Venturing Crew 351
Constitution / Bylaws

The following document is in its entirety, any past rules or regulations voted out of the document should be struck, not eliminated.  Any Higher decision made by district, council or national venturing shall be underlined.  Under National Guidelines, and explained in section 3300, we must respect and follow guidelines set up by a higher body, and must change our constitution to adhere to those guidelines.


I. Preamble


100) Preamble: Venturing Code

100.1


As a Venturer, I believe that America's strength lies in our trust in God and in the courage, strength and traditions of our people.

I will, therefore, be faithful in my religious duties and will maintain a personal sense of honor in my own life.

I will treasure my American heritage and will do all I can to preserve and enrich it.

I will recognize the dignity and worth of all humanity and will use fair play and goodwill in my daily life.

I will acquire the Venturing attitude that seeks truth in all things and adventure on the frontiers of our changing world.


II. Introduction


200) Introduction

200.1


The elected crew officers are expected to live by and enforce the crew code and bylaws.  New members should be given a copy and asked to sign or otherwise indicate that they understand and agree to the crew code and bylaws.  The Venturing Code should be the preamble to your crew code and bylaws.


III. Crew Bylaws


300) Objectives

300.1
  The objectives of Crew 351 are:

Seek outdoors high adventure

Become the best-trained, run, and qualified Venturing Crew in Cascade Pacific Council.

Be able to respond to any situation through skills, teamwork, and leadership.


310) Membership

310.1
  Membership shall be open to all young adults of high school or college age who meet a standard age requirement of 16 years old for boys and 14 years for girls, with the exception of any boy who receivers the Eagle Scout Award after his 14th birthday and prior to his 16th birthday.  No prospective member shall be disqualified because of race, color, creed, or sex.  All members must be registered as Venturers and agree to the crew code and bylaws.

310.2  Troop 351 has a Venture Patrol made up of boys 14 and Life rank.  These boys will occasionally be invited on Crew 351 activities.  These boys are covered by the insurance under the visitor section.

310.3  Any current member may be asked to leave the crew after demonstrating that he/she is not of attending meetings.  All members must attend or be excused from a minimum of 75% of all activities, including meetings, camp outs, or other gatherings the crew officially decides upon.  The Crew Secretary will keep all attendance records.  The decision for expulsion will be decided among the officers and Advisors.  In the event that an officer's attendance is in question the decision will be made among the other officers and Advisors.  In order for members to be eligible for camp outs and activities they must attend an acceptable amount of meetings.

310.4  The number of registered youth Venturers will be limited to thirty (30).  However additional youth may be admitted by a simple majority vote cast among the general membership.  The aforementioned vote will be conducted by means of secret ballot.  If we are unfortunately not able to receive any more ventures we will assist in the finding another available crew.

310.5  There will be no less than two (2)-registered adult Venturers at any given time.  There will be no limit, however, on the maximum number of adult Venturers.


320) Officers

320.1
  The elected officers shall be president, two vice presidents, secretary, and treasurer.  The president, with the approval of the Advisor shall appoint activity chairs and make other assignments as needed.  The duties of the officers shall be as prescribed in the Venturing Leader Manual.

320.2  The normal term of office shall be for one year starting on the first general meeting in November.  Elections are to be held a minimum of two weeks prior.  In the event that an officer resigns, quits Venturing, or is expelled, a temporary officer will be appointed and approved by current officers.

320.3  No member shall serve more than two successive terms in the same office.  Unless there is shown to be no opposition to the currently elected officer.  In this case there is no vote.

320.4  Elections shall commence by nomination.  On the night of the election, any other 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.

320.5  All contested ballots shall be secret.


330) Crew Business

330.1
 Crew business will be conducted under Open Forum and the Venturing Leaders Manual.  Voting on all issues will be by simple majority, with the exception of changes or amendments to the bylaws, which will require a two-thirds vote of the total membership.  A quorum shall consist of one more than the majority of members for vote on routine business.


340) General Meetings

340.1
  The general meetings will follow the format set forth by the President.  This format should include Program, in the following forms: lecture, hands-on, and teaching.  It is the responsibility of the President to follow through with each program, and be sure the program is being offered to all members on an equal opportunity basis.

340.2  The activities of the general meetings will be recorded by the Secretary or appointed substitute.  The meeting minutes will be published in hard copy in a format set forth by the Secretary and approved by the advisor(s).  These minutes will serve as the secondary historical record of the Crew.


350) Officers' Meetings

350.1
  The activities of the officer's meetings will be recorded by the Secretary or appointed substitute.  The meeting minutes will be published in hard copy in a format set forth by the Secretary and approved by the Advisor(s).  These minutes will serve as a reference for the officers while planning activities that were discussed at the meetings.


360) Newsletter / Web site

360.1
  A web site containing current, relevant information will be updated at least once per month.  The Secretary will work with an appointed person(s) (Historian) on the development and maintenance of the web site.


370) Dues

370.1
  Dues will be Registration plus a yearly due of $12.00 per person (1.00 per month) Members delinquent in dues after Jan. 1 will be not allowed to participate in crew activities unless temporarily excused by the Advisor.  Dues will be used for Crew administrative purposes.

370.2  January is the beginning of Crew 351's fiscal year.


380) Money-Earning Projects

380.1
  All money-earning projects must be approved by a majority vote.  Members who do not participate in their share of projects are not entitled to benefits of the funds earned The money earned will be put into a general fund.

