[18052] in APO-L
Re: APhiO Exploring Posts
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Bob Amick)
Wed Jan 7 21:15:10 1998
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 1998 19:15:31 -0500
Reply-To: Bob Amick <amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU>
From: Bob Amick <amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <199801070413.VAA18026@spot.Colorado.EDU>
Jason, et al:
Gamma Theta Chapter, University of Colorado at Boulder has concurrently
sponsored an Explorer
Post (492) for about 10 years. This has proven to be a worthwhile effort
for the
chapter and for relationships with the BSA district and council.
Insurance is of course a strong motivation, in that the chapter is
primarily covered by the
BSA general liability insurance policy for any official post
event/activity. Accordingly,
a tour permit is filed with the council office for most activities or
events particularly
where travel is involved, such as pledge retreats, service events,
conferences, and particularly
when other organizations require a certificate of insurance to conduct an
activity in connection with
or on the premises of their facilities or personnel. BSA will provide a $1
million certificate of
insurance which lists the agency as the "additional other insured" upon
request through the council
office. This has been useful for a number of service events sponsored by
the chapter/post such
as our Merit Badge University, Professor's Night Out (free child-care for
faculty and staff event),
Klondike Derby, Exploring Leadership Training seminars, etc. As you know,
compliance with BSA policies
such as travel, two-deep leadership, health and safety guidelines for
aquatics and prohibitions for high risk activities is mandated; but is
entirely compatible with chapter/post objectives, risk-management
policies and guidelines.
Not all brothers under 21 are required to be registered in the post,
especially if they choose not to
do so; however, the
District/Council has an agreement with the chapter that a minimum
percentage of under age 21 members be
registered as Explorers to qualify for the insurance coverage. In
practice, we typically far exceed the
percentage, since the cost of membership is absorbed by the chapter
treasury from funds raised doing
scouting service/fundraising by operating concessions at Scouting events.
The chapter typically spends about
$300 per year on BSA registration/chartering fees, and since we have about
100 active members, this is
prorated at about $3 per member which for that kind of insurance protection
is highly reasonable.
At 08:12 PM 1/6/98 -0800, you wrote:
>Now onto my next big project: I have just received clearance from my
>Chapter President to begin working on chartering an Explorer post for my
>chapter. (That is, _after_ I deal with the entire election process for
>the next two weeks. :-) I want to see what experience, if any, other
>chapters have with their own Explorer post.
>
>What I am looking for is what you use your post for, like sponsoring
>Packs and Troops, or helping with Council events and projects, having
>the wonderful BSA insurance (no kidding!), or whatever else. Also, I'm
>interested in how you structure your post relative to your chapter
>(who's the Post President, VPs, Secretary, Treasurer, Post Advisors,
>Post Committee Chair and members, and the Chartered Organization Rep).
The Post is acknowledged and defined in the Chapter bylaws, but may also
have it's own
bylaws or standing rules if desired. So far, this has not been necessary.
The Gamma Theta Explorer Post utilizes brothers for all adult and youth
positions as follows:
(although this is flexible and can change at the pleasure of the chapter,
it has proven to be
best from a continuity standpoint)
Institutional Head: Advisory Board Chair
Chartered Organization Rep: 21 and up brother
Committee Chair: Advisory Board Member
Committee Members: 21 and up brothers
Explorer Advisor and Associate Advisors: 21 and up brothers
Explorer Post President and Vice Presidents for Administration, Program and
Communications: under 21 brothers
The post is concurrently operated as a committee within the chapter. The
Post primarily conducts
the major Scouting events such as Merit Badge University, Klondike Derby,
and Scout Show fundraiser,
and has served as District and Council Exploring Training Team Instructors.
Another option is chartering a Sea Explorer Ship; Mu Pi chapter at Colorado
School of Mines opted to
charter a Sea Exploring Ship, since members can earn the Quartermaster
Award as well as the Explorer G.O.L.D award if they choose to do so, and
still maintain their liaison with Council and District Scouting.
Several APO brothers/Explorers have received the Explorer Leadership Award
for their Distinguished Service
to Scouting and Exploring. The chapter will receive Exploring's highest
honor, the William Spurgeon Award
for distinguished service to Exploring and youth in Longs Peak Council at
the Annual Council recognition dinner this month.
One of the Scouting Magazine editions earlier in the Fall featured an APO
chapter which sponsored a post for
local area youth. This same chapter received the M.R. Disborough Award for
Excellence in Service to Scouting at the Phoenix Convention in 96.
A major advantage of the Explorer relationship is also to interest high
school age youth who are college bound in joining Alpha Phi Omega and
continuing their Scouting interest and service. Alpha Phi Omega is also
recognized by BSA as the official organization for members of the national
Eagle Scout Association and publicizes APO in the "Eagleletter" sent to all
NESA members.
Please let me know if you have further questions or interest..
Best wishes in L,F, & S
Bob Amick, Advisory Board Chair, Gamma Theta Chapter, University of
Colorado at Boulder
Exploring Training Chair, Longs Peak Council, Boulder, CO
