Assistant
Scoutmasters, and the Scoutmaster.
Parents and Guardians. Participation is strongly encouraged and
needed to carry out a well-rounded Scouting program. Parents are asked to
attend every Court of Honor, make arrangements to pick up their Scout on time
after every meeting or outing, plan and participate in at least one campout per
year, and to volunteer to be a Troop Committee member and merit badge
counselor.
Troop Membership. Active Scouts are expected to be in full
uniform at meetings and “Class B” attire at outings, unless otherwise specified
by the Scoutmaster. All members must meet the behavior standards of the Troop.
III.
Participation
Standards
Because camping is the heart of
Scouting, the Troop expects Scouts to attend overnight camping trips and make
every effort to attend annual summer camp. A Scout must comply with the
following items to be considered “active” and to be eligible for rank
advancement:
Attend 60% of regular Troop meetings.
Attend 80% of PLC meetings if required
by their position of responsibility.
Attend 60% of Outdoor Program
functions.
Display Scout Spirit and commitment to
Service
Pay their dues in full. If there is
financial hardship, the Committee Chairman should be notified confidentially.
If a Scout does not comply with the
aforementioned standards, they can be denied advancement until they display a
commitment, Scout Spirit, and pays his dues. This decision resides with the
Scoutmaster.
Troop election for Senior Patrol Leader
will take place every six months, unless the Scoutmaster evaluates the need to
make a change sooner. The minimum rank for a Troop 203 Senior Patrol Leader is
First Class, and he should have held at least one other position of
responsibility in the Troop. The Senior Patrol Leader should attend all outings
and events.
IV.
Behavior
Standards
Troop 203 expects reasonable behavior
in accordance with the Scout Oath and Law. All adults participating in Troop
activities will abide by BSA policies and procedures, and the Troop 203 bylaws.
Disputes must be settled in a civil manner. Problems should be reported to the
Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader, who should try to solve the dispute. If
this is not possible, the Scoutmaster or other adult leaders should be
notified.
The Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster
has the right at any time to counsel any Scout whose behavior has been deemed
by any adult to be disruptive. If the counseling by the SM or ASM fails, the
Scout may be dismissed from the activity and his parents will be notified of
the problem. If the infraction is serious enough to warrant such action, the SM
or ASM has the authority to call the parent or guardian to pick up their Scout
from an event, regardless of the time or place of the event. If the behavior is
of a serious or endangering nature, the matter should be referred to a
Disciplinary Committee within the Troop Committee, and our District Executive
and Charter Organization should be notified by the Scoutmaster or Committee
Chairman.
Additionally, the following rules will
apply:
Adults are strongly discouraged from
smoking at any Troop events.
Scouts are forbidden to use cigarettes,
tobacco in any form, pipes, alcohol, or drugs at any activity. If the Scout
needs to take medication, the medication and directions should be given to the
Scoutmaster or the registered leader in charge to hold and administer under
most circumstances.
Fighting will not be tolerated.
Profanity will not be tolerated.
Control of bodily functions is
expected.
Payments from one scout to another to
avoid performing a task are not permitted.
Gambling in any form is not permitted. However,
games of chance and cards are allowed if played for fun.
No Scout will damage or destroy camp,
Troop, or personal gear. This is considered vandalism. Scouts responsible for
such an act will be held accountable for monetary remuneration to replace any
damaged gear.
A Scout should not take food or gear
that belongs to another Scout or patrol without his/their prior consent.
Knives are only allowed to be carried
after the Scout completes training in the safe use and care of a knife. Upon
completion of the training, he will be awarded a Totin’ Chip card.
Violations to the standards of behavior
may require disciplinary action as determined by a Disciplinary Committee (see
Section V).
V.
Discipline
Discipline needs to be positive
whenever possible, reflecting Scouting values, and it must be applied using
common sense and fairness. Troop 203 does not permit hazing or corporal
punishment of any kind.
