BOY SCOUT
TROOP 163

 BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
TROOP 163
COVINGTON

To the parents of our newest member:    

       
If a boy is transferring from Cub Scouts or another Boy Scout Troop, the required fee is a $1.00 transfer fee plus appropriate Troop Cost for the current month through November 30th of each year. Since December is our Charter Renewal month, the full $33.00 fee will be collected on any Scout transferring or joining in the month of December.

**TO THE NEW SCOUT**

DUES

Each Scout pays dues of $1.00 per week. Dues are collected by the Patrol Scribe, who will turn the money over to the Troop Scribe, who then gives it to the Troop Committee Treasurer. It is each Scout’s responsibility to pay his dues on time. IF YOU ARE BEHIND IN DUES, YOU MAY NOT BE ALLOWED TO ATTEND TROOP OUTINGS.

PATROL ASSIGNMENT

As soon as you become a member of the Troop, you are assigned to a Scout Patrol. A patrol is a group of 4-8 Scouts who work together as a team -- most of the Troop activities are conducted as patrol activities. The patrol camps, cooks, learns, and competes as a team.
From the beginning of Scouting in 1910, the patrol has been the focus of the Troop program. Strong and active patrols make a strong and active Troop. As a patrol member, you will get the opportunity to lead, to follow, and to work together with the other patrol members.

THE FIRST WEEK

During your first week, after you have turned in all of the required registration forms, you should buy a Boy Scout Handbook, then read and do the requirements listed for the rank of Boy Scout. When you have learned each requirement, have your designated Assistant Scoutmaster check off the requirements in your handbook. When you have completed all of the requirements, you must show your book to the Scoutmaster in a Scoutmaster Conference. You will then be ready to work toward the rank of Tenderfoot Scout.

WHAT THE TROOP EXPECTS OF YOU

1. That you will ATTEND all Scout meetings. Attendance is an obligation that you accept as a Boy Scout. If you cannot attend a scheduled meeting for any reason, you should call your Patrol Leader and let him know as soon as possible.
2. That you will CONDUCT yourself during the meeting in such a way that you don’t disturb or interrupt the activities.
3. That you will RESPECT the rights of others and will not talk while they are talking -- remember that the meeting can succeed ONLY if everyone does his part to make them succeed.
4. That you will ACCEPT and willingly do the tasks assigned to you by your Patrol Leader. The Patrol Leader has the responsibility to see that the whole job gets done -- and he needs your help.
5. That you will WORK HARD on each advancement requirement on your way from Boy Scout to Eagle Scout rank. Your Adult Leaders can teach you the things you need to know, BUT YOU MUST DO THE WORK YOURSELF.

TROOP UNIFORM

1. Official Scout shirt (short sleeve for Summer, long sleeve for Winter*)
2. Official Scout pants (green shorts for Summer, long pants for Fall-Spring)
3. Troop T-shirt (for Summer wear, available from the Troop)
4. Official Scout socks (crew socks for long pants, knee socks for shorts)
5. Official Scout green webbed belt and buckle (unless other Scouting belt approved by the Scoutmaster)
6. Scout Troop Neckerchief  (Red with Black Trim)
7. Official Scout hat
8. Patches for uniform
                    -Troop numerals 163 (available from the Troop)
                    -Atlanta Area Council shoulder patch
                    -Red shirt epaulet loops
9. Merit Badge sash (for formal wear)
10. Brown, tan, or black shoes (leather, tennis or hiking)

*Optional: The short sleeve shirt can be worn over a RED long sleeve undershirt in Winter.
Uniform items can be purchased at Cohen’s Clothing Store in Covington, the Scout Shop at Bert Adams Scout Reservation or downtown Atlanta (100 Edgewood Ave, 4th floor, across from Ga. State University). You can also check used clothing stores for "experienced" uniform shirts and pants.

