Scoutmasters and Venturing Advisers

Scoutmaster (SM): The Chief Operations Officer is in charge of working with the Senior Patrol Leader, the Paul Bunyan Patrol Members, and the Patrol Leaders Council to plan, develop, and run the troop’s program. The Scoutmaster works closely with the Committee Chair and the Charter Organization Representative  to ensure that the Boy Scouts of America’s Aims and Methods of Scouting are put into place. The Scoutmaster is appointed with the recommendation Committee Chair and approval of the Charter Organization Representative to run the Scout Program utilizing the eight methods of Scouting and is the sole person in decisions pertaining to the manner in which the program is delivered.

Assistant Scoutmasters (SA) are assigned to many of the tasks to maintaining the troops program. All assistant Scoutmasters spend their first year working on the equipment committee. This is so that the leader has time to understand the administration of the program and also so that the Scouts and leaders have time to understand the individual personality of the new leader. After the first year the leader can either stay in a supportive role or be assigned to work in one of the three youth programs (New Scout, Boy Scout, or Venture Crew).

Junior Assistant Scoutmasters (JASM) are young men and women (under 18) assigned to many of the same tasks that an Assistant Scoutmaster does. To be eligible a young adult must be at least 16 years of age and is typically close to earning the Eagle Scout Rank. The purpose of the JASM is to take adult training and work with an adult mentor to understand how to run a Scouting program. The Scoutmaster can assign the JASM to one of the adult supportive roles or be assigned to work in either the New Scout or Scouts BSA programs (JASMs are ineligible to work in the Venturing Program). Once a young adult has decided to volunteer as a JASM they typically do not return to youth roles in the troop or crew without the permission of the Scoutmaster.

Venturing Adviser (NA) are assigned to many of the tasks to maintaining the troops program. All assistant Scoutmasters and Venturing Advisers spend their first year working on the equipment committee. This is so that the leader has time to understand the administration of the program and also so that the Scouts and leaders have time to understand the individual personality of the new leader. After the first year the leader can either stay in the supportive roles or be assigned to work in one of the three youth programs (New Scout, Boy Scout, or Venture Crew).

Venturing Associate Advisers (NL) are assigned to many of the tasks to maintaining the troops program. All assistant Scoutmasters and Venturing Advisers spend their first year working on the equipment committee. This is so that the leader has time to understand the administration of the program and also so that the Scouts and leaders have time to understand the individual personality of the new leader. After the first year the leader can either stay in the supportive roles or be assigned to work in one of the three youth programs (New Scout, Boy Scout, or Venture Crew).

The Troop Committee:

The Troop Committee is an advisory board of the troop. It is the job of the committee to recruit and approve all adult participation in the troop; decide on matters of youth membership; charter the troop; keep the troop financially independent; and approve all rank advancement of the Scouts and Venturers.

Although it is the responsibility of the Scoutmaster, Assistants, Advisers, and the Patrol Leaders Council, to decide on the troop’s program, the Troop Committee should play a supportive roll in its administration. The committee helps with providing transportation, assists youth with their uniforms, run Courts of Honor and other parent activities, and works closely with the Scoutmaster. The decisions on the troop’s program are solely that of the Scoutmaster and should not be questioned. If there are concerns by the committee as to whether decisions are meeting the overall goals of the troop or crew the committee can intercede and direct the Scoutmaster to meet the goals or replace with someone new.

Chartered Organization Representative (CR): The CR is appointed by the sponsor to be a liaison officer of the committee to oversee the operations of the troop/crew and ensure that the goals of the sponsor are being met. The CR presents concerns that the sponsor has to the troop and facilitates any requests the troop has of the sponsor. All adults involved in the troop must be approved by the CR.

Committee Chair (CC): The Chief Executive Officer of the troop, the CC, is in charge of the total operation of the committee responsible for recruiting and approving all adult volunteers in the troop/crew. The chair is responsible for training all committee people in their jobs and following up with them to see that the tasks assigned to them are being done in a timely manner. The chair is present at most meetings of the Troop to interact with the parents, oversees committee activities going on at the meeting, and maintains firsthand knowledge of the activities of the troop and its program.

Transportation: Our Transportation Committee is responsible for registering all Scouts, Venturers and adults attending our activities. They coordinate a car-pooling service for parents to provide transportation to and from troop activities. The service is voluntary and parents can opt to be a part of the car-pooling or provide their child with their own transportation. The committee collects data from the parents via the on-line activity registration and then arranges the Scouts and Venturers into vehicles making sure that every youth has a ride to and from the activity.

