By Laws

A. REGULAR MEETINGS: TUESDAY EVENING, 7 PM TO 8:30 PM,
PENN FOREST VOLUNTEER FIRE HALL. JIM THORPE, PA.

1. As a general rule, parents are not required to stay at regular meetings.
2. Parents are permitted to stay at regular meetings, as long as they are not
distracting to the boys and/or leaders running and/or participating in the meeting.
3. Parents may be asked to stay at regular meetings should a discipline problem arise that can not be handled by leaders. (See Troop Rules.)
4. As a general rule, scouts will never be permitted to leave a regular meeting (e.g. for trips to a store), and will never be permitted to leave a meeting early, unless prior arrangements had been made with parents/leaders.
5. No eating or drinking will be permitted during a regular meeting.
6. Scouts, Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are expected to wear their Troop 555
T- Shirt, or other BSA Shirts, at regular meetings. Class "A" Uniforms are required for a
"Scout Master Conference", Board of Review, and special occasions, such as a Court of Honor.

B. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Troop dues is $40.00 per scouts, per year. Dues is $60.00 per year for families with 2 Scouts in the Troop. Dues are due by December 1st of the preceding calendar year for the following calendar year. This enables us to re-charter in December, as required by BSA Council.
2. Monies from Troop Obligation will be put into the Troop fund and used to pay for re- chartering with BSA, the Troop T-Shirt and Hat provided to new Scouts, for badges, pins, stationary supplies, camping necessities, and any other supplies/equipment deemed necessary by the Troop Committee.
3. Scouts joining the Troop mid-year will have the Troop Obligation pro-rated.
4. In addition to the Troop obligation, scouts/families will also be responsible for raising an additional $25.00 for the Troop [a total of $50.00] through fundraising. Although participation in fundraisers is strongly encouraged, scouts/families that choose not to participate in fundraisers throughout the year will be obligated to pay the $25.00, or any balance of the $25.00 not raised through fundraising. The amount due for families with two scouts is $35.00.

C. PERSONAL EQUIPMENT:

1. Boys are expected to purchase and maintain their own BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK, Uniform Shirt, and Merit Badge Sash.
2. It is recommended that boys purchase Uniform Pants, and THE BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENT Handbook.
3. On camping trips, boys are expected to provide their own Mess Kit, Sleeping Bag, Poncho, Flash Light, clothing, and personal toiletry items.
4. Food will be provided for Scouts by the Troop on Camping Trips.

D. CAMPING TRIPS:

1. In general, camping trips are for boys and their leaders.
2. Although each situation will be considered individually, in general, camping trips are not family oriented.
3. On certain camping trips, especially Summer Camp, visiting is permitted and encouraged.
4. Should it be necessary for a Scout to be picked up at camp due to illness, disciplinary problem, or unresolved homesickness, it will be the responsibility of PARENTS to pick their scout up from camp. This is to ensure adequate leadership and the safety of the remaining scouts.

E. OTHER OUTINGS:

1. Troop 555 will occasionally organize other outings, e.g., Museums, sporting events, etc.
2. In general, these outings will be family events. Parents and siblings will be welcomed and encouraged to attend.
3. Although each situation will be considered individually, in general, siblings will not be permitted to attend outings without a parent.
4. Troop Leaders will be responsible for establishing the guidelines for each outing, and parents will be expected to support and help enforce them.
5. Any group rate discount will be passed on to any and all that attend. However, SCOUTS will occasionally receive a 'Troop Discount', provided from the Troop Account. This discount will be for Scouts only, not siblings.

F. ADVANCEMENT

1. Many advancement requirements are taught, explained and demonstrated at regular meetings.
Many others are taught, explained and demonstrated while on Camping Trips. HOWEVER, some of the requirements MUST be covered at home, often with parental involvement!
2. It should not be assumed that 'attendance ensures advancement'. Parents should not hesitate to contact leaders with any questions concerning advancement and/or Merit Badge Materials. Parents should ask what requirements are scheduled to be covered at meetings so that the same material will not be covered at home.
3. There is no dictated time frame for advancements. For instance, one Scout may reach 1st Class within a year or so from joining; another may take over 2 years. The only exception to this is that a Scout must earn his EAGLE prior to turning 18 years of age, as per BSA requirements.
4. Leaders cannot and should not push a Scout beyond his capabilities. A conference my be requested by a Scout Leader or a parent if it is suspected that too much or not enough encouragement is being given.
5. No rank in Boy Scouts can be skipped, overlooked or ignored, regardless of what age a boy joins Scouting.
6. Scouts with physical or mental disabilities may advance by meeting the regular advancement requirements, or approved alternative requirements, outlined by BSA.

G. FUNDRAISERS

1. Throughout the year, Troop 555 will sponsor various fundraisers. Scouts are expected to show "Scouting Spirit", as required for advancements, and participate in as many of these fundraisers as possible.
2. Half of the proceeds realized from these fundraisers will be deposited into an Account for each individual participating Scout.
3. The other half will be placed into the Troop account, and used for badges, camping supplies, etc., and when ever possible, used to off set the cost of Troop outings or trips.
4. Troop discounts will be directly proportionate to fundraiser participation.

H. INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISER ACCOUNTS

1. In the event that a Scout, for any reason, decides he no longer wants to be a member of Troop 555, no money will be handed to the Scout, regardless of the amount of money in his account.
2. If the Scout is transferring to another Troop, leaders of the new troop will be contacted by leaders of Troop 555, and a check will be written to the new troop, not to the individual scout.
3. If a Scout quits scouting completely, then any money left in the Scouts account will be transferred into the Troop Account, and considered a donation to the Troop.
4. If a Scout quits scouting completely, or leaves scouting due to age requirements, but has a brother in Troop 555, any funds in the scouts account may be transferred over to the account of his brother.

I. ATTENDANCE

1. Although each situation will be considered individually, in general, to fulfill Rank Advancement Requirements [e.g., "Be Active"; "Demonstrate Scout Spirit"], a 50% attendance record will be required.
2. Scouts are required to participate in at least 50% of all Community Service projects preformed throughout the year.
3. Scouts are required to attend at least 50% of all regular meetings throughout the year.
4. Camping Trips and other outings have no specific attendance requirements within the Troop, however, it should be noted that RANK REQUIREMENTS themselves, as written in The BSA Handbook, often dictate a certain amount of involvement. E.G.:
Second Class Rank Requirement 2A: Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
5. Scouts will never be told that "they can not advance', because of poor attendance, only that their new rank will be delayed until ALL requirements are met, including "Be Active"; and "Demonstrate Scout Spirit".

J. DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION

1. All schedules, schedule changes, forms, information and reminders will be sent to scouts and parents via e-mail. A copy of all e-mails will be available for all to read at regular meetings.
2. On certain occasions, the Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader or Patrol Leaders, may phone scouts to remind or notify of any schedule changes.
3. Troop 555 will make every effort possible to maintain an updated Internet Web Page with updated reminders and any schedule changes.

K. LEADERSHIP

1. Although BSA provides and recommends an extensive list of titles to be filled,
[e.g.: Outdoor Activities Coordinator, Advancement Coordinator, Training Coordinator, Equipment Coordinator, etc.}
the following will be the absolute minimum amount of leaders/titles retained by Troop 555:
ONE SCOUTMASTER
AT LEAST ONE ASSISTANT SCOUTMASTER
ONE COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON
AT LEAST THREE OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS, FULFILLING THE ROLES OF SECRETARY, TREASURE, AND FUNDRAISER CHAIRPERSON
2. Any person wishing to become an Adult Leader must complete the BSA Adult Application, and have it approved by the Committee Chairperson, Chartered Organization Head, and Council.
3. If any information is presented to any member of the Troop suggesting reasons that an Application should not be accepted, the information and application will be presented at a Committee Meeting, and should it be necessary, a vote will be held, including the votes of The Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, as to if the Application should be accepted.
4. If any existing Adult Leader is negligent in fulfilling his or her duties, or is deemed to have an adverse affect on the boys in the Troop, or operates contrary to the teachings of BSA, or is obstructive in any way towards the general steady, successful operation of the Troop, a vote can and should be taken by Committee Members, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, as to whether that leader should be asked to relinquish the position.
5. Although each situation will be considered individually, in general, Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters are expected to attend at least 50% of all regular meetings.
6. Although each situation will be considered individually, in general, Committee Members are expected to attend at least 50% of all Parent's Meetings.
7. Emergency Committee Meetings may be called by the Committee Chairperson.
8. If The Committee Chairperson is unavailable, and a Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster or any other Adult feels that an incident occurred requiring the immediate attention of the Committee, then they, too, may call an Emergency Committee Meeting in lieu of The Committee Chairperson.
10. Any and all Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are welcome to attend Committee Meetings, however, BSA guidelines will be used to determine voting privileges.

L. DISCIPLINE

1. The pre-existing "TROOP 555 RULES AND REGULATIONS as OUTLINED BY BSA"
will be used to govern any disciplinary problems that may occur.

M. TROOP FINANCES

1. It is the responsibility of The Troop Treasurer to maintain records of all incoming and outgoing funds, maintain a balanced Troop checkbook, and present an account of the Troop's Financial Status at all Committee Meetings.
2. It is the responsibility of The Troop Treasurer, or another designated Leader, to maintain records of all Scouts' Individual Fundraiser Accounts, and that all Scouts pay their Troop Obligation throughout the course of the year.

N. ADVANCEMENT PROCEDURES

1. "Scout Master Conferences" and "Board of Reviews" will be held on the 3rd Tuesday of every month.
2. If there is no meeting on the third Tuesday, due to a Holiday, bad weather, etc., the advancement procedures will be held at the next available regular meeting.
3. Scouts should make every possible effort to notify the Scoutmaster a week prior that he will be ready for his conference and Board of Review.
4. Scouts should be in their Class "A" uniform for their Scoutmasters Conference and their Board of Review.

O. TROOP LEADERSHIP POSITIONS

1. Elections for Scout Leadership positions will be held in June and December.
2. In order for a Scout to fill any elected office, scouts should:
A. Have a good attendance record
B. Show Scout Spirit
C. Be responsible
D. Take the initiative
E. Be attentive
3. Other requirements are as follows:
Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader: Star Rank or higher
Patrol Leader: First Class or higher
Assistant Patrol Leader: Second Class or higher
All other positions: Second Class or higher

Z. ADDITIONS AND CHANGES TO BY LAWS

1. Leaders of Troop 555 acknowledge that there may be a need to make a change or create additions to the BY LAWS at any time in the future. Leaders of Troop 555 accept this responsibility when they submit their Adult Application.
2. If a suggested change and/or addition is not agreed upon unanimously, then a vote will be cast, including the vote of the Scoutmaster and any Assistant Scoutmasters.