Introduction to Leadership (KNOW) Module One Introduction to Leadership (KNOW) WE3-25-09

Introduction to Leadership (KNOW) “KNOW” will provide the information that you need to successfully fill your leadership position. The Know skills include such topics as learning about are followed below. Boy-Led Troop & Living the Scout Oath & Law Role Based Leadership System Troop Operations Model Troop Organization Charts Position Overview National Honor Patrol Award Requirements WE3-25-09

Boy-Led Troop BLT = “Boy Led Troop" What’s BLT? The BSA's definition is that “empowering boys to be leaders” is the core of Scouting. A Boy Scout troop is a small democracy. With the Scoutmaster's direction, the boys are formed into patrols, plan the troop's program, and make it a reality. WE3-25-09

Living the Scout Oath & Law 1) Leadership is not about telling a person what to do. It is about providing your team with the proper tools, training them on those tools and then supporting and serving them as they use the tools. 2) Lead by example is the best method for the Senior Scout to follow because "actions speak louder than words." A good way to think of this is that you don’t direct people to do something you have not done or are not willing to do yourself. 3) "Mentoring" and "Empowering" are the primary tools of a leader. 4) Show you care by caring for the needs of your fellow scouts, you as a leader will gain their respect and will be seen as caring. If a scout leader achieves this level of caring for his fellow scouts, motivating the scouts becomes secondary. The scout leader’s simple request now has someone motivated to support that request. WE3-25-09

Living the Scout Oath & Law Living the Scout Oath & Law (cont) 5) “Ask for Help” As a leader, you are constantly being challenged to plan, organize and execute tasks. The best way to have someone take on a task is to ask them for their help. In a calm and relaxed tone, the scout leader should ask his fellow scout for help. This works for the simple fact that no one likes to be told what to do but they do not mind helping out when asked. Example – A scout forgets his water bottle on a hike. His patrol leader provides him a water bottle because he has planned ahead and brought a spare. Later in the day, a third scout is having difficulty. The patrol leader asks the scout who forgot his water bottle if he would mind helping out his fellow scout having difficulty by carrying his day pack. The scout, who forgot his water bottle gladly and without hesitating, helps out his fellow scout. WE3-25-09

“Role Based Leadership System” BLT is also a “role based leadership system.” So what does that mean? “Role based” meaning everyone is replaceable. Try to have 3 trained Scouts and 2 adults to cover any role within the troop. One example is the 3 Deep Patrol Leadership. Another way of saying this is that there are no superheroes where no one is considered superman to save the day, everyone is equal. "Leadership" meaning, the Troop’s program teaches Scouts the core skills of leadership, communication, ethical decision making and team work. We accomplish these skills by learning and teaching core scouting skills such as first aide, knot tying, citizenship and the Patrol Method. “Leadership system" meaning that the planning meetings, Patrol Leader Council meetings, Campouts, Troop Meetings are constantly being reviewed and discussed by Scouts and adults so that everyone is “thinking” and reinforcing the same vision, objectives or goals. The Troop’s program is designed so that the Scouts use the same thinking, approach and methods over and over again until it becomes instinct or routine. WE3-25-09

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Scout Time Line NOTE - This time line represents the balance between earning rank, learning leadership skills, being responsible and having the maturity needed for the Scouts to successfully lead the Troop. WE3-25-09

Troop Organization Chart There are three types of patrols: Regular patrols New-Scout patrols Venture patrols WE3-25-09

TROOP ORGANIZATION CHART Scoutmaster TROOP ORGANIZATION CHART for a Large Troop Junior Assistant Scoutmaster Assistant Scoutmaster New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster Venture Senior Patrol Leader Assistant Senior Patrol Patrol Leader Venture Patrol Assistant Patrol Leader Chaplain's Aide Quartermaster Historian Scribe Librarian OA Troop Representative Instructor Patrol Grubmaster Cheermaster Troop Guide New-Scout Patrol Leader Den Chief Patrol Leaders' Council WE3-25-09

