We had a great meeting last week kicking off SCOUTStrong with a round of soccer followed by fresh fruit. Thanks to Owen for volunteering to bring a healthy snack to our next Troop meeting Wednesday, October 4, 2017.
The Patrol Leaders’ Council, PLC, will meet at 6:30pm. The PLC is always scheduled the first Troop Meeting of every month. If you currently hold a leadership role that requires participation in the Troop PLC, your attendance is expected. These positions include: Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, Assistant Patrol Leaders (if your Patrol Leader is unable to attend), Scribe.
After the PLC meeting we will have our 15 minutes of SCOUTStrong activity. Volunteer to lead this activity? This will be followed up by an evening of advancement catch up (with healthy snacks) in anticipation of our October 18th Court of Honor.
Advancement Catch Up
- Scouts needing to be signed off on rank requirements bring your book and be prepared to demonstrate or discuss the skills.
- We will have Scoutmaster Conferences. If you need a SM Conference email, Scoutmaster.505@gmail.com.
- We will have Boards of Review. BORs require parent volunteers. Scouts please email Advancement.505@gmail.com if you need a BOR. Parents please email Advancement.505@gmail.com if you are able to serve on a BOR.
Merit Badge Catch Up
There are a number of small items that need to be completed for merit badges. Bring a laptop if you have one for the writing requirements or complete them before the meeting and you can assist other Scouts.
Citizenship in the Nation – Below are the requirements most Scouts need to complete.
- Watch the national evening news five days in a row OR read the front page of a major daily newspaper five days in a row. Discuss the national issues you learned about with your counselor. Choose one of the issues and explain how it affects you and your family.
- With your counselor’s approval, choose a speech of national historical importance. Find out about the author, and tell your counselor about the person who gave the speech. Explain the importance of the speech at the time it was given, and tell how it applies to American citizens today. Choose a sentence or two from the speech that has significant meaning to you, and tell your counselor why.
Environmental Science -Below are the requirements most Scouts need to complete. You can view specific requirements *you* have left to complete.
- 6. Find out about three career opportunities in environmental science. Pick one and find out the education, training, and experience required for this profession. Discuss this with your counselor, and explain why this profession might interest you.
Summer Camp – Do you have any outstanding requirements to meet for merit badge classes taken at summer camp? If so bring the requirements and materials needed to work on them.
For our newer Scouts, here’s information about PLC. While we don’t have all of these positions filled, keep in mind that our next election is coming soon November 8th.
The Patrol Leaders’ Council
A Troop should always be led by its elected boy leaders. With the guidance of the Scoutmaster and his assistants, the boy leaders plan the program, conduct troop meetings, and provide leadership among their peers. The Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC), not the adult leaders, is responsible for planning and conducting the Troop’s meetings and activities.
The members of the Troop elect one of their own to serve as the Senior Patrol Leader. To give more Scouts the opportunity to lead, once a year, the current Troop 505 Assistant Senior Patrol Leader moves into the Senior Patrol Leader position and the Troop elects a new Assistant Senior Patrol Leader.
Your Role in the Patrol Leaders’ Council
The Patrol Leaders’ Council is made up of the Senior Patrol Leader, who presides over the meetings; the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader and all Patrol Leaders, with the support of the Troop Scribe and the Troop Guides. As a Patrol Leader, you serve as the voice of your Patrol. During PLC Patrol Leaders should present the ideas and concerns of your patrol and in turn share the decisions of the Patrol Leaders’ Council with your Patrol.
Patrol Leaders’ Council Meetings
The Troop’s meeting programs and activities are selected and planned at the annual program planning conference. The troop’s yearly plan is then submitted to the Troop Committee for approval. The Troop Committee either approves the plan or makes alternative suggestions for the Patrol Leaders’ Council to consider. At its monthly meetings, the PLC fine-tunes the plans for the upcoming month by organizing and assigning responsibilities for the weekly Troop meeting program and planning the details of any upcoming Troop activities. The Troop Committee should always interact with the PLC through the Scoutmaster.
Patrol Leaders’ Council Position Descriptions
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) – top junior leader in the troop. He is elected by the entire troop and leads the Patrol Leaders’ Council and, in consultation with the Scoutmaster, appoints other junior leaders and assigns specific responsibilities as needed.
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) – fills in for Senior Patrol Leader in his absence. There may be more than one ASLP. They are responsible for training and giving direction to the Scribe, Quartermaster, Troop Historian, Librarian, Webmaster and Instructors.
Patrol Leader (PL) – gives leadership to members of his Patrol and represents them on the PLC.
Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) – is fully informed about all aspects concerning his Patrol and fills in for the Patrol Leader in his absence.
Troop Scribe (TS) – attends the meeting to support the PLC as the Troop Secretary.
Troop Guide (TG) – attends the meeting to support the PLC as an advisor and guide to the Patrol(s) and Patrol Leader(s).
Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM) – an Eagle Scout, 16 years or older, attends the meeting to support the PLC, who supervises and supports other boy leaders as assigned by the Scoutmaster.
Troop 505 