Adult Roles

 

Each Scout's family is expected to help with some of the Troop activities. This may take the form of being a trip coordinator, adult volunteer on a campout, adult leader at summer camp, assisting with the annual re-registration ("rechartering"), being a Troop Committee member or Scoutmaster, serving as a Board of Review mwmber or Merit Badge Counselor, or assisiting with special activities. In addition, each family will be called upon from time to time to provide transportation to Troop outings.

 

Scoutmasters: The Scoutmaster (SM) and the Assistant Scoutmasters (ASM) provide adult guidance in day-to-day operations of the Troop. The SM and ASMs act as trip and activity leaders (with assistance of one or more adult volunteers from parents in the Troop). Traditionally, all adult leaders of Troop 1559 (Scoutmasters, Troop Committee members, and others) are parents, grandparents, or other close family members of current or recent Scouts in the Troop.

 

Troop Committee: Troop policy and administration are handled by the Troop Committee, led by the Troop Committee Chair. Several of the committee members are responsible for special functions. These include Treasurer, Advancement Chair, Outdoor Chair, Hospitality (Courts of Honor, pot lucks, etc.), and Fundraiser. The TC includes several members-at-large. All parents are welcome at Troop Comittiee meetings (generally the 3rd Tuesday of the month - that's how you become a member of the Troop Committee!). The SM and ASMs are not voting members of the Troop Committee, although they are called on to provide input.

 

Roundtables: The Stanford District of the Pacific Skyline Council holds a Roundtable each month (first Thursday monthly) to serve as an idea exchange for adult leaders of Troops and to publicize announcements of interest concerning Council activities and policies.

 

Leader Training: The local Council provides a number of training programs for both adult and youth leaders. These include the video program "Fast Start", "Youth Protection" and Abuse Recognition training, Scouter Fundamentals, Wood Badge (advanced Scouter training), and Outdoor Awareness for adults. Youth leadership programs include Den Chief Training and Junior Leader Training. In addition, the Troop provides training through a Troop Leader Workshop about two weeks after officers are selected for the new term and "on-the-job" coaching by the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters. While the Council sponsors CPR and First Aid classes, both adult and youth leaders are encouraged to participate in courses given by the American Red Cross, Heart Association, courses given by their employers, or advanced courses in wilderness first aid sponsored by various outdoor organizations.

 

Chartered Organization: Each Boy Scout Troop is sponsored by some organization. The Chartered Organization is responsible for ensuring that the unit has a meeting place and has sufficient adult leadership who meet BSA qualifications. In units like Troop 1559 which have active involvement of parents and other close relatives of the Scouts, it is relatively easy to obtain qualified Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Troop Committee Chair and Troop Committee members.

 

Chartered Organization Representative: Person appointed by the Chartered Organization to act as liaison with the troop.