Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Brigade’s Attendance Policy?
2. What is Brigade’s Definition of Perfect Attendance?
3. What can you do to make drop-offs/pick-ups at Brigade safer?
4. Does Brigade carry a medical insurance policy covering members for accidental injuries or illnesses?
5. What is required in order to participate in the Brigade Climbing Wall?
6. What is Brigade’s policy on behavior?
7. What is Brigade’s visitor policy?
8. What should I wear to Brigade?
9. What is Brigade’s Church Attendance and Community Service policy?
10. Where can I find out if Brigade is closed due to bad weather?
11. What are Brigade’s hours of operation?
12. What is Brigade’s policy on smoking, alcohol and tobacco use?
What is Brigade’s Attendance Policy?
Joining the Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade requires a commitment on the part of all members and leaders to faithfully attend and participate in regularly scheduled weekly Brigade meetings. The Brigade office should be notified in the event that a Brigader cannot attend a Brigade meeting. It is best that a parent call the Brigade office (920-725-3983) to report the absence ahead of time. To report an absence, call the Brigade office Monday through Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. and leave a message on voice mail. After 6:30 p.m. the Brigade office will be open to receive your calls.
If a Brigader is absent and the office is not notified, the office will call the Brigader’s home the evening of the absence to verify it with a parent.
The Brigade recognizes and honors that there may be legitimate reasons for absence such as:
Illness or an injury
A death in the family or a funeral
Attendance at a church service
Attendance at religious instruction
Attendance in a required school function
Travel out of town
Severe weather
Time management is an important skill to learn. By doing homework and studying immediately after school, Brigaders should be able to attend their weekly Brigade meetings without jeopardizing their school grades. If any student is concerned about homework combined with Brigade activities, the matter should be brought to the attention of their Brigade Leader and their parents so that an appropriate solution can be arranged.
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What is Brigade’s Definition of Perfect Attendance?
Brigaders who are in attendance at each scheduled program night for their grade level will receive a Perfect Attendance Award.
Brigade understands that many Brigaders may need to miss an occasional program night due to other obligations, and Brigade does not wish to disrupt any of these important activities.
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What can you do to make drop-offs/pick-ups at Brigade safer?
To help relieve congestion in front of the Brigade building before and after Brigade, we encourage use of car pools. This will help reduce the number of vehicles moving past and waiting near the Brigade entrance. Whether you car pool or not, please select a nearby location away from the immediate Brigade front entrance and agree to be dropped off or picked up there. With as many as 300 boys and girls entering or exiting the building nightly, the traffic congestion can become hazardous. Brigaders and leaders are asked to cross streets at corners when the pedestrian signals say “walk”.
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Does Brigade carry a medical insurance policy covering members for accidental injuries or illnesses?
The Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade does not carry a medical insurance policy covering members for accidental injuries or illnesses. If injuries do occur and require medical attention, your family health insurance would provide coverage.
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What is required in order to participate in the Brigade Climbing Wall?
All grade levels may be scheduled to use the climbing wall. Everyone who would like to participate will need a signed two page release form. There will not be ANY exceptions. Handwritten permission from Mom or Dad is not acceptable in any form other than the Brigade release form. If a Brigader does not want to climb, we still ask that they have a signed release form. This will enable them to help and be a part of the experience. At Brigade, we believe in “Challenge by Choice”. No one will be forced to climb, or participate in any way they are not comfortable in. If you have any questions about the release form or the climbing wall, please contact the Brigade Office.
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What is Brigade’s policy on behavior?
Good behavior on the part of all boys and girls is expected while participating in Brigade activities. An important element of good behavior is having and showing respect for all of Brigade’s leaders, co-leaders, guest speakers and other Brigaders. The use of profanity is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. These same good behavior rules should become a part of each Brigader’s character both in and outside of the Brigade program.
It is hoped that behavior problems that do occur can be corrected between the Brigader and the leader without the involvement of the Brigade staff or the parent(s). Discipline will always be fair. Brigaders who have demonstrated poor behavior will not be allowed to participate in special activities. Disciplinary action will be progressive unless the seriousness of any specific incident warrants otherwise. Certain behavior may result in immediate removal from Brigade. This may include, but isn’t limited to: physical fighting, profanity, vandalism, and theft. Behavior problems for any boy or girl will be dealt with as follows:
FIRST INCIDENT: The group or activity leader will discuss the problem individually with the Brigader. The incident will be documented on the Brigader’s Group Record Form. Unless the seriousness of the incident warrants otherwise, the Brigade staff and parent(s) will not become involved.
