ELECTIONS !!! - Parents please make sure scouts read this !!!!

Next week we will hold our elections for new leadership positions, at both Troop and Patrol Level.
You, the Scouts will elect a new Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. In addition Quartermaster and Scribe will also be elected, and it would be really nice if we had a webmaster who really wanted to look after our Troop blog and Facebook page

Then you will head off into your patrols and elect a new Patrol Leader and APL

Read the descriptions below , and make sure you are voting for someone who you honestly believe can do the job well.

Positions with ** should attend PLC meetings monthly or delegate to their assistants.

Senior Patrol Leader**
• Preside at all troop meetings, events, activities, and annual program planning conference.
• Chair the patrol leaders’ council.
• Appoint Scout leaders with the advice and consent of the Scoutmaster.
• Assign duties and responsibilities to other Scout leaders.
• Work with the Scoutmaster in training Scout leaders.
• Set and enforce the tone for good Scout behavior within the troop.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.

Assistant Senior Patrol Leader **
• Be responsible for training and giving direct leadership to the following appointed Scout
leaders: historian, Order of the Arrow troop representative, scribe, librarian, instructor,
quartermaster, and chaplain aide.
• Help lead meetings and activities as called upon by the senior patrol leader.
• Guide the troop in the senior patrol leader’s absence.
• Perform tasks assigned by the senior patrol leader.
• Function as a member of the patrol leaders’ council.
• Help set and enforce the tone for good Scout behavior within the troop.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.

Patrol Leader **
• Plan and lead patrol meetings and activities.
• Keep patrol members informed.
• Assign each patrol member needed tasks and help them succeed.
• Represent the patrol at all patrol leaders’ council meetings and the annual program
planning conference.
• Prepare the patrol to take part in all troop activities.
• Show and help develop patrol spirit.
• Work with other troop leaders to make the troop run well.
• Know what patrol members and other leaders can do.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Assistant Patrol Leader (**Attend PLC if PL not present)
• Help the patrol leader plan and lead patrol meetings and activities.
• Help the patrol leader keep patrol members informed.
• Help the patrol leader prepare the patrol to take part in all troop activities.
• Lead the patrol in the patrol leader’s absence.
• Show and help develop patrol spirit.
• Represent the patrol at all patrol leaders’ council meetings in the patrol leader’s absence.
• Work with other troop leaders to make the troop run well.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Quartermaster
• Keep records of patrol and troop equipment.
• Keep equipment in good repair.
• Keep equipment storage area neat and clean.
• Issue equipment and see that it is returned in good order.
• Suggest new or replacement items.
• Work with the troop committee member responsible for equipment.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.

Scribe **
• Attend and keep a log of patrol leaders’ council meetings.
• Record attendance  of all troop members.
• Record advancement in troop records and on the troop advancement chart.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Work with the appropriate troop committee members responsible for finance, records,
and advancement.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.
• Handle correspondence appropriately.

Order of the Arrow Troop Representative
• Serve as a communication link between the lodge or chapter and the troop.
• Encourage year-round and resident camping in the troop.
• Encourage older-Scout participation in high-adventure programs.
• Encourage Scouts to actively participate in community service projects.
• Assist with leadership skills training in the troop.
• Encourage Arrowmen to assume leadership positions in the troop.
• Encourage Arrowmen in the troop to be active participants in lodge and/or chapter activities
and to seal their membership in the Order by becoming Brotherhood members.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and OA Obligation.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.

Webmaster **
• Establish and maintain a safe and secure troop website.
• Ensure the troop website is a positive reflection of Scouting for the public.
• Manage the troop’s electronic communication tools.
• Work with the Scouts to provide up-to-date troop information.
• Work with the scribe.
• Set a good example.
• Wear the Scout uniform correctly.
• Live by the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
• Show and help develop Scout spirit.

Ten Tips for Being a Good Patrol Leader

	Keep Your Word. Don't make promises you can't keep.
	Be Fair to All. A good leader shows no favorites. Don't allow friendships to keep you from being fair to all members of your patrol. Know who likes to do what, and assign duties to patrol members by what they like to do.
	Be a Good Communicator. You don't need a commanding voice to be a good leader, but you must be willing to step out front with an effective "Let's go." A good leader knows how to get and give information so that everyone understands what's going on.
	Be Flexible. Everything doesn't always go as planned. Be prepared to shift to "plan B" when "plan A" doesn't work.
	Be Organized. The time you spend planning will be repaid many times over. At patrol meetings, record who agrees to do each task, and fill out the duty roster before going camping.
	Delegate. Some leaders assume that the job will not get done unless they do it themselves. Most people like to be challenged with a task. Empower your patrol members to do things they have never tried.
	Set an Example. The most important thing you can do is lead by example. Whatever you do, your patrol members are likely to do the same. A cheerful attitude can keep everyone's spirits up.
	Be Consistent. Nothing is more confusing than a leader who is one way one moment and another way a short time later. If your patrol knows what to expect from you, they will more likely respond positively to your leadership.
	Give Praise. The best way to get credit is to give it away. Often a "Nice job" is all the praise necessary to make a Scout feel he is contributing to the efforts of the patrol.
	Ask for Help. Don't be embarrassed to ask for help. You have many resources at your disposal. When confronted with a situation you don't know how to handle, ask someone with more experience for some advice and direction.