A patrol leader is responsible for the management of the patrol. This role includes a great deal of responsibility and requires training and ongoing support from the scoutmaster, troop guide, and assistant scoutmaster assigned to the patrol.
Here is some information to help train and guide the newly elected patrol leader.
Opening - Recite the scout oath or law or pledge of allegiance.
Review - Discuss the previous patrol meeting and what happened.
Patrol members report progress on assignments they had.
Patrol leader updates notes in a PL binder.
Make plans to fulfill the duties.
Assign tasks to individual members and include a completion date.
Record the assignments in PL binder.
Have everyone set advancement goals for a 2-4 week period, or longer for older scouts earning merit badges.
Mark goals on patrol advancement chart or in PL binder.
Hold scouts accountable to their goals and review them every week.
Also ask for program ideas and suggestions for any other things the PLC is discussing such as summer outings, projects, or service.
Record their issues in PL binder for next PLC meeting.
Work on tasks given your patrol by the troop leaders. This could be preparing to teach skills, planning a troop game, or flag ceremony.
Learn skills for advancement. Have a troop guide, instructor, scoutmaster, or expert at your meeting to teach you.
Practice skits, songs, activities, skills for an upcoming outing.
For a Patrol Meeting to flow smoothly, the Patrol Leader needs to plan the meeting and should include the assistant patrol leader in the planning.
The Patrol Leader needs a binder just for patrol business. All notes taken by the Patrol Leader at troop, PLC, and patrol meetings need to be kept there so they can be easily found.
Make a list of those items that need action. A big star or color highlight helps.
The Patrol Leader prioritizes the items on the list and places similar topics together. More important items should be at the top of the list.
Estimate how long each item should take to accomplish and write it by each item.
Gather supplies for the meeting - materials for skills, game equipment, snacks.
Make sure your SPL and Scoutmaster know when and where you are meeting.
Prepare a written agenda to distribute and follow the agenda. When items take more time than estimated, a decision will need to be made as to whether to move on or to cut something else from the agenda in order to make room for the longer topic. Stay focused.
No judgmental statements are made about any ideas.
Everyone has a chance to contribute one or more ideas.
After unfeasible suggestions are disqualified, a vote is taken on what is left.
Meetings are affected by the physical comfort of participants and by the preparation of the leader; agenda and materials ready.
Get opinions from all members by asking them what they think.
Business - Read the patrol log of the last patrol meeting. Collect dues, uniform inspection, any new items of business are discussed and decisions are recorded. Campout planning is done by getting a count of who is going, making a menu, creating a duty roster, and checking equipment needs. Patrol grubmaster is assigned to purchase food. Advancement of Patrol Members is discussed and recorded.
Skill Activity - Scouting skills are practiced, possibly for advancement or for teaching others in the troop. Perhaps a camp gadget, designing a flag, a patrol presentation, or practicing for patrol competitions.
Game - This should be a Scouting activity. You can play ball any time. Check www.boyscouttrail.com or come up with one that uses your scouting skills. Try new activities to use at troop meetings.
Closing - This should be short and dignified. Perhaps a practice for a ceremony that can be used for opening or closing at a troop meeting.