TROOP 1855 INFORMATION

WHY TROOP NUMBER 1855?

This is the year the Cheairs Mansion on the Rippavilla Plantation, was completed.   Construction on the mansion commenced in 1852 and was completed in 1855. Completion of the mansion was delayed for three years because of Nathaniel Cheair’s own vision of the home. He stated that he wished the house to stand for over 100 years. Construction of the home was halted three separate times. The mansion was over 50% complete all three times that he had construction stopped, and each time the walls were torn down before it was eventually completed in 1855.  For more information regarding the Rippavilla Plantation and Cheairs Mansion, please visit www.rippavilla.org.

TROOP ORGANIZATION:

Troop 1855 is a boy-run troop.  Every boy will have an opportunity to participate in both shared and individual leadership.  The meetings are planned and carried out by the Patrol Leaders’ Council.  Understanding the concepts of leadership help the boys accept leadership of others, and to grow into more responsible adults.  The “Key Leaders within A Troop” section lists all of the key leaders within a Boy Scout troop and their duties.

TROOP GOALS:

• ·         Community service oriented
• ·         Bridge the gap between Troops within and outside our District
• ·         Fun-filled learning
• ·         Hands-on learning (not information download)
• ·         Diverse (not just focused on camping/canoeing, also introduce the boys to the "Arts", help develop social skills (manners), etc.
• ·         Teambuilding - developing trust and friendship
• ·         Promote education and the importance of historic preservation
• ·         Represent Scouting in a positive manner in both appearance and attitude

MEETINGS:

Spring Hill Troop 1855 meetings are typically held each Monday night, from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m., at Rippavilla Plantation.  There is not a regular troop meeting following a week-end campout.  Instead, a Patrol Leaders Council (PLC) will be held.  We will do our best to consider school schedule and holidays when scheduling other Troop meetings and activities.  Troop 1855 will do its best to maintain at a minimum, a 6-month program calendar for all scheduled events.

The Troop meeting itself is a Scout designed, planned and delivered activity.  The PLC develops the agenda and the patrols carry out their assigned activities.

Note:  The Rippavilla Plantation has agreed to make portions of the Cheairs Mansion available to use and full use of the outdoor facilities.  We must be respectful of the Rippavilla Plantation and use the space with care in order to protect and preserve this historic property.

TROOP “NORMS”/CONDUCT CODE:

• ·   Be on-time for all meetings and troop activities - to be early is to be on-time, to be on-time is to be late!

• ·   Good attendance and active participation is expected at meetings and activities
• ·   Both adult leaders and Boy Scouts will wear class A or Class B uniforms at all Scout meetings and/or activities.
• ·   Scouts will show respect towards everyone.  They will also address adults as Mr. or Miss and [First or Last Name] or by Leader’s title and [First or Last Name]
• ·   Proper manners will be expected
• ·   Extreme care will be used to protect and continue to preserve any facility we use for meetings and/or activities.
• ·   Represent Scouting in a positive manner in both appearance and attitude
• ·   Absolutely no “bullying”,  “hazing”, “harassment” or “initiations” will be tolerated, and may result in being “expelled” from the troop.

TROOP FUNDING:

Troop funding is necessary to obtain the necessary equipment for outdoor activities, rank advancement and camping (tents, stoves, lanterns, portable kitchens, etc.).  Funding will be secured through:

• ·   Annual Registration - fee of $50 that includes:
• o        $10.00 for Boy Scouts of America membership
• o        $12.00 Boys Life Subscription
• o        $1.00 Boy Scouts of America insurance
• o        $27.00 Troop Funding to help pay for new equipment, badges for rank advancement, bolo ties and slides, Troopmaster Software, etc.

• ·   Fundraising – Rippavilla Plantation will have many opportunities for us to earn funds or our troop.  During their community festivities, i.e. corn maze, Nutcracker Play, Country Ham Fest, etc.  We will be allowed to run a concession and/or assist with parking cars and/or assist with the activity itself. We expect, especially our first year, as much help from everyone, including both scouts and their parents.  There is so much start-up equipment that must be obtained before we can actively plan our camp-outs.