The board of review is not a time to retest the Scout, but to determine the Scout’s attitude and his acceptance of scouting ideals. It is also time to review those Scouts who are not advancing.

It is the responsibility of each scout to:

Court of Honor
The accomplishments of our scouts and leaders are recognized at an impressive formal ceremony called the Court of Honor.  At this event, all Scouts who have advanced since the last court of honor will be recognized before an audience of families, friends, chartered organization officials, and troop leaders.
Courts of honor are held three or four times a year.   They are scheduled in place of regular troop meetings and are held in the parish life center.  This is the time when full uniform, including the sash and any medals should be worn.   Parents’ attendance is an important and very easy way to demonstrate an interest in your son’s scouting progress.

Activities

Troop 10 strives to keep busy with a variety of fun events. Each month our youth leaders meet with guidance from the Scoutmaster and assistance from the troop committee to plan interesting and fun activities. Our program will include an outdoor activity each month. Some of these activities may include:

See the troop calendar for a schedule of events.  Feel free to make suggestions to your patrol leader or Scoutmaster!

Meetings
Troop 10 meets every Tuesday at 7:00 pm. in the Church of St. Benedict’s parish life center (except when holidays or church activities prohibit meeting).  The Tuesday after a campout is usually a Patrol Leaders Council (PLC).   (See the Troop Calendar)  This meeting is for patrol leaders and designated troop leadership for planning purposes.  Our troop will follow the Fulton County School’s caution during inclement weather; we will not meet when school is cancelled.

Equipment
The following equipment is required:  Scout uniform (shirt and pants/shorts) with patches, Scout hat, Scout belt, Scout socks, Troop neckerchief, Scout handbook, and Troop notebook.

Eventually, your son will need a sleeping bag, sleeping pad, pillow (if desired), mess kit with utensils, and hiking boots.  The suggested equipment for camping is listed on page 224-5 of the Scout handbook.

Scout uniforms and equipment (including merit badge books) are available at the Atlanta Scout Shop or Atlanta Scout Shop North. See flyer in notebook for locations and hours.  Talk with older scouts to learn other sources of equipment and what works best.

The troop also sells extra neckerchiefs and t-shirts with the troop name and logo imprinted.  The t-shirts, or any scout t-shirt are considered as a class B uniform.  See uniform policy.

All equipment and clothing should be marked with the scout’s name.  Engravers work very well on metal such as cooking gear.  Colored nail polish works on identifying utensils.  Laundry markers should be used on clothing, sleeping bags or other cloth items.   

Permission Slips
A permission slip signed by a parent or legal guardian is required before a scout can participate in any outside activity.  Permission slips will be available for the boys to take home prior to a scheduled activity.  Please take the time to read it and completely fill in all the required information and return it prior to the due date.  A generic permission slip can be found in the forms section of the scout notebook. 

Medical
Upon joining, each scout is required to have a health history form filled out and on file with the troop before participating in any troop activities.  A parent must update these forms annually.  Scouts are required to have a physical exam by a doctor prior to participating in any troop activity over 72 hours or high adventure activity, i.e. summer camp.  A medical form must be signed by the physician and kept on file with the troop. Medical forms are valid for three years.  Please let us know if your son has any medical problems or takes medication on a regular basis.
Adults must have a medical form on file with the troop to participate, in addition, those over 40 must have an annual physical using a class 3 form.

Communication
While scouts usually hear the details of our events at meetings, this important information is not always passed along to parents.  Ask your scout after each meeting to share this information with you. Scouts should be taking notes in their scout notebook.  Information can be found in the scout’s mailbox or pony express box.  Our troop newsletter is another key way for you, our parents, to stay informed about our busy troop and become involved in our activities.

Finances
Troop Registration is a one-time fee of $30.  This includes a troop notebook, troop neckerchief, troop numbers, a patrol patch, and a parent notebook.  Annual dues are $65 and due by September 1.  Dues include a subscription to Boy’s Life Magazine and registration fees.
The troop plans several fundraisers during the year.  These funds are needed to pay for advancement badges, maintaining troop equipment and other needs.  It is necessary for all scouts to participate in these efforts.  In some cases, the troop profits from fundraisers are shared with the participating scout directly, via a scout account.  Each scout’s account is maintained by the troop. Funds accrued by the scout can be used to pay for troop activities including helping to defray the cost of summer camp.  Funds from a scout account belong to the troop and will not be given to any scout if they leave the troop.
Fees are established for each outing to pay for food, camping fees and other expenses as required.

Troop 10 Policies

Attendance Policy
Scouts are expected to attend all troop meetings on the schedule and participate in the other troop activities.  The senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader, and patrol leaders are expected to attend the monthly patrol leaders’ council meeting in addition to the regular troop meetings.  A 75% attendance in both troop meetings and outings is necessary to meet leadership requirements, especially for those scouts first class and above.
The patrol scribe or patrol leader will take attendance at all troop functions and report to the troop scribe.  The troop scribe will record the attendance for the SPL and ASPL.  For the purpose of this policy, attendance is defined as being on time, in uniform, and participating with good scout spirit.

