Scoutmaster’s Message

Troop Equipment

Rank Advancement

=         Advancement Steps

=         Step 1 –= ; The Scout Learns

=         Step 2 –= ; The Scout is Tested

=         Step 3 –= ; The Scout is Reviewed

=         Step 4 –= ; The Scout is Recognized

Service Hours for Advancement

Merit B= adges

=         Merit Badge Steps

Ord= er of the Arrow

Forms & Permission Slips

=         Parent Permission Slips

=         Medical Forms

=         Troop Insurance

Per= sonal Conduct

=         Fighting

=         Attendance at Outdoor Activities<= o:p>

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Scoutmaster’s Message=

The Aim of Scouting is to build character, foster citizenship and to develop fitness.

These are very lofty goals, but in many cases not very enticing to young boys. There= are many reasons boys become Scouts, some of which include the adventure, the excitement and the challenges! Scouting is a classroom in the outdoors, but it is not run like a classroom. Troop 818’s program for teaching includes; first, getting the Scout’s interest, followed by teaching him skills and providing opportunities for him to use = the skills. Testing the Scout and recognizing his accomplishment follows immediately.

Troop 818 is here to provide the opportunities a Scout= needs to advance in the scout program, but it is up to each individual Scout to t= ake advantage of our program. Thi= s is where the parents come into the picture.&n= bsp; Parents, talk with your son, ask about activities and encourage his participation and advancement. Don’t settle for, “the meeting w= as boring and we didn’t do anything.” Is your son getting involved? Is he working toward his own advan= cement and asking for help? Or is he= just passing the time and talking with his friends?

The more you become involved with your son, and his Tr= oop, the greater interest he will have in achieving his potential as a Scout. Troop 818 provides every Scout an opportunity to advance to Eagle Scout.&nbs= p; By far, the highest percentage of the young men who reach the Eagle = rank get to that rank with the active backing of their parents.

Joining

There are three ways that a boy enters a Scout Troop: =

1.= As a new candidate crossing over fr= om Webelos.

2.= As a new candidate entering Scoutin= g with limited or no Cub Scouting experience.

3.= As a transferring Scout.

There is more to joining a Boy Scout Troop than simply completing a membership application and paying dues. A candidate for Boy Scouts needs t= o meet other requirements, too. These requirements are covered in detail in the New Scout Program Section of this guide.

Scouts who transfer into Troop 818 are required to fil= l out, in detail, the Boy Scout Application. They must sign it, and then present it to the transferring Scoutmast= er who must complete the BSA Transfer Application/Notice before the transfer is processed. These two document= s are to be presented to the Unit Leader (Scoutmaster) of Troop 818 with the appropriate transfer fees when the Scout makes application to join this troop. The new Troop Council = Office then processes these two documents. A transfer is not complete until the council Office processes the documents. Credit for merit b= adges, offices held, and honors secured (including the Order of the Arrow) are lim= ited to those shown on the transfer Application/Notice.

Scout Participation

When a Scout joins Troop 818, he is expected to partic= ipate in as many Troop events as possible. Records are kept of his attendance.= The Scoutmaster uses this information in his evaluation of Scout spi= rit for rank advancement and for the participation requirement for a Scout to r= un for certain troop offices.

Attendance

The goal is for Scouts to maintain 75% attendance in uniform, (ie: allow one absence per month). Excused absences require advance notification in the Troop’s attendance software. Attendance will be taken at Flag ceremony at 7:00pm. Illness is considered an excused absence. The patrol leaders (PL) need to keep track of their patrol members, and each PL must arrange for his substitute when missing a meeting. However, Scouts participating in s= ports, band, or academic bowl also may receive excused absences if they register t= he occurrence before the meeting.

The Troop is trying to teach responsibility. The consequence of not maintaining= 75% attendance during the six months prior to troop elections, is that the Scout will not be eligible for a troop position.

Leadership Eligibility<= /a>

In order to be considered for election or appointment = to leadership positions a Scout is required to have an excused attenda= nce record of at least 75% during the previous six months. To be given credit for a leadership position a Scout must maintain an actual attendance record of at lea= st 75% during his term of duty. = If a Scout misses an excessive number of meetings or events (ie: more than 25%), even though absences are excused, he may not be given credit for leadership time. If you want to run for = office make sure that you do not plan to miss meetings or other Scout functions du= ring the next six months.

