• If a scout wants to attend an event, they need to sign up in the Troop Red
Book, a red 3-ring binder that is present at every meeting. If they sign up we
assume they will be at the event and it is their responsibility to tell you that
they signed up.
• Unless there are extenuating circumstances a scout must attend one of the two
meetings before an event in order to go on the event, preferably the meeting
when event details are discussed. Although everyone is busy, it is frowned upon
for scouts to attend events only but rarely meetings.
• Our troop welcomes busy scouts. There are always scouts who miss meetings due
to sports, clubs, karate, church, homework, etc. Occasionally we have a scout
who misses a whole season of meetings because his sports practice falls on
Tuesday nights. If that happens, let me know. Otherwise put schoolwork first and
participate as much as possible. The more he participates, the more he will get
out of it.
• The troop dues are $1 cash per meeting and each scout owes the $1 even if they
do not attend the meeting. They can pay it at the next meeting that they attend.
• Class A uniform is the beige scout shirt. At formal events such as a
Court-of-Honor, Scoutmaster Conference, Board of Review, Memorial Day Parade,
Arrow of Light, or dinner at Camp Yawgoog the Class A also includes the
Neckerchief, slide, scout socks and shorts.
• The Class B uniform is the blue/green scout T-shirt. This is worn to Activity
Meetings at the Richmond school, events at Camp Richard, and some other events.
At Camp Yawgoog they will be given a red Class B T-shirt that can be worn
instead of the blue/green T-shirt. |
• If a scout
has problems, they should go to their patrol leader first, if it is not
resolved the Senior Patrol Leader second, and if it is still not
resolved the Scoutmaster. If he is not comfortable following this
procedure, he can always see another adult leader. We are always open to questions or
comments. • The New Scout Patrols are temporary until they become accustomed to the
program. Usually at summer camp or early fall we divide the new scouts into
mixed-age patrols.
• Occasionally the troop will use a phone tree to call the troop with details
about meetings and events. This is usually done when information needs to be
disseminated quickly and email is not practical. The Senior Patrol Leader will
call the Patrol Leaders who will call each of their patrol members.
• New scouts seem to always be somewhat confused about how merit badges work.
The process of getting a blue card (also called the Application for Merit Badge),
getting it signed and filled out, and connecting with a merit badge counselor
can be a lot for a new scout until he has done it several times. We will help
him through it in the beginning and he will have a number of opportunities to
participate in troop sponsored merit badges or summer camp merit badges, where
we help him with the blue cards. If you find that your son is interested in
working on a merit badge but is confused about the process, please let me know.
Scouts can work on merit badges at any time after joining.
• It is important to help your son develop an at-home system for keeping his
scout material organized. This includes a place to keep his scout clothing, Boy
Scout Handbook, and all of the blue cards, merit badge patches, certificates,
event patches, and his 'totin chip training card which allows him to use a pocket
knife, ax, or saw. An active scout will accumulate a lot of stuff. Older scouts
have found that a three ring binder with plastic sleeves for baseball cards work
well. |
