Parent Welcome Letter for 2008-2009

Uniforms
Troop 42 is a uniformed organization.  All scouts and leaders are expected to wear their official uniforms for each weekly meeting and other troop functions unless instructed otherwise. 

An official uniform, sometimes also called a "Class A" uniform consists of the

• official Boy Scout long-sleeved or short-sleeved shirt with shoulder loops (If you need information on where to sew patches onto the official uniform, take a look at the Uniform Inspection Sheet.),

• Scout pants (long, short, or zip-offs, which give you both)

• Scout belt and buckle,

• Scout socks or knee socks

• neckerchief (provided by the troop) with slide, (optional)

• cap (optional)

• merit badge sash (optional)

The Scout Handbook should be brought to each meeting

An  activity uniform, sometimes also called a "Class B", utility, or field uniform, is worn when the official uniform is not comfortable or appropriate.  The scout will be told when to wear the activity uniform.  It generally consists of:

• a scouting tee-shirt, polo shirt or other troop or camp shirt
• Scout pants or shorts

Uniforms can be purchased from the official on-line store or from a a local store.

Uniform Bank
If your scout has outgrown any pieces of his uniform, please contribute it to the Troop Uniform Bank so that other scouts may make use of it.  The uniform bank list describes items currently available.  Please contact the Troop Uniform Bank Coordinator if you can contribute or use something in the bank.

Courts of Honor
Courts of Honor are possibly the most important events for your son’s scouting career. They are held three times a year (fall, mid winter, and late spring) to recognize individual scout’s achievement as well as troop activities. Parents are encouraged to attend all Courts of Honor to share with their son the pride of accomplishment, and the achievements of their fellow patrol and troop members. Scouts are required to wear their full or 'class A' uniforms.

Advancement
The troop has a participation policy for rank advancement and an explanation of the policy for parents.

Parental Involvement
Parents are invited to all troop meetings, and might find it especially interesting at the beginning and end of the meetings when announcements are made. Parents are also invited on all camping trips.  Parents camp away from, but not out of ear-shot, of the boys, and often assist in running programs for the boys.  The parents' patrol, known as the Big Kahunas, is well known for excellent food and great company.
Parents are also invited to all Troop Committee meetings.

Volunteering
The troop is always looking for people to serve.  We currently need:

• Merit Badge Counselors to teach merit badges.  Parents can choose from a wide variety of subjects in which they themselves have interest.  The BSA National Council publishes information on how to become a counselor.
• an Outdoor Coordinator to secure permission and tour permits for camping sites each month and coordinate transportation
• a Range Master for teaching rifle and shotgun shooting merit badges (must be NRA certified).
• Community Service Coordinator to arrange service projects
• Troop Committee members.  You do not need scouting experience to contribute.  Troop Committee meetings are held once a month, and are posted in the Troop Administrative Calendar.

Dues
Annual troop dues are $60.00 per boy and are paid on or before the October Court of Honor.  If paying dues will cause a financial hardship, please speak to the Troop Treasurer.  No boy will be refused because of financial hardship.

How are Troop Dues Used?
As the table shows, the largest portion of troop dues is used to support camping programs. 

Fund Raising
Annual Wreath and Poinsettia Sale
The troop has only one troop fund raiser per year, in which the boys as asked to sell Christmas wreaths and poinsettias in late October and November.  Contact the Fundraising Coordinator for more information.

Friends of Scouting
Every fall you are asked to pay local dues to your unit. These fees keep your pack, troop or crew operating and maintain registration with the Boy Scouts of America. This income does not support your local Connecticut Yankee Council. The Council is supported primarily through a partnership program called Friends of Scouting (FOS).

Friends of Scouting provides for liability insurance, training courses, program events, four first class outdoor camping facilities and special outreach programs. Connecticut Yankee Council provides direction, consistent quality programs and protection for youth involved in your local Scouting unit. Friends of Scouting also helps provide much needed Scouting opportunities for “at risk” youth in the inner-city areas.

Your support of Friends of Scouting allows your Council to provide quality summer camp programs at affordable prices. Friends of Scouting dollars provide camp scholarships, or “camperships,” that give every youth the opportunity to attend summer camp. Friends of Scouting dollars also help to ensure that when your unit needs assistance, a lending hand is there to help. Friends of Scouting is truly a partnership between families and their Boy Scout Council.

Web Site Photo Policy
Troop 42 abides by the Scatacook District policy for web sites as found on the Scatacook web site. Names and contact information of youth members are not published on the troop web site. Photos of activities are published, but without names or identified photos or headshots of youth.

If you do not want images of your son to be published, please contact the webmaster and no image including your son will be used.