Troop 5 Senate

Every December Little Troop 5 has a senate. It is actually the Annual Planning Conference, but Troop Senate sounds much cooler.

The purpose of the Senate is for the boys to lay out their program for the next 12 months. They plan where they are going camping, high adventure, and summer camp. It is also the Senior Patrol Leader election, for the next six month term. It is a busy day; it should take an hour, but usually takes about two.

Over my years as Scoutmaster, they have taken varies forms.

1. Complete Anarchy- They boys just squander the opportunity, no one takes leadership, and it is like pulling teeth to get anything accomplished.
2. Dictatorship- One boy takes the lead and plans the year and tells the Troop what it is going to do. They boys vote and approve the calendar, but there is no real discussion
3. Actual Senate- The SPL acts as the President of the Senate uses a much modified version of Roberts Rules of Order, the Troop participates in the process, everyone’s opinion is heard and formal votes are taken.
4. Political Elite – The older boys of the Troop take charge of the Senate, insure participation, but tend to steer the discussion to things that they are more interesting in, but in the best interest of the troop. They do understand it’s serious, because they were stuck in a meeting like number 1 or 2 above in the past.
   

This past Saturday Senate was more like number 4. With the large number of first year scouts participating in their first Senate, it was really not a bad way to go. I was very pleased we stayed away from number 1 or number 2. In fact the older boys did a fantastic job of counseling the first years that were not interested in the process and steering the Senate to complete Anarchy.