SECOND INCIDENT: The Brigader will discuss the incident with a Brigade staff member and the leader(s) involved. The leader(s) involved will complete a behavior contract detailing the facts surrounding the incident. The contract will be signed by the Brigader and placed in his/her Permanent Record. A Brigade staff member will contact the parent(s) at once. The fact that behavior problems have occurred and efforts to correct them without parental involvement have been unsuccessful will be shared. Whenever possible, the parents will be asked in to come and remove the Brigader from the premises. The Brigader may or may not be welcome back for one last chance. Brigaders with two or more behavior incidents will not be eligible to receive a Brigade Medal.
THIRD INCIDENT: The Brigader’s membership will be terminated. The parent(s) will be contacted and will be directed to come and remove the Brigader from the premises. An incident report will be written and placed in the Brigader’s Permanent Record. Brigaders whose membership have been terminated may not be welcome back again until the start of the next Brigade year.
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What is Brigade’s visitor policy?
Brigaders must receive prior approval from the Brigade office to bring guests. For approval, call 725-3983. Friends are welcome to visit one time. After that, they must join Brigade in order to participate further. The same behavior rules that apply to Brigaders apply to visitors.
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What should I wear to Brigade?
Certain clothing and personal items are prohibited:
Baseball type hats, bandannas and wallets with chains are not allowed to be worn or carried inside the Brigade building. Brigaders are not allowed to possess pagers, cell phones or laser pointers while participating in Brigade activities. We strongly discourage the bringing of any kind of baseball cap or bandanna onto the Brigade premises. Brigaders are expected to wear appropriate attire to meetings. Clothing containing offensive or inappropriate statements (including crude language, slang or any symbol of drugs, tobacco or alcohol) are not tolerated at Brigade. These items have been at the center of too many problems. These problems create unnecessary distractions that take away from the value of the Brigade program. The Brigade maintains the right to confiscate any items that are worn or carried in violation of this rule.
What to Wear For Brigade Meetings:
Comfortable, casual, clean clothing and tennis shoes are ideal. Almost all regular Brigade meetings include a physical activity such as basketball, volleyball, climbing activities, floor games, archery or riflery. On some evenings, your Brigade group will have workshops where good clothing could become soiled. Please keep your scheduled activities and workshops in mind as you dress for Brigade each week. Please do not wear expensive clothing, especially jackets. Most thefts of clothing have been expensive jackets, hats and gloves. Brigade is not responsible for lost or stolen articles.
Marking Names In Clothing:
All too often, Brigaders have their jackets, hats or gloves taken by mistake. Many Brigaders own identical jackets, hats or gloves. Having your name in your clothing will help identify it.
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What is Brigade’s Church Attendance and Community Service policy?
“The Object of the Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade shall be the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline, Self Respect and a spirit that reflects a true Christian life.”
Beginning with the program year 2005-06, Brigade no longer utilizes Church/Community Service Cards. Since its inception, Brigade has been rooted in Christianity. While we do not wish to sway any members towards certain religious beliefs, we feel that as part of the Four-Fold, everyone belonging to Brigade can benefit from discussions of faith.
As stated above, Brigade’s Object is to advance Christ’s Kingdom. Through programming this year, Brigaders will have the opportunity to be part of weekly reflections centered on faith which also focuses on becoming better people.
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Where can I find out if Brigade is closed due to bad weather?
Out of concern for safety, bad weather occasionally forces the closing of Brigade for an evening or two during the year. If it becomes necessary to close Brigade for any reason, the Brigade will notify WHBY (1150 AM), WNCY (100.3 FM) and WIXX (101.1 FM). Brigade families should monitor these stations for Brigade closure information.
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What are Brigade’s hours of operation?
Brigade Building & Office Hours
September 2006 - March 2007
MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
6:30 P.M. - 9:00 P.M.
FRIDAY
8:00 A.M. - NOON
SATURDAY - SUNDAY
CLOSED (except for Saturday morning Hobby Clubs)
April - September 2007
MONDAY - TUESDAY - WEDNESDAY - THURSDAY
8:00 A.M. - 4:30 P.M.
FRIDAY
8:00 A.M. - NOON
SATURDAY - SUNDAY
CLOSED
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What is Brigade’s policy on smoking, alcohol and tobacco use?
During Brigade programs, the Boys’ & Girls’ Brigade is a substance-free facility and absolute sobriety is expected on the part of all Brigaders and Brigade leaders.
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