Uniform Policy
The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community.  Wearing the uniform is also an action that shows each scout’s commitment to the aims and purposes of scouting.  All uniforms should be neat, clean, and fit properly.  The complete official uniform includes the Scout shirt, Scout pants or shorts, Scout belt and buckle, and Scout socks.  Troop 10 has chosen to wear the Scout hat, name tag,  and a Troop neckerchief with slide.  This is referred to as a Class A uniform.  Wear full uniform including the merit badge sash and any medals for the Court of Honor and other ceremonies.

A modified Class A is worn for troop meetings.  A modified Class A consists of a Class A uniform with the exception of the scout pants/shorts.  In place of the official scout pants khaki or olive pants.  No camouflage pants, jeans or colored jeans will be allowed at any time.

For informal wear or outdoor activities, Scouts may wear troop or camp t-shirt with Scout pants, khaki pants, or olive green pants.  Jeans will be allowed in camp at specified times.  We refer to this as a Class B uniform.

Discipline Policy
The scouts are expected to participate in the meetings.  If the scouts do not participate or are disruptive, action will be taken to correct the situation.  Under normal situations, the patrol leader or other scout leader will issue a warning to misbehaving scouts.  If the activities continue, the patrol leader, the senior patrol leader, or other scout leader will speak to the scout.  Should the misbehavior continue, the Scoutmaster, or other adult leader will review the situation with the scout.  This may result in the scout being prevented from participating in the next troop activity or to call the scout’s parents to take him home.  If a scout is prevented from participating in the next troop activity or is sent home, he will be placed on probation for 6 months.  The following list of items must be completed before the scout is removed from probation.

Probation Requirement

A scout must complete or do the following:

Failure to meet the requirements for probation will result in the scout being asked to leave the troop.

Event Payment Policy

The troop will have to charge fees for most outdoor events to cover the cost of food, supplies, and fees.  Information will be provided in advance and payment is requested by a deadline.  In some cases, deposits will be requested by a specific date.  Such deposits will be your notification of intent to participate and will be forfeited if you later elect not to participate.  Only those scouts and adults who notify by the specified date will be guaranteed t participate.  Attach a permission slip to all payments.  Please make all checks out to BSA Troop 10.  Fees will not be refunded.

In most cases, parents or guardians are welcome and encouraged to attend outdoor events with the troop.  Events will be cancelled if we cannot arrange adequate parent or guardian participation for supervision or transportation.

Dues Policy

Annual dues are payable on or before September 1 of each year.  Unpaid dues will result in scouts not allowed to participate in outdoor events or received awards.  For special arrangements, see the Troop Treasurer.

Food and Nutrition Policy

Proper preparation for scout outings includes preparing appropriate menus, a duty roster for meals, and planning time for cooking and cleanup. Some general rules apply:

When applicable, the cost of food is included in the event fees.

Smoking and Drinking

It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America that the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances is not permitted at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America.  It is prohibited at any activity involving participation of youth members.    For the parents that must smoke, you are requested to do this away from the scout camp or activity

Electronic Equipment

Radios, tape players, and TVs are generally prohibited on troop events and during troop meetings. The one exception is Walkman type personal radios and tape players under the following conditions:

All such use of Walkman type radios and tape players is subject to furthers restriction by the Scoutmaster. Radios, tape players, Etc. are prohibited at all troop meetings unless in conjunction with an official ceremony.

Ax, Saw, and Knife Policy

To carry a knife or use a saw or ax, a scout must have a Tot’n Chip with at least one corner in tact and dated for the current year.  The Tot’n Chip is granted after completing instruction on the proper use of these devices.  If an axe, saw, or knife is, in the opinion of the Scoutmaster, misused, the scout loses a corner of the Chip.  When all four corners are gone, the scout loses the right to carry or use an axe, saw or knife until he has completed the instructions again. 

Swimming Policy

BSA policy requires scouts to meet minimum requirement in order to swim or be in the water as part of a scout function.  The Blue Tag swim certificate test indicates the scout’s swimming ability.  The Blue Tag is valid only for the calendar year the test was taken in.  Normally, the troop will coordinate testing for the Blue Tag along with the event that requires it.  The test is also available at summer camp.

ADULT LEADERS

Volunteer Positions
Volunteer positions are always available.  See the Committee Chairman to volunteer.

SIGN OFF SHEET

 This handbook is a reference for our troop.  I have read this handbook and will abide by its policies. 

 Thank you.

 ____________________________________________        __________________

                        Scout                                                                           date

  ____________________________________________        __________________

                        Parent                                                                         date

  Please return to the Webelos Liaison.  Any questions, contact the Webelos Liaison or the  Troop Committee Chairman.