Troop Guide?

[James R]

i was appointed troop guide a while ago. i never knew what it was until near the end of my term. near the end (after i found out what i am supposed to do) i really liked the job because we have really good first year scouts.

i've just been appointed ASPL and im a patrol leader, but i want to be troop guide also. my SM thinks that i shouldnt have all 3 jobs, so i gave up troop guide. i still want to be it but i dont know if i would be able to handle it all.

what do you think i should do?
do you think i would be able to handle it all?
am i even allowed to have 3 positions?

i would really appreciate your help if you could
thanks

[Guneukitschik]

It would be hard to do all three positions adaquately.

I think you should resign your the ASPL and PL position and be ONLY the Troop Guide if you want to be the Troop Guide. Not many people can say they enjoy what they do for a living....so when you get the opportunity to do something you enjoy......do it.

[James R]

I see what you mean but what I forgot to say before is that I also like being PL and ASPL a lot. Next term I want to run for SPL so I thought that it would be good to get experience by being ASPL before I ran. I don't want to give up PL either because I don't think that anyone else in my patrol can handle all that work.

[keytar04]

james dont give up ASPL!
ethan is the troop guide
from sean


FOUR MORE YEARS!

[t305spl]

Dont hold both ASPL and the Position of PL and Troop Guide at the same time. Those should be held by seperate people. Dont take on too much you will wear out to quick. Beleive me I have worn my self out to the limit with scouting. I am SPL currently and if you want to become SPL at some point stay as a PL. ASPL does not always well atleast in my troop hardly ever does the same stuff as the SPL. ASPL handles the Troop Guides, Den Chiefs, Quartermasters, Scribes, ect. PL will give you the Training you need for SPL. Troop Guide is also a great SPL training spot take one of those. So I think that Troop Guide is the best for you. You seem to like it and it will give you sufficient training to run for SPL.

[James R]

So you think that the best training for SPL is to be a Troop Guide? I never knew which position would help the most. Do you think that I should be just the Troop Guide and a PL?

[t305spl]

Yes stay as a Troop Guide and if you can be a PL too you would have a great training experience. Also if you can go for Troop JLT and Council JLTC that will make you look and be well prepared. ASPL is well(not a great position for SPL training) Thats like the step up from Den Chief and Scribe and Quartermaster. Stay as Troop Guide and PL if you can and you'll be well prepared.

[t305spl]

Also how many scouts are in your troop and whats the breakup? Like how many are there as PL's how many are ASPL's and all the other positions just so I can get a feel for your troop to help find the best POR for you and one you will enjoy at the same time.

[James R]

We have a pretty small troop. There's about 20 scouts total and not all of them show up. Currently there are 2 ASPL's (including me) and there are 3 patrols. The youngest patrol has 5th, 6th, and 7th graders in it (there's about 8 scouts). My patrol is the second oldest and we have all 8th graders (about 8 scouts). Currently there are about 5 in the oldest patrol but there will only be 2 left after this year because 3 are turning 18. We have a lot of adult leaders and right now they do a lot of work but we are in the transition of having not as much help (almost none at all).

Thats about it.

Thanks for the comments.

[t305spl]

Your ASPL and PL now. Well best bet resign from ASPL and become Troop Guide/Patrol Leader.

[James R]

I've been thinking of doing that for a while.

Thanks for your help so much.

[t305spl]

Actually I am really serious about getting worn out. I have worn myself out and am planning to resign from my position. To take a break and maybe run for re-election next september. I little off the topic but had to say it.

[James R]

Well I just got back from a meeting and I had talked with the SPL. He already has a Troop Guide and I asked to switch jobs with the Troop Guide. The problem now is that the SPL doesnt want the person thats Troop Guide to be his ASPL. The SPL told me that I would be exactly like the Troop Guide (because I want to be it so bad). But he's trying to tell me that ASPL is better training for SPL than Troop Guide.

[t305spl]

Really its not the ASPL does not handle the scouts in general they handle the other positions like Den chiefs, Quartermasters, scribes, ect all of them. But ASPL too would give you ok training not the best tho.

[BM_Crawford]

I dont think your are allowed to hold two possitions unless one is JASM (Correct me if I'm wront)

[ASM-142]

As far as I know there is no rule against a boy from holding multiple positions. Back to the topic - if a scout is a "good" troop guide and likes that role that is the position that he should be in. A good troop guide is hard to find.

[Lynda J]

I think you would serve your troop and the younger boys as Troop Guide.
The younger boys really need an older experienced scout to help them get headed in the right direction. I also think if you try to do to many jobs you may not do justice to any of them. Better to do one job very well that three half way. You also have to remember that other boys need the experience of holding elected positions.

[keytar04]

i am the SPL of the troop in which the user who began this forum is in, and with all due respects to him, considering he is one of my best friends, he "bended the words" when he said that i am trying to tell him that ASPL is better training for SPL than troop guide. he has been troop guide for our troop since may 2004. he took my position as ASPL on 4 November 2004 when i was promoted to SPL. Had he finished his tenderfoot exercises 3 years ago when he was supposed to (GET THOSE DONE &&) and was 1st class or above to be able to run in our SPL elections, he would have definately made an outstanding SPL. the reason i appointed him ASPL was 1) because i wanted a trustworthy, hard-working scout like him to be able to work with me, 2) when i am absent from a meeting i know he and my other ASPL will be able to control my troop, and 3) because i wanted to give another scout a chance at Troop Guide because he works well with our younger scouts, like he and i both do. I have given both him and my other ASPL different specific tasks that they will focus on for the next 6 months during my term. my friends's task is to work with the troop guide and troop instructor, because 1) my guide and instructor have never been in those positions before and may need some pointers, constructive critisism (sp?), etc. to get themselves going, and 2) because i understand he enjoyed being troop guide. I agree with everyone else that troop guide is better to have when training for SPL but i am in a situation right now where i have a lot of work ahead of me due to the fact that our last 3 SPL's have not been that good....

[t305spl]

One thing before I comment remove the names of those scouts.

[keytar04]

thank you for pointing that out t305spl, i was half-asleep when i typed that (i still am) and for some reason or another thought i was typing an e-mail to my uncle, who is an eagle scout
thank you again for pointing it out
s.r. <name deleted>
SPL
troop 200
<location deleted>

Edited by: Moderator RWSmith to comply with this message board's Youth Privacy rule.