How Troop 631 does Scouting (at least as seen by the Troop Chair who does not see everything and needs comments from those who see more ... so if-you-see-something-say-something) is documented so far in the Troop 631 Operating Manual and the links and resources from those pages.

• This includes how functions have been handled and how they might be handled better into the future with greater involvement by more parents.
  
• More resources can be added and connected for future use by those who will lead Troop 631.
• If you have updates or improvements to those pages or other resources here, please email the Webmaster at webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us or the Chair at chair@atlanta631.mytroop.us.

Erin Murphy has set up a GroupMe for Troop 631 Adults to chat in a text way.  To be added to it if you are not on the chat, adults need to text Erin at 404-808-8658. 

From Scoutmaster Bottie-Wheeler: "Scouts, be thinking about what role you would like to take on to serve your troop next year.  This is your chance to have a voice and shape the troop!  Every scout should look to contribute to the troop in a constructive way.  Get your speeches ready to run for the office of your choice!  Who will be our next SPL?  How can you serve your troop?  Everyone can serve, that is the spirt of scouting."

Troop Officer Elections will be held at the April 17 Troop Meeting. This will include Youth Officer Elections for: Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, and other Youth Officers like Quartermaster, Scribe, Historian, Librarian, and Chaplain's Aide.

See this page of the Troop Operating Manual for details about Youth Leadership Roles and ways Adults can ("Adults can" is pronounced "Adults need to") help.  More below from that page:

Scout Leadership – A Troop is Scout-led and Scout-run.  This means that the Troop is actually run by youth leaders.  Adults train the Scouts to lead.  With the guidance and coaching of the Scoutmaster and other Adult Leaders coordinated by the Scoutmaster, Scouts plan the program, conduct Troop Meetings, organize activities at campouts and events, and provide leadership amongst peers.  Here is a Scouting America overview of Youth Leadership and Troop Organization.

See the Help Wanted Page, which will show you who is doing what and where we have nobody doing the tasks (or someone who is doing too many tasks so a Parent needs to step up), and that page will link you to details about how to do the job and succeed at the job, from the Troop Operating Manual. Wanna help?  Email bert.bender@alston.com.  Here is what is on the Help Wanted Page today:

Found in the "About Us & How to Join" page seen on the left side of this Website, See below about being an Adult Leader registered with the Troop and, in addition, a Merit Badge Counselor -- Troop 631 expects that except in rare circumstances every adult registering as a Merit Badge Counselor will register first as either an Assistant Scoutmaster or Troop Committee Member:

• Youth Protection Training.  if you do not have a current BSA Membership ID Number with current -- within two years -- "Youth Protection Training", your Adult Application needs to be coupled with evidence of completion of "Youth Protection Training" by taking the course at my.scouting.org.
• For more on how to take Youth Protection Training On Line, see our Adult Leader Training Page for how to access https://my.scouting.org/.

• Adult Application to be a Troop Leader (including ASM and Committee).  Now online.  Here's how.

1. Set up a My.Scouting account, or if you have one, log into your existing My.Scouting account.
2. Do you have current "Youth Protection Training" (like in the past year)? If not, STOP and go to the "Youth Protection Training" section immediately above and take the course at my.scouting.org.  If you don’t, we can’t accept the Adult Application.  
3. To apply to be a leader click this link.   
4. It will ask whether you're registering for yourself (as an adult volunteer) or for your child, so since you're reading about how to be an Adult Volunteer, click "Start" under "Adult".
5. That takes you to a series of pages for Basic and Background Information (the BSA runs background checks), so follow the prompts, enter the information, and checkout and pay for your BSA Registration Fee through the remainder of this Calendar Year.
6. Email chair@atlanta631.mytroop.us and advise whether you want to be a Troop Committee Member or an Assistant Scoutmaster. 

There is no "dues" cost to being a Leader who is actually and meaningfully engaged in one or more Troop functions  (as listed in our "Help Wanted" page and this Menu of Leader and Hepler Roles); Leader fees for those are covered in the Troop Dues, so contact the Treasurer at treasurer@atlanta631.mytroop.us for a reimbursement.     

• If you "used to be registered" but dropped (for example, for adults, for failure to keep Youth Protection Training up to date, or you were in the Pack but didn't register with the Troop) ... yeah, you've got to start over with a new Adult Application and current YPT evidence (which might transfer if you have your "last year" BSA Member ID Number).
• If you really want to submit a paper application, don't.  Call the Troop Committee Chair, and we'll discuss.  

• For those who want to be Merit Badge Counselors, follow these steps:

• If you are not currently a Troop 631 Adult Leader, including as a Committee Member or Assistant Scoutmaster, scroll back up to the section right above called "Adult Application to be a Troop Leader (including ASM and Committee)", and follow those steps to be a Troop 631 Adult Leader.
• If that is a problem, call the Troop Committee Chair, and we'll discuss.  
• But because you'll be reimbursed for the cost of applying and you have to take Youth Protection Training either way, there's not a good reason not to also be on the Committee.

• Once you are currently a Troop 631 Adult Leader with current (within two years) Youth Protection Training, please see atlantabsa.org/FindMBC for a new portal for registration. 
• But ... be a Troop 631 Registered Leader first.  It will be easier and best for you.
• More in "Registration as a Merit Badge Counselor 2023.docx".

• If you're already a Merit Badge Counselor now and you are just adding new Merit Badges, see atlantabsa.org/FindMBC for a new portal for updating your Merit Badges.   

• More information about being a Counselor is in this Blog Post and in the Application itself, plus in the BSA "Learn Center" access through my.scouting.org you can find a 34 minute Merit Badge Counseling Course (select "catalog", then "programs", then "Scouts BSA", and find "Merit Badge Counselor Position Specific Training").  A list of Merit Badges can be found on this list of Merit Badge Worksheets, which gives you a good idea of the knowledge required to serve. 

• More on Merit Badge Counseling is here -- Merit Badges are not Cub Scout Belt Loops or Activity Pins!  

• If you really want to be a Merit Badge Counselor but not be an Adult Leader of Troop 631, you may follow the instructions found at www.atlantabsa.org/mbcounselor, which will probably include sending your paper to a District Advancement Chair.  The Troop Committee Chair or Advancement Team can help identify that person.