Scouts run the program of Troop 818 for the benefit of= all wishing to participate. A high level of participation results in a quality program. Poor attendance, on the other hand, results in a curtailed program and a waste of resources. Participation and contribution by = each Scout is essential for the Troop to succeed in its aims. We have observed many times, that “you only get out of Scouting what you put into it,” and “non-participants don’t make good Scouts.”

When a boy joins Troop 818, we ask him to make a commi= tment --- to the Troop, the Scouting program, and to himself. Scouting must have a high priority= in his life. Personal dedication= , a commitment to excellence, a sense of duty, personal loyalty and responsibil= ity produce a young man, who not only is a successful Scout, but an asset to society.

Parent Participation

Parents, both= men and women, join the Troop when their son joins. It is their responsibility to thei= r son and to the community, to help make sure a good Scouting program is available. It also is an exce= llent opportunity to participate with their son in his development at this most critical phase of his life.

When parents are called upon to participate, or to help fulfill the needs of the Troop, they should make every effort to do so. Without each and every parent’s help, the Troop’s growth and learning w= ill be curtailed.

When your son first joins Troop 818, you will be asked= to fill out a parent volunteer form. There are a number of ways for you to actively participate with the Troop. You may wish to serve = as an Assistant Scoutmaster, become a member of the Troop Committee, assist with boards of review, go on a campout, help with a merit badge class, or any of many support jobs that need to be done.

A Troop needs= the help of both men and women. Y= our contribution may be large or small, but it is vitally needed. The Scoutmaster and his assistants= are not babysitters. They are the= re to train and help your Scout grow into a mature and useful young man. If they squander their limited res= ources doing logistic jobs that you could perform, they cannot fulfill their funct= ion.

Adult Staff

The Adult Staff is comprised of adults, 18 years or ol= der, whose function is to guide the Scouts in the execution of the program, especially with regard to the main concerns of Scouting, character building, citizenship and physical fitness.

The Scoutmaster trains his boy leaders to plan and run= Troop 818. He helps Scouts to grow = by encouraging them to learn for themselves.&= nbsp; The Scoutmaster is the one troop leader who relates closely to each = of the other links in the chain of Troop operations, and, through the Troop Committee, the Chartered Organization Representative and The Chartered Organization.

The Assistant Scoutmasters (ASMs) support the Scoutmaster. They are assigned specific program responsibilities, such as advising patrols, new scout patr= ols and older boy or high school patrols.

The ASMs participate directly with the Scouts. They are assigned as advisors to particular patrols and act as facilitators to assist the Scouts with the running of their patrols. The= y also provide advice and assist with the teaching of basic Scouting skills. It is important that we have two o= r more advisors for each patrol.

The Troop Committee= <= o:p>

Every Troop has a group of adults whose main job is to= back up the scoutmaster and help him run a good Troop. The Troop Committee acts as the “Ways and Means” committee of the Troop. It is the Committee’s responsibility to provide the resources needed to run the Troop’s Sco= ut Program, including advancement, outdoor programs, finances, working with pa= rents, overseeing the safety procedures, and doing whatever they can to help the Scoutmaster do his job. They = assist the boys in raising funds and keeping records. They recruit other adult leaders, = run Boards of Review, assist in Courts of Honor, and oversee Troop communications. A good commit= tee supports its Junior Staff and Scoutmaster.= Its role is not to run the program.

The committee meets at 7:00pm on the third Thursday of= each month unless otherwise notified. A notice and the minutes from the previous Troop Committee Meeting are e:Mail= ed out the week before. The meet= ing takes place at First United Methodist Church.