The Scoutmaster, in concert with the
Troop Committee’s Disciplinary Committee may take appropriate actions to deal
with inappropriate Scout behavior in the following situations:
Illegal conduct (in or out of
Scouting). Criminal activity is forbidden and shall be grounds for immediate
suspension or termination from Troop 203.
Illicit use of drugs, alcohol and
cigarettes and other tobacco products (in or out of Scouting).
Possession of contraband, such as
fireworks, sheath knives, pellet guns, sling shots, etc., which is in violation
of Troop, camp or local rules and regulations.
Fighting, bullying, hazing, or
harassing another Scout in or out of Troop 203.
Stealing from another Scout or person.
Refusal to abide by Troop policies
which are seriously detrimental to the welfare of the Troop.
Willful disregard of the Scout Law or
Scout Promise.
The Troop Disciplinary Committee shall
consist of the Troop Committee Chairman, the Advancement Chairman, and the
Scoutmaster. In the event that one of these individuals cannot attend, the
Committee Chairman or Scoutmaster may appoint an Assistant Scoutmaster or Committee
Member to serve in their place. Misconduct should be reported to the
Scoutmaster and/or Committee Chairman as soon after the incident as possible. Following
the reported incident, the Disciplinary Committee will convene a hearing. The
person reporting the infraction should attend the hearing. The Disciplinary
Committee may request the Scout involved and his parents/guardians to be
present at their discretion. If the leader filing the report is a member of the
Disciplinary Committee, that person will be replaced on the Disciplinary
Committee by a Committee Member or uniformed leader at the hearing. The
exception to this rule is the Scoutmaster who may file the report and also
serve on the Disciplinary Committee.
VI.
Safety
Offenses
Safety first!
Scouts must not endanger other Scouts
or adults.
Unauthorized use of flammable devices
is forbidden.
Safety offenses will be dealt with as
follows:
First offense: the Scout will be excluded from rank
advancement, Troop meetings and Troop outings for up to six months. The exact
term will be determined by the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee Chairman.
Second offense: The Scout will be excluded from rank
advancement, Troop meetings and Troop outings for up to three years. The exact
term will be determined by the Scoutmaster and the Troop Committee Chairman.
If a Scout endangers his life or the
life of another, he will be sent home immediately. The Scoutmaster will call
the Scout’s parents and have them come to the campsite or meeting place to pick
him up, regardless of the time of day.
If a Scout deliberately disobeys the
adult leaders or commits an offense that repeatedly causes a problem for the
adult leaders or another boy, the Scout’s parents may be called to pick up the
Scout immediately from whatever event is in progress, regardless of the time or
location.
Aquatic related safety is outlined in
Section VIII.
VII.
Uniform
Standards
The standard Troop 203 field or Class A
uniform consists of the following: BSA official uniform shorts or pants, shirt
with insignia sewn on in proper places, belt, socks, closed toe shoes and Troop
203 neckerchief with BSA slide.
The Class B uniform consists of the
following: BSA official uniform shorts or pants, belt, socks, Troop 203 or
other Boy Scout tee shirt and closed toe shoes.
The Class A or field uniform is to be
worn to Troop meetings during the school year, to travel to and from outings,
to Boards of Review, Courts of Honor, and on Scout Sunday. A Scout is expected
to have a uniform within 30 days of joining the troop.
The Class B uniform may be worn to
summer Troop meetings, at summer camp, and at campouts and outings as
determined by the Scoutmaster.
VIII.
Weekly Troop
Meetings
Troop 203 has a standard meeting time
of each Monday from
PLC meetings are held the second Monday
of the month, unless there is a conflict on the calendar.
Troop Committee meetings are held the
third Monday of each month, unless there is a conflict on the calendar.
Scouts should not be dropped off more
than 15 minutes prior to scheduled meeting times, and then only if a Troop
official is present, unless special arrangements have been made to arrive
earlier.
Scouts MUST be picked up by their
parent or guardian within 15 minutes of the meeting’s end.
