Spl and ASPL(s)

[badgerface]

Elections are coming up this week and i have a couple quick questions.

1. Is it written in the Boy Scout Handbook that ASPL is appointed? I know that it is, but just looking for written back up.

2. My troop has had 2 ASPLs for the past couple years. I heard that this was due to having between 50 and 60 scouts, but i do not see the benefit. As a scout this should seem good to me as an added leadership position, but there didnt seem to be much for even 1 ASPL to do. What are the benefits of having multiple ASPLS?

 

Thanks,

 

Badger

[DugNevius]

our aspls also hold other positions, Quartermaster, Scribe, Historian and Librarian and make up the Staff patrol, each with specified duties in regards to their position on top of assisting the SPL in any form he may require. The wuarermaster is in charge of all out troop camping equipment. He has his own room in our charter school, which he maintains. He orginizes, prepares, fixes and purchases ourc amping gear. Our Scribe is the webmaster of our troop website and the editor of our monthly paper. Our Librbarian also has his own room, where he keeps track of meritbage and other books, maps, and other equipment not related to camping, and copies of paperwork. The historian is our troop photographer. He photographs all troop activities for the website as well as a photo album that he orginizes labels and catalogs. They are appointed by the elected SPL and approved the the SMs. They fill in for the SPL in his absence and they help guide the PLs, Den Chiefs and other scouts.

[ywfox]

I my son's old troop the SPL, ASPL, Troop Guide and Patrol Leaders are all elected. They recently went to more than one ASPL because the SPL and the ASPL often had conflicts attending an event and to offer more opportunties for leadership to make rank. I thought both reasons were bad. That troop registered 65 boys, had about 35 show up at meetings (except on the day of elections then almost everyone was there) and about 10-15 on monthly events.(This message has been edited by ywfox)

[ywfox]

In my son's old troop the SPL, ASPL, Troop Guide and Patrol Leaders are all elected. They recently went to more than one ASPL because the SPL and the ASPL often had conflicts attending an event and to offer more opportunties for leadership to make rank. I thought both reasons were bad. That troop registered 65 boys, had about 35 show up at meetings (except on the day of elections then almost everyone was there) and about 10-15 on monthly events.

[FScouter]

It is interesting to see how some units solve their problems. 10 or 15 out of 65 attend events. A dismal showing and the SPL and ASPL are part of the no-shows. A campout or other event needs the SPL to be there and it is a problem if he is absent. Does adding another ASPL fix that? Not really, because the SPL is still absent. Maybe a better solution is to get him to attend, or elect one that will attend.

 

It's not clear what problem is being solved in the other troop by appointing boys to multiple positions. Maybe the several ASPLs have no particular duties? If that is the case perhaps one ASPL with no other duties would work better.

[fling1]

In my view, the *primary* job for the ASPL is to work with the troop's "staff positions," ie: QM, Scribe, etc. (This frees the SPL to plan and run meetings.) He should be aware of each staff member's goals for their position, and help them put together a plan to acheive the goal, identifying resources, etc. Then followup to monitor progress against the plan.

The ASPL has a *secondary* job to back up the SPL for absences.

A large troop might have a large staff. Multiple QMs, Scribe, Webmaster, Publicity Dude, Photographer, Historian, and other specialists. With enough positions like these, adding an ASPL might make a lot of sense.

However, if you find that the ASPL is asked only to serve as the backup SPL, then I agree that one is enough.

[SR501Lope]

We have a good-sized troop with an elected SPL and three ASPLs who were appointed by the SPL. One ASPL is in charge of our two Quartermasters, our Chaplain Aide, and our OA Troop Rep. Another is in charge of our Scribe, our Librarian, and our Historian. The third is in charge of our six Instructors (Aquatics, First Aid, Camping & Hiking, Knots & Lashings, Map & Compass, Nature Study, and Outdoor Cooking).

 

I know it is repeated in other sources but it is on page 106 of the Senior Patrol Leader Handbook under "Other Troop Positions" as follows: "With the assistance of the Scoutmaster, you as senior patrol leader will select the Scout who will hold each position." It goes on to list all of the troop-;eve; youth leadership positions.

 

 

[EagleBeaver]

According to the BSA national site at http://www.scouting.org/identity/los/los.jsp?typ=los&wat=all

the ASPL is appointed by the SPL.

 

The ASPL has much more responsbility than just backing up the SPL. According to the Jr. Leader Training materials and position description, the ASPL trains and directs the scribe, librarian, historian, instructor, quartermaster, and chaplain aide. The SPL trains and directs all the Patrol Leaders.

The Scoutmaster should train the SPL and help him train the ASPL and then help both of them train the scouts under their direction, as needed. The training is important to teach skills, solidify the command hierarchy, and provide opportunities to lead. It is not a one shot deal - the training should be ongoing throughout the entire time in office with teaching, assigned tasks, and follow-up monitoring.

 

I have talked with scoutmasters from 3 local troops that have more than 1 ASPL. The real reason they had multiple ASPLs was to offer more leadership positions for scouts for advancement. I believe having more than 1 ASPL confuses the troop hierarchy and dilutes the leadership opportunity of the position. Since there are at least 13 positions of responsibility for advancement in a troop, I have yet to see the value in creating an artificial position by dividing up the duties of one position.

 

Paul

 

[FScouter]

What Paul said.

 

The position descriptions and philosophy may also be found in the Scoutmaster's Junior Leader Training Kit.

[Eamonn]

While I am not I hope a nit picker!!

I do when I sit on an Eagle Scout Rank BOR read all the paper work.

When it comes to:

While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility...

I ask the Lad what he did in order to serve actively?

Of course in a Troop where there is only one ASPL, the normal answer is that he stood in for the SPL when he wasn't there. We do however in the District have a couple of Troops that have as many as five ASPL's. This doesn't seem to because of the size of the Troop, most times it seems to have to do with the age of the Scout. It seems that once he gets to an age where he isn't going to make that many Troop meetings, he gets promoted to join the herd of ASPL's.

Of course when asked if he has served actively? The answer is no.

Sad to say we have a very similar problem with Scouts who become OA troop representative. They are or might be willing to serve actively but are never given anything to do. Again when asked if they feel if they have served actively the answer is again no.

There are of course Scouts who have served actively who can say what they have done and say why they think they have served actively.

Eamonn.

[mdutch]

This past year my troop has had two ASPLs, and this year I am concidering adding a third. As I served as an ASPL last year, I can say that there was definitly plenty of things to be done. As mentioned earlier, one responsibility of an ASPL is to supervise the Scribe Historian type people. In a large troop (especially when you get 20 new scouts in one year) you will also want an ASPL to help organize the Troop Guides. I think having an adition ASPL to help out with the general administrative jobs of the SPL would also be very useful.

There are plenty of jobs that need to be done, and in a large troop if you don't have more than one ASPL, I think you will be faced with burning out your SPL and ASPL.

[Eamonn]

meamemg

I don't have any problem with more than one as long as if the Lad is using the POR for advancement he can say that he has served actively.

Eamonn.

 

[ljnrsu]

meamemg

Troop Guides should not be the responsibility of a ASPL. They should be the responsibility of the ASM for the new scout patrol, along with any Den chiefs you may have.

 

The Scoutmaster handbook along with Scoutmaster Junior Leader Training kit has the information on Troop orginazation.

[mdutch]

lijnrsu,

If you have myltiple troop guides (myltiple new scout patrols, we had 3 last year) what youth do you put in charge of the new scout program?

[FScouter]

Troop Guides get direction from the assistant Scoutmaster and the SPL. The ASPL works with the other positions, but not the Troop Guides.