The Hospitality Committee: This committee serves as hosts at our parents’ nights. Our largest parent’s night activity each year is the International Dinner. The committee also meets with the parents of our Eagle Scouts to aid in planning for Eagle Courts of Honor and the celebration of our Scouts and Venturers that obtain this high level.

Publicity: This committee promotes the news about Troop and Crew 179 and its great Scouts and Venturers. The publicity chairperson writes articles, takes pictures and notifies the press about our courts of honor and special activities, especially information about our Eagle Scouts and Summit Award Recipients.

Health Services: This committee inventories, replaces, and maintains various first aid kits that are appropriate to the activities conducted by the troop; works with the Scoutmasters encouraging them to undertake first responder training and to be prepared in the event of an accident on an activity; staffs a State of Michigan certified Health Office for week-long youth camps while the troop is at summer camp; organizes CPR certification courses for the Scouts, Venturers and adults annually.

The Membership Committee

This committee is responsible for creating a marketing program that attracts new members to the troop and crew, both youth and adult. They work with both the community and Webelos leaders to make Troop/Crew 179 available to receive any new recruits. They host our Webelosfest weekends, attend Crossover Ceremonies, and host open houses at our meetings.

The Finance Committee:

• Troop Treasurer: The Chief Financial Officer of the troop, the Treasurer, is in charge of all financial concerns of the troop. The Treasurer is required to present an annual report to the parents of the troop’s financial status, including presenting an annual budget for the parents to approve and make recommendations on funding the budget. Throughout the year the Treasurer will attend most meetings of the troop to reimburse expenditures made by Scoutmasters and pay bills. The treasurer will produce a monthly balance report and present it at the monthly committee meeting.
• Scout Accounts Treasurer: This person works with the Troop Scribe to accept and receipt monies brought in by Scouts and Venturers in payment of fees, dues, and their financial obligation. this treasurer keeps track of each Scouts account and sends out monthly reminders to parents of any monies owed to the troop.
• Wreath Committee: This committee is responsible for raising the funds needed to fulfill the budget approved annually by the parents. Starting October 1, Scouts solicit orders for Christmas wreaths and then delivering the wreaths within a few weeks around Thanksgiving.
• Popcorn Committee: This committee helps the youth in September and October with the selling and distribution of Boy Scout Popcorn.
• Uniforms: This committee runs our troop store and uniform exchange. They encourage Scouts and Venturers to turn in uniforms that don’t fit anymore and then have them available to sell at a reduced price. All of our “Babe-wear” including: T-shirts, Sweatshirts, Hats, Patches, and Bolo Ties are also available.  See the troop calendar for dates when the store is open, and it is also open by appointment.

The Advancement Committee:

The Advancement Committee is responsible to see that every Scout and Venturer has the opportunity to advance in rank to the ultimate goal of Eagle Scout. The troop is responsible for ensuring that:

• Each Scout will advance to the rank of First Class through a skills training program that is conducted by the Patrol Leaders Council.
• Parents are recruited to be Merit Badge Counselors and make themselves available to all Scouts and Venturers in the Ottawa District.
• A Board of Review is held at least once a month to approve the rank advancement from Tenderfoot through Life and to review the progress of Scouts and Venturers who have not advanced in the past year.
• Eagle Boards of Review are conducted within a month after requested by an Eagle candidate, and that it is conducted under the auspices of the Ottawa District Advancement Committee.
• All Scout Advancement is reported utilizing the BSA's Internet Advancement program to the Michigan Crossroads Council at least once a month.

The Equipment Committee:

Troop/Crew 179 owns approximately $40,000 in camping equipment and has eight trailers for hauling it. All of the equipment is stored at the Presbyterian Church and it is a large task to keep it maintained. We ask the help of all parents, since from time-to-time tents are sent home to be dried out. The maintenance of the equipment is broken up into several volunteer areas:

• Quartermasters - Assistant Scoutmasters works with the troop, patrol, and crew quartermasters, and mentors them to help develop leadership and to ensure completion of their tasks to inventory, replace, and maintain the equipment that is issued in the patrol kitchens and the patrol equipment boxes.
• Tents - Distribute to and collect tents from the Scouts and Venturers – develops a program of maintenance for repairing and waterproofing
• Supplies - Maintains a supply of consumable products (i.e., paper goods, fuel, cleaning supplies), maintains bulk products for troop cooking activities, ensures an adequate supply of charcoal and propane for each activity.
• Vehicles - Inspect and maintain trailers ensuring reliability for use; Check electrical connections, charge batteries, and check tires prior to each use; Recruit and create a list of drivers for transporting the trailers to and from each activity

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