The Troop Committee Positions are as follows:

&nbs= p; Chartered Organization Representative

&nbs= p; Committee Chair

&nbs= p; Secretary

&nbs= p; Finance

&nbs= p; Advancement

&nbs= p; Registrar and Records

&nbs= p; Newsletter editor

&nbs= p; Web Site Editor

&nbs= p; Popcorn Colonel

&nbs= p; Fund Raising/Scholarship

&nbs= p; Merit Badge Program Coordinator

&nbs= p; Transportation

&nbs= p; Equipment

&nbs= p; Chaplain

&nbs= p; Cub Liaison

&nbs= p; Librarian

&nbs= p; Special Events Coordinator

&nbs= p; Troop Guide Book Coordinator

&nbs= p; Health Officer

&nbs= p; Safety/First Aid

&nbs= p; Scholarship/Uniform Exchange Coordinator

Boards of Review

Troop 818 is filled with many active boys seeking advancement. One requirement = at every level of the advancement process is the Board of Review.

Boards of Review consist of three adults who are not a part of the adult staff= , i.e. Scoutmaster and his Assistant Scoutmasters. Because of the rule eliminating the adult staff, a significant number of active adults are removed from the pool that can be drawn from to perform boards.

The third Thursday of each month, during Committee Mee= tings, is the scheduled date on which Boards of Review are held. However, they may be held more frequently as needed. The Advancement Chairman, or someone appointed by the Advancement Chairman, coordinates the boards during the regular Scout meeting time.

Only the number of volunteers available to conduct the= se reviews limits us. You do not have to be a Troop Committ= ee member to participate in a board of review. Inexperienced volunteers will be t= eamed with experienced volunteers. = The requirements for Boards of Review are covered in more detail in the Advance= ment Section of this manual.

Merit Badge Counselors<= /a>

There are over 100 merit badges and each one of them requires a Merit badge counselor. There are no rank requirements for a Scout to complete a merit badge. However, there are mer= it badge requirements for the ranks of Star, Life and Eagle.

The earning of merit badges is an activity that a Scout usually does outside the normal meeting activities. Short meetings before, during, or after the troop meeting can be scheduled to discuss assignments = and progress. Details of the step= s a Scout performs to earn merit badges are covered in detail in the advancement Section.

The requirements for being a merit badge counselor are= :

&nbs= p; Be over 18 years of age

&nbs= p; Complete an application to be a Merit badge counselor

&nbs= p; Be willing to make yourself available to Scouts

This important position takes a minimal amount of time= . The Scout does the work and you me= et with him to verify that the tasks were completed and that the Scout has acquired the knowledge required.

Note to Merit= Badge Counselors – It is a Boy = Scouts of America policy that adults do not meet= with Scouts in a one-on-one situation. This is not a Troop 818 policy, but a national policy. It is unfortunate that circumstanc= es occur that require the implementation of such policies; however, it has been instituted to protect the rights of the boys as well as the adults.

We suggest tha= t Scouts work in pairs when possible, but if you find yourself working with a Scout individually, ask the Scout’s parent to be present and stay with you = or insure that some other adult is present during the meeting.

Other Adult Participation Opportun= ities

There are many supporting activities that are required= to help Troop 818 function at its fullest.

The troop goes camping once a month and drivers are re= quired to get the Scouts and equipment to and from the campsites. All parents, including mothers, ar= e welcome to participate in these outings. Check the troop calendar on the bulletin board or web site so you kn= ow what events call for your support and attendance.

The amount of money required to run a troop far exceed= s the membership fees and dues paid by the boys.= Consequently, the troop carries out one major fundraiser each year.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> This annual fundraiser is the Boy = Scout Popcorn sales that are held in the fall.&n= bsp; If you are willing to participate in these activities, contact the T= roop Committee chair.

Troop 818 holds a Court of Honor two times during the year. The Court of Honor is a special ceremony that honors each Scout who has earned advancement during t= he semester. Parents should make it a point to attend each Court of Honor, not o= nly to see their Scout honored, but also to show their support of the Troop.

Parents are encouraged to occasionally attend a regular meeting, even for a brief visit, to allow the boys to demonstrate the Scout program in action. Parents (M= oms included) are encouraged to come to any camping or hiking outing to observe= and participate. Please indicate = your interest during the sign-up for events so that food may be purchased and equipment set aside if you plan to attend.= Your interest and support a= re vital to a successful program.

