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By-Laws for Troop 99 Hampton Virginia
Organization and Charter
The name of this organization is Boy Scout troop 99. It operates under a charter granted to St. Marks United Methodist Church, located at 99 E. Mercury Blvd. Hampton Virginia
The purpose of this organization is to provide a Scouting Program which emphasizes character development, citizenship training, spiritual training, mental, and physical fitness in accordance with the guidelines and policies of the Boy Scouts of America to young men between the ages of 11 years of age to 18 years of age, regardless of race, creed, or color.
This charter is issued by the National Council on a yearly basis and must be renewed before the last day of January each year.
Committee
The Troop committee must consist of a Charter Organization Representative, a Committee Chair, and a minimum of two other adults, as per BSA policy. Any adult at least 18 years of age is eligible to register as a committee member. The committee shall include a vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer. Committee members are responsible for advancement, transportation, membership, and other provisions as needed.
Committee meetings will be held on the third Monday of each month at 7 PM. However the date and time may be modified by the committee chairman.
A Troop 99 quorum is considered convened when any four Committee Members are in attendance. With this understanding of a quorum, any business carried out and voted on will be become a written record and recorded by the secretary, and will become Troop policy providing a majority vote is received.
It is established that, the Committee Chairman (or vice chairman in his/her absence) can only vote in the event of a tie. It is further established that the Scoutmaster has no official vote on the committee. The Scoutmaster is permitted to present troop reports and/or requests at committee meetings.
Meetings
Troop 99 meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays at 7PM. at St. Marks United Methodist Church. The weekly meeting schedule may be modified by the Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader to allow for school/church activities, holidays, or any unforeseen problems.
All troop meetings must have two registered adult Scout leaders present, one leader must be fully trained, and both leaders must have current youth protection training, as required by BSA policy.
Patrol meetings are held during the regular troop meeting, additional patrol meetings may be held by the patrol leader of that patrol when approved by the senior patrol leader and the Scoutmaster. A monthly patrol leader’s council will be held on the second Tuesday of each month prior to the scheduled troop meeting.
Any scout absent for three consecutive troop meetings or three consecutive camping activities will be placed on inactive status unless the Scoutmaster is notified by the scout involved and the absence is excused by the Scoutmaster. Reinstatement may be requested after a Scoutmaster’s conference with the scout and his parents/legal guardian, and the committee chairman.
Scout activities and outings
All scout activities and outings planned by the troop or patrols must have the approval of the Troop Committee. A tour permit is required for each troop or patrol activity or outing, when the event is to be held somewhere other than St. Marks United Methodist Church property. Permission slips signed by the parent/legal guardian are required for all scouts attending the scout activity or the outing. Permission slips must be turned in two weeks prior to the date of the activity or outing. All monies /fees shall be collected in ful, one week prior to the activity or outing.
All troop outings must have at least two registered adult scout leaders and two adults over the age of 18 years of age and are current on their youth protection training as required by BSA policy, and must be present for the full duration of the troop outing At least one of the adult registered leader must be fully trained. Planned activities/meetings will be cancelled if these requirements are not met.
Membership
The size of the troop membership will remain unlimited provided the Scoutmaster and Troop committee feel there is sufficient adult leadership to safely conduct all scouting activities. Should the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee decide by a joint consensus that there is insufficient leadership for the size of the troop membership; the following priority selection procedure will be implemented:
- Boy Scouts transferring from other Troops or programs.
- Webelos from local packs (13, 27, 30, 184, etc.)
- New boys to the scouting program.
Any boy desiring membership should contact the Scoutmaster.
Dues are collected annually. The amount of the dues is established and voted on by the Troop Committee annually.
Patrol assignments
Webelo scouts and boys new to scouting will be assigned to the new scout patrol.
They will be assigned for one year or until the rank of first class is achieved.
All scouts will be assigned a patrol, their assignment must be agreed upon by the Patrol Leader, the Senior Patrol Leader, and the Scoutmaster. Transfer from one patrol to another patrol is subject to approval by the respective patrol leaders, the Senior Patrol Leader, and the Scoutmaster.
Scouts who achieve the rank of life scout may elect to join the Senior Scout Patrol.
All patrols will consist of an adult advisor, a Patrol Leader, and Assistant Patrol Leader.
Boy leadership
The Senior Patrol Leader and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, Assistant patrol leaders, and all other positions held by scouts are elected by the troop semi-annually. Elections are held semi-annually to facilitate the six-month criteria for holding a troop position towards rank advancement. Patrol leaders may appoint patrol members to patrol jobs; these do not count towards rank advancement. Failure to do the duties of the appointed position, lack of attendance, or poor scout spirit may be grounds for removal from that appointed position by the Scoutmaster only. If an appointed positions becomes vacant the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol leader may assign the appointed position to a qualified scout. The qualified scout will hold the appointed position until the next elections. Scouts may not hold an appointed position for more than two terms. The Scoutmaster with recommendations from the Assistant Scoutmasters will assign Den Chiefs to a local pack to assist the respective Den Leader with the approval of the Den Leader and the pack’s Cubmaster.
“REMINDER”
As a “Boy ran troop” those who are in a leadership position and those who are not, as per BSA policy: “Any form of hazing, initiations, ridicule, or inappropriate teasing is PROHIBITED!!