Scouts must remain on church property
at all times once they are dropped off unless they have special permission from
an adult leader.
Objects such as skateboards, roller
blades, laser pointers, and video games are not to be brought to any Scout
meetings. Cellular telephones should be in silent mode at Scout meetings and
only used for emergencies.
Scouts are expected to be courteous to
any leaders and speakers. They should pay attention to presentations and
refrain from talking during presentations and Troop announcements.
Fighting, wrestling, and roughhousing
will not be tolerated. Incidents may be forwarded to the Troop Disciplinary
Committee for appropriate action if necessary.
Scouts must be prepared for
pre-assigned tasks at each meeting, and honor the assignments that their patrol
is given.
IX.
The Board of
Review
The Board of Review (BOR) meetings will
be conducted and staffed in accordance with BSA policies. Parents of a Scout
may not attend their son’s BOR. A Scout appearing before a BOR must wear a
complete uniform and have his signed Scout book with him.
For Eagle projects the Troop Committee
Chairman is the only Committee member who can sign the Eagle application, in
accordance with Troop 203 policy, unless another Committee member is designated
by the Chairman.
X.
Court of Honor
Ceremony
Troop Court of Honor (COH) ceremonies
are generally held three times per year: fall, winter and spring. Complete
Scout field uniforms are required attire. Attendance is mandatory, even if a
Scout is not advancing in rank or receiving an award. Exceptions will be
granted by the Scoutmaster on a case by case basis. The cost of the Troop’s
COHs will be included in the Troop’s annual budget.
Eagle Courts of Honor will be arranged
and financed by the Eagle candidate’s family.
XI.
Troop Outings
and Camping Trip Administration
To attend an outing, the Scout’s dues
must be paid in full. The cost of the trip must be paid in full in order for
the Scout to attend. If there are financial difficulties that would prevent the
Scout from participation, the parent should speak confidentially to the
Committee Chairman to work out different arrangements, as the Troop budget
allows.
Permission slips must be completed and
signed by the Scout’s parent or legal guardian in order for the Scout to participate.
Parents are expected to assist with
transportation to ensure that all Scouts can attend the trip.
If enough transportation or adult
supervision cannot be secured to take all Scouts, the camping trip/outing may
be cancelled at the discretion of the Scoutmaster or trip leader.
All passengers on outings are to wear
seatbelts. No Scouts can operate a motor vehicle or transport other Scouts at a
Scouting event, in accordance with BSA policy.
Parents are not to leave the drop-off
point for a Troop outing until the Troop departs.
XII.
Troop Outings
and Camping Trip Behavior and Conduct
The buddy system is in effect on all
trips. A Scout is never to be alone.
Common sense, the Scout Oath and Law
dictate a Scout’s behavior on all trips.
Playing with fire, lighters, or liquid
fuels are not permitted on any Scout outing unless authorized by an adult
leader, and only for its expressed use.
Scouts are expected to remain with the
Troop at all times, unless the Scoutmaster or adult leader grants permission to
do otherwise. For example, part of the Troop may be authorized to fish, hike,
or participate in a special activity. If a Scout is granted permission, he is
required to let the Scoutmaster know where he is going, what is the purpose,
what route will be taken, the specific location, and the anticipated time of
return.
In the event that a Scout party fails
to return at a designated time, a missing Scout drill shall be conducted. A
head count will be taken and a search will be organized and conducted by the
Scoutmaster or other adult leader. The BSA two-deep leadership policy shall be
followed at all times. Any emergencies, injuries or conduct violations will be
recorded by the Scoutmaster or adult leader, and a summary of the events will
be reviewed immediately by the Troop Committee chairman and formally presented
at the next Committee meeting.
XIII.
Troop 203
Aquatic Activities Rules
BSA Guide to Safe Scouting, Safe Swim
and Safety Afloat principals are to be followed at all times.
No Scout shall swim or boat without the
express permission from the Scoutmaster or ranking adult leader.
