Tuesday, February 6, 2024

In Memoriam: A. Surjalal Sharma (Asst. Scoutmaster)

  It is with great sadness that Troop 466 announces the passing away of former Assistant Scoutmaster A. Surjalal Sharma.  "Surja" as he was commonly known, passed away on January 5, 2024.  He served as an Assistant Scoutmaster with the troop for a number of years.  Both of his sons (Tonku and Khagi) both achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

We send our deepest condolences to his wife, A. Dilly Devi and sons (Tonku and Khagi), as well as, Tonku's wife Chris.





Youth Protection and Barriers to Abuse FAQs - Updated on August 2, 2023

 We have posted it below.  However, I have decided to include the text here, and if you want, here is the link:  https://www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/yp-faqs/

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Adult Supervision

A:  No, provided you as the parent or legal guardian are present during the merit badge counseling session.  If more than one Scout is present, all Barriers to Abuse supervision requirements must be met. 

A:  No, provided you attend with your child during the entire fundraising activity.  If more than one Scout is present, all Barriers to Abuse supervision requirements must be met.    

A. The requirement to ensure that a registered female adult is present at activities serving girls is not dissimilar to policies we’ve enacted in the past for Venturing when male and female adult leaders were required for certain co-ed activities. At this time, we believe that these are the best, most appropriate measures for our movement. We hope you understand that these requirements were given substantial and thorough consideration.

A. Yes.  A Lion or Tiger adult partner is not considered a registered leader for meeting two-deep leadership requirements.  Lion or Tiger partners, as well as other pack leaders, provide a pool of adults who could be registered as an assistant den leader to meet this requirement.

A. Yes, if you participate/stay overnight, you must be currently registered as an adult volunteer or an adult program participant. Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in.

For example, an adult volunteer attending an overnight Order of the Arrow event must be registered in a unit, district, or council position. Adults may select from the list in the FAQ below of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for their unit, district or council position. Registration as a merit badge counselor does not meet this requirement.

A. Adults may select from the list below of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for their unit, district or council position. Adult volunteers must register in the position(s) they are serving in.  Adults registering in a unit position must be accepted and approved by the head of the chartered organization or the chartered organization representative.

Unit Positions 

  •  Assistant Cubmaster
  • Assistant Scoutmaster
  • Assistant Webelos Leader
  • Assistant Den Leader 
  • Chartered Organization Rep. 
  • Committee Chairman 
  • Committee Member 
  • Cubmaster  
  • Den Leader 
  • Explorer Post Advisor 
  • Lion Coordinator 
  • Lion Den Leader 
  • Mate 
  • New Member Coordinator 
  • Pack Trainer 
  • Post Explorer Post Associate Advisor 
  • Post Committee Chairman 
  • Post Committee Member 
  • Principal / Executive Officer 
  • Scoutmaster 
  • Skipper 
  • Tiger Den Leader 
  • Unit Chaplain 
  • Unit College Scouter Reserve 
  • Unit Scouter Reserve 
  • Venturing College Sctr Reserve 
  • Venturing Crew Advisor 
  • Venturing Crew Assoc. Advisor 
  • Webelos Leader  

Council and District Positions 

  • Assistant Council Commissioner  
  • Asst Roundtable Commissioner 
  • Asst. District Commissioner 
  • College Scouter Reserve  
  • Council Advisory Council 
  • Council Assistant Treasurer 
  • Council Associate Member 
  • Council Camp Staff (Adult)  
  • Council Camp Staff (Youth) 
  • Council Chaplain 
  • Council Commissioner 
  • Council Committee Member 
  • Council Executive Board Member 
  • Council Expl/LFL Committee Chr 
  • Council Expl/LFL Committee Mbr  
  • Council Honorary Member 
  • Council Member-at-Large 
  • Council President 
  • Council Religious Emblems Coord 
  • Council Scout Alumnus 
  • Council Service Team Chair 
  • Council Service Team Member 
  • Council Treas 
  • Council Vice-President 
  • Dist Exploring/LFL Committee 
  • District Chairman 
  • District Chaplain 
  • District Commissioner 
  • District Exploring / LFL Comm Chr 
  • District Member-at-large 
  • District Religious Emblems Coord 
  • District Service Team Chair 
  • District Service Team Member 
  • District Vice-Chairman 
  • LFL Stem Day Camp Staff (Adult) 
  • LFL STEM Day Camp Staff (Youth) 
  • Neighborhood Chairman 
  • Neighborhood Committee 
  • Roundtable Commissioner 
  • Scouter Reserve 
  • Unit Commissioner 

