Troop 26 New Member Information
Welcome to Troop 26
New Scout Information
Troop 26 At A Glance
Parent Volunteer Information Sheet
Senior Patrol Leader's Letter to Scouts
Scoutmaster's Letter
Adult Leaders' Letter to Parents
Troop 26 Forms to be Returned to the Troop
Troop 26 Constitution
Troop 26 Rules of Conduct
Personal Resource Sheet
Vehicle Insurance Information Form
Welcome to Troop 26 . . .
Welcome to the Boy Scouts of America! A great reward awaits you and your son. Scouting is a grand adventure full of exciting and interesting experiences. Interwoven with these experiences are life lessons taught to build character, foster citizenship, and develop fitness. Your son will experience many things. He will have the opportunity to learn and appreciate things that most others will never have the opportunity to learn and appreciate. All the while, he will be having fun. Your reward? The joy of seeing your son develop self-reliance, self-confidence, initiative, resourcefulness, moral character, and courage. Watching as he matures into a valued leader with quality values and good judgement. And finally, remembering him as a new Boy Scout while watching the Eagle Scout Award being pinned to his chest. This is what lies ahead.
The purpose of this package is to welcome you, both scouts and parents, into the wonderful world of Scouting with Troop 26. We hope you have a truly rewarding experience as you advance through the ranks of Scouting from Tenderfoot to Eagle. We, the parents and adult leaders of Troop 26, pledge to help each Scout learn the Scouting skills and ideals that will serve him every day for the rest of his life.
Troop 26 has been continuously sponsored as a Boy Scout Troop in Tulsa, Oklahoma since 1954. Since 1969, Troop 26 has been honored to present the Eagle Scout Award (the highest rank in Scouting) to over 600 of its members. Nationally, only about 4% of all Boy Scouts attain the Eagle rank. In Troop 26 that percentage is over 60%.
Troop 26 is a "Scout run" troop. The Senior Patrol Leader, Leadership Corps, Patrol Leaders, and Assistant Patrol Leaders, are all scouts within the Troop. These young men run the Troop using the principles of the Scout Law, the Scout Oath, the Scout Slogan, and the Scout Motto. The Scoutmaster provides direct guidance to the scouts and is the link between scouts and parents. The Troop has a Troop Committee to provide guidance and advice and to act as a resource to the Scoutmaster and scouts. All parents are welcome to attend Troop Committee meetings, and are encouraged to become a member of the Committee.
You will find in the Appendices to this Guide (A) Class I, II, and III Medical Forms, (B) a guide to personal camping equipment, (C) a Troop roster, (D) a Troop calendar, (E) a Merit Badge Counselor list, and (F) a Troop organization chart.
Again, we welcome you to the Troop 26 family. We look forward to meeting and working with you and your son on his path to Eagle.
NEW SCOUT INFORMATION
Every new Scout is encouraged to complete this portion of the "New Member Packet" before he leaves his first meeting after joining. We know there will be questions that come up during the week and this is a great way to get some quick answers.
MY NEW:
PATROL LEADER is
His Phone Number is
SENIOR PATROL LEADER is
His Phone Number is
SCOUTMASTER is Bill Shaffer.
He may be reached at: 7122 S. Sheridan Ste. #2, PMB 481
Tulsa, OK 74133
Business: 493-3213
Home: 492-1864
Boy Scout Troop 26
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Letter From the Scoutmaster . . .
Dear New Member of Troop 26:
I am so excited that you have chosen Troop 26 to be your troop. There are many, many excellent troops in and around Tulsa, so we feel especially honored and privileged to be selected by you and your parents.
As the Scoutmaster of Troop 26, I want to welcome you to our troop family. This booklet contains many answers to questions that you or your parents might have. If you don't find answers to your questions, please feel free to call me or our Committee Chairman, Assistant Scoutmaster Ted Dubie, and we will be glad to help. Our numbers are in the roster.
We offer much in Troop 26 for those that are focused and dedicated to achieving all they can while in scouting. We set the table, but no one will make you eat. We encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities that come up; campouts, merit badge classes, Jamborees, Philmont, Sommers Canoe Base, and, most importantly, the Eagle Scout Award. It's waiting for you at the end of the trail. All of us here in Troop 26 are available to help you get there.
Once again, we are very proud to have you as a member of Troop 26.
Bill Shaffer,
Scoutmaster
Boy Scout Troop 26
Tulsa, Oklahoma
To: The Parents of a New Troop 26 Scout
From: The Adult Leaders of Troop 26
We welcome you and your son into the Troop 26 family. We give a tremendous amount of our time to provide your son with the finest experience in scouting. Many of us grew up in, and graduated from, the Troop. Others have watched our children grow up in, and graduate from, the Troop. Still others are currently watching our children grow up in the Troop. One thread that binds us all together is a belief that Scouting is the greatest program of all for young men and that Troop 26 has the best scouting program you can find anywhere. We are glad you agree. In return for the time and commitment of the adult leaders, we ask the following of you:
″ Get to know us - you should know the people who are teaching your son and taking him on camp outs and trips.
″ Pick up your son on time from camp outs, trips, and meetings - we will not leave a scout alone to wait for a ride home. It isn't fair to anyone when scouts aren't picked up from an event or outing on time.
″ Follow the chain of command for questions or concerns - first, have your son ask his patrol leader, and then, if necessary, the Senior Patrol Leader, the Scoutmaster, or an Assistant Scoutmaster.
″ Provide proper uniforms and equipment for your son – the Troop provides a uniform exchange so all scouts can continue to be in full uniform as they grow.
″ Provide rides for your son's patrol to and from camp outs - if everyone does it occasionally, no one has to do it more than once or twice per year.
″ Attend Courts of Honor - they only occur three or four times per year and every scout deserves an audience when he receives an award, whether Tenderfoot or Eagle rank.
″ Pay dues on time twice per year – May and November.
″ Get involved. There are many opportunities. Help with fundraising - this keeps us from raising dues. Get involved with support activities - we always need moms and dads to help with receptions, the Uniform Exchange, Court of Honor preparation, repair of camping gear, etc. Teach a merit badge class - most dads and moms have hobbies or areas of expertise which make them natural teachers for a merit badge.
″ Finally, if you have questions, ask. Any adult leader will be more than willing to help you find an answer to your question.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and support. Together, we can give your son the best adventure and opportunity scouting can provide.
