Troop meetings are held at Bent Tree Bible Fellowship Church. Meetings start at 7 PM and end at 8:30 PM. Parents are always welcome to visit and observe meetings. Scouts should be picked up no later than 8:45 PM by their parents or other designated party. Scouts should never be left alone at the Church. The Scoutmaster and another adult must remain until all Scouts have been picked up, so please be timely in picking up your Scout.
Regular attendance at Troop meetings and campouts is essential. Any Scout who has unexcused absences from four consecutive Troop meetings or three campouts during the year is considered inactive.
If the scout is unable to attend a Troop meeting or campout, he should notify the Assistant Scoutmaster for his patrol. If a Scout plans to be away from the Troop for an extended period of time, the parents should notify the Scoutmaster to request a leave of absence. Participation in a sport in which events are held on meeting nights is an example of a satisfactory reason for a leave of absence. The Scoutmaster has final discretion on matters of attendance.
In order to ensure a fair opportunity for all active Scouts, a Scout who is inactive or on leave of absence must relinquish any leadership position. In addition, the Scout loses any time accrued toward the leadership requirements for rank advancement, unless an exception is made by the Troop Committee.
Visitors are always welcome at all Troop functions. However, no visitor may attend a camping trip or other activity without first attending a Troop meeting and having permission from the Scoutmaster. A boy who is a candidate for membership may attend one camping trip as a visitor, but may not attend another one until he becomes a member.
There is not an initiation into Scouting and no form of hazing is permitted. An investiture ceremony is conducted for each new Scout.
A new boy is classified as a visitor until he passes the joining requirements in the Scout Handbook, turns in the membership forms, pays the membership fees, and his parents attend a Troop meeting. Until that time, he should not purchase a uniform since he may not wear it until he becomes a member of the Troop. Families who feel that the cost of a uniform and camping equipment are too much for them should talk to the Scoutmaster about the problem before deciding that their son should not join the Troop.
Troop 714 provides and maintains the policy of a “Safe Haven”. Anyone who does not abide by this policy shall be counseled in accordance to the discipline policy.
“Safe Haven”
Scouting is a safe haven, a place where everyone should feel physically and emotionally secure. We do this by:
Setting the example for others and ourselves by living the Scout Oath and Law each moment of each day, to the best of our abilities.
Refusing to tolerate any kind of inappropriate put-downs, name-calling, or physical aggression.
Communicating our acceptance of each Scout and Scouter through expressions of concern and by showing our appreciation whenever possible.
Creating an environment based on learning and fun. We seek the best from each Scout, and we do our best to help each person achieve it.