Troop Meetings

The Troop meets every Monday evening in the Youth Fellowship Building at First United Methodist Church, Sixth Street,= Stillwater, Oklahoma. Meetings start promptly at 7:00pm = and end at 8:30pm. Meetings center around a program and activities related to Scouting. A portion of the Troop meeting is allocated to patrol meetings. Scouts should be on time and in full uniform. The uniform of the troop is descri= bed later in this guide.

A Scout’s parents should be prompt in picking up= their son(s) after meetings. Troop = policy dictates that no Scout will be left at the church without an adult present. A late pickup means that an adult is delayed in getting home to his= own family.

Guests are always welcome at Troop 818 meetings. Scouts are encouraged to bring prospective members from time to time.

Troop Organization<= span style=3D'mso-bookmark:TroopOrganization'><= o:p>

Every Troop is part of some established community organization. The Troop is gr= anted a charter by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) to operate for one year at a time. = First United Methodist Church has chartered Troop 818 for more than 80 years.

The organization (FUMC) agrees to furnish satisfactory meeting facilities, approve the Scoutmaster, appoint a Troop Committee Chairperson and choose a Chartered Organization Representative, a member of= the church who serves as a link between the church and the Troop. That person is not the head of the organization.

BSA agrees to make training courses available to the T= roop leaders, provide local camping facilities (i.e. Will Rogers Scout Reservati= on), make program materials available, maintain basic Troop records, and provide programs and services. The Chartered Organization uses the programs and provides the adult leadership.=

Troop 818 is organized into several operating units, i= ncluding the Patrols, the Junior Staff, the Adult staff and the Troop committee. The Patrols operate using the “patrol method,” described in a later section of this guide. In Figure I, the basic structure o= f the Troop below the Committee level is diagramed.

Junior Staff

The boy leaders run Troop 818. With the guidance of the Scoutmast= er and his assistants, they plan the program, conduct the Troop meetings, and prov= ide leadership among their peers. Troop 818 holds elections for its leadership in March and September. In order to hold a Troop position,= one must be an active participant in the Troop and have Scoutmaster approval at= the time of nomination. A Scout is required to have an excused attendance record of at least 75% during= the previous six months.

To be given credit for a leadership position a Scout m= ust maintain an actual attendance record of at least 75% during his term= of duty. If a Scout misses an excessive number of meetings or events (i.e., more than 25%), even though absences are excused, he may not be given credit for leadership time. If you want to run for office make= sure that you do not plan to miss meetings during the next six months for activi= ties such as sports, band, academic bowl, etc.&= nbsp;

Every Troop officer must attend a Junior Leader Traini= ng Session within the first month he is in office. The Scoutmaster will arrange this training.

Senior Patrol Leader (SPL= )

(Reports to Scoutmaster)

    1.= Meet with SM 15 minutes before each= Troop activity.

    2.= Run PLC, coordinate Troop activitie= s.

    &nbs= p;    a. Weekly meetings (15 min.).

    3.= Two 2-hour meetings outside regular Troop meeting.

    &nbs= p;    a. First month of office for training.

    &nbs= p;    b. Last month of office for court of Honor planning.

    4.= Provide monthly presentation of Sco= ut skills at meeting (with ASPL).

    5.= Coordinate flag ceremonies at Troop meetings, overnight campouts, and Courts of Honor (both Troop and Eagle).

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASP= L)

(Reports to Scoutmaster)

    1.= Meet with SM and SPL 15 minutes bef= ore each Troop activity.

    2.= Run PLC/coordinate Troop activities= in SPL absence.

    3.= Provide monthly presentation of Sco= ut skills at meeting (with SPL)

    4.= Coordinate special activity nights scheduled during term.

    5.= Take and keep minutes of PLC meetin= gs.

Patrol Leader (PL)

(Reports to Assistant Scoutmaster advising the patrol)

    1.= Patrol leader is responsible for ov= erall functions of patrol at meetings and activities.

    2.= Attends all PLC meetings.

    3.= Patrol will decide on additional responsibilities.

Scribe – Dues

(Reports to Troop Finance Committee Member)

    1.= Collect and record dues.

    2.= Provide SM a monthly report includi= ng:

    &nbs= p;    a. Dues collected

    &nbs= p;    b. Use of patrol funds.