A. A merit badge counselor is an important position supporting Scouts BSA units; however, a merit badge counselor is not a unit position nor does their district/council role require overnight participation.

Merit badge counselors may select from the list of adult leader position options provided in the “Registration Guidebook of the Boy Scouts of America” that is available for another role they serve in within their unit, district or council to stay/participate in overnight Scouting events and activities.

A. No.  Youth Protection and supervision remains the responsibility of the unit and Scout leaders. Vendors and other third parties must be licensed businesses that carry proper liability insurance, units should be sure that they use reputable services.  Vendors such as museums, climbing guides, hiking guides, rafting services all fall into these categories. Unit leadership must ensure that all BSA policies and guidelines are followed when using these services, unit leaders must still have proper training.

A. Yes, each troop is a separate unit, and therefore, each troop/unit must provide its own two-deep leadership, meeting the leadership requirements outlined in Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse.

A. The BSA has adopted its youth protection policies for the safety and well-being of its members. These policies primarily protect youth members; however, they also serve to protect adult leaders. All parents and caregivers should understand that our leaders are to abide by these safeguards. Registered leaders must follow these guidelines with all Scouting youth outside of Scouting activities. There are careers that may require one-on-one contact with youth, however aside from those roles, volunteers must abide by the youth protection policies of the BSA even outside of Scouting activities.

This policy is in place to prevent abuse in and out of Scouting.   Adults should never be alone with youth who are not their children.

A. Yes, if any of the children other than your own child is a Scout, we strongly encourage all adults to use the Barriers to Abuse in and out of Scouting.

A. No. Two-deep adult supervision by registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required for all Scouting activities and must meet the leadership requirements outlined in Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse. This includes patrol activities.

New Webmaster

 As of February 6th 2024 Matthew a Second-Class scout will be the new webmaster in charge of the Troop Blog.

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Troop 466 has held a Christmas Tree Sale almost every year since 1962, as their only fundraiser. 

This fundraiser was used to raise funds for their Big Trip Out West (BTOW) to either Grand Teton/Yellowstone or Olympic National Park.  Currently, it is used to raise funds for Summer Camp, Courts of Honor, etc.

 Enjoy this video, created from photos of the Christmas Tree Sale from 2009 thru 2016. 

Troop 466 is sponsored by St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, located at 10103 Georgia Ave. Silver Spring, MD. Troop 466 is part of Potomac District in the National Capital Area Council (NCAC).

 #boyscouts #boyscout #christmas #christmastree #christmastreeshopping #silverspring #wheaton #stjohntheevangelist #nationalcapital #potomacdistrict #cubscout #scouting

 


 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Tree Sale (Saturday Morning, Dec. 9th)

 

The doors opened on time and we immediately had our first sale with a very generous tip!  Thank you.   Not only did we have an excellent crew, but Mr. Joseph "The Ancient One" S. showed up to assist.  

"The Ancient One" was one of our Assistant Scoutmasters for many, many years.  I guess he just loves to show up and show the rest of us how it is to be done!

 

Getting my new wig together.


Look at me, here among nature!


Enjoying a Dunkin Donut.  Troop 466 runs on them during this sale.

                                              "The Ancient One"



 

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

First Day of the Sale (Dec. 2, 2023)

 Well, the first day of the sale was a relatively clear and dry day, with a temperature (at least on the first shift) of almost 60 degrees.

 




 

Monday, January 8, 2024

Tree Shed Set-up (Part Three & Final)

 This year, we were joined by three former members of the Scout Troop:  ASM John H., ASM Chris B (and Eagle Scout) and Oliver H. (Eagle Scout).