A Sample Rover Crew Bylaw

Most Rover Crews formalize their organization in writing

Adapted by Scouter Liam Morland, 1994

Here is a sample bylaw for a Rover Crew. This was the one used by the 32nd Ottawa Rovers when I was a member.

32nd Ottawa RTLH Rover Crew By-law

Name

1. This Rover Crew shall be known as the "32nd Ottawa Richard the Lion Heart Rover Crew".

Membership

1. A Member of the Crew is either a Rover or a Rover Adviser. Rovers are either Squires or Knights. Members shall be registered with Scouts Canada through the Crew. Members must meet their respective age requirements as stated in BP&P. The Crew can designate anyone to be an Honorary Rover or Honorary Adviser; these are honorary positions and are not registered. Once a Rover has exceeded the age requirements for a Rover, that member will be considered a Crew Alumni.
2. Anyone within the age requirements specified by Scouts Canada may apply for Membership in the Crew. If the applicant is a Venturer, the Venturer's Adviser must be in agreement with the relationship with the Crew.
3. Applicants who are not invested Rovers are called Pages. Applicants who are invested Rovers will be Honorary Rovers until they are invested into the Crew or this title is revoked.
4. Applicants for Membership will be expected to get to know the Crew and its ideals. Once this has been done, the applicant becomes a Member by making the Rover Promise to the Crew at an investiture ceremony. Rovers who are members of other Crews must renew their promises at this ceremony.
5. After the investiture, applicants who have not been knighted elsewhere will become Squires. Applicants who have been knighted in any Crew will become Knights. These applicants must answer the ten questions on Richard the Lion-Heart before their investiture.
6. Everyone in the Crew shall respect the By-law of the Crew, the Mission, Principles, and Practises of Scouts Canada, and the By-Law, Policies and Procedures of Scouts Canada.
7. Anyone wishing to withdraw from the Crew should give formal notice one month prior to departure.
8. In the event of improper conduct, the Executive shall call an emergency meeting to analyze the situation and take appropriate action.
9. Inappropriate conduct shall include chronic tardiness, incomplete tasks which reflect on the whole Crew, substance abuse, and failing to follow the Crew By-law.

Crew Executive

1. The Crew executive shall consist of the following offices:
   1. Duke (Mate/Chair): This person is responsible for calling meetings and chairing them; the appointment of a chair for all sub-committees, on advice of the Executive; and the overall organization of the Crew.
   2. Lord (Vice-Mate/Vice-chair): This person is responsible to do the job of the Duke whenever the Duke cannot be present at Crew functions and any tasks which may be delegated by the Duke from time to time. This person becomes the Acting Duke in the event of the Duke's resignation, impeachment, or death.
   3. Scribe (Secretary): This person is responsible for taking the minutes at all Crew business meetings and have copies made and ready for the next business meeting. It is also the Scribe's job to keep a copy of all Crew minutes, Round Table minutes, and other correspondence. Any Crew records kept by the Scribe must be made available at the request of any Member of the Crew.
   4. Sergeant-at-arms: This person is responsible for making sure that the Crew is operating by its By-law and to monitor and announce the completion of Squire ships and Quests to the Crew.
   5. Herald: This person is responsible for the internal communications of the Crew and shall represent the Crew on such bodies as the Rover Round Table. The Herald shall remind all Crew members of each meeting one week beforehand.
   6. Keeper of the Purse (Treasurer): This person is responsible for the management of Crew finances. Any two of the Duke, Chancellor and Keeper of the Purse shall be signing officers on the Crew bank account. The Crew bank account shall be in the name of "Scouts Canada: 32nd Ottawa Rover Crew". The financial records of the Crew reviewed by the Chancellor once per year or when the Keeper of the Purse changes. Any Crew records kept by the Keeper of the Purse must be made available at the request of any Member of the Crew.
   7. Chancellor (Adviser): ex officio; as required by BP&P. This person shall aid the development of the Crew and its Members by being a leader, coach, friend, resources person, and mentor. The Chancellor shall review the Crew books once a year or when there is a change in the Keeper of the Purse. There may be more than one Chancellor at a time. Honorary Chancellorships may be conferred by the Crew.
2. All Executive positions shall be renewed at a business meeting in September of every year.
3. Members of the Executive must be Members of the Crew.
4. The Crew executive are trusted servants. They do not govern.

Election of Crew executive

1. All Executive positions shall be renewed at a business meeting in September of every year.
2. At this meeting, the Chancellor shall ask if there is any opposition to individual members of the current Executive continuing in their respective positions. If no opposition is declared, those members of the Executive shall continue in the positions they hold. Elections will be held for any position where opposition is declared. The Chancellor will act as the returning officer for all elections.
3. If an Executive position becomes vacant, a by-election will be held at the nearest convenience of Crew business.
4. Only Voting Members may vote at elections.

