[philmont] Local Tour Permits

Every Council implements its own policy.

Ten years ago when I was in a council in SoCal you needed to get a tour
permit for any unit event that wasn't held at the unit's normal meeting
place. This included cub scout trips to the post office even when
transported to and from by their own parents. In addition proof of Youth
Protection Training in the form of a council issued pocket card was also
required before the permit would be issued ... no card .. no tour permit ..
a higher standard than mandated by national wrt YPT.

My current council in SE PA requires tour permits for overnight trips or for
trips involving boating, swimming or climbing but not for local trips (try
nailing that down) or trips to council owned properties.

Poimt being .. if you are concerned about Local Tour Permit Policy check
with your local council.

Others have made the most important point already - you can never go wrong
by using the local tour permit as a checklist and filing it for each and
every trip or outing. Recent versions of TM make creation of the Tour
Permit easy as well.

YIS
Happy Turkey Day

YIS
Jim
HA ASM Troop 6
HA Chair Chester County Council
www.troop6bsa.org?cmd=philmont
PSR '74(16) '04(4) '06(26)
IWTGBTP
www.troop6bsa.org?cmd=philsearch

  -----Original Message-----
  From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com]On Behalf Of
BMCRiskManagement@comcast.net
  Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2006 9:59 AM
  To: philmont List Member
  Subject: [philmont] Local Tour Permits

  Relevant to this thread: The Boston Minuteman Council has just clarified
its policy with respect to tour permits. The Council's Risk Management
Committee has prepared the following handout to clarify the policy for unit
leaders. The Committee will also periodically audit submissions. To share
outing ideas, we will report regularly in our Council newsletter various
locations units have selected for outings.

  *************************

  Boston Minuteman Council Policy on Tour Permits

  The BSA National Council's Risk Management Service has identified areas
where Scouts and Scouters can be at risk. These include: transportation to
and from unit outings; activities involving swimming or boating; overnight
camping; and special events, among others. The BSA's requirement that units
file tour permit applications is designed to help promote proper planning
and qualified adult supervision for unit trips and outings, as well as to
enhance protection to unit leaders themselves.

  In order to better clarify units' responsibility for filing tour permit
applications in advance of their trips, the Boston Minuteman Council
Executive Board passed a resolution at its meeting on November 9, 2006,
effective immediately.

   + + + +

  For the protection of our volunteer leaders and the youth in our care,
resolved that BMC policy will be that all units will complete and file a BSA
tour permit application for:

  - All trips or outings outside of local town,

  - Any overnight trip or outing,

  - Any trip or outing in which the unit plans to have any adult transport a
youth not his/her own child, or

  - Any trip or outing that involves swimming, boating, hiking, climbing, or
other activity involving special equipment regardless of mode of
transportation

  Tour permit applications will be filed at BMC in person, by fax, or by
email.

  + + + +

  The advance submission of a tour permit application is required for any
unit trip or outing that meets the above criteria, whether the trip or
outing will be held by the unit as a whole or by a defined subunit, such as
a den or patrol. Trips and outings within 500 miles of the unit's home base
call for a local tour permit, while trips and outings 500 miles or more away
require a national tour permit.

  According to the Guide to Safe Scouting, "most short, in-town den trips of
a few hours do not require a tour permit." However, even for short, in-town
trips, tour permit applications should be filed if the unit plans to have
adults provide transportation to youth other than their own children. In
short, a good rule of thumb for tour permit applications: "When in doubt,
fill one out."

  Tour permit applications are available online at the Council’s Health
and Safety website (go to www.bsaboston.org and click on the tab on the left
labeled "Health & Safety"). Unit leaders can and should use the tour permit
process to help them plan safe outings according to BSA policies as
designated by bold print in the Guide to Safe Scouting. To expedite the
processing of tour permits, the Boston Minuteman Council allows units to
submit with each tour permit application a master list of insurance
information for all vehicles within the unit. Each unit may then circle the
names of the drivers for each event or activity.

  If any leader has a question regarding when or how to use tour permits,
please feel free to contact the Council's Risk Management Committee at
bmcriskmanagement@comcast.net.

  Frequently Asked Questions

  About the Boston Minuteman Council Policy on Tour Permits

  * * *

  Does my unit need to submit a tour permit application if we are planning a
trip to a council-owned property or an event sponsored by the council or a
district?

  Yes. A tour permit application should be submitted in advance of any trip
that meets the stated criteria, regardless of whether it is a trip to a
council property or council or district event.

  Does my unit need to submit a tour permit application to go to summer
camp?

  Yes.

  Does my unit need to submit a tour permit application if individual Scouts
in the unit plan on their own to attend a provisional summer camp program,
such as Eagle Week?

  No. If a Scout plans to attend on his own, he is not going on a unit trip
or outing and the unit does not need to submit a tour permit application on
his behalf.

  My unit plans an in-town, day outing that does not involve swimming,
boating, hiking, climbing or other activities involving special equipment,
such as a visit to our local fire station or town hall. The unit's plan is
to have the Scouts and adult leaders meet at the trip location (e.g., fire
station or town hall), but several parents later decide among themselves to
car pool and an adult ends up transporting youth other than his or her own
child. Did my unit need to submit a tour permit application?

  No. Because this is an in-town, day outing that does not involve special
activities, a tour permit would only be needed if the unit plans to have an
adult transport a youth who is not his or her own child. In this case, the
unit's plan is to have everyone meet at the local trip location and
individual parents have separately decided to carpool. A tour permit would
have been needed in such a situation only if, for example, the Den Leader
asked the Den to meet at his or her home and then planned to transport all
the members of the Den to the fire station.

  My unit plans to have Scouts and parents individually arrange their own
transportation to a nearby camping location for an overnight trip. Since my
unit's plan does not call for any adult to transport a youth other than his
or her own child, do we need to submit a tour permit application?

  Yes. This is an overnight trip or outing. Units submit tour permit
applications when at least one of the stated criteria applies to the trip or
outing.

  Does my unit need to submit a tour permit application if an adult gives a
youth other than his or her own child a ride home to or from one of the
regular unit meetings?

  No. Regular unit meetings are not trips or outings.

  Does my Troop need to submit a tour permit application if the Senior
Patrol Leader calls a special PLC meeting at his house and asks everyone to
meet him there?

  No, as long as this is a meeting and not a trip or outing. For example,
if the SPL's family has a backyard swimming pool and members of the PLC will
be swimming, then the unit would need to submit a tour permit application.

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As you gather around this virtual campfire with fellow
Scouts and Scouters, do your best to be trustworthy,
loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient,
cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.
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Received on Thu Nov 23 09:53:16 2006