Structure, roles and responsibilities.
Every Troop is under the supervision of a Troop Committee consisting of three or more qualified adults. Each member should be a citizen of the United States, agrees to abide by the Scout Oath and Law, to respect and obey the laws of the United States of America, and to subscribe to the BSA statement of religious principle. Each individual is of good character, is 21 years of age or older, is selected by the chartered organization, and is registered as an adult leader of the BSA. One of these is designated as Troop Committee Chairman.
A larger committee generally ensures a stronger, more stable Troop and is better able to perform all the required functions to ensure a successful Troop program. It is also a way of involving more Troop families in meaningful service to the Troop.
The Troop Committee is the Troop’s “Board of Directors” and supports the Troop program. The duties of the committee in general are:
- Ensure that quality adult leadership is recruited and trained. In case the Scoutmaster is absent, a qualified assistant Scoutmaster is assigned. If the Scoutmaster is unable to serve, a replacement is recruited by the Committee Chairman.
- Provides adequate meeting facilities.
- Advises the Scoutmaster on policies relating to Boy Scouting, the Troop and the chartered organization.
- Supports leaders in carrying out the Troop’s program.
- The Treasurer is responsible for finances, adequate funds, and disbursements in line with the approved budget plan.
- Obtains, maintains, and properly cares for Troop property.
- Ensures the Troop has an outdoor program (minimum 10 days and nights per year).
- Serves on boards of review and courts of honor.
- Aides the Scoutmaster in working with individual boys and problems that may affect the overall Troop program.
- Provides for the special needs and assistance some boys may require.
- Helps with the Friends of Scouting campaign.
- Assists the Scoutmaster with handling boy behavioral problems and discipline.
The Troop Committee is made up of seven officers and committee members consisting of men and women interested in the Scouting program who wish to make a contribution to the program and theoretically are appointed by the Chartering Organization, but in reality are formed by parents of Scouts in the Troop and sometimes by non-parents with an active interest in Scouting. A full committee is possible with a reasonable amount of recruiting effort. There is no maximum limit to the number of Troop committee members. The minimum number is three adults age 21 or older. The Committee Officers are the voting members of the committee if a decision needs to be reached regarding any Troop matter and a solution cannot be worked out. There are seven Committee Officers to ensure a solution is realized.
For committees with more members than positions listed, assign each additional member to assist in one of the areas. The more support each position has, the better that area will function. Needless to say, there is a job for everyone the committee approves.
The Troop Committee and Committee Members’ primary responsibilities are to help the Scoutmaster deliver a quality Troop program and handling Troop administration. For administration, the Troop Committee Members have three roles. First, they are the “Board of Directors” of the Troop, making sure that the Troop has a good Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, that the program the Patrol Leaders Council puts together with the Advice of the Scoutmaster complies with the Boy Scouts of America’s rules and regulations and with the needs and desires of the Chartered Organization, and that the Troop has sufficient resources (financial, facilities, equipment) to carry out the program. Second, the Committee provides administrative support for Troop operations by keeping advancement records, writing checks, arranging drivers, filing Local Tour Permits, making camp reservations, etc. Third, individual Committee Members serve as advisors for various youth leaders of the Troop, such as the Scribe, Historian, and Librarian.
The attached subpages cover the general duties and responsibilities of the Troop Committee Members including those holding specific committee positions. This is not intended to be a complete list, rather a list of the more commonly performed functions or responsibilities of the committee members. It should also be stressed that boy involvement is imperative throughout the implementation of these activities.
Committee Members should attend and be an active participant in the monthly meetings. They may hold a multiple positions (Chairman or member) on a committee or sub-committee. An adult may not hold more than one committee officer position at a time. Members shall provide input into how the Troop operates and shall support the decisions made by the Scoutmaster and the Troop Committee. Committee members should actively participate in Scouting activities such as campouts, Scout meetings, fundraising events and other troop activities. Decisions should be made for the benefit of the Troop as a whole rather than for an individual Scout or for ones own personal goals or desires. Members should support the policies of the BSA.