Along these lines no scout may discipline another Scout. This will affect the signing off scout spirit for rank of advancement and/or removal from a leadership position.
Adult Responsibilities
The Troop Committee Chairman registration is approved by the Charter Organization Representative. All other adult registrations are approved by the Committee Chairman and the Charter Organization Representative. Committee members may be assigned responsibilities by the committee chairman. The Scoutmaster is responsible for Assistant Scoutmasters assignments and is responsible to the Troop Committee for the troop’s weekly program. The Scoutmaster and the Patrol leader Council will develop the yearly program. The scoutmaster and senior Patrol Leader will present the yearly program to the Troop Committee for its approval. The Troop Committee will publish the yearly program after it is approved. The yearly program should include troop outings, council events, Court-of-honors, fund-raisers, etc.
Awards
The troop will furnish all the basic awards that are presented to scouts at the Court of honor. These include various service pins, badges of office, ranks, mother’s pins, and merit badges with the appropriate cards. Dues must be kept up to date, failure to do so will result in the scout’s awards being withheld. Scouts will be held responsible for the cost to replace lost or damaged awards.
In order for a scout to earn awards, he must meet the requirements stated in the current Boy Scout Handbook, specific merit badge booklets, and those outlined in the adopted Troop 99 advancement Guidelines. Requirements shall be initialed off at weekly troop meetings by the Scoutmaster or the Assistant Scoutmaster. Presentation of Rank badges will be after successful completion of the scout’s board of review. Formal recognition of rank advancement and other awards, including merit badges, will be at the Troop Court of Honor.
Troops Court of Honor
The Troop Court of Honor will be held quarterly or as deemed necessary by the Troop Committee. Troop court of honors will be used to recognize both Scouts and Leaders. Eagle Courts Of honors are planned and carried out by the Eagle candidate and his parents. The date and time should be coordinated with the Scoutmaster if use of St. Marks United Methodist Church facilities will be utilized. The troop flag and other “props” maybe used by the Eagle candidate upon request.
The Troop committee is responsible for the confirmation and documentation of all rank advancement, including merit badges, but not the Eagle Scout rank. The Eagle rank is done at the district level, sent through the Colonial Virginia Council, and completed at the National BSA office in Irving, Texas.
Uniforms
Uniforms will be worn by The Scoutmaster, the Assistant Scoutmasters, Junior Assistant Scoutmasters, the Senior Patrol Leader, and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader at each meeting. Uniforms should be obtained 30 days after registration. Committee members are encouraged to acquire Scout Uniforms. The class “A” uniform is required for inspections, the first Tuesday of every month, Scoutmasters conferences, Board of Reviews, and all Court of Honors.
Class “A” Uniform
- Shirt – Tan, official scout shirt long or short sleeved (green if in a crew).
- Trousers or shorts – Olive drab, official, required when attending summer camp or advancing in rank.
- Cap – Not required. If a scout cap or troop cap is worn the visor is in front.
- Neckerchief w/slide – The troop does not have a Troop neckerchief. Scouts who have reached the rank of Eagle may wear the Eagle Scout neckerchief, or bolo.
- Belt – Official required when wearing official Scout shorts or trousers. Required when advancing to Star, Life, and Eagle. Any belt is required when wearing shorts or trousers with belt loops.
- Socks – Official, required when wearing scout trousers or shorts. Required when advancing in rank.
- Shoes – Clean and compatible with good appearance, tennis shoes or sneakers are acceptable as long as they are not tattered, raggedy, torn, or dirty. Cleats are prohibited on church floors.
- Insignia – All insignia will be official BSA and will be worn in accordance with current BSA insignia guidelines.
Class “B” Uniform
Class “B” uniform consist of a troop 99 “T” grey shirt or a scout “T” shirt, shorts or pants, socks, shoes, and a belt. Class “B” uniforms will not be worn during court of honors, the first Tuesday of the month, Scoutmasters conferences, or board of reviews.
Class “A” or class “B” uniforms will not be worn at any fund-raising event except when approved by BSA guidelines.
Budget
The Troops annual budget will run in concurrence with the charter year (Jan. 31st. – Dec 31st). It is the policy of the Troop Committee that dues paid by the scouts will cover the cost of various service pins, badges of office, ranks, parent pins, and merit badges with the appropriate cards. This may be supplemented by special fund-raising activities approved at the discretion of the Troop Committee.
Annual registration fees for Scouts and Leaders will be set by the Troop Committee in November of each year. These fees may change based on National BSA requirements. Fees will include monthly dues, registration, and boy’s life magazine subscription. Dues are paid annually. These fees shall be published for the troop no later than November 1st. to be paid by Dec. 1st.
The Troop Tee Shirt and the troop ball cap may be purchased at cost. These are not fund-raising items.
Activities and Outings fees shall be paid by the individual Scout. This fee is for transportation, council event fees, insurance, and a council sponsored patch. Fee for food is decided on the patrol level and is paid to the designated Grubmaster for the activity or event. This fee must be paid one week prior to the activity or event. Upon final arrangements or two weeks prior to the activity or outing, the Scout who has signed up must pay all activity or event fees involved.
Complaints
Any complaints in regards to the troop should first be taken up with the Scoutmaster or the Committee Chairman. If the complaint cannot be satisfactorily resolved, then it shall be taken up with the Chartered Organization Representative. After all other means have failed,
Complaints may be taken to the District Executive.
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