From Scoutmaster Bottie-Wheeler: "A special "Thank You" to Kisha, Keith, Jeff and Wendy for taking on new adult leadership positions!!!  

• Untitled Goose Patrol ASM - Jeff Woodson
• Big Bird Patrol ASM - Keith Hansen
• Eagle Patrol ASM - Kisha Thurmond
• Treasurer Assistant - Wendy Hansen

More on the Role of Assistant Scoutmasters can be found here.  More on the Treasurer function can be found here.

From Scoutmaster Bottie-Wheeler: "Positions to still be filled include:

• 2025 High Adventure Coordinator
• 2025 Summer Camp Coordinator/Activity Captain
• Fundraising Chair
• Troop Committee Chair 
• Merit Badge Coordinator
• Roles showing as "Open" at our Help Wanted page.  

This troop only functions when adults step up to help.  We ask our scouts to step into leadership roles and when they see you modeling a care and commitment to the troop, they will follow suit.  This is a program built on community and volunteerism. Please take a minute to consider how you can share your time and talents."

For a full list of what roles are open, and links to how those jobs might be done, see our Help Wanted page.  Job Descriptions (with detail on how to perform functions) is found in the Adult Leader Roles Appendix to the Troop Operating Manual.

From Scoutmaster Renee Bottie-Wheeler: "Thank you to all the scouts that stepped up to contribute to our troop.  Here are the election results from Sunday, April 21:

• Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) - Jace
• Assistant SPL - Nolan
• Quartermaster - Marek
• Librarian - John 
• Historian - Christian
• Chaplain's Aide - Joseph
• Troop Guide - Xavier
• Patrol Leader - Untitled Goose - Chris

Congrats everyone!!  You still have a chance to volunteer for a position!  If you are interested in serving your troop, let me know.  We still need a scribe and a Patrol Leader for Big Birds."

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 BSA overview of Youth Leadership and Troop Organization.   

• Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) – The Senior Patrol Leader (SPL) is in charge of the Troop, advised by the Scoutmaster – here is a brief BSA Overview.  Duties include the following, with assistance from other Youth Leaders:
  • Plans and runs all Troop Meetings, events, activities, and the August Troop Kickoff with coaching and support from Adult Leaders.
  • Plans and runs the Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) meetings with coaching from the Scoutmaster.
  • Appoints and supervises other troop junior leaders that do not stand for election, with the advice and counsel of the Scoutmaster.
  • Assigns duties and responsibilities to other junior leaders, and supports them to succeed.
  • There can be many facets to the job of a Senior Patrol Leader in an active Troop running on all cylinders with participation by multiple Patrols in overnight camping and other activities. Assists the Scoutmaster or Training Coordinator with Youth Leader training.
    • Not everything that can be done by a Troop or Senior Patrol Leader will be done, but there is a value to doing more than “some of what the last SPL did”.
    • For ideas, there once was a Senior Patrol Leader Handbook.  A recent edition is here.  If that gives you ideas, share with the Scoutmaster!
    • Some bare bones elements of the Senior Patrol Leader’s role are included in the Senior Patrol Leader folder of the Scout Officers part of the Troop Files.
  • Sets a good example, wears the Scout uniform correctly, lives by the Scout Oath and Law and shows Scout spirit. 

• Other Troop Officers – An SPL is assisted by Scouts holding other scout leadership positions, advised by the Scoutmaster or other adult leaders designated by the Scoutmaster.  These are delineated in the Troop 631 Scout Leadership Positions, Duties, and Responsibilities guide.  Each Scout should obtain a copy, found on the Troop Website in “Files” under “Scout Officers”.  Key Troop Youth Officer roles are:
  • Quartermaster (handles equipment needs for Troop Meetings and Events; advised by an adult Quartermaster Advisor and any Equipment Coordinator).  See BSA overview.
  • Scribe (keeps attendance at Troop Meetings and Events; coordinates with Scribe Guide or ATeam Data Entry Team so Advancement records are complete).  See BSA overview.
  • Historian (writes and records the history of the Troop and shares stories and pictures through the Website, at Courts of Honor, and through other outlets, working with the Adult PR Advisor and any Historian Advisor).  See BSA overview.
  • Librarian (keeps track of, and shares access to, any Troop Books, especially Merit Badge Pamphlets, with the support of a Librarian Advisor).  See BSA overview.
  • Chaplain’s Aide (offers reflections and prayers, guided by an Adult Chaplain).  See BSA overview.  

Other Youth Officer roles can exist, such as Troop Guide (to guide a young Scouts Patrol), Instructor (to teach Scout Skills), OA Representative (liaison to the Order of the Arrow in the District and Council), Den Chief (assist a Cub Scout Den) and Outdoor Ethics Guide.   

