Bylaws

Crew 1396 Vision Statement

Building on our experiences of our past, taking advantage of the opportunities of the present, and looking to the promise of the future, this is the vision of Crew 1396:

  • We want to grow spiritually, mentally and professionally, both as a group and as individuals, by taking on challenges and responsibilities that build character and 'seize the day'.

  • We will use our collective intellects and imagination, cooperating to achieve new goals, while learning skills necessary to transform us from young adults to model citizens.

  • Our plans will include fun and service, and we will wring the minds of our members for every atom of creativity and adventure possible.

  • From the simplicity of camping under the stars to treks where only the fearless dare tread, the members of Venturing Crew 1396 wish to share the experiences of a lifetime.

Partnership With Troop 1396

Crew 1396 is partnered with Troop 1396. By agreement with the Troop, Scouts desiring to pursue traditional Scout advancement will do so as members of the Troop. Crew 1396 will only offer Venturing advancement and awards. If otherwise eligible to join the Venturing Crew, these Scouts may apply for dual membership with Crew 1396, and will be subject to the restrictions outlined in the following Bylaws.

Objectives

The objectives of the Crew are:

  • To always put fun as the main objective in everything we do.

  • To experience and participate in High Adventure activities.

  • To always share opinions, ideas, and thoughts to help influence the outcome of a Crew decision.

  • Have weekly meetings and one activity every month.

  • Have a least one Super-Activity (High Adventure) per year

  • To serve as mentors for the Scouts of Troop 1396

  • To be an asset to Boy Scouts of America and to our community

Crew 1396 Focus

Crew 1396 will focus on outdoor activities—backpacking, boating, biking, etc—, particularly for its High Adventure activities.

Membership

In general, membership shall be open to all male and female young adults, under the age of 21, who must be at least 13 years of age and have completed the eighth grade.

No prospective member shall be disqualified because of race, color, creed, or sex.

All members must be registered as Venturers and agree to the Scout oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, Outdoor Code and the Crew bylaws.

Scout applicants desiring to pursue Eagle rank will be referred to Troop 1396. Crew 1396 is not staffed to award Scout advancement.

Crew members, eligible for membership in a Scout Troop, will be encouraged to apply for dual membership with Troop 1396.

Crew members between 18 and 21 years of age may not have dual youth membership with a Scout troop. They are eligible to register as adult leaders with Troop 1396.

Sponsorship

Venturing Crew 1396 is chartered by Saint Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Lake Ridge, Virginia.

We shall abide by any rules or requests that our charter organization makes of us. The charter organization representative shall handle communication between the charter organization and Venturing Crew.

Officers

The elected officers for Crew 1396 shall be:

    • President

    • Vice President - Administration

    • Vice President – Program

The following officers will be appointed by the Crew President after consultation with his Vice Presidents.

    • Secretary

    • Treasurer

    • Quartermaster

    • Guide

    • Historian

The Vice President – Administration will serve as the Chair of the Bylaw Committee, a standing committee charged with periodically reviewing the Bylaws. The Committee will provide recommendations to the general membership each year at the annual planning conference. Changes to the Bylaws will be voted on by crew members.

Depending on Crew strength, all officer positions do not have to be filled.

The crew president, with the approval of the senior crew advisor, shall appoint activity chairs and make other assignments as needed.

The duties of the officers shall be as stated in the Venturing Leader Manual. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

The normal term of office shall be for one year starting on March 1. Elections shall be held in the month prior to the start of the new terms. No member shall serve more than two successive terms in the same office.

On the night of the election, any member may present nominations from the floor. If the nomination is seconded and the candidate agrees to serve, he or she must be included on the ballot.

All contested ballots shall be secret.

General Membership Meetings

General membership meetings will be held on second, third, and fourth Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Meetings will take place at Lake Ridge Middle School during the school year and at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church the rest of the year. The day and time of the meetings can be changed by a vote of the membership at the beginning or each school year. The presidents as needed may adjust the meeting schedule or schedule additional meetings.

Officers’ Meeting

Crew Officer’s Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of each month from 6:30 pm to 7:15 pm.

Newsletter and Mailings

The Crew Secretary will distribute weekly meeting notes, which shall include all meeting dates and other information of interest to the membership. Communication about upcoming events will be sent via email and posted to the Crew Band site.

The Venturing Crew Website

The Venturing Crew web site shall be maintained and organized by the Crew Webmaster. New updates to the site must occur within 2 days of a meeting or activity. It is the Webmaster’s responsibility to keep the site looking clean and up to the BSA standards.

Dues and Registration

Crew member dues for youth will be $5.00 per month/ $60 annually, payable in January.

Annual BSA registration for Crew members, Advisors and adult leaders will be set by National on a yearly basis to cover registration and insurance fees.

Boy’s Life/Scouting Magazine is optional.

The treasurer will collect dues.

There will be a one-time joining/registration fee of $35 for new Crew members.

