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Troop members, Committee members, parents and people involved with Troop 480 who have questions about anything going on in the Troop, are encouraged to e-mail the Scoutmaster.
Meeting Day/Time: Thursdays / 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM (No meetings July and August)
Meeting Place: St. Paul’s Church
Troop Sponsor: St. Paul’s Church, Woodbury, CT.
Original Charter: September 9, 1960.
DUES: $40 per year, payable in September. The money covers registration, insurance, advancement awards, activity badges, and basic operating supplies for the troop. The Scout will receive an annual membership card from Boy Scouts of America (BSA) through CT. Rivers Council, and a bimonthly newsletter from the troop. Also included is, BSA's official Scouting magazine, Boy’s Life.
EQUIPMENT CHARGE: $40 one time charge when the boy joins which will help maintain equipment (tents, stoves, propane, ropes, etc.).
COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Held every month at St. Paul’s Parish House at 6:30pm on the 2nd Wednesday of the month. ALL parents are encouraged to attend these meetings. Only registered committee members may vote, but anyone may express an opinion. The Troop Committee consists of: Committee Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising Chairman, Outdoor Chairman, Advancement Chairman, Scouting Coordinator, Webelos Den Resource Person, and Activities Chairman.
MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS: Adults who work with Scouts individually or in groups to learn skills and obtain knowledge in a specific area. After completing the requirements for a particular Merit Badge, the Scout receives a badge which is worn on his Merit Badge Sash and a card which should be retained as proof of completion of the requirements. There is no registration fee to register as a Merit Badge Counselor. Merit badge counselors are needed, please ask for more information.
UNIFORM: Troop 480 encourages a complete uniform. The Scout will receive a neckerchief (with troop emblem on it) from the troop. The BSA khaki shirt is essential and should be worn to all meetings and activities unless otherwise instructed. Please refer to your son's Boy Scout Handbook for more information on uniform items and placement of insignia.
Uniforms and other Scouting items can be purchased at the Scout store in Waterbury , or the BSA catalog. Holidays and birthdays provide great opportunities for relatives to purchase Scout uniform items and supplies.
TRAINING: Leadership training for the Scouts is provided by the troop approximately twice a year. Ct. Rivers Council also provides Junior Leader Training sessions for Scouts to help them in their troop leader positions. Den Chief training is provided by Council, the Scoutmaster, or Cubmaster of the Pack.
Adult training consists of : Fast Start(videotape),Basic training, Takachsin, Woodbadge, and Merit Badge Counselor training which is all available through Ct. Rivers Council. BSA also provides a college of Scouting where you can complete a BS, Masters, and PhD in Scouting.
TROOP STRUCTURE: A Boy Scout troop is made up of patrols of six to eight boys led by a senior Scout who is the Senior Patrol Leader (SPL). He is aided by the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL). The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster(s) help oversee the troop meetings. The SPL is elected by the Scouts in the troop. He chooses the ASPL. Each patrol also elects a Patrol Leader (PL). Other leadership positions your son may hold are: Troop Scribe, Historian, Quartermaster, Librarian, Chaplain's Aide, and Bugler. He may also decide to work with a Cub Scout Pack as a Den Chief. The SPL, ASPL, Scribe, and Patrol leaders meet once a month to plan the troop meetings and campouts.
Charter Organization --St. Paul’s ChurchInstitutional Head --Rev. James Wheeler
Charter Org. Rep. --Isobel Moore
Committee Chairman --Glen Dunham
Advancement Chairman -- Isobel Moore
Webmaster --Gary Hemmingstad
Committee Members - Isobel Moore, Glen Dunham, Gary Hemmingstad, Vytas Misenis, Joe Satmary, Brian Barry, Vic Losure, Steve Giuffre, Paul Bucciarelli
Secretary --
Treasurer --Steve Giuffre
Scoutmaster -Vic Losure
Assistant Scoutmasters --Paul Bucciarelli, Tom Sorrell
Jr. Asst. Scoutmaster --Peter Gati
Senior Patrol Ldr --Kyle Bucciarelli
Asst. Senior Patrol Ldr. --Erik Misenis
Outdoor Chairman-- Paul Bucciarelli
ADVANCEMENT: All requirements for advancement are tracked using the Boy Scout Handbook. The information is then maintained though use of computer software by the Advancement Chairman. The Scout MUST bring his handbook and a notebook to all meetings and activities in order for requirements to be initialed and dated ("Be Prepared"). Advancement cards, received upon completion of requirements for rank and for merit badges, should be kept in a binder or other safe place. These can be used to recreate a record of advancement.
Scouts start by earning the Scout rank. The requirements can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook. These skills must be demonstrated to the Scoutmaster (SM) or Assistant Scoutmaster (ASM) who will then initial and date the Scout's handbook. The initials or signature and date are required for the badge to be awarded. Many new Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light as a Webelos Cub Scout, can complete these requirements within the first few meetings.