Adult who have completed the BSA Safe
Swim Defense course should be present at all aquatic activities.
The buddy system will always be in
effect during aquatic activities.
Any swimming area must be checked by an
adult leader before use.
Personal flotation devices must be worn
on all boating events by all scouts and leaders at all times.
Canoes, rowboats, sailboats, or kayaks
must never be rammed into one another or other obstacles in the water.
Any damages, lost paddles, or lost
personal flotation devices must be replaced by the individual Scout to whom the
gear was assigned.
Violations are considered a safety
infraction and can be referred to the Disciplinary Committee.
XIV.
Searches
Scouting is based on trust. Unfortunately,
some Scouts may abuse this trust and bring contraband or steal from other
Scouts. The adult leaders have an obligation to protect Scouts from harmful
influences. Recognizing the difficulty of learning about such influences in a
timely manner, we must reserve the right to ask a Scout to present the contents
of his pockets, pack, trunk, tent or other belongings when the situation
presents itself. Only the Scoutmaster or other adult leader in charge is
empowered to conduct such a search, and then, with another adult present.
XV.
Summer Camp
Fees and deadlines for summer camp,
Philmont, Boundary Waters, or Sea Base will be published and strictly followed.
The Troop must follow payment due dates established by the destination, or the
trip could be cancelled.
Fully completed and signed permission
slips must be turned in on time.
Fully completed and signed medical
forms must be turned in on time.
XVI.
Permission
Slips
A standard Troop 203 permission slip
will be used for all trips, campouts, and other activities.
A complete, signed permission slip must
be turned in by the trip deadline, or the Scout will not be allowed to
participate.
XVII. Dues and Fees
Troop fees, paid at the time of
Recharter, are presently set at $15 for the year. Dues are presently set at
$1.00 per meeting week, based on 40 meetings per year, whether or not the Scout
attends the meeting. Dues are collected by the patrol leader, who keeps records
and gives the money and information to the Troop Scribe. The Scribe will keep
accurate records, and notify Scouts if they owe dues.
All dues and fees must be paid in full
for the Scout to participate in meetings, outings, and events. If there is
financial hardship, the Troop Committee Chairman should be confidentially
notified for other arrangements to be made.
If a check does not clear the bank, the
check writer will pay the Troop’s bank penalty charge, as well as reimburse the
Troop for the denied check.
XVIII. Fund Raising
Fund raising is a very important part
of the Troop operation. The money raised pays for the purchase and maintenance
of Troop equipment, merit badges, Courts of Honor and Troop activities.
Troop 203 annual fundraisers include
the Troop Car Wash, popcorn sale, Family Fest sale, and plant sale. Every Scout
in Troop 203 is required to participate in these annual fundraisers unless
parents contact the Scoutmaster or Committee Chairman for prior approval
concerning special circumstances. Failure to participate in fundraising could
have bearing on advancement due to lack of Scout Spirit. Other fundraisers may
occur periodically as needed.
Individual Scout accounts are
established for Scouts to help pay for their outings, summer camp, annual
registration, and Committee pre-approved purchases from the Scout Shop (e.g.,
uniforms, Eagle Court of Honor supplies, merit badge supplies, etc.). The
percentages designated to the Scout accounts are as follows:
Troop Car
Wash 1/3 of total funds raised based on
time worked
Popcorn
Family Fest
Plant
Individual Scout groups may have
fundraisers for high adventure outings, with the Scoutmaster’s and Committee
Chairman’s approval.
If a Scout should leave Troop 203, the
money in his Troop Account remains with the Troop.
Parents are strongly encouraged to
participate in Troop fundraisers.
XIX.
Troop Equipment
Policy
The Troop Quartermaster (QM) is
responsible for the care, maintenance and safeguarding of all Troop gear. Troop
gear is assigned to each patrol by the Troop QM. Patrols are 100% accountable
for the gear assigned to them. All gear should be complete and in good
condition (cleaned, folded, or rolled properly).