TROOP ORGANIZATION CHART Scoutmaster TROOP ORGANIZATION CHART for a Small Troop Assistant Scoutmaster New Scout Assistant Scoutmaster Venture Senior Patrol Leader Assistant Senior Patrol Leader Patrol Leader Venture Patrol Assistant Patrol Leader Quartermaster Troop Guide New-Scout Patrol Leader Den Chief Patrol Leaders' Council WE3-25-09

Position Overview Patrol Leader Council (PLC) The patrol leaders' council is made up of the Senior Patrol Leader, who presides over the meetings; the Assistant Senior Patrol Leaders, all Patrol Leaders, Troop Guides, and others as determined by your PLC. The patrol leaders' council plans the yearly troop program at the annual troop program planning conference. The PLC then meets monthly to develop plans for upcoming meetings and activities. PLC meetings used to be called "Green Bar" meetings because of the green bars on some of the youth position patches. The PLC is composed of the following voting members. WE3-25-09

Position Overview Junior Assistant Scoutmaster (JASM) - Serves in the capacity of an assistant Scoutmaster except where legal age and maturity are required. He must be at least 16 years old and not yet 18. He is appointed by the Scoutmaster because of leadership ability. He report to the SM. Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) - Elected by boys in the troop and represent them as the top junior leader in the troop. SPL runs the Patrol Leaders' Council (PLC) meetings, and SPL reports to the Scoutmaster. Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL) – Elected by SPL, with the approval of the Scoutmaster (SM), and serves as a member of the patrol leaders' council and fills in for the SPL as needed. ASPL is the second highest ranking junior leader in the troop, and reports to the SPL. WE3-25-09

Position Overview Patrol Leader (PL) - Elected by his patrol, the PL represents his patrol PLC meetings and the annual planning conference. He reports to SPL and represents PLC decisions to his patrol. Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) – Elected by the PL and serves as a member of the patrol leaders' council and fills in for the SPL as needed. He reports to the PL. CheerMaster - Keeps Troop moral high and Leads songs, yells, and campfire programs. He reports to PL. Instructors - May be assigned training tasks (Scouting Skills) or report on previous training . He reports to the ASPL. WE3-25-09

Position Overview Troop Guide - Attends patrol leaders’ council meetings with the patrol leader of the new- Scout patrol. Troop guide reports to the assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) for the new Scout patrol in the troop. Quartermaster – Keeps track of the troop equipment reports on condition and availability of equipment and needs. He report to the ASPL. Chaplain Aide - Works with the troop chaplain to meet the religious needs of Scouts in the troop. He also works to promote the religious emblems program. He reports to the ASPL. WE3-25-09

Position Overview Scribe - Attends and keeps a log of patrol leaders’ council meetings. The scribe is a non-voting member of the PLC; however in the practices of some troops, scribes have been granted voting privileges. He reports to the ASPL. Den Chief - Works with the Cub Scouts, Webelos Scouts, and den leaders in the Cub Scout Pack. He reports to the den leader in the pack and the ASM for the new Scout patrol in the troop. Troop Libraian - Takes care of troop literature contains books of historical values as well as current materials and manages these resource for the troop. He reports to ASPL. Troop Historian – Keeps a historical record or scrapbook of troop activities and provides materials for display and presentation of current activities. He reports to ASPL. WE3-25-09

National Honor Patrol Award Requirements Have a patrol name, flag, and yell. Put the patrol design on equipment and use the patrol yell. Keep patrol records up-to-date. Hold two patrol meetings each month. Take part in at least one hike, outdoor activity, or other Scouting event. Complete two Good Turns or service projects approved by the patrol leaders' council. Help two patrol members advance in rank. Have at least 75 percent of members in full uniform at troop activities. Have a representative attend at least three patrol leaders' council meetings. Have eight members in the patrol or experience an increase in patrol membership. WE3-25-09

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