380.2  Specific money-earning projects are divided into individual crew funds.


390) Uniforms

390.1
  All members of the Crew will wear the full Venture uniform correctly to all meetings and BSA sanctioned events or unless the officers prescribe otherwise.  The Crew 351 Class A uniform consists of the following:

    Green BSA uniform shirt with proper insignia
    Blue Jeans
    Belt
    Scout related headgear (headgear is optional)

390.2  New members of the crew are expected to obtain a uniform shirt within the first month of membership and the pants or shorts within 3 months.  During the tenure in which the Ventures does not have the full uniform he/she is expected to wear the shirt correctly to all above stated functions and pants that are in the spirit of scouting.

390.3  To all other activities or unless otherwise stated by the Crew officers, subject to Crew Committee veto, members will wear the Crew 351 Class B Uniform which consists of the following:

    Crew 351 Activity T-shirt or other Scout related T-shirt
    Appropriate pants or shorts
    Belt
    Scout related headgear (headgear is optional)

390.4  No one is exempt from the above said uniform requirements.  Including Adult Advisors and officers.


3100) Treasury

3100.1
All checks will require one signature, either from the Treasurer or from Treasury Advisor

3100.2  An assigned Crew Committee member will ensure that the youth treasurer is doing his/her job and will assess quarterly audits.

3100.3  All budgets must be adopted by the crew in a majority vote and approved by the Crew Committee.

3100.4  Treasurer is expected to give a budget report at every officer meeting.

3100.5  The crew will only pay for driving expenses if three hours long, and accounted for in advance.


3200) Expulsion

3200.1
  The Advisor will drop any member from the crew violating the Crew Bylaws and/or BSA policy after one formal warning.


3300) Limited Powers

3300.1
Any of the above bylaws or below amendments are secondary to the national, council, and district guidelines, as well as the guide to safe scouting.  When inserting Council or National Guidelines to Crew 351's Constitution and Bylaws, there is no vote needed.  The President can outline and make minor changes to document in order to adhere to the higher bodies' rules and regulations.

3300.2  Crew 351 may not edit these higher rules in anyway.  Crew 351 must adhere to all higher rulings, and respect those decisions.

3300.3  Any Rules not outlined by district, council, or national venturing, are left to the Crew, to decide upon as outlined in section 330.


IV. Amendments


3400) Public Displays of Affection

3400.1
  Crew 351 must remain respectful of other units and our chartering organization.  Under this qualification only limited forms of affection may be observed.  These can be defined as handholding, high fiving, and other light contact between individuals.  Section 3400 must fall secondary to guideline 3300.

3400.2  All crewmembers, youth and adult, will be cognizant of the fact that both sexes are present for all functions.  Co-ed behavior expectations include the following:  Be respectful and considerate of each other's bodies and psychological boundaries.  No entering the domiciles (tents, rooms, etc.) of the opposite gender.  No public display of affection (PDA) should occur at any crew-sanctioned activities.  This includes kissing, hugging and handholding.  At all times there must be co-ed groups of three.  Co-ed groups of two, (male/female), are never permitted to be alone, and must always have a third person to leave the designated camp area.


3500) Tobacco and Drug Use

3500.1
  The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members.

3500.12  Although some Venturing age participants are of legal age to purchase and use tobacco, they are considered Youth participants under the guide of safe scouting until the age of 21.

3500.2  Adult leaders should support the attitude that young adults are better off without tobacco and may not allow the use of tobacco products at any BSA activity involving youth participants.


3600) Transportation

3600.1
  Venturing members may drive to events as long as they are applicable by BSA standards featured on the Tour Permit. All travel to a Venturing event will be under the leadership of an adult (at least 21 years of age) tour leader. All drivers must Be at least 16 years old. Have had at least six months driving experience (learner's permit experience not counted) Have not been in an accident. Have not received any violations. Have written parental permission to drive. Have written parental permission from parents of the passengers.

3600.2  Seat belts are required for all occupants.  All drivers must have a valid driver's license that has not been suspended or revoked for any reason.  If the vehicle to be used is designed to carry more than 15 persons, including the driver (more than 10 persons, including the driver, in California), the driver must have a commercial driver's license (CDL).  An adult leader (at least 21 years of age) must be in charge and accompany the group.  The driver must be currently licensed and at least 18 years of age.  Youth member exception:  When traveling to and from an area, regional, or national Boy Scout activity or any Venturing event under the leadership of an adult (at least 21 years of age) tour leader, a youth member at least 16 years of age may be a driver, see Venturing guidelines out lined in 3600.1.  Passenger cars or station wagons may be used for transporting passengers, but passengers should not ride on the rear deck of station wagons.  Trucks may not be used for transporting passengers except in the cab.  All driving, except short trips, should be done in daylight.  All vehicles must be covered by automobile liability insurance with limits that meet or exceed requirements of the state in which the vehicle is licensed.  It is recommended that coverage limits are at least $50,000/$100,000/$50,000.  Any vehicle designed to carry 10 or more passengers is required to have limits of $100,000/$500,000/$100,000.  Do not exceed the speed limit.  Do not travel in convoy (see "Leadership Requirements for Trips and Outings," No. 2 or section 3600.3).  Driving time is limited to a maximum of 10 hours and must be interrupted by frequent rest, food, and recreation stops.  If there is only one driver, the driving time should be reduced and stops should be made more frequently.

3600.3  During transportation to and from planned Scout outings.  Meet for departure at a designated area.  Prearrange a schedule for periodic checkpoint stops as a group.  Plan a daily destination point.  A common departure site and a daily destination point are a must.  If you cannot provide two adults for each vehicle, the minimum required is one adult and two or more youth members--never one on one.

create
counter