A list of all gear must be maintained
by the Troop QM. All should be inspected and updated twice annually.
All gear should be returned at the
meeting following the event on which it was used. Broken gear should still be
returned. It should be marked as broken. Final disposition of broken gear will
be made by the Scoutmaster and the QM. Members of the chain of command are
responsible for damages or loss of Troop equipment. The Scoutmaster will
determine who is accountable for the costs associated with the damages or loss.
Costs will normally be assessed on a per person basis if the damage was
deliberate.
Individuals may bring their personal
gear at their own risk. No electronic devices are permitted. The Troop is not
liable for personal gear damaged at Troop events.
XX.
Troop
Committee
The Troop Committee is lead by the
Committee Chairman, who is appointed by the Charter Organization
Representative. Troop 203 Committee Positions are: Treasurer, Advancement
Chairman, Outdoor Activities Chairman, Fundraising Chairman, Webmaster,
Recording Secretary, and Quartermaster.
The Committee Chairman maintains a
close relationship with the Chartered Organization Representative and the
Scoutmaster. The Chairman interprets national and local policies for the Troop.
The Chairman works closely with the Scoutmaster in preparing the Troop
Committee meeting agenda. The Chairman will call, preside over, and promote
attendance at monthly Troop Committee meetings and any special meetings that
may be called. The chairman arranges for Re-Charter annually.
The behavior of the adults in Committee
meetings should be in accordance with the Scout Oath and Law.
The Troop Committee treasurer will
create and present and the Committee will approve an annual budget, which shall
be closely monitored and maintained, based on the needs of the Troop. The Troop
Committee is responsible for finances, adequate funds, and disbursements in
line with the approved budget plan. The Treasurer will work closely with the
Troop Scribe to insure that dues are being collected and recorded accurately.
The Troop Committee sees to it that the
quality adult leadership is recruited, available and trained.
The Advancement Chairman will encourage
Scouts to advance in rank, arrange Boards of Review, develop and maintain a
merit badge counselor list, report advancement monthly to the Council service
center, and arrange the program for the Troop Courts of Honor. The Advancement
Chairman should check with the Scribe to be sure all fees are up-to-date before
advancing the Scout to the next rank. The advancement Chairman should work with
the Troop Librarian to be sure that merit badge pamphlets are available.
The Outdoor Activities Chairman will
arrange monthly outings, inform the Scouts of upcoming events, and secure
transportation. Records of all Troop activities should be maintained by the
Outdoor Activities Chairman.
The Scoutmaster and the Committee
Chairman should ideally be from different families.
The Troop Committee operates under the
small group method in Robert’s Rules of Order.
Passage of a Troop Committee vote
requires a simple majority and the presence of a minimum of two officers and
one other Committee member, except for changing the bylaws as indicated in
Section XXII. Only registered Committee members may cast a vote. The Assistant
Scoutmasters may attend Committee meetings by special arrangement with the
Committee chairman. This is so that Committee members may speak freely
regarding Troop issues.
XXI.
Annual Review
of Bylaws
The Troop 203 bylaws should be reviewed
annually by the Scoutmaster with all active Boy Scouts and adult leaders. The
Troop Committee will constantly monitor the bylaws to determine if any changes
need to be made. Changes to the bylaws are addressed in Section XXII.
XXII. Changes to Bylaws
Requests for changes to the bylaws
should be submitted to the Troop Committee Chairman. Requests can be made by
any uniformed leader or Troop Committee member. Requests should be in writing.
Committee members will be given
advanced notice via reasonable means regarding Troop bylaws proposed changes. Changes
to the bylaws of Troop 203 must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the Troop
Committee members in attendance, and the presence of at least two officers and
one other Committee member. Revisions to the bylaws will be published and
distributed to all Scouts to share with their parents/guardians as soon as
reasonably possible after the changes have been made. The revision dates should
appear on the front page of the bylaws.
Scouts will be notified of the bylaws
and/or any changes to the bylaws at the next regular Scout meeting.