Scribe – Attendance

(Reports to Troop Registrar and records Committee Member)

    1.= Record attendance at all Troop acti= vities including:

    &nbs= p;    a. Weekly meeting

    &nbs= p;    b. Campouts

    &nbs= p;    c. Service projects, etc.

    2.= Maintain attendance/absence book.
    3.= Maintain bead record and distribute beads.

Scribe – Advancement

(Reports to Troop Advancement Chair)

    1.= Record Scout advancement activity including:

    &nbs= p;    a. Requirements

    &nbs= p;    b. Merit badges earned

    &nbs= p;    c. Service hours

    2.= Prepare monthly advancement report = for SM and Troop Newsletter.

    3.= Coordinate monthly advancement acti= vity

    &nbs= p;    a. Meeting requirement fair

    &nbs= p;    b. Orienteering course

    &nbs= p;    c. Lashing project

Quartermaster (QM)

(Reports to Troop Equipment Committee Member)

    1.= Maintain and check in/out Troop equipment.

    2.= Prepare inventory of all Tro= op and patrol eqjuipment for SM (with patrol QM)

    3.= Prepare list of needed Troop equipm= ent (with input from Scouts)

Historian

(Reports to Troop Historian Committee Member

    1.= Prepare scrapbook for six-month term with:

    &nbs= p;    a. Names of Troopo officers, patrols, etc.

    &nbs= p;    b. Pictures of Troop activities

    &nbs= p;    c. Newspaper clippings

    &nbs= p;    d. Court of Honor programs, etc.

    2.= Display scrapbook at Court of Honor= and coordinate presentation of Troop activities.

    3.= Prepare monthly report of Troop activities for SM and newsletter.

Librarian

(Reports to Troop Librarian Committee Member)

    1.= Catalog and check in/out all Troop reference books.

    2.= Determine what merit badge books the Troop needs and get two (2) of them.

    3.= Procure three reference books (appr= oved by SM) for Troop libarary.

    4.= Prepare monthly report/list of refe= rence materials for SM and Newsletter.

Chaplain’s Aide=

(Reports to Troop Chaplain Committee Member)

    1.= Offer invocations/prayers at Troop meetings, Courts of Honor and other Troop activities.

    2.= Provide devotional for each overnig= ht campout.

    3.= Maintain record of Scout religious preferences and promote BSA religious award program.

    4.= Participate in BSA religious award program.

= Den Chief

(Reports to Scoutmaster)

    1.= First Class Scout

    2.= Attend Den meetings regularly (75% = of meetings)

    3.= Get short note from den leader sayi= ng you attended regularly and helped out.

Troop Guide

(Reports to Assistant Scoutmaster assigned to New Scout Patr= ol)

The Troop Guide assi= sts the Assistant Scoutmasters in the recruitment and training of New Scouts. The Troop Guide teaches advancement skills to new Troop members. = They also are responsible for the review of Scout skills for Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class rank advancement.&nb= sp; They may be required to attend Boards of Review of Scouts that they = have tutored.

This position is app= ointed by the Senior Patrol Leader, with Scoutmaster approval, and requires a rank= of Life Scout or above. This is = an outstanding opportunity for Eagle Scouts who have not reached the age of 18= to exercise their leadership and outdoor skills for the benefit of younger Sco= uts.

Cred= it for Leadership

To get full credit toward rank advancement during a six-month perio= d, a Scout must participate at a 75% level for meetings and other Troop function= s. A Scout also will have to fulfill = the duties of his position to the satisfaction of the Troop adult leadership.

If a Scout is not ab= le to fulfill the 75% rule during a six-month period, he should contact the Scoutmaster and discuss with him alternative methods for fulfilling the leadership requirement.

The = Patrol Leader’s Council

The Patrol Leader= 217;s Council (PLC), not the adult leaders, is responsible for planning and conducting the Troop’s activities.&n= bsp; The PLC is composed of the following voting members: Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Patrol Leaders. Other Troop officers participate, = but do not vote.

The Troop’s ac= tivities are selected and planned at the annual program planning conference held in August. The Troop’s yea= rly plan is then submitted to the Troop Committee for approval. The Troop Committee either approve= s the plan or makes alternative suggestions for the PLC to consider. At its meetings, the PLC organizes= and assigns activity responsibilities for the weekly Troop meetings. The Troop Committee interacts with= the PLC through the Scoutmaster.