New Crew members will receive the following for their one-time fee:

  • Venturer Handbook

  • World Crest

  • Council Shoulder Patch

  • Green Shoulder Loops

  • 1396 Crew Numeral

  • VLSC Patch (after completing VLSC)

Member’s delinquent in dues payments by three months, will be declared "inactive" on the Crew roster. An inactive member will have to bring his or her dues payments up to date before being allowed to participate in crew activities. Member’s delinquent in dues payments by six months or more will be dropped from the crew roster after notification by the treasurer of the delinquency. Dues cover awards patches and funds for the crews operating expenses. Crew members living away from the Lake Ridge area while attending college can request to be placed in a "Reserve Crew" status. While in Reserve status they will be kept on the crew roster but will not owe Crew dues. They will still have to pay the yearly BSA registration fee.

Money-Earning Projects

All money-earning projects must be approved by a majority vote of the crew members. Members who do not participate in a project are not entitled to any benefits of the funds earned. All money-earning projects must be approved by the Advisors and meet BSA (Boy Scouts of America) requirements. A Fundraising approval form must be submitted to Council for approval.

Crew Finances

The crew will maintain its own bank account managed by the Crew Treasurer under the guidance and support of the adult Treasurer

Attendance and Expectations

Each Crew member is encouraged to attend every outing and weekly meetings. The outings and activities at the weekly meetings will complete requirements for Crew awards. If you are not attending your advancement may be impeded. Members who are excessively absent from Crew outings will be subject to a conference with the Crew Advisor and the Crew Presidency.

Crew members attending a non-local college, serving in the military, temporarily working out of state, or otherwise legitimately unable to attend meeting, may apply for “Reserve Crew” status and will be excused from meetings and outings.

Officers’ Attendance

Officers are expected to attend every meeting, including the Officers’ Meeting, which is separate from the regular Crew weekly meetings. If any officer misses more than four consecutive meetings with or without cause, their position shall be declared vacant, and an election shall be held to fill the position. Exceptions may be made if pre-approved by all other elected officers.

Youth Drivers

BSA transportation policy requires all drivers to be at least 18 and have a valid driver’s license.

Scouting youth under the age of 18 are not insured under the BSA’s commercial general liability policy and cannot be allowed to drive to or from Scouting activities.

This includes an under -18 Scout or Venturer driving himself or herself to a Scouting event, even if he or she is the only one in the car. It includes short trips across town and long trips across the country.

Venturers may drive themselves to and from crew meetings. Driving to or from a standard meeting place isn’t an official Scouting activity or part of any tour planning.

Dress Code

The dress code is as follows: For the Officer’s meeting, the Tuesday membership meeting, anytime a Crew member is representing the Crew, our chartering organization, Venturing, or the Boy Scouts of America, and when travelling to or from a Crew event, a Class "A" uniform MUST be worn. The objective is to look professional and give a good presentation.

Uniform shirts can be one of the following:

  • Class A – The official green collared BSA Venturing shirt with appropriate patches, Venturing style shorts or trousers, and an appropriate Scout belt. Hats are optional, but if worn should be BSA oriented.

  • Class B (for informal crew activities) - Crew (or other Venturing) T-shirt Informal crew activities:

Males must wear shirts at all times except when involved in water activities where swimsuits are worn.

Swimsuits for crew members, and clothing worn at any time and by any members, will be modest.

Dual Members from Troop 1396 should wear the appropriate Class A/B uniform dependent upon which organization they are representing at the event. If it is a Troop event only Troop uniforms are appropriate. If it is a Crew event only Crew uniforms are appropriate.

Co-ed Behavior

All crew members, youth and adult, will be aware that both sexes are present at all functions.

Co-ed behavior expectations include the following:

  • Use common sense

  • Be respectful and considerate of each other

  • No entering the domiciles (tents, rooms, etc.) of the opposite gender

  • Respect opposite gender "nature calls" in the backcountry (i.e., "males to the left and females to the right" or as determined appropriate at the time)

  • No public display of affection (PDA) at ANY crew activities (i.e., handholding, arms around, lap sitting, kissing, etc.).

  • No co-ed "buddies", unless three or more members are present

  • Opposite sexes will not be together by themselves (except married advisors and married adults); an adult and a youth will not be together by themselves; there must always be at least one adult and two youth or two adults and one youth in groups.

Activities

The Crew will schedule at least one long-term (a week or more) High Adventure activity annually.

Quarterly, short-term (weekend or holiday) High Adventure activities will also be scheduled.

The Crew and Troop will participate in joint activities as approved by both groups.

Every effort will be made to include “Reserve Crew” members in the annual High Adventure and one or more of the quarterly High Adventure activities.

Recruiting

An Open House will be planned each August and conducted during September or October.

Courts of Honor

Crew 1396 will conduct its regular Courts of Honor with Troop 1396.