Citizenship in the Community

2007-08

Mrs. Sandberg

Requirement 1

• What does citizenship in the community mean?

You live in a city, town or rural area where you participate in activities that are going on, attend school and associate with other citizens of the same area.

• What does it take to be a good citizen in your community.

Follow the Boy Scout Law and Oath.

Find ways to help out in the community, like Chain Reaction Days, Food Drives.

• What are the rights, duties, and obligations of citizenship?

You have the right to attend school, to be able to vote in elections when you are 18, and to be safe.

You have the duty to follow the Scout Law and Oath and do your part to keep the community safe.

You have an obligation to keep the laws and to assist where you are needed.

• Explain how you can demonstrate good citizenship in your community, Scouting unit, place of worship or school:

This is a personal question. Write down three things that you can do to demonstrate good citizenship. Share them with your counselor.

Requirement 2

• Get a map of your community. Easy to find on line or look in your local phone book.

Find the following places on the map and mark them.

City Hall County Court House Public Works/Services FacilityFire Station Police Station HospitalHistorical and other points of interestAttach map to your paperwork.

Chart the organization of your local or state government

• The next slide shows the organization of the Wisconsin State government.

As you will see it is very complex.

Make a chart of your local government.

Mayor

City Clerk Alderman

Office Personnel Department Heads

• Which are top offices? Mayor and Alderman Which are elected? Mayor, Alderman, (sometimes City Clerk, Assessor), Municipal Judge Which are appointed? City Clerk, City Engineer, City Assessor

Requirement 3

• Attend a public meeting: City/Town Council, School Board, Court Session.

• Choose one of the issues at the meeting where a difference of opinions was expressed.

• List the issue.• Explain why you agree with one opinion more

than you do the other.• Bring an agenda of the meeting to your

counselor if you did not attend the meeting with your scouting group.

Requirement 4

• Choose an issue that is important to the citizens of your community: (example: safe drinking water)

• Which branch of the government it responsible for this issue: (executive, legislative, judicial)

• Interview one person from the branch of government you identified above. Ask what is being done about the issue and how young people can help. Write down their answer and any other notes from your interview.

Requirement 5

• With the approval of your counselor and a parent, watch a movie that shows how the actions of one individual or group of individuals can have a positive effect on the community. (Suggestion: The movie Pay it Forward)

• What movie did you watch?• Tell what you learned from the movie about what

it means to be a valuable and concerned member of the community.

Requirement 6

• List some services your community provides that are funded by taxpayers.

Library Recreation Center

Swimming Pool Recreation Programs

Tell why these services are important to your community.

Requirement 7

• Choose a charitable organization of Scouting that interests you and brings people together to work for the good of the community.

• Name of Organization: ___________• Using a variety of resources find out more about this

organization. What did you learn?• With your counselor’s and parent’s approval, contact the

organization and find out what young people can do to help. (Suggestions: Salvation Army, Marinette County Elder Services, Goodwill Industries, your church, your school)

• While working on this merit badge, volunteer at least eight hours of your time for the organization. After your volunteer experience is over, tell what you have learned.

Requirement 8

• Develop a public presentation (video, slide show, digital presentation, photo exhibit) about important and unique aspects of your community. Include information about the history, cultures, and ethnic groups of your community, its best features and popular places where people gather, and the challenges it faces. Present your presentation to the troop.