Patr= ols

Every Boy Scout Troo= p is made up of patrols – groupings of six to twelve boys – that work together as a team. This allo= ws a Scout to be in a small group within his Troop. It also means each boy gets involv= ed because he’s really needed. Every Scout has an opportunity to get a job and a chance to learn and practice responsibility. It provides real experience in the democratic way of doing things.

Patrols also have th= eir own meetings, elect their own officers, and plan and carry out their own patrol activities. Lord Baden-Powell= , the founder of the Scouting movement said, “It’s the only way to ru= n a Troop.” Troop 818 agree= s.

Patr= ol Dues

Troop 818 has each p= atrol collect dues for each Troop meeting. The purpose of collecting dues is to teach the Scouts responsibility. The Scouts are asked to use some of their weekly allowance or money earned to pay these dues. Parents should resist g= iving money to their Scout on the way to the troop meeting.

The Troop receives $= 0.75 per week and the Patrol receives $0.25 per week. Thus, each $1 brought in by a Scout would be split 75/25 between the Troop and the Patrol. The Patrol retains the $0.25 to pu= rchase equipment approved by the Assistant Scoutmaster advising the Patrol.

Scouts will not be p= ermitted to attend Troop outings if dues are not current on the date a permission sl= ip is due. Permission slips are generally due one week in advance of an outing. It is the Scout’s responsibi= lity to check his dues status and the Patrol Leader and Assistant Scoutmaster= 217;s responsibility to make sure the information is kept current with the Troop Committee Treasurer.

The = Patrol Leader

The Patrol Leader ha= s the Patrol’s top position. = He appoints members to available patrol jobs, so as many as possible can share= in its leadership. He takes the = lead in planning and steering regular patrol meetings and activities. He helps patrol members advance, a= nd may teach Scouting skills. He encourages members to recruit new boys to fill patrol vacancies. He represents his patrol on the PL= C, and reports to the patrol the decisions of the PLC. He sets a good example by working = on his own advancement, taking junior leader training, and living up to the Scout = Oath and Law. Any boy accepting a = patrol leader position should pledge to be available for at least 75% of all Scout= ing activities during his term of office.

This position is ele= cted by each patrol and requires a rank of First Class or above.

If a Patrol Leader f= ails to perform his duties, the Scoutmaster will counsel him. If he continues to neglect his dut= ies, he can be removed by majority vote of his entire patrol.

The Assistant Patrol Leader

The Assistant Patrol= Leader steps in to serve when the Patrol Leader cannot. He may also carry out special tasks assigned to him, like overseeing patrol member’s advancement.

The = Scribe

The Scribe is the pa= trol secretary. He checks attendan= ce and keeps the patrol logbook up to date.

The Treasurer

The Treasurer collec= ts patrol dues and camping fees and keeps records on each Scout in his patrol.=

The Quartermaster

The Quartermaster ke= eps the patrol’s equipment in good shape.&nb= sp; He also works with the Troop Quartermaster as needed to maintain the Troop gear.

The Grubmaster

The Grubmaster is ap= pointed for each campout and is in charge of camping menus and assembling food for = such events. This allows everyone = in the patrol to have an opportunity to meet the meal planning and cooking require= ment for First Class Rank advancement. Receipts will be turned in after campouts to patrol’s adult advisor along with any money that is left over. The patrol may choose to vote and = use the extra money to replenish their chuck box, or split it between the patrol members that participated in the campout.&= nbsp; The Gurbmaster ie expected to stay within budget when buying food for campouts. A Boy Scout is Thrifty. If a Grubmaster overspends, the food is to be shared by the patrol.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> A learning experience has occurred= .

The Cheermaster

The Cheermaster lead= s songs, yells, stunts and campfire programs. He is “Mr. Morale.”

