Committee Job Describtion

[t305spl]

Can anyone give me a link to find out what the job describtion is for the Troop Committee is and how can a PLC overrule a committee decision that dosent go against policy or a scouts health and safety could be endangered? In the last thread "how does an SPL get his troop less rowdy?" BM_Crawford made a comment about the PLC being higher in troop planning than the committee.(I agree) I just need hard evidence this is true.

[BM_Crawford]

I found different comments throughout the website. I havn't seen a set of regulations, but I do know its in the committee training.

Here is a synopsis of that video which is shown on the council web site.

Part Four—The Troop Committee
This segment of the video illustrates the role of the troop committee, a group of adult volunteers that work behind the scenes to support the Scoutmaster. Troop committee members do a wide variety of tasks, from repairing tents to maintaining troop records. The troop committee's most important responsibility is to make sure that the very best adult leaders are selected, recruited, and trained to work with their boys.

The url is http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=ba

[t305spl]

Does anyone know if the SPL or PL handbook is online.

[commish3]

The reference you want is called the Troop Committee Guide.

[t305spl]

Yes are there any online ones I can read also are there any SPL and PL Handbooks online to read?

[commish3]

All BSA handbooks are protected by copyright, any reproduction on line without permission of the BSA publications division would be illegal.

[Chief J]

If it is working right, the members of the PLC should plan the program. The purpose of the Troop Committee is to "work behind the scenes" and "support the program".

However, too many Troop Committees think they are in charge and need to dictate everything to the Troop.

This is where a strong Scoutmaster comes in handy. He should work with the CC and remind them that they are the behind the scenes, help make it happen piece of the unit. He should also support the PLC decisions and move them forward and help ensure they are met.

The SM and his assistant's help the Youth member's establish and run the program. Not the Troop Committee.

Chief J

[Rick Tyler]

If it is working right, the members of the PLC should plan the program. The purpose of the Troop Committee is to "work behind the scenes" and "support the program".

One of the specific roles of the committee is to approve the annual program, and one of the SPL's jobs is to present the program to the committee.

However, too many Troop Committees think they are in charge and need to dictate everything to the Troop.

I agree completely. I also believe that there an equal number of Scoutmasters who think their job is Scoutdictator.

The SM and his assistant's help the Youth member's establish and run the program. Not the Troop Committee.

Except that the Committee approves the program, makes sure equipment and transportation are available, recruits adult leaders and gets them trained, and arranges money (one way or another) to make this all happen. You're throwing the baby out with the bathwater when you try to turn the Committee into a rubber stamp body for the SM and the PLC.

Yours in Scouting,

Rick Tyler
Assistant Scoumaster, 4 years
Committee Member, 6 months

[riverwalk]

While it may be true that someone has a strong "overbearing" Committee perhaps, they may only be active where they think input was needed. It would be equally unfortunate if the Committee wasn't working for the desired outcome (Program objectives are a way to describe that).

A Committee has to exist in all of the Units. They approve many things and work more (maybe out of sight) than youth members know, until they become adult Scouters. They can and should "sign off" on outings/trips, and are in on the planning of the more complex ones too. They can and should prevent an outing when required too. An example is not enough adult participation.

But if a group thinks they have a local problem, they can always ask their District for guidance. The District operates like a Unit as well, offering support, training, and activities to it's Members.

[Guneukitschik]

However, too many Troop Committees think they are in charge and need to dictate everything to the Troop.

I hate to break it to you...but the Troop Committee actually IS in charge.
They are responsible for making sure that the BSA program is followed, quality leaders are in place to help run the unit, etc...

granted, the Troop is a boy led operation but the ultimate responsibility falls on the Troop Committee.

[BM_Crawford]

However, too many Troop Committees think they are in charge and need to dictate everything to the Troop.

I hate to break it to you...but the Troop Committee actually IS in charge.
They are responsible for making sure that the BSA program is followed, quality leaders are in place to help run the unit, etc...

granted, the Troop is a boy led operation but the ultimate responsibility falls on the Troop Committee.

No they're not, there job is to follow the program put in place by the PLC and the SM. As Mr. Rick Tyler said they are to ensure the correct leadership and such. But they're not responsible for being "in charge of the troop." if anything the troop runs like the government on a check-balance system where no party has too much control. Really the way it should work is the PLC should make the plans. The committee should make sure their safe and the scoutmasters should help guide them. I hate it when the committee (and probably scoutmasters in other troops) will tell a scout they can't do an activity or something rediculas like that.

[West]

However, too many Troop Committees think they are in charge and need to dictate everything to the Troop.

