Scout Leadership Opportunities
Troop 682 offers a wide variety of leadership opportunities, both elected and appointed. Learn more about these opportunities below!
Elected Leadership Positions
The SPL is the executive officer of the troop who works closely with the scoutmaster and other adult leaders as well as the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC). The SPL is elected by majority vote of the troop. He is responsible for leading PLC meetings, to plan and organize troop activities, and to plan and carry out troop meetings.
Minimum Attendance: The SPL should attend 50% of troop outings and most troop meetings.
Duties:
- Preside at all of the troop meetings, events, activities, PLC conferences, and PLC Annual Planning Retreat.
- Chair all PLC meetings
- Assign duties and responsibilities to other leaders.
- Oversee and mentor the ASPL with assistance of the Scoutmaster
- Oversee and mentor Patrol Leaders with assistance of assigned Assistant Scoutmasters.
The Patrol Leader provides service and leadership to his patrol. The Patrol Leader is responsible for leading the patrol through planning and execution of their patrol activities. The Patrol Leader also represents their patrol in the Patrol Leaders’ Council.
Prerequisites: Must have been an active member of the troop for at least one year.
Duties:
- Plan and lead patrol meetings and activities.
- Keep patrol members informed.
- Represent the patrol at all PLC meetings
- Prepare the patrol to take part in all troop activities.
- Lead patrol in performing all tasks assigned by SPL
Order of the Arrow representatives serve as a communication link between the troop and the local Order of the Arrow lodge. By enhancing the image of the Order as a service arm to the troop, they promote the OA, encourage Scouts to take part in all sorts of camping opportunities, and helps pave the way for older Scouts to become involved in high-adventure programs.
Prerequisites: The scout must have experienced 15 nights of camping with their Troop, be a First-Class Scout, and earned the Venturing Discovery Rank. After receiving approval from the Scoutmaster, the scout must be elected by their peers.
Duties:
- attends troop, chapter and lodge meetings regularly as a youth representative of the troop and Order
- serves as a two-way communication link between the troop and the lodge or chapter
- arranges with the lodge or chapter election team to conduct an annual Order of the Arrow election for the troop at a time approved by the patrol leaders council
- arranges with the lodge or chapter for at least one camp promotion visit to the unit annually
- makes at least one high adventure presentation to the troop, to include the OA programs, annually
- participates in troop courts of honor, as requested by the senior patrol leader, by recognizing: high adventure participation of troop members, induction of new OA members, changes in OA honors of troop members, and other appropriate activities
Appointed Leadership Positions
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) is the second highest ranking scout leader in the troop. The ASPL acts as the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) in the absence of the SPL or when called upon.
Election Process: ASPL candidates must present their bid to the SPL. The SPL will choose two ASPL’s out of the candidates.
Duties:
- Perform tasks assigned by the SPL.
- Take over troop leadership in the absence of the SPL.
- Function as a member of the Patrol Leader’s Council.
The Assistant Patrol Leader is a youth member of a Scouts BSA Troop who is appointed by the Patrol Leader and leads the patrol in his absence. The position of Assistant Patrol Leader does not qualify for the leadership requirements for advancement.
Prerequisites: The APL is appointed by the PL with the Scoutmasters approval.
Duties:
- Assist the Patrol Leader in planning and leading patrol meetings and activities
- Helps the Patrol Leader keep patrol members informed.
- Assists the Patrol Leader in preparing the patrol to take part in all troop activities.
Troop guides serve as both a leader and a mentor to the members of the new-Scout patrol. They should be an older Scout who holds at least the First Class rank and can work well with younger Scouts.
The troop guide helps the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol lead their patrol, so they can develop into a well-functioning group, working together harmoniously and productively.
Prerequisites: Troop Guide candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Troop Guide.
Duties:
- Introduces new Scouts to troop operations
- Guides new Scouts from harassment by older Scouts
- Helps new Scouts towards earning the First Class rank
- Teaches basic Scout skills
- Coaches the patrol leader of the new-Scout patrol on his duties
- Works with the patrol leader at patrol leaders’ council meetings
The scribe is the troop’s secretary. Though not a voting member, they attend meetings of the patrol leaders’ council and keep a record of the discussions. They cooperate with the patrol scribes to record attendance at troop meetings and to maintain troop advancement records. The troop scribe may be assisted by a member of the troop committee.
Prerequisites: Scribe candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Scribe.
Duties:
- Attends and keeps a log of patrol leaders’ council meetings
- Records individual Scout attendance
- Records individual Scout advancement progress
Chaplain aides assist the troop chaplain (usually an adult from the troop committee or the chartered organization) in serving the religious needs of the troop. They lead the troop in opening or closing prayer and mealtime blessings. Chaplain aides ensure that religious holidays are considered during the troop’s program planning process and promotes the BSA’s religious emblems program.
Prerequisites: Scribe candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Scribe.
Duties:
- assists the troop chaplain with religious services at troop activities
- encourages troop members to strengthen their own relationships with God through personal prayer and devotion and participation in religious activities appropriate to their faith
- tells Scouts about the Religious Emblems program for their faith at least once a year
- helps recognize troop members who receive their religious emblems, (such as at a court of honor)
- makes sure religious holidays are considered during the troop program planning process
The historian collects, assembles, and preserves troop photographs, news stories, trophies, flags, scrapbooks, awards, and other memorabilia, and makes materials available for Scouting activities, courts of honor, the media, and troop history projects.
Prerequisites: Historian candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Historian.
Duties:
- Gathers photos and facts about troop activities and keeps them in A historical file or scrapbook
- Takes care of troop trophies, ribbons, and souvenirs of troop activities
- Keeps information about former members of the troop
Troop librarians oversee the care and use of troop books, pamphlets, magazines, audiovisuals, and merit badge counselor lists. They check out these materials to Scouts and leaders and maintain records to ensure that everything is returned. They may also suggest the acquisition of new literature and report the need to repair or replace any current holdings.
Prerequisites: Librarian candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Librarian.
Duties:
- Sets up and takes care of the troop library
- Keeps records of books and Pamphlets owned by the troop
- adds new or replacement items as needed
- Keeps books and pamphlets available for borrowing
- Keeps a system for checking books and pamphlets in and out, and follows up on late returns
Troop webmasters are responsible for maintaining the troop’s website. They make sure that information posted on the website is correct and up to date and that the privacy of youth and adult troop members is protected. A member of the troop committee may assist them with their work.
Prerequisites: Webmaster candidates should contact Mr. Thompson (and the SPL) during the election season explaining how they would like to enhance the troop. Mr. Thompson and the SPL will decide who becomes the Webmaster.
Duties:
- Works with various unit members on needed topics
- Ensures the troops digital infrastructure is as youth-run as possible
- Maintains the website as needed