More tips on rechartering

CharterIn the last post, we discussed an important step to take before you embark on the annual rechartering process for your unit. It’s essential, for many reasons, to ensure that everyone that you think is a member of your unit is actually registered with the BSA. The best way to do this is to ask your unit commissioner or district executive to compare your own roster against what they have on file for you, and submit any missing applications before you sign in to begin the rechartering process online. Once you make that initial login, your roster is frozen, and any changes have to be submitted with the charter package. Continue reading “More tips on rechartering”

Get ready to recharter

Each year, each and every part of the Boy Scouts of America must renew its charter, giving it authority to operate for another year. This applies to packs, troops, crews, districts, OA lodges, and even councils. The annual renewal process allows for an opportunity to review a unit’s performance over the previous year, review its membership and leadership, and re-commit to the ideals of Scouting so that we may serve the youth who have come to us seeking fun and adventure. Continue reading “Get ready to recharter”

Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops

Training boy leaders is the Scoutmaster’s most important job, and that process has now been revised and updated in BSA’s new publication Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops.

ILST, as it’s known in the acronym-crazy world of Scouting, succeeds Troop Leadership Training after only a few years in use, and improves on it in a number of ways. TLT, as you recall, took us away from the step-by-step training course that was provided to us in Junior Leader Training. Continue reading “Introduction to Leadership Skills for Troops”

The knots, they are a-changin’

Cub Scout leaders and volunteers can expect to see some changes to their training awards and insignia beginning next year.

The national training team has received requests and suggestions for simplifying the large number of personal achievement, recognition, training and service awards, commonly called “square knots,” that are available for leaders to earn. Among the changes coming are a consolidation of the Cub Scout Leader training award knots. Continue reading “The knots, they are a-changin’”