Troop Operation

The “chair of command” revolves around the SPL, his ASP= L, and Patrol Leaders who lead the junior staff in conducting the program. The Patrol Leaders serve as the ch= annel of communication between the patrols and the SPL. The SPL then serves as the main ch= annel of communication to the adult staff. Scouts with questions or needing assistance, or guidance, should go first to their Patrol Leader, who in turn should go to the ASPL, who in turn should go to the SPL, who then should go to the Scoutmaster or other member= of the adult staff. The success of the program is depende= nt upon the effectiveness of the patrol, junior and adult leadership.

Two adult advisors are assigned to each patrol. One adult is required to stay with patrols during meetings and watch interactions between Scouts and behavior. Parents can be call= ed by the Scoutmaster, or Committee Chairperson, and required to attend two meeti= ngs with their Scout after two warnings for minor misbehavior or one major warning. This will be a requirement for the Scout to continue with the Troop= .

Adult advisors are r= equired to guide Patrol elections and the planning for each campout and program. Adults must take responsibility for guiding boys in the right direction. This does not mean that they take charge; however, they do act as a facilitator.<= /p>

New = Scout Program<= span style=3D'font-size:20.0pt'>

For young boys new to Scouting and for Cub Scouts transitioning to Boy Scouts, the step can be a = very big one. Sometime during the February – March period, many boys cross over from their Webelos Cub Scout programs to join Boy Scouts. The new recruits are placed in a New Scout program under the directi= on of Troop “guides and one to two adult leaders. Through this program, the new Scout receives an orientation to BSA and specifically learns the operation of Tro= op 818 during his next six to nine months.&nb= sp; The new Scout participates in many of the regular Troop programs and outings, yet has his own activities where he learns basic personal and patr= ol skills and responsibilities which will prepare him for entry into the Troop structure.

Every new Scout will= receive the Boy Scout Handbook, the official guide to Boy Scouting. If a Scout loses their Boy Scout Handbook, a new copy can be purchased at the Cimarron Council Headquarters,= Enid, O= klahoma.

The Boy Scout Handbo= ok will serve as a guide through all the Scout’s years of Scouting and will s= erve as the record for the Scout’s advancement. Unlike the handbooks used at the different levels of Cub Scouting, a Scout will need to hold onto his Boy Sc= out Handbook for all his years of Scouting.

A Scout candidate wi= ll also need an official Boy Scout uniform with all of the appropriate patches. Some of the patches are provided by Troop 818, while others can be purchased at the Cimarron Council Headquarte= rs in Enid= . The complete details of the unifor= m and requirements are covered in the Scout Uniform Section of this guidebook.

The Scout candidate&= #8217;s first goal will be to meet all the requirements on page 4 of the Boy Scout Handbook in order to earn the Boy Scout badge. After completing these requirement= s, the Scout candidate will request a Scoutmaster conference with the adult advisor for the new Scout patrol or with the Scoutmaster. The purpose of this talk is to mak= e sure every Scout candidate knows what it means to be a Scout. When this requirement is completed= , the Scout candidate is officially a Boy Scout.

At the first availab= le Troop meeting following the Scoutmaster conference, the new Scout will be officia= lly inducted into the Troop, and will receive the Scout rank badge and the Scout rank record card.

Scou= ts in High School<= /span>

The High School Patr= ol was formed to provide challenging opportunities for the older Scouts in our Troop. The High School Patrol= can assume a name just like the other Patrols. This Patrol consists of Life Sco= uts, fifteen years or older, and have Scoutmaster approval. An adult advisor is assigned to th= e High School Patrol. The Patrol mee= ts every week, and they discuss progress on their Eagle Projects and help plan training for younger Scouts. = Scouts from this patrol interested in sharing their skills and talents can serve as Troop Guides to the New Scout Patrol with approval from the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee.

If the Patrol desire= s, they can plan and prepare for the high adventure activities. High adventure events require matu= rity and training, and can be physically challenging. These activities (typically one or= two events per year) are in addition to regular Troop activities.

The High School patr= ol operates using the same guidelines as the other patrols. The number of participating boys w= ill determine the number of active Patrols.

Although the High Sc= hool Patrol operates their own program, they are still an active part of Troop 818. They will participate in openings, closings and in many cases regular Troop campouts and other activities. The Patrol Leader= s will serve on the PLC the same as for the other patrols. The High School Patrol will also be responsible for programs just like all patrols.

