by mhjacobson » Mon Jul 07, 2008 10:36 pm
After reviewing the various manuals and guides on the issue, I can give you the skinny on the issue (I had a longer report, but since I do not speed key, I was timedoff the forum and lost all of my message.
From the Cubmasters Handbook, p 11-4
"Ownership of assets. The unit committee is the custodian of all unit funds, with supervision and adviosement from the chartered organization and local council.
From the Scoutmaster's Handbook, p 162
"Every scout troop, varsity scout team, venturing crew, and cub scout pack is operated by an organization granted a charter by the Natinal Council of the Boy SCouts of America. With this franchise, the chartered organization adopts Scouting as its youth program.
The section on dues and records is silent regarding both the Committee and the Chartered Organization. The one section that targets responsibilities says (p168) "Every troop should have a checking account at a local bank. Most troops use two signatures for drawing checks, although scoutmasters are often provided with a pe5tty cash fund to make small purchases as needs arise. The troop treasurere monitors the troop's cash flow and pays all troop bills by check."
More information is provided in the Troop Committee Guidebook (I have an internet version so the page numbers may be slightly off)
p7. "You Troop is 'owned' by a Chartered Organization. It receives a national charter which must be renewed yearly top use the Scouting Program, as part of its youth work. These groups which have goals compatable with those of the Boy Scouts of America, include religious bodies, educational, civic, fraternal, business, labor, governmental bodies, and professional organizations.
"Each chartered organization using the Scouting program provides a meeting place, selects a SCoutmaster, appoints a troop committee of at least three adults, and choses a Chartered Organization Representative . . ." No mention of fiscal responsibilities of the Chartered Organization are made in this manual, nor in any others.
In Chapter 4 -- Troop Committee Organization and Responsibilities (p13 of hte Troop Committee Guide), the role of the committee is listed:
"The troop committee is the troop's board of directors. But you ask "what does the troop committee do?" The troop committee does the following:
*Ensures that quality adult leadership . . . (items not related to this discussion are omitted)
*is responsible for finacnes, adequate funds, and disbursements in line with the approved budget plat
*Obtains, maintains, and properly cares for troop property . . ."
Further on the Manual deals tje duties of the Treasuer (Finance/Records): (p15)
*Handle all triip funds. Pay bills on the recommendation of the SCoutmaster and authorization of the troop committee
*Maintain checking and savings accounts
*Train and supervise the troop scibe in record keeping
*Keep adequate records in the Troop/Team Record book
*Supervise the camp savings plan
*Lead in the preparation of the annual troop budget
*Lead the Friends of Scouting campaign
*Report to the troop at each meeting
*Keep adequate records of expenses."
I have pulled sections from the Commissioners Guide which support the above statements.
TO SUMMARIZE FOR THOSE WHOSE EYES HAVE NOT FALLEN OUT OF THEIR SOCKETS FROM READING ALL OF THIS:
YES, the Chartered Organization owns the UNIT, but YES the troop is responsible for the management of the troop finances and materials. AND yes, the troop should be telling the Chartered Organization what it is doing with IT's money and IT's equipment (look at it as if the troop is a wholely owned corporation with its own board of directors).
Now, let me take off my lawyer hat (it was a long day at the office and I have a case to prepare for) and put back on my Smokey-the-Bear hat.
50 year+ scouter -- have held almost all adult leader positions in Cubs, Scouts, & Venturing, currently serving as Council Scouting for Youth with Disabilities Chair.
