How to Select a Troop Committee Chairman

Scouts are only partially responsible for runnning the troop.

Although most decisions in a Boy Scout troop are made by the boys themselves, there are certain aspects of the day-to-day operations that are handled instead by the troop committee. The troop committee is essentially a board of directors for the troop. They make sure that the troop has the paperwork to go the places that they want to go, and to do the things that they would like to do. They also are in charge of managing the troop's finances. The committee chair is in charge of the committee, and runs all meetings.

Things You'll Need

• Boy Scouts of America adult leader application form

Instructions

1. Alert your scout parents and chartering organization that you have a vacancy for the troop committee chair position. Be sure to explain accurately what the job entails so that people can make an educated decision about whether they want the role. The committee chairman must be at least 21 years of age.

2. Bring the names and credentials of those volunteering to the next committee meeting and review the qualifications of each candidate. The ideal candidate is someone who is a strong communicator and highly organized.

3. Make a motion to vote on the nominees. After there is a second, hold a vote.

4. Notify the selected candidate that they have been accepted by the committee. Have the candidate fill out the Boy Scouts of America adult leader application.

5. Have the completed application signed by both the outgoing committee chairman and the chartering organization representative. If the outgoing chairman is not available, ask your district representative to sign on their behalf.

6. Submit the application to your local council for approval.

References

• US Scouting Service Project: Troop Organization
• Boy Scouts of America: Selecting Quality Leaders