Scouting, Volume 18, Number 1, January 1930 Page: 8
32 p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
>7he TRGDP COMMITTEE
SUGGESTIONS FOR TROOP COMMITTEES
Prepared by the Onondaga Council
IN our Council, Troop Committees have come into a very
prominent place in the life of the Boy Scout Movement.
This may be due to two causes.
First—It is the policy of our Council to organize Troops
only where a healthy institution exists to support the Move-
ment. The leadership should come from this institution. The
Scouts, in the main, should be recruited from families who
make up the institution. The policy and program of the Troop
should be in harmony with the supporting institution. Logi-
cally, the Troop Committee should come from this source. The
head of the institution is a member ex-officio of the Troop
Committee and should receive notice of all its meetings.
Second—We desire Scoutmasters to become Troop Execu-
tives. A Scoutmaster fails who cannot pass on details to his
Scouts or use a group of men to aid in making effective the
Scout Program. Our Council is anxious to save our Scout-
masters just as much detail work as possible so that Scouts
may have all the time available for the study of Scout ideals
and Scout advancement.
Three things recommend the Scout Movement at its best
to all of us. First, the ideals expressed in the Scout Oath
and Scout Law are presented to a growing boy in a way he
will understand. They build character in all boys, much in
some, a little in all. Second, the ideals expressed in its pro-
gram of educational advancement and vocational guidance are
worthy of our own study. They build brain, body and initiative.
Third, the ideals expressed in the Patrol Method, when rightly
carried out, do train boys to become leaders when they grow
into manhood. The Movement is old enough to prove this is true.
The Scoutmaster is the Executive Officer
The outstanding duty of a Troop Committee is so to operate
the Troop that its permanency is assured. The danger of over-
stepping authority and disarranging a Scoutmaster's plans must
be thoughtfully considered. The Scoutmaster is, and must
remain, the key man of the Troop, and nothing should be
done by the Troop Committee to interfere with his program
or Scoutmastership. It is the province of the Troop Com-
mittee to secure for this officer and his assistants the most
favorable conditions for the Troop operation in the best in-
terests of the Scout Movement and members of the Troop.
At all times remember that he is the Troop Executive and
his authority should be upheld.
A Troop Committee, however, has ample authority to act
when it considers the Troop endangered. The Committee is
invariably named by the head of the organization and is a
"Standing Committee." Leadership is selected by the Com-
mittee and commissioned only upon its recommendation. This
shows the impracticability of having Committeemen serve as
Assistant Scoutmasters. Every Troop Committeeman should
own a Handbook for Scoutmasters, a Handbook for Boys,
and copies of Scout Helps.
Formal Inspection
The custom of having the Committee regularly visit the
Troop is changing the first meeting in the month into a
formal inspection of the Troop, which aids in maintaining
high Troop Standards. At least one member of a Committee
should attend every regular meeting of the Troop. The order
of these visits and the amount of time to be spent at the
meeting varies according to the wishes of the Chairman, or
the nature of the work with which the Committeeman desires
to check. During this visit he may help in a Patrol instruc-
tion period, giving preference to that group of boys whom he
is serving as a "Big Brother." This follows the custom which
prevails in many Troops where each Troop Committeeman
serves as a "Big Brother Counselor" for a Patrol.
Our experience has shown that more Troops are ruined by
non-Scout games than by all other causes combined. The
next most fruitful cause of loss is a poorly financed Troop.
This involves no support on the part of the adults, or poor
bookkeeping methods or both. Council Standards require a
monthly audit of Troop finances so that this danger may be
avoided if the Committee functions.
Page 8
A Troop should hike at least once a month, and the Con>-
least one continuous week in camp under their own leaders,
mittee should see to it that all Scouts in the Troop get at
Your Troop of Scouts has a tremendous responsibility, that
of so appearing and so conducting themselves as to bring credit
to the half million other Scouts of the Nation. Scouts in
dirty, untidy uniforms; Troops which cannot march with
snap; Scouts who do not know how to show respect to the
National Anthem or Colors, cause those who see them to lose
faith in all Scouts. It is your responsibility to see that your
Scouts wear the uniform according to regulations and are
disciplined to appear well in public.
In making our personal inspection each month, we follow
the military system of opening ranks, and passing down front
of each rank from right to left and returning in the rear.
We insist upon the Scouts holding position of "attention" dur-
ing inspection. Especially, notice the following: face and
hands should be clean, hair combed, uniforms clean and
neatly worn; all buttons should be fastened, shoes should be
shined, badges should be worn according to regulations.
Other Responsibilities
We advise with the Scoutmaster on choice of Scribe, being
sure to get the systematic, orderly type. We see that some
responsible Scout is appointed by the Scoutmaster as Quarter-
master, and instruct him in his duties, including the keeping
of a record of all property and equipment, or loans, returns
and replacements. As the property is inspected, each month,
the Quartermaster's record should be signed when approved.
Our Council meets at least quarterly and announcement is
sent to each Chairman prior to each meeting. When impos-
sible for him to attend, another member should represent the
Troop. In our Council organization, the Chairmen of the
Troop Committees are the most important members we have.
It is their duty to see that their Troops are represented at
all Council meetings.
The Chairman of the Troop Committee should report the status
of the Troop at the annual meeting of the sponsoring institution.
Hold Interest of Parents and Institution
Unless you keep parents and other people constantly in touch
with your Troop they will lose interest. The institutional
bulletin or paper should regularly carry Troop news. The
head of the institution should have a report on the Troop each
month. Keep all officials in touch with the good things which
happen in the Troop. They are sure to hear all the bad things
which happen. Speak of advancements as real accomplish-
ments. Provide a neat sign for the Troop to use en the
outside of the meeting place.
Your product is clean, useful manhood—a necessity to the
world's progress. It is easy to "sell"—but no community will
"get back of" Scouting unless they understand it, and know it
is delivering the goods. It is your responsibility to constantly
keep Scouting before your institution and community.
Cooperate with your Scoutmaster in holding Parents' Night
when there will be a special program for parents and guests.
These meetings sell to the parents the Scouting idea. Very
few fully understand what we are trying to do for their sons.
An outstanding institution in Scouting is the Annual Anni-
versary Week Program. Two things in this week deserve your
whole-hearted support. One is the Parent and Son supper.
This may be anything from a bean feed to a banquet, simple
or elaborate; with few speakers or many. This is the one
big chance to sell Scouting for one whole year, to the people
whose support we must have if we succeed in our work. The
other most important feature is the annual Council Rally
attended by all Scouts and officers in uniform and everyone
else who can be persuaded to go.
Suggestions
When for any cause a Scoutmaster becomes inactive, the
Chairman of the Troop Committee becomes Acting Scout-
master pending the selection of a new Troop leader.
(Continued on Page 16)
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 18, Number 1, January 1930, periodical, January 1930; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310828/m1/8/: accessed April 24, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.