Scou= ts Driving

As the age of a Scout increases, he becomes interested in driving himself to campouts. Scouts are not allowed to carry ot= her Scouts as passengers in their vehicle during Troop activities. Even though they are traveling alo= ne, the Scout’s vehicle must be listed on the tour permit for the outing. A Scout interested in driving to an outing must 1) be registered on the Troop’s Verificatio= n of Insurance, 2) submit a permission slip with their parent’s permission= for the Scout to drive, and 3) deposit keys with the Scoutmaster or ASM-in-char= ge upon arrival at the outing.

Comm= unications

As in most organizat= ions, communication is important so that everyone is informed of the news and eve= nts of the Troop. Information flo= ws through several channels in Troop 818.&nbs= p; Scouts are responsible for listening to instructions at meetings and remembering or recording them. A notebook and pencil will help them tremendously. The Troop 818 Activity Calendar li= sts most of the Scouting activities for the entire year. The bulletin board in the back of = the Youth Fellowship Hall should keep Scouts and adults apprised of monthly events. The Troop 818 Newslet= ter is also published four to five times a year to share stories about Troop activ= ities and plans for the future. The= Troop website is also a source for current and historical Troop information, form= s, pictures and activities. The website can be found at www.bsatroo= p818.com.

The Scoutmaster is responsible for informing the Senior Patrol Leader and adult staff. The Senior Patrol Leader is respon= sible for informing the Patrol Leaders and other youth. Patrol Leaders are responsible for informing their members about Troop events and special requirements, instruction or equipment needs. Scouts are responsible for transmitting messages to parents.

On occasion, the Scoutmaster, Troop Committee Chairman, or officers of the Troop Committee m= ay need to inform parents directly.

From time to time, a= Troop 818 Roster will be issued. Ke= ep it with the family phone book. I= f your address, phone number, names, etc. should change, please notify the Troop Committee Secretary, Treasurer or Advancement Chairperson, and Troop Scribe= .

If you have any questions that are not answered by this Guidebook or by other forms of communication or by the Scout Publications, direct your questions as follows:

    &nbs= p;

&nb= sp; 1. Uniform Standards            =             &nb= sp;            =      6. Patrol Issue

&nb= sp;       a. Senior Patrol Leader    = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            = a. Patrol Leader

&nb= sp;       b. Junior Staff     &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            b. Senior Patrol Leader

&nb= sp; 2. Campout Information        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;         c. Assistant Scoutmaster

&nb= sp;       a. Patrol Leader     =             &nb= sp;            =             &nb= sp;     7. New Members

&nb= sp;       b. Senior Patrol Leader    = ;            &n= bsp;            = ;            = a. Scoutmaster

&nb= sp; 3. Advancement Information        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;         8. Assistance to the Troop

&nb= sp;       a. Advancement Chairperson   &n= bsp;            = ;            &n= bsp;   a. Committee Chairperson

&nb= sp; 4. Merit Badge Counseling        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;     b. Scoutmaster

&nb= sp;       a. Merit Badge Officer

&nb= sp;       b. Advancement Chairman

&nb= sp; 5. Transportation

&nb= sp;       a. Transportation Officer

&nb= sp;       b. Committee Chairperson

&nb= sp;       c. Scoutmaster

    &nbs= p;

Uniforms

BSA Troop 818 has several different uniforms known as = Class A, Class B and Class C. the occasion is the major factor determining which uniform is correct to wear.<= /p>

Uniforms may be purchased at either the Cimarron Counc= il Office in Enid, Oklahoma or the Boy Scout Catalog. If you are making a special trip t= o buy items, it may be worth your time to call the Council Office to ensure that = you are able to get everything in one trip.&nb= sp; Also, the Council Office will accept phone orders with credit cards = and will ship. Listed below and o= n the next page is a definition of each type of uniform:

Class= A Uniform

The Class A is the main uniform for Boy Scouts. It is worn at all Scout meetings (= some exceptions for fun nights), at all Scout ceremonies, whenever traveling with Troop 818, and for other designated occasions. The uniform consists of:

   *    Boy Scout shirt (tan wi= th all appropriate patches, see diag= rams)

   *