Look What's Going on at Pack 564

Cub Scout Pack 564

Pack Organization By-Laws

Program Year 2005-2006

Hallmark Baptist Church

Ft. Worth, TX

PURPOSE

Pack 564 exists to provide a quality Cub Scout experience for the boys living in the Ft. Worth area. The pack will follow Cub Scout guidelines as established by the Boy Scouts of America and the Longhorn Council. Our goal is to provide a fun, educational, character building experience for elementary school age boys.

OFFICERS
 

Den Leaders

 

PROJECT COORDINATORS
 

CHARTER

Pack 564 is chartered by Hallmark Baptist Church, Ft. Worth, TX.

The Pack Committee

·        The Pack Committee consists of the pack officers listed above. The committee determines the Pack 564 program, budget, schedule, and policies. The committee is responsible for recruiting all leaders necessary to operate the pack. Any interested parent may become a member of committee (at large). The Charter Organization Representative approves all leaders of the pack.

·        The pack committee meets at least 8 days before the scheduled Pack Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at a place predetermined from the previous committee meeting.  Minutes shall be kept of the meeting.

·        Committee decisions may be made by a simple majority vote of committee members present at a scheduled meeting.

·        Treasurer reports are required for each meeting.

·        The Pack Committee Chairman may call executive sessions (Committee Members, Cubmaster, and Assistant Cubmasters) to discuss issues as required, however pack decisions may only be made at regularly scheduled committee meetings.

·        The Pack Committee Chairman will preside at the meeting. In the absence of the Chairman, the Cubmaster will preside or a committee member appointed by the chairman.

Pack Meetings:

·        Pack Meetings/Summer events are held monthly on the last Monday of the month, schedule and holidays permitting, at Hallmark Baptist Church.

·        Meetings are planned by the Cubmaster, who presents their plan to the pack committee prior to each meeting.

·        Meetings will usually last between one hour and one and one-half hours.

·        An adult parent/guardian must accompany each scout to the meeting.

Cub Scout Meetings:

·        Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts will be placed in dens ranging in size from 5 to 10 scouts.

·        Each Den will have a trained leader and at least one assistant leader.

·        Dens normally meet three times per month (skipping the week of the pack meeting).

·        Meetings will normally be at Hallmark Baptist Church.  If a Den is having a meeting elsewhere, please notify the Cubmaster of Pack Committee Chairman.

·        The Pack Committee Chairman and/or Cubmaster may realign dens that have become too large or too small to effectively accomplish the Cub Scout program.

Parent Responsibilities:

·        To ensure a quality program, and reduce the hardship on the volunteer leader, parent involvement is expected. Each parent should serve on the pack committee, assist with a den, or help organize a special event (i.e., pinewood derby, blue & gold banquet, zoo day, etc.). Committee members and den leaders must be registered as members of the Boy Scouts of America.

·        Parents are responsible for the actions of their boys at scouting activities. The pack may require a parent to be with a boy who needs constant supervision during scouting activities.

·        Members pay for uniforms, insignia (other than advancement or awards), and scout books. Fees for campouts, Day Camp, and other activities not funded by the pack come from each member.

·        While many of the achievements for advancement will be completed at the Den Meetings, parents are the primary adult responsible for monitoring the advancement of each Cub Scout.

Awards:

·        Perfect Attendance. Scouts who have missed one or fewer pack meetings and two or fewer den meetings, may qualify for the perfect attendance award in May.

·        Recruiting. Scouts who have recruited at least one new member are eligible for the recruiter patch.

·        Advancements. Each Den leader must submit advancements for the upcoming pack meeting to the advancement chairman not later than the preceding committee meeting. All rank advancements, arrow points, achievement pins, compass points, and tiger paws are presented at the pack meeting.

·        Belt loops and other recognition. Each Cub Scout may earn one of each belt loop. Sports and academic pins and letter will be paid for by each scout unless pack funds are available. The pack will acquire the pins and letters for presentation.

·        Adult leader awards. Adult leaders will be recognized at the Blue and Gold banquet. Certificates will be presented to all those who have served the pack since the previous banquet. Special awards, as approved by the pack committee, and knots may be presented by the Committee Chairman.

Training:

·        Each scout leader is expected to meet the basic training requirements for his/her position. The pack will reimburse all registered leaders (at the advance registration rate) for training registration fees.

·        Youth protection training is required by Texas State law to be completed within 90 days of registration.

Finances:

·        Each scout will pay all required registration fees when joining the pack.

·        Dens/individuals not in good standing (paid dues) will not receive awards. Den leaders will identify individuals who are not in good standing to the pack committee.

·        Scout Dues.  The items listed below are the required dues for participation in Scouting.  New Scouts joining the pack will be required to pay a prorated amount for the remainder of the duration until the cycle for the dues starts over.

–        Boy Scouts of America dues are $11.25 per year.  They are due prior to rechartering for current Scouts (December).  Scouts transferring from another pack will not be required to pay this, assuming the proper paperwork is filed with the Longhorn Council office.

–        Pack dues are $10 per year.  They are due prior to rechartering for current Scouts (December). 

–        Den dues are managed by the den leader and helps defray the cost of materials for scout projects (some special projects may require an additional assessment); the pack uses the dues to help pay for awards.  Den dues are set by consensus between the Den Leader and parent of the Scouts in a den.  The Den Leader must inform the Pack Committee of the dues set no later than the November Pack Committee meeting.  The Den Leader is also responsible for tracking Den expenses.

·        Pack 564 supports the Longhorn Council Popcorn Sales.  Popcorn sales provide the majority of the operating funds for the pack.

·        The Pack budget is set on a calendar year basis (Jan - Dec). The treasurer will present a proposed budget to the pack committee at the September committee meeting. The pack committee will approve the pack spend plan for the following calendar year at the December meeting. The plan will include in priority order:

1.      rechartering costs

2.      advancement awards

3.      leader registration and training

4.      cubmaster expenses for pack meetings

5.      pinewood derby cars

6.      camper scholarships

7.      other expenses approved by the pack committee (space derby kits, raingutter regatta kits, and other BSA sponsored events, etc).

·        The Pack Committee shall have both the authority and the responsibility to approve all pack expenditures, either by approving a line item annual budget or by approving expenditures as the arise.  No expenditure shall be considered approved until it has been voted upon by the Pack Committee, and no commitments, written, verbal, or otherwise, will be considered binding unless they have been approved in advance by a majority vote of the Pack Committee.  Pack Leaders who have expenditures that were not included in the budget are encouraged to seek approval before committing or spending funds.

·        The pack checking account will require two signatures.  One should be that of the Pack Treasurer, and the other should be a member of the Pack Committee.  No checks should be issued without documented approval of the Pack Committee.  To facilitate the adequate separation of duties, any member of Pack 564 Leadership who needs to make purchases on behalf of the pack should not have signature authority on the checking account, and likewise signatories on the checking account should not have purchasing responsibility.

·        A minimum balance contingency fund of $200 will be maintained by the pack. Contingency funds may be used to cover minor shortfalls. The pack committee may elect to sponsor needy scouts by waiving dues, providing admission fees, and camperships. Den leaders nominate scouts needing financial aid to the pack committee chairman.

MAJOR RECURRING PACK EVENTS