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                           TROOP 496
                     IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Meeting Day/Time:        Thursdays / 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm  (No meetings July and August)
Meeting Place:      Green Run Community Center
Troop Sponsor:      Green Run Homes Association, Virginia Beach, VA
                    Original Charter:  August 1976

DUES:   $45 per year, payable in monthly installments from September through January.  The
money covers registration, insurance, advancement awards, activity badges, and basic operating
supplies for the troop.  The Scout will receive an annual membership card from Boy Scouts of
America (BSA) through Tidewater Council, and a bimonthly newsletter from the troop.  Boy's
Life, BSA's official Scouting magazine, is available at an additional cost.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS:  are held on the third Tuesday of each month at the Committee
Chairman's house (unless otherwise notified) from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm.  ALL adults are welcome
to attend these meetings.  Only registered committee members may vote, but anyone may
express an opinion.  The Troop Committee consists of:  Committee Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer, Fundraising Chairman,  Outdoor Chairman, Advancement Chairman, Scouting
Coordinator, Webelos Den Resource Person, and Activities Chairman.

MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS: are adults who work with Scouts individually or in groups
to learn skills and obtain knowledge in a specific area.  After completing the requirements for a
particular Merit Badge, the Scout receives a badge which is worn on his Merit Badge Sash, and a
card which should be retained as proof of completion of the requirements.  There is no
registration fee to register as a Merit Badge Counselor.

UNIFORM:  Troop 496 encourages a complete uniform.  The Scout will receive a neckerchief
(dark green with red embroidered trim) and patrol emblem from the troop.  The BSA khaki shirt
is essential and should be worn to all meetings and activities unless otherwise instructed.   Green
BSA shorts and/or pants are available and should be purchased new or used as soon as possible.
Please refer to the enclosed uniform inspection sheet and your son's Boy Scout Handbook for
more information on uniform items and placement of insignia.
     Uniforms and other Scouting items can be purchased at the Tidewater Council, Trading
Post (1032 Heatherwood Dr., Virginia Beach, VA,  [497-2688]), through the BSA catalog, or the
J. C. Penney catalog.  Holidays and birthdays provide great opportunities for relatives to
purchase Scout uniform items and supplies.

TRAINING:  Leadership training for the Scouts is provided by the troop approximately twice a
year.  Tidewater Council also provides Junior Leader Training sessions for Scouts to help them
in their troop leader positions.  Den Chief training is provided by council, the Scoutmaster, or
Cubmaster of the Pack.
     Adult training consists of: Fast Start (video tape), Basic training, Woodbadge, and Merit
Badge Counselor training which is all available through Tidewater Council.  BSA also provides
a college of Scouting where you can complete a BS, Masters, and PhD in Scouting.





                        TROOP STRUCTURE

     A Boy Scout troop is made up of patrols of six to eight boys led by a senior Scout who is
the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL).  He is aided by the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL).  The
Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster(s) help oversee the troop
meetings.  The SPL is elected by the Scouts in the troop.  He chooses the ASPL.  Each patrol
also elects a Patrol Leader (PL).  Other leadership positions your son may hold are:  Troop
Scribe, Historian, Quartermaster, Librarian, Chaplain's Aide, and Bugler.  He may also decide to
work with a Cub Scout Pack as a Den Chief.  The SPL, ASPL, Scribe, and Patrol leaders meet
once a month to plan the troop meetings and campouts.


          Charter Organization (Green Run Homes Assoc)
         Institutional Head    --    Charter Org. Rep.
                               |
Committee Chairman                 -----------          Scoutmaster
                         |                             |
              Committee Members                Assistant Scoutmasters
                                             |
Secretary - works with Scribe & Historian         Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster   -    Senior Patrol Ldr
Treasurer - works with Scribe                |                    |
Fundraising Ch (works with Treasurer)        New Scout Patrol       Asst Sr.  Patrol Ldr
Outdoor Chmn - works with Quartermaster          Patrol Leader                     |
Advancement Ch - works with Librarian                                  Patrol Leaders
Scouting Coordinator - works with Den Chief       |                    |
    (and Webelos Ldr/Cubmaster/Scoutmaster)  New Scout Patrol    Bat Patrol -- ? Patrol