TROOP 163 USES THE UNIFORM CLASSIFICATIONS AS FOLLOWS:

CLASS A CASUAL - Scout shirt with all insignia properly sewn on, Troop neckerchief, Boy Scout hat, Scout long pants, Scout belt, Scout socks, and sturdy shoes. (Worn at Fall to Spring Troop meetings and for travel)
CLASS A DRESS - As above, including merit badge sash, any medals awarded and brown or black shoes. (Board of Review, Court of Honor, etc.)
CLASS B - Troop T-shirt, no neckerchief, BSA hat, Scout shorts, belt and socks, and sturdy shoes. (Summer uniform and camping wear)

RESPECT YOURSELF AND YOUR TROOP. WEAR YOUR UNIFORM PROUDLY. YOU ARE CARRYING ON TRADITIONS OF BOY SCOUTING THAT ARE 90 YEARS OLD.

  PERSONAL CAMPING EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

1. SLEEPING BAG - Make sure you buy one rated to the lowest average Winter temperature in Georgia. For warmer weather, a blanket roll will suffice.
2. GROUND CLOTH - A plastic sheet that will fit under your sleeping bag, if you are "sleeping under  the stars", or one big enough to fit under your tent. An old, cleaned shower curtain works fine for either,
3. FLASHLIGHT - Always carry extra batteries and a spare bulb.
4. PLASTIC INSULATED MUG - With a handle for drinking and eating.
5. MESS KIT - Aluminum and stainless steel kits are available, but the Troop recommends an inexpensive Coleman non-stick coated frying pan with folding handle (available from Target sporting goods dept.) and a small pot for new Scouts.  Don’t forget eating utensils.
6. RAINCOAT or PONCHO
7. COMPASS
8. SCOUT KNIFE
9. For overnight hike and canoe camping, you will also need a backpacking TENT.

HOW TO ADVANCE IN RANK

You will earn rank advancements by completing the requirements listed under each rank in you Boy Scout Handbook. The ranks must be earned in the order that they are listed: Boy Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, and Eagle.

When you have completed or are ready to complete one or more of the requirements, ask the Scoutmaster to sign off the requirement in your handbook. He will sign only if you convince him that you have properly completed the requirement. When all of the requirements for a rank have been signed off except for the "Scoutmaster’s Conference" and "Board of Review", you should let your Scoutmaster know. After your Scoutmaster’s Conference, the Scoutmaster will sign that requirement, then schedule you for a Board of Review with the Troop Committee.

You are expected to be in CLASS A DRESS uniform for your Board of Review. The Board will ask you several questions to make sure you have earned the requirements--BE PREPARED. The questions will not be detailed about everything you did, but they must be satisfied that you have earned your rank. When you successfully complete the Board of Review, they will sign your handbook. Leave your book with the Advancement Chairperson so that information can be recorded into the Troop records; it will be returned to you later. Within a couple of weeks you will be presented with your rank advancement award.

***WHEN YOU RECEIVE A RANK ADVANCEMENT, YOU WILL BE AWARDED A PATCH FOR YOUR UNIFORM AND A CARD--KEEP THIS CARD IN A SAFE PLACE. YOU WILL NEED IT WHEN YOU ARE READY TO APPLY FOR YOUR EAGLE RANK.

***EVERY LIFE SCOUT WORKING TOWARD THE EAGLE RANK MUST HAVE THEIR PROJECT COMPLETED, WRITTEN, AND SUBMITTED TO THE TROOP COMMITTEE AT LEAST 90 DAYS PRIOR TO THE SCOUT’S 18TH BIRTHDAY. THE EAGLE CANDIDATE MUST STAND BEFORE THE TROOP COMMITTEE BOARD OF REVIEW. IF SATISFACTORY, THE PAPERWORK WILL BE SENT INTO THE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL. IF APPROVED, A DISTRICT BOARD OF REVIEW WILL BE SCHEDULED. THE DISTRICT BOARD OF REVIEW MUST BE HELD BEFORE THE SCOUT’S 18TH BIRTHDAY. THE APPLICATION WILL THEN BE SENT TO THE NATIONAL B.S.A. OFFICE FOR APPROVAL.MERIT BADGES

Merit badges are patches that you earn as you complete requirements for a particular rank. They cover a wide variety of subjects from interesting hobbies to occupational interests. They can open up a world of new interests that will stay with you always.