Motions

1. Any Member of the Crew may place a motion before the Crew at a Crew meeting.
2. Normally only Knights are Voting Members. Squires may be made or unmade Voting Members by a motion.
3. When a motion is on the table and debate has been completed, votes are cast. If a majority of the Voting Members present at the meeting support the motion, it is carried.
4. The Chancellor(s) shall have the power to veto any motion which in their opinion would be detrimental to the Crew or its membership.

By-law Amendments

1. Amendments to the Crew By-law are made as motions of amendment.
2. For a motion of amendment to be passed, 80% of the Voting Members in the Crew shall have to indicate their support for it.

Motions of Non-confidence

1. If a member of the Executive shows to be irresponsible to the Crew or does not follow the Crew By-law, a motion of non-confidence may be called regarding that Executive member.
2. Any Member of the Crew may move a motion of non-confidence. A specific charge of inappropriate conduct must be presented.
3. Upon the moving of a motion of non-confidence, and after the accused has offered a defence, the accused shall leave the room until the completion of the motion.
4. A motion of non-confidence may discipline or impeach.

Special Events

1. At all special events, the Duke or a Member appointed by the Executive shall represent the Crew.
2. The Rover uniform is to be worn at all formal activities.
3. All members must try to attend the annual Scout Sunday Flag Parade.

Crew organization

1. The Crew operates in Partnership with St. Matthias Anglican Church, Ottawa, Canada, and under Charter from Scouts Canada.
2. Members are subject to fees levied by the various Scouting councils.
3. The Crew shall operate in compliance with the Mission, Principles, and Practises of Scouts Canada and the By-Law, Policies, and Procedures of Scouts Canada.
4. The motto of this Crew is "Service." This shall be interpreted as Service to God, Others, and Self.
5. The Crew shall have at least eight business meeting per year.
6. There is no smoking during a meeting except during the coffee break.
7. The Ten Quests of Rovering will be the basis for a development program. These will be recognized by a leather thong worn on the left shoulder. One diamond knot will be tied in it for the Squireship and each of the ten Quests.
8. Knights will wear the Crest of the Crew Arms on the back of their neckers and the 32nd Ottawa crest on the right arm. The Crest of the Crew Arms may not be traded or otherwise be allowed to come into the possession of anyone who is not a Knight without the approval of the Crew.

Squireship

1. Once a Page becomes a Squire, they is expected to complete the Squireship process to become a Knight.
2. Squires shall have up to two sponsors, who are Knights, to help them through their Squiring process and answer any questions that the Squire might have.
3. The Squire shall choose one sponsor and the Knights shall choose the other. The Knights and the Squire may choose the same person. These choices can be changed at any time.
4. Squireship should not last more that six months. If the requirements have not been met at the end of six months, the sponsor(s) may choose to ask the Crew for an extension.
5. The requirements for Squires are as follows:
   1. The Squire must attend 80% of all Crew business meetings during the period of Squireship.
   2. The Squire must participate in at least three service events during the period of Squireship.
   3. The Squire must own and have read a copy of the code of Chivalry upon completion of the Squireship.
   4. The Squire must have answered the questions on Richard the Lion Heart upon completion of the Squireship.
   5. The Squire must keep a log of everything they do and learn during their Squireship with respect to the Crew and Rovering in general.
6. The sponsor shall report to the Sergeant-at-Arms about the Squire's progress during the Squireship and report any problems or breaches of the By-law.
7. The sponsor shall, when his Squire has completed the Squireship requirements, report the completion to the Sergeant-at-Arms for review before announcing to the Crew that the Squireship has been completed. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall review the Squire's log to see that the Squire has completed the Squireship to the satisfaction of the Crew.
8. The sponsor, after announcing the completion of a Squireship, shall motion for a vote to be held at the next business meeting to approve the Squireship before the Squire goes through the Vigil and Knighting.
9. The Ten Questions on King Richard:
   1. What were the names of Richard's Father and Mother?
   2. What were the names of his brothers?
   3. What was the name and title of one of his knights?
   4. What dynasty did he belong to ?
   5. Who was his lover before he became King of England?
   6. What was his wife's name after he became king?
   7. What was the name of the piece of land in France his mother gave him?
   8. Who imprisoned him after he became king?
   9. How much was his ransom when he was imprisoned?
   10. Whose symbol was the red cross on the white background?