ADVANCEMENT:   All requirements for advancement are tracked using the Boy Scout
Handbook.  The information is then maintained though use of computer software by the
Advancement Chairman.  The Scout MUST bring his handbook and a notebook to all meetings
and activities in order for requirements to be initialed and dated ("Be Prepared").  Advancement
cards, received upon completion of requirements for rank and for merit badges, should be kept
in a binder or other safe place.  These can be used to recreate a record of advancement.
     Scouts start by earning the Scout rank.  The requirements can be found on page 4 of the
Boy Scout Handbook.  These skills must be demonstrated to the Scoutmaster (SM) or Assistant
Scoutmaster (ASM) who will then initial and date the Scout's handbook.  The initials or
signature and date are required for the badge to be awarded.  Many new Scouts who have earned
the Arrow of Light as a Webelos Cub Scout, can complete these requirements within the first
few meetings.
     The ranks of Tenderfoot Scout, Second Class Scout, and First Class Scout require skills
learned at campouts, hikes, and troop meetings, and service hours  (given to the community or
religious institution).  Please ensure all service hours are documented if not done as a Troop
activity.  The SM or ASM will initial and date requirements as they are completed.  A Scout may
work on the requirements for all three ranks in any order, but will receive the ranks in order (i.e.,
Tenderfoot before Second Class, Second Class before First Class).
     The last two requirements for each of these ranks are a Scoutmaster's Conference and
Board of Review.  At the Scoutmaster's Conference, the Scout and SM review the requirements
for that rank and any previous ranks.  If the SM feels confident that the Scout demonstrates the
knowledge and skills required, he will initial and date the handbook and arrange for a Board of
Review for the following meeting.
     The Board of Review consists of a minimum of three adults.  The SM, ASM, and the
Scout's parents CANNOT be on the Board.  the Scout must present himself in a neat, clean
uniform (as complete as possible) and have his handbook.  The Board will ask him questions
about Scouting, the troop, activities he has attended, and advancement requirements pertaining
to the rank he is completing.  The Board announces the results to the Scout and SM after
conferring.  All awards, including rank and merit badges, are presented at the meeting following
completion of the requirements or the next Court of Honor.  A Court of Honor is held quarterly.
Recognition is given for advancement and any special awards that have been earned.
     Once the rank of Scout has been earned, the boy may begin working on Merit Badges.  A
list of all available merit badges is near the back of the Boy Scout Handbook.  The requirements
for Eagle required badges follow the list.  The troop maintains a library of merit badge
pamphlets that members of the troop may borrow through the Troop Librarian while working on
a merit badge.  Requirements are updated as pamphlets are revised.  These up-to-date
requirements are available in one book that is published every two or three years.
     Work on a merit badge may be cone at troop meetings, in a group outside meetings, on
an individual basis, or at summer camp.  All badges require a Merit Badge Counselor.  Included
in this packet is a list of Counselors through Troop 496.  PAVAB district and Tidewater Council
have larger lists.  Please ask the Advancement Chairman to see either of these lists when looking
for a counselor outside the troop.  No more than four merit badges should be earned from any
one counselor.
     When working as an individual with a Merit Badge Counselor, another person MUST be
present to protect the Scout and the Counselor.  This can be another Scout, a parent, friend, or
sibling.

     An Application for Merit Badge (Blue Card) must be obtained, personal information
completed, and a SM or ASM signature included  prior to working on the Merit Badge.  The
Blue Card is presented to the Merit Badge Counselor at the first meeting.  Upon completion of
the requirements, the counselor initials and dates each one.  When all requirements have been
finished, the counselor will sign and date the card and return it to the Scout.  The card is then
given to the SM at the next meeting.  He should list it in the Scout's handbook (used for senior
ranks: Star, Life, and Eagle), and initial and date that requirement.  The Advancement Chairman
will then process the blue card and obtain the merit badge.  The scout's portion of the blue card
and the badge will be presented at the next meeting or Court of Honor.
     Requirements for the ranks of Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout are listed near the
back of the Boy Scout Handbook, just before the Merit Badge Listing.  A more detailed packet is
given to the Scout before working on the Eagle requirements.


CAMPING:  Troop 496 goes camping approximately once a month.  The troop does not have
tents yet, but we're working on it.  We do provide cooking utensils, stoves, lanterns, etc.  The
Scout must provide his own mess kit, sleeping bag, and backpack.  Tent/sleeping arrangements
are scheduled at the troop meeting prior to a campout.  A small fee covers the cost of food (and
campsite if required).  All Scouts must have a signed permission slip.
     Occasionally, you may be asked to help provide transportation or be available as the
emergency contact for a campout or other Troop activity.  You may transport only the number of
Scouts for which you have seatbelts.

FUNDRAISERS:  These are held occasionally.  You will be notified ahead of time and asked to
participate with your son.  Funds raised are used to help fund Summer Camp, Troop supplies
(like tents), and other troop activities.

SUMMER CAMP:
     This is an annual event.  Troop 496 normally attends a week of summer camp during the
end of June or beginning of July.  Funding is through fundraising events and/or monthly deposit
to the Troop Treasurer.  Camp is six nights long (starts on Sunday, ends on Saturday).  Activities
include crafts, swimming, rank advancement, merit badges, and optional boating or high
adventure (usually for older Scouts).  The location is determined each year.
     Each Scout must have a physical examination form completed and on file with the troop.
The examination is good for three years, but should be reviewed annually for any
changes/corrections.
     Tidewater Council operates and maintains Camp Pipsico.  When a Scout cannot attend
with the Troop, he may attend as a provisional camper and is put with other provisional Scouts
to form a "Troop."  Camp staff act as the Scoutmasters for this group.