Any Scout Leader, Committee Member, parent, or any interested adult can be a Merit Badge Counselor. They must submit a completed B.S.A. application. After references are checked and approved by the Atlanta Area Council, they can become a Merit Badge Counselor.

Merit Badges CANNOT be signed off by parents or other Scout Leaders. They can only be approved by the Merit Badge Counselor that is teaching the badge.

***TO THE PARENTS***

WHAT CAN PARENTS EXPECT FROM THE TROOP

That we will treat your son with DIGNITY.
We will consider SAFETY FIRST in all of our activities.
We will be HONEST and STRAIGHT-FORWARD in our actions toward your son.

We WILL NOT tolerate behavior which is disruptive or dishonest, and we will advise you promptly of any problems arising from your son’s actions.

It is Troop 163’s policy to follow the "chain of command" concerning discipline problems as follows: Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, then to Scoutmaster. If the problem cannot be resolved through counseling with an adult, the parents will be called to pick up their son from any meeting, camp out or other activity, no matter where the location may be or the time of day or night. The Scoutmaster will have a conference with the Scout and his parent upon their arrival. It is not fair to those Scouts that really want Scouting to be deprived of their Scouting fun because of the disruptive behavior of others.

WHAT THE TROOP EXPECTS FROM THE PARENTS

You will encourage and support your son’s participation and advancement--young Scouts in particular need encouragement to work on advancement, since much of the work is done at home by the individual boy.

You will support the Troop whenever possible in the following areas:
                    -Help transport boys to and from camp.
                    -Act as Merit Badge Counselors in areas that you have expertise.
                    -Help during 'work days', 'fund raisers', etc. whenever possible.

You will get your son to meetings and activities ON TIME, and pick him up ON TIME.
You will encourage your son to pay his dues regularly. We encourage Scouts to pay their own dues from allowances or money received from doing tasks at home. This helps teach him responsibility and money management.

SCOUTING IS "FAMILY ORIENTED." ALL OF THE SCOUT LEADERS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS IN TROOP 163 ARE VOLUNTEER LEADERS, NOT PROFESSIONAL, PAID SCOUTERS.   WE ARE ALL PARENTS, JUST LIKE YOU, WHO ARE STRIVING FOR A GREATER LIFE EXPERIENCE FOR OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE ADVENTURES OF SCOUTING.

Your son advances through RANKS in Scouting, from Boy Scout hopefully all the way to Eagle Scout, the ultimate goal. As his parent, you should help him along in his advancement, just like you help him through grades in school.

As parents, we must take the responsibility of the leadership positions in the Troop in order to guide our Scouts along their "trail to Eagle." As our Scouts are continually moving through the Scouting program, so are the parents who are presently leading the program. Because of this continuing cycle, we must constantly recruit new volunteer parents to replace the leaders who have moved along with their sons.

Don’t be afraid to become involved. We are here to help you learn and become a BIG part of your son’s Scouting experience. Just think, as all of the Scouts and volunteer parents move into and out of the Boy Scout program, who would be left to run the program if not for YOU and other parents who are willing to continue this valuable program for future generations to come?

These are trying times for the youth in this country. Former President Gerald Ford, an Eagle Scout, made the point best when he said, "Boy, do we need Scouting!"
  
I have read and understand all of the policies, rules and procedures described in the Boy Scout Troop 163 Information Packet.

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Scout Signature Date
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Father Signature Date
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Mother Signature Date
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Guardian Signature Date

 Turn this last page in with the other required forms and fee to the Scoutmaster. Keep the information packet handy for future reference.