Troop 999 is sponsored by the Parents of Troop 999 (The Concerned Parents of Utah County). We currently meet in our Scoutmaster's back yard. We are always under the watchful eye of our Scoutmaster, Andy Baggs Sr. (120K), and the other members of the "Rocking Chair" patrol.
Troop 999 is unique in our area because it is a community sponsored Troop. Most units in the Utah Valley area are sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints (the Mormons). Many of the Scouts and Scouters that make up our Troop are Mormons who were simply looking for a better program than was being offered in their home ward.
Visitors and prospective Scouts (and Scouters) are always welcome at Troop meetings. We meet each Tuesday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 at Andy's house, 860 N. 900 W. in Provo, Utah.
From the Troop Historian
Here is a letter from out Scoutmaster about our joining requirements and our troop in general.
1. Uniforms
We expect all of our scouts to be in full Class A uniform at all Troop
activities unless a Class B uniform or work clothes is approved by the
Patrol Leader's Council.
3. Parent Support
Parent support is critical for the successful operation of our Troop.
All parents are members of the Troop Committee and are expected to attend
the Troop Committee meeting on the third Sunday of each month, at 6:00
pm (see the calendar). Parents are expected to help with transportation, service projects,
fund raising activities, and other Troop functions. Parent concerns
about advancement, activity or Troop involvement should be brought up at
these meetings rather than taking time from the Scoutmasters at Troop meetings,
when their function is to be working with individual boys and Patrols.
4. Activity
In order to advance in the Boy Scouts of America, each boy is to be
active in his Troop and Patrol for a set amount of time (identified in
the Scout Handbook for each rank). We define activity as a minimum
of 70% attendance at all activities that are offered to the entire troop.
Any boy whose attendance is less than 70% may not advance in ranks until
his attendance has met that standard.
5. Advancement
Advancement is a teaching/learning process, not a race. We expect
our Scouts to demonstrate proficiency in Scouting skills when they present
themselves for advancement. It is no favor to a boy to pass him through
the ranks without requiring him to learn the skills of that advancement.
The adults of the Troop and the boy leaders are available to teach and
test each boy. Boys are expected to read their Scout Handbooks and
parents can help by testing and challenging them on their skills.
Scouts earning Merit Badges will fill out the merit badge card in conjunction
with one of the Scoutmasters prior to his first contact with the merit
badge counselor. The counselor is then assigned from the list of
counselors in the Troop. Again, a boy is expected to learn and demonstrate
proficiency in the skill in order to pass it off to the counselor.
Each Scout will participate in a quarterly Board of Review, even if no rank advancement is contemplated for that quarter. Boards of Review and Courts of Honor will be held quarterly, generally in February, May, August, and November (see the calendar). Exact dates are scheduled by the Troop Committee and the Patrol Leader's Council. Parents and families are encouraged to attend Courts of Honor, not only to support their own Scout, but to support all of the boys in the Troop, and the Troop in general.
6. Leadership
Every boy who has achieved the rank of First Class or higher is required
to serve actively in a leadership position for 4-6 months prior to
his next advancement. We try to find an appropriate position for
each boy, but it is the Scout's responsibility to seek a position
and to do what is required in order to be successful in that position.
In order to specify the leadership preformed, each boy must submit to the
Scoutmaster, a written list of 3 or more goals which he plans to accomplish during
his tenure as a leader. Leadership tenure begins when he submits
his written goals and they have been approved by the Scoutmaster.
When the Scout feels that his time is complete for advancement, his success
will be determined by the accomplishment of his goals. If the Scout
has not succeeded in his goals, he may continue working on them or modify
them and set new goals.
7. Service
Each boy is encouraged to "Do a good turn, Daily." In addition,
the individual Patrol as well as the whole Troop will schedule service
projects. These should be of benefit to the community, not the Boy
Scouts of America, the boy or his family (Boy Scouts should be assisting
in all family chores and responsibilities, as a good Scout and as a good
Citizen). A set number of service hours is required of every boy
First Class or above in order to advance. Service hours and leadership
goals will be documented by the Advancement Committee before a rank advancement
is earned.
- Andrew W. Baggs, "Bear"
