Adult Positions

[ICanCanoeCanU]

I would like to know if adults in the following positions are registered in your troop as Committee Members or Assistant Scoutmasters?

Also, who sits in on your board of reviews? Committee members only, assistant scoutmasters only or a combination of these adults?

Chaplan, Rank Advancement Coordinator, Training Coordinator.

[wagionvigil]

Members of the Committee

[BM_Crawford]

Yes, the Scoutmaster and at least one Assistant Scoutmaster (preferably more) sit on your Scoutmaster's Conference only; and the committe only sits on your Board of Review. There are exceptions where professional scouters can sit on BoR's member outside your specific committee but none of your scoutmasters.

[Guneukitschik]

Our Troop Committee allows the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader to sit in on the Troop Committee Meeting. However, they do NOT vote on anything. They do however offer a ton of vital information. We added the SPL so that he could make requests from the Patrol Leaders Council....It's been working out great.

[BM_Crawford]

Oh yes that happens often

[JimmyD]

When I was a SPL i also went to the meetings. It worked out great.

[Guneukitschik]

Yes it's hard to run a Troop Committee without any input from the Troop!

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Well thanks for all the comments. Yes, we do the same as most of you said. With a huge turnover of adults this year in our troop, these types of questions keep coming up and are debated.

We also like to include the SPL and assistant in some of our meetings but some adults didn't want them there because they feel uncomfortable speaking with the ears of the troop there? We've worked around this issue. One problem we have is lack of adults wanting to step in as ASM. They all want to be on the committee and they want to change the program. We remind them that this is different than Cub Scouts and that things don't always run as smoothly but the boys learn this way. Some adults don't understand the boy run aspect of the troop. We also don't want a glorified pack so we are encouraging more adults to go for training to help with the transistion and to learn the program better.

[RWSmith]

We also like to include the SPL and assistant in some of our meetings but some adults didn't want them there because they feel uncomfortable speaking with the ears of the troop there? We've worked around this issue. One problem we have is lack of adults wanting to step in as ASM. They all want to be on the committee and they want to change the program. We remind them that this is different than Cub Scouts and that things don't always run as smoothly but the boys learn this way. Some adults don't understand the boy run aspect of the troop. We also don't want a glorified pack so we are encouraging more adults to go for training to help with the transistion and to learn the program better.

I know you already know this; but, sounds like you could use a little encouragement... You, my friend, are on track. There are a lot of hands in the cookie jar right now. But, you've got your arms around it... So, don't let go!

It might help to remind your "committee members" that the BOR is just that... a review... a formality... not a test... not a pass / fail thang. There has to be something "grossly" in error -or- a technical oversight that a BOR stops a Scoput from advancing... be he Tenderfoot or Eagle. Once the Scout's SM Concerfence is passed, the BOR's job is nothing more than a check valve.. In fact, some might agrue there are more important reasons for the Committe to sit on the BOR... it's an opportunity for the boy to practice interviewing. This also gives the committee the opportunity to peak inside the boy's mind, if the right questions are asked, and find out what's going right and what's going wrong in the Troop. If you want to know if the SM or the PLC is getting it done... sit on a BOR.

[deweylure]

I have a question about the committee chairman. Our chairman recently told my son she would hold up his advancement because he disappointed her with his leadership. Our troop has many young scouts 11-12 year olds. Her son and my son were involved. She asked to speak to my son I agreed and then the ranting and raving started. It was all about my son, yet her sons strange behavior seems to be put to the side. The incident was my son in his 11 year old humor tried helping her boy with his phobias and the kid started saying he is picked on by everybody in the troop.

I regret letting her talk to my son. I am dissappointed with her threats to hold up advancement,especially when her son was not held up in his rank despite his frequent yelling ,disobedience to leaders and avoidance of work like cleaning pots and pans on outings. I have tried being a friend to her son ,I have tried getting the boys to act civil.

dewey

[Mrw]

I feel your pain here, but the Committee Chairman cannot , personally, hold up a boy's advancement. You are perfectly within your rights to have your boy speak with the SM during his SM conference and say he is concerned that htis person said these things to him.

Ask your Advancement Chair to pick others to sit on your son's BOR when it comes up if he (or you) is uncomfortable with the objectivity of the Committee Chair.

[evmori]

What does the SM have to say about this? This is the SM's area of responsibility, not the CC. The requirement is to "actively serve". There is no requirement as to how well. That should be defined by the SM & if the SM is OK with the Scout's leadership, 'nuff said.

[deweylure]

The scoutmaster sat in on the meeting. I spoke with him the next day and voiced my dismay that the boys who were involved were not corrected in the same manner. I know my son is not an angel and admit it . My concern is it takes two to tango. The scoutmaster did agree with me . As an assistant scoutmaster I am trying to be fair to all involved. I try to let other leaders at their request handle issues with discipline and I certainly have no problem telling my son to knock it off.
My point to the SM was if a boy is trying to live the oath and law to the best of his ability and pass all requirements they should not be held back.The requirement does not say live the oath and law to the expectations of your leaders

Dewey

[Scouting179]

"Our chairman recently told my son she would hold up his advancement because he disappointed her with his leadership."

This is the SM's call when he signs off the leadership requirement. If committee members have concerns about some Scout's performance, they should talk to the SM before the SM Conference is held so they are on the same wavelength.

For Tfoot to Life, only comm mbrs of a Scout's own troop may serve on a BOR. For Eagle, it's totally different and I suggest you read the adv manual.

[deweylure]

I believe this matter of wanting to hold up advancement is settled. The real issue was ibrought forward. If you decide to speak to one scout involved you should be speaking to both especially if its a discipline issue. Any way its on to more adventures with the troop.
Dewey

[chief36]

This is a great discussion and there is a great deal of good Ideas from different sources, However a good resourse is your Unit Commissioner. He is there to help, use him

[Lynda J]

Our CC seldom sets on a BOR. She does arrange that there are from 3-4 adults that are registered with the troop to sit. She also invites the COR to sit when he can. Our Mayor is also a former SM of this troop and is still registered he feels honored when he is ask to sit on a BOR.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Our Unit Commissioner is AOL from our troop. I've seen him attend our meeting about once a year. We've invited him to the last 2 Eagle Celebrations and he didn't show or even respond.

[chief36]

If your UC is not visiting your unit, contact your district Commissioner or attend the district committee meetings, they should be there, if not one of the district staff should be able to help