Scouting, Volume 10, Number 4, April 1922 Page: 2
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SCOUTING, APRIL, 1922
The Troop Meeting
Where the Heart-Beat of the Troop Is
Felt—and Kept Toned Up to Normal
IN FEBRUARY Scouting the frame-
work of the troop meeting was given
with suggestions for building it up with
materials that come naturally out of the
week-through and month-through life of
the troop. The emphasis was upon the
absolute necessity of considering the
troop meeting not as a thing by itself,
but as a clearing house for all troop
interests. In March we presented some
of the fundamental principles of a good
troop meeting and also a one-month sched-
ule. The challenge to the scoutmaster is
to make these indoor doings connecting
wires between the larger life of the troop
as found in its outdoor activities.
The Handbook for Scoutmasters cannot
be consulted too closely on this important
feature of troop life. In the section on
troop meetings and scattered elsewhere
through the book are many clear-cut helps.
Supplementing what is given there, we
want to give on this page from month_ to
month definite examples of the handling
of troop meetings, gathered from all over
the field. For this month we are using ex-
tracts from the standard program for
troop meeting used by the Penobscot
Council, Bangor and Brewer, Me. A cer-
tain measure of preciseness is desirable in
the ceremonious or ritualistic phases of the
meeting and that is the feature from this
program which is presented below.
DOORS closed at 7.25 P.M. by Troop
Orderly who is appointed by Scout-
master for a definite period each night.
Orderly attends door, allows no one to en-
ter without permission from Scoutmaster.
Period of Troop Meeting, 7.30-9.00 P.M.
Opening Ceremony: (No one to be ad-
mitted during this ceremony.)
7.28—"First'Call." (Promptly)
Preparatory to Assembly: Sjcouts
should cease games and playing and pre-
pare uniforms for Assembly. Color Bear-
ers to prepare the Standards and Scribe
to secure his record book.
When Assembly is sounded the two
Color Bearers with the American and
Troop Flags have posted themselves three
paces beyond the left of the line and six
paces in front of it with the Standards in
position of "Ground Colors" (staffs rest-
ing on floor).
7.30—Assembly.
S. P. L. takes a position where the ex-
treme right of the line is to be and com-
mands: "Troop—Fall in." The line being
formed the S. P. L. commands: "Right
Dress." And having corrected the align-
ment: "Front." The Troop having been
formed in the line S. P. L. takes his po-
sition three paces from the center of the
Troop and then commands: "Troop—Sa-
lute." Scouts lift their hands to the full
salute and hold. The S. P. L. then faces
about, salutes the S. M. who has taken
his post three paces directly behind the
S. P. L. and reports: "Sir, the Troop is
Formed." The S. M. returns the salut^
and commands: "Take Your Post." The
S. P. L. salutes, turns about face and re-
turns to his position in line. The S. M.
then commands: "Troop—Attention." And
if he so wishes re-aligns Troop from the
right flank.
The S. M. then commands: "Scribe
Front and Center March." Hereupon the
Scribe marches forward and takes the po-
sition originally held by the S. P. L. in
front of the Troop and calls the roll. In
calling the roll the Scribe should use the
last name only, each Scout answering
"Here" when his name is called. Scribe
should wait until after the meeting to check
up the attendance rather than to take the
time here. The Scribe then does about
face and salutes the S. M., saying:
"Sir, the Roll is Called." The S. M,
commands: "Take Your Post." And the
Scribe returns to his original position in
line. After this ceremony the Scout Oath
and Law may be repeated if so desired.
Note: The Troop Scribe's position is in
the file closers. He should not be a mem-
ber of any patrol status same as the S. P. L.
Colors : When preceding ceremony has
been completed the S. M. commands:
"Colors—Attention." And the Standards
are brought to the position of Attention.
Thereupon the S. M. turns to the Troop
Bugler, who is standing just to the right
Troop Tent
Headquarters
Suggested by Rev.
W. M. Walton,
S. M.
Summerton,
S. C.
10' x 12' wall
tent added if
needed.
16'xl6' pyramidal tent with 12" water
pipe for center pole. For furniture,
folding chairs, small desk, shallow box
with door for library and records, sheet
iron stove with 5" pipe running through,
X top protected, soap boxes around walls
with planks for seats, large electric light
or lanterns well placed.
The 10'xl2' wall tent added for enter-
tainment or other purposes. If needed,
another can be added at X-X on either
or both sides of the main tent.
Method of adding wall tents: 1st.
Make a 3-piece frame, 4'x5^'. 2nd.
Y Loosen cords along A-D and develop v
wall over B-C, 4'xS^2' frame. Tighten
cords.
(Entrance)
American X Flag
Troop X Flag
of the Colors, and commands: "Sound
Colors" (Morning Colors).
At the first note of the bugle the Troop
salutes and returns to the position of At-
tention at the last note. If there is no
bugle in the Troop the Pledge of Allegi-
ance may be given. In conclusion of this
ceremony the S. M. commands: "Colors-
Forward March" (Bugle Plays). Troop
salutes with command and returns to At-
tention when Color-Bearers halt.
The Colors march straight forward to
the right end of the line and when they
reach this position halt automatically. The
S. M. then commands: "Troop Attention
—Colors Post." At the latter command
the flags are placed in base arranged for
them. The American Flag to the right
and the Troop Flag to the left. The en-
tire opening ceremony, including Colors,
should not take more than ten minutes.
Setting-up Drill: 8 Minutes
Setting-up Drill should be in charge of
one P. L. and last eight minutes. The
Troop should be deployed for Setting-up
Drill immediately following the ceremony
of Colors and a P. L. who can give good,
snappy Setting-up Drill should be assigned
to this work and encouraged to look up new
forms of Calisthenics for use in the Troop.
"Sound Recall on Bugle." Recess—5
minutes. Following the Setting-up Drill
the Troop should be allowed about five
minutes' recess for the purpose of getting
water, etc. This time should also be used
for the payment of dues, and P. L. to
turn in their patrol reports. The Treas-
urer and Scribe should have a desk or
table where they can be posted each meet-
ing night. From this recess period on, the
Troop Scribe should devote what time is
necessary to making up his Troop Record
Book. This affords plenty of opportunity
for correction while the Scoutmaster and
Troop are present. When the records are
completed the Scribe can take up the in-
struction, games, tests, etc.
Closing Ceremony
In the Closing Ceremony the flags are
marched back to the left end of the line
after "Retreat" is played and the Bearers
face the Troop with the Colors at Atten-
tion while Taps is being played. Scouts
stand at attention during Taps, having re-
sumed that position when Colors halt,
without orders at left end of line (original
position). Immediately after Taps the
flags are taken to another room or an-
other part of the same room and furled.
As soon as Colors are dismissed the S. M.
commands: "Troop Salute." Returning
it and commanding: "Troop Attention."
After this final ceremony the S. M. di-
rects all Scouts who wish to speak with
him after the meeting to Fall-out and take
seats as indicated. The remainder of the
Troop is given in charge of the S. P. L.
who marches them out of the meeting
place at once. This closing ceremony gives
an orderly finish to the Scout meeting.
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 10, Number 4, April 1922, periodical, April 1922; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310753/m1/2/?rotate=270: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.