Boy Scout Trail Recent Comments

After much thought, I decided to seek guidance from you'all. I am a new boy scout parent (although my son has been in scouting since a Tiger) and a new committee member of a troop. Recently, our troop had elections for ALL positions and I am witnessing what appears to be favoritism by SM and ASM (I believe I am not the only one who feels this way). As examples, elections for POR were held and candidates who were not nominated were allowed to give speeches and appointed to positions. Moreover, scouts who are tenderfoot were appointed although they did not win positions and other scouts needed POR or had more votes overall were not placed in positions. I'm at a loss both as a parent and a committee member.Just do not know how to handle without appearing to be an over-involved parent or stepping on toes,since I am new. More important my son is a very motivated scout I do not want him to get discourage from this; meaning why run and give speeches if eventually it does not matter.

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@Mary - All scouts vote to elect the Senior Patrol Leader and each patrol elects its own Patrol Leader.  All other positions of responsibility (POR) are appointed by the SPL with assistance, guidance, direction of the scoutmaster.  This is stated in the SPL Handbook and Scoutmaster Handbook.  If your troop is not doing this, SOMEONE needs to point it out.

The only 'speech' a scout should give to become Troop Guide, Bugler, Scribe, Librarian, ..., is letting the SPL know that he'd like the position, needs the position, and would fulfill the duties of the position.  Then, the SPL decides who gets the spot.   Favoritism will most definitely play a part in the selections because the SPL wants guys he can work with and trust.

If a scout really needs a POR, he can campaign in his patrol to be their new Patrol Leader, and patrol elections should be allowed to happen at absolutely any time the patrol wants to hold one.

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Thank you Scouter Paul. Unfortunately, this is not happening in our troop and all positions are elected with scouts running for different positions and SM and ASM sometimes appointing to positions regardless of votes. I understand about the favoritism between scouts; I'm less tolerant of favoritism from scoutmasters toward scouts. I have found that many times SM are given the flexibility of running and leading the troop, so with regards to the SPL handbook, does the SM have the freedom to change the process that is stated in the handbook and still fall within the scouting policies and principles?  Thank you again.

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@Mary - That is 'unfortunate' - it is also wrong.
From my point of view, adults implementing their own way of doing things and ignoring the stated, published BSA way of doing things is the biggest problem in Scouting.  If it is written right there on page 7, paragraph 3 (or wherever it is), why do it some other way?  It makes no sense.
The scoutmaster should NOT be doing what you describe, and he should not be Running nor Leading the troop - that is the SPL's job.  The scoutmaster should train the SPL to handle troop elections and appointments, and most other aspects of running the troop.  But, it's easier for some adults to just take over and dictate rather than spend the time and effort to mentor youth to develop their leadership skills.

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