• Patrols and Patrol Leaders – A Patrol is a smaller grouping of Scouts who work together – here is a brief BSA Overview of the Patrol.  A Troop is made up of several patrols if there are more than about 8 to 10 Scouts.  Each patrol usually consists of no less than about 8-10 Scouts and no more than about 12-15 Scouts, so that patrols always have a decent chance to be large enough at any Troop Meeting or Activity – for example, decent size for Patrol cooking at a campout is around 6 (to allow for different roles like fire/setup, cooks, and cleanup), so a Patrol with a size of 10 to 12 will often be a good size, since 50% turnout is pretty strong for our Patrols. 
  • The Scouts in the patrol elect their Patrol Leader (PL); here is  a brief BSA Overview of the job of Patrol Leader.  
    • The Patrol Leader, in turn, appoints the Assistant Patrol Leader (APL) and Patrol Quartermaster (PQM). 
    • A Troop Guide may be assigned to aid a Patrol of new Scouts – an Assistant Scoutmaster may be assigned to advise a Patrol Leader. 
  • The Patrol helps its members develop a sense of pride and identity. 
    • The Scouts share in the tasks to be done, compete with other Patrols at Troop events.
    • Each Patrol selects their own symbol to represent them and wear it on their uniform.
    • Patrols may also meet separately, to plan Patrol activities beyond Troop activities with approval of the Scoutmaster. 
  • There can be many facets to the job of a Patrol Leader in an active Troop running on all cylinders with participation as a Patrol in overnight camping and other activities. 
    • Not everything that can be done by a Patrol or Patrol Leader will be done, but there is a value to doing more than “some of what the last Patrol Leader did”.
    • For ideas, there is a Patrol Leader Handbook.  A recent edition is here.  If that gives you ideas, share with your Patrol and the Scoutmaster!
    • Some bare bones elements of the Patrol Leader’s role are included in the Patrol Leader folder of the Scout Officers part of the Troop Files.
  • Patrols may be “age based” (e.g., young, middle aged, old) or “interest based” (e.g., hikers or bikers or boaters) and the composition may change from time to time.  Currently, in Fall 2023, the Patrols on the Website are age based:
    • Active Patrols are Big Bird (6^th Grade), Untitled Goose (7-9^th Grade), and Osprey (older youth leaders, including Eagle Scouts now less active). 
    • Not active, but on the website, is Watchers (expressed interest or were involved, but not currently – if they step forward to be involved, they would be assigned to an active Patrol).   

• Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) – Planning for Troop meetings and Troop events is done by the Patrol Leaders Council (“PLC”).  A PLC is comprised of the Senior Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Scribe, Quartermaster, and all Patrol Leaders, and advised by the Scoutmaster and any Assistant Scoutmasters requested by the Scoutmaster. 
• The Patrol Leaders Council shall convene as directed by the Senior Patrol Leader, but not less often than monthly.
• Other Troop Officers or Scouts may be invited to participate from time to time depending on the agenda, as required by the SPL. 

•  Youth Leader Elections – The Troop has alternated between six month terms and annual terms for Youth Leaders; a change may be determined by the Scoutmaster and PLC based on the needs of the Troop and demands on potential youth leaders.  Certain leadership roles within the Troop may be appointed by the Scoutmaster at any time.  These include offices such as Troop Guide, Instructor, OA Representative, Den Chief, and Outdoor Ethics Guide. 

• Candidates who wish to run for an office need to fill out the appropriate application form (on the Troop website in the Scout Officers file folder) and have it signed by their parent or guardian.
• Scouts should note that some offices require more skills and also carry age and rank requirements – but in appropriate situations, exceptions may be applied by the Scoutmaster.
• It is also important that Scouts are ready to fulfill the requirements of the office they are seeking.
• For the Troop to run properly, it is not enough to hold an office in title alone, true leadership and engagement will be expected.  

All Scouts are encouraged to serve in youth leader roles, whether or not it is “needed for advancement”, because serving others is the right thing to do – there are some roles that properly require more skills (for example, Troop Guides/Instructors should be 1^st Class to train up other Scouts to that level) and tenure (for example, a Senior Patrol Leader should be experienced).     

Youth Leader Training.  By accepting a leadership role, it is expected that Scouts will participate in Leadership training that is held and led by Troop adult leaders annually.  See the “Leader Training” page on the Troop Website for descriptions of training programs for youth leaders, such as National Youth Leader Training (NYLT).  Troop 631 policy is that Scouts who are approved by the Scoutmaster to attend a leadership training program can be reimbursed for 50% of the cost by the Troop. 

The Scouts in the 5th Grade have elected in their meetings as an Arrow of Light Den of Pack 631 to be known as the "Eagle" Patrol, and have selected a Patrol Leader and Assistant Patrol Leader.  See the Troop Roster at atlanta631.mytroop.us/roster for more.  See "Send Email" at atlanta631.mytroop.us/smail/send for the new email address for that Patrol.

See this Photo Page for Galleries of Troop Members in Action.  Got Pix?  See "Photo Uploads" for a list of Upload Links for quick and easy uploading. Recent and upcoming galleries that could use Photos include ...

• 2024 COPE Campout: https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/jQ3DZb/2024COPE
• Adam A Eagle Project: https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/MDwVTm/Adam
• March Cochran Mill Hike: https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/kCFKgg/Cochran
• February Cave Camping: https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/NSZrGq/Cave
• January Trees Atlanta: https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/fjn8Fr/Trees
• December Climbing Lockin -- https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/MRJQMZ/Climb
• November Westside Cycling -- https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/7BN89G/Cycle 
• October Shooting Sports Campout - https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/PxbTmg/Shoot
• September Chimps Project Campout - https://pack631.smugmug.com/upload/TmG7S6/Chimp
• NEW (replacement after ??):  September 2023 Court of Honor - https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/GPnNRk/SeptCoH2023
• August 2023 Rafting Plus Horseback Plus Camping Pictures at https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/37TdMC/August2023
• Troop Meetings 2023-24, use https://Pack631.smugmug.com/upload/HN4qt6/TroopMeetings2324

Questions?  Want a new Gallery?  Trying to alter / delete / create Galleries?  Email webmaster@atlanta631.mytroop.us.