The ranks of Tenderfoot Scout, Second Class Scout, and First Class Scout require skills learned at campouts, hikes, and troop meetings. Service hours (given to the community or religious institution). Please ensure all service hours are documented if not done as a Troop activity. The SM or ASM will initial and date requirements as they are completed. A Scout may work on the requirements for all three ranks in any order, but will receive the ranks in order (i.e., Tenderfoot before Second Class, Second Class before First Class).
The last two requirements for each of these ranks are a Scoutmaster's Conference and Board of Review. At the Scoutmaster's Conference, the Scout and SM review the requirements for that rank and any previous ranks. If the SM feels confident that the Scout demonstrates the knowledge and skills required, he will initial and date the handbook and arrange for a Board of Review for the following meeting.
The Board of Review consists of a minimum of three adults. The SM, ASM, and the Scout's parents CANNOT be on the Board. the Scout must present himself in a neat, clean uniform (as complete as possible) and have his handbook. The Board will ask him questions about Scouting, the troop, activities he has attended, and advancement requirements pertaining to the rank he is completing. The Board announces the results to the Scout and SM after conferring. All awards, including rank and merit badges, are presented at the meeting following completion of the requirements or the next Court of Honor. A Court of Honor is held semi-annually.
Recognition is given for advancement and any special awards that have been earned.
Once the rank of Scout has been earned, the boy may begin working on Merit Badges. A list of all available merit badges is near the back of the Boy Scout Handbook. The requirements for Eagle required badges follow the list. The troop maintains a library of merit badge pamphlets that members of the troop may borrow through the Troop Librarian while working on a merit badge. Requirements are updated as pamphlets are revised. These up-to-date requirements are available in one book that is published every two or three years or at http://www.usscouts.org .
Work on a merit badge may be done from 7:00pm to 7:20pm before troop meetings, in a group outside meetings, on an individual basis, or at summer camp. All badges require a Merit Badge Counselor. Your Scoutmaster and Advancement Chairman have a list of Counselors through Troop 480. Northern Hills District and CT. Rivers Council have larger lists. Please ask the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chairman to see either of these lists when looking for a counselor outside the troop. No more than four merit badges should be earned from any one counselor.
When working as an individual with a Merit Badge Counselor, another person MUST be present to protect the Scout and the Counselor. This can be another Scout, a parent, friend, or sibling.
An Application for Merit Badge (Blue Card) must be obtained, personal information completed, and a SM or ASM signature included prior to working on the Merit Badge. The Blue Card is presented to the Merit Badge Counselor at the first meeting. Upon completion of the requirements, the counselor initials and dates each one. When all requirements have been finished, the counselor will sign and date the card and return it to the Scout. The card is then given to the SM at the next meeting. He should list it in the Scout's handbook (used for senior ranks: Star, Life, and Eagle), and initial and date that requirement. The Advancement Chairman will then process the blue card and obtain the merit badge. The scout's portion of the blue card and the badge will be presented at the next meeting or Court of Honor.
Requirements for the ranks of Star Scout, Life Scout, and Eagle Scout are listed near the back of the Boy Scout Handbook, just before the Merit Badge Listing. A more detailed packet is given to the Scout before working on the Eagle requirements.
CAMPING: Troop 480 goes camping or on an outing approximately once a month. The troop does have tents. We do provide cooking utensils, stoves, lanterns, etc. The Scout must provide his own mess kit, sleeping bag, and backpack. Tent/sleeping arrangements are scheduled at the troop meeting prior to a campout. A small fee covers the cost of food (and campsite if required). All Scouts must have a signed permission slip.
Occasionally you may be asked to help provide transportation or be available as the emergency contact for a campout or other Troop activity. You may transport only the number of Scouts for which you have seatbelts.
FUNDRAISERS: These are held occasionally. You will be notified ahead of time and asked to participate with your son. Funds raised are used to help fund Summer Camp, Troop supplies (like tents), and other troop activities.
SUMMER CAMP: This is an annual event. Troop 480 normally attends a week of summer camp during the middle of August. Funding is through fundraising events and/or monthly deposit to the Troop Treasurer. Camp is six nights long (starts on Sunday, ends on Saturday). Activities include crafts, swimming, rank advancement, merit badges, and optional boating or high adventure (usually for older Scouts). The location is determined each year.
Each Scout must have a physical examination form completed and on file with the troop. The examination is good for three years, but should be reviewed and signed annually for any changes/corrections.
CT. Rivers Council operates and maintains Camp Mattatuck. When a Scout cannot attend with the Troop, he may attend as a provisional camper and is put with other provisional Scouts to form a "Troop." Camp staff act as the Scoutmasters for this group.