I hate to break it to you...but the Troop Committee actually IS in charge.
They are responsible for making sure that the BSA program is followed, quality leaders are in place to help run the unit, etc...

granted, the Troop is a boy led operation but the ultimate responsibility falls on the Troop Committee.

If you want to look at it like that the charter rep is in charge (if they actually do their job anyway). But as far as the program is concerned, the PLC is in charge.

[commish3]

If you want to destroy any scout unit, one sure fire way is to get into a good in-fight as to who is "in charge".

Who is "in charge"? First you have to identify "in charge" of what.

The unit structure is a checks and balance system not unlike our own government. Each party has its specific responsibility and function that interlaces with that of one or more other parties.

Unit operation is a team event not an individual one, would you agree? The minute one person feels they are "in charge" then the process of self-destruction is in motion.

The closest technical answer as to who is "in charge" of the unit scouting program, according to the BSA resources and training, is the Charter Organization Representative. The BSA defines the CR as the Chairman of the Board of Scouting within a charter organization. The CR approves all adult leaders and is the link between Scouting and the CO and the CO and the unit.

Beyond that it is a matter of adults being able to play nice together as a team if a quality scouting program is going to be delivered and maintained.

This should not be about who is in charge. It is about "what is my job and how can I do it well".

[BM_Crawford]

If you want to destroy any scout unit, one sure fire way is to get into a good in-fight as to who is "in charge".

Who is "in charge"? First you have to identify "in charge" of what.

The unit structure is a checks and balance system not unlike our own government. Each party has its specific responsibility and function that interlaces with that of one or more other parties.

Unit operation is a team event not an individual one, would you agree? The minute one person feels they are "in charge" then the process of self-destruction is in motion.

The closest technical answer as to who is "in charge" of the unit scouting program, according to the BSA resources and training, is the Charter Organization Representative. The BSA defines the CR as the Chairman of the Board of Scouting within a charter organization. The CR approves all adult leaders and is the link between Scouting and the CO and the CO and the unit.

Beyond that it is a matter of adults being able to play nice together as a team if a quality scouting program is going to be delivered and maintained.

This should not be about who is in charge. It is about "what is my job and how can I do it well".

I agree with all of the above, however the actual Charter Organization that is in-charge. In a sense they basically own the troop. I was told if the organization can pull the charter whenever it pleases and would assume all of the money and everything the troop has. Is that correct?

[West]

Pulling the charter, yes they can. Anytime they please. And since all the troops assest belong to the CO, they get to keep all that too. However, that should be an absolute last resort. But on another note, if the troop at my church decided to switch orginizations (not that they would have any reason to right now) we would take all the equipment. The reason for this is pretty simple. All that equipment was puchesed by money from the scout troop at this church, and most of it by boys who are long gone to other areas, and some with church funds. Moveing that to another place would not be right. Instead it should stay with the troop for the next scout troop that they start up.

[commish3]

however the actual Charter Organization that is in-charge.

I respectfully disagree. an "organization" in and of itself cannot be "in charge". An organization is an inanimate object. Specific people in an organization have specific authority and responsibilities. In the case of unit scouting the persons with authority are the Institutional Head and the Charter Organization Representative. The IH selects and approves the CR, the CR approves all other adult positions and is according to the BSA the Chairman of the Board of scouting in the unit.

The assets are shared by the CO and the BSA since all assets were gained using the name, image, and emblems of the BSA. When a unit charter ends either by the choice of the the CO or the BSA the assets are left with the CO as guardian of those assets. The BSA requests that they use them in the following order,
A) for use by another scout unit within the CO.
B) for use by another youth group within the CO
C) returned to the local BSA council for use by a unit in need within the council.

If the members of a unit left a CO (whether in part or in whole) it would at the very least innappropriate, if not illegal, for them to remove those assets which as West has already pointed out are the property of the CO, unless they had prior permission of the CR and IH to do so.

[BM_Crawford]

I see what you are saying. My troop must be abnormal for the CO is a single person vs a board or committee. That would have some difference I assume?

[commish3]

It is not only abnormal but as far as I know it is not allowed. The BSA's congressional charter requires that it operates through community organizations to sponsor scouting units. I do not see how an individual can sponsor a unit. Even if they did the BSA charter requires they have a CR, as well as a committee chair and at least 2 committee members along with adult program leaders, so once again it is a team structure.

[West]

It's normal that one person represents the orginization, but not that they are the orginization.

[BM_Crawford]

The troop is at a church but one man owns the church himself The members of the church just do the activities. The church holds the troops charter but he owns the church therefore he basically holds the troops charter. I think at least. That is the impression I've gotten from the other leaders, lol