Core Leadership and Trail Life Connect

Understanding some of the specialized functionality within Trail Life Connect as it relates to a Troop's Core Leadership

Traillifeconnect

Core Leadership is a crucial part of every Trail Life Troop. The Troop cannot function effectively, or safely, without this leadership fully in place and up-to-date on registration items. A new Troop cannot charter without first establishing the Core Leadership team. Each role serves different functions and purposes within the Troop.

Senior Ministry Leader (SML)

When creating a new Troop Charter, the process begins with the establishment of the Senior Ministry Leader (SML.) This individual is the top decision-making leader for the Charter Organization, and is necessary to approve and authorize the establishment of a Trail Life Troop at the Charter Organization.

The Senior Ministry Leader role is not a direct contact leader in the Troop, and the SML only completes a background check as part of their account registration requirements. (As a result, the SML role alone is not considered to be fully registered, and does not have the option for printing an ID Card.)

The SML is responsible for signing the Charter Organization Ministry Agreement (COMA) at the time of initial charter, as well as re-signing this agreement annually for the Troop. \*If needed, the current Charter Organization Ministry Agreement, as well as COMA history, can be downloaded and printed from the "General Settings" page, found under "Troop Settings" on the left menu in Trail Life Connect.

In addition to authorizing the Troop and signing the charter agreement, the SML alone is responsible for appointing the individual who will hold the role of Troop Ministry Liaison (TML.) Any invitations or changes to the role of the TML can ***only*** be processed by the SML.

Troop Ministry Liaison (TML)

The Troop Ministry Liaison (TML) is essentially the top level leader for all Troop operations. It is therefore the responsibility of the TML to appoint the other four Core Leader roles. (Troopmaster, Committee Chairperson, Chaplain, and Treasurer.) Any invitations or changes to the aforementioned Core Leader roles can ***only*** be processed by the TML.

**Changing Core Leader roles**\ After a Troop is Chartered, circumstances may arise that would necessitate making a change to one or more Core Leader roles. (*Again, Core Leader role changes can **only** be processed by the TML*.) If a Trail Life Connect account is not already established for the new Core Leader, an existing Troop leader will need to first add a new adult account for that individual into the Troop. Troop leadership will also need to select the option to “**Initiate Leader Registration**” for the account of the new Core Leader (if they are not already registered.) *\*The intended Core Leader will need to be fully registered before a role can be assigned to their account.*

Since Core Leader roles can only be held by one individual at a time, making a change means: - the leader with authority to make the Core Leader role change will first need to remove the role from the current account where the role is assigned - then the leader with authority to make the Core Leader role change will be able to add the available role to the fully registered account of the intended Core Leader

Registration Requirements

If any Core Leader allows any of their registration items to expire, the Troop within Trail Life Connect will move into a temporary state of limited functionality until the affected item(s) are renewed. (Or until the affected role is reassigned to an existing leader who is current on all registration items.)

- The SML has the ability to remove and reassign the TML role to another registered leader while the Troop is in a limited functionality state. - The TML has the ability to remove and reassign Core Leader roles to other registered leaders while the Troop is in a limited functionality state.

Leader Approval Distinctions

**Senior Ministry Leader (SML)**\ Changes to the SML can ***only*** be processed by the Trail Life Home Office. Additionally, the approval of the background check application for the SML can ***only*** be processed by the Trail Life Home Office.

**Troop Ministry Liaison (TML)**\ Aside from being the only account which can appoint and make changes to the TML role, the SML is also the ***only*** role that can review and approve the background check application for the TML.

**All Other Troop Leaders**\ Aside from being the only Troop leader who can appoint and make changes to Core Leader roles, the TML is also the ***only*** leader in the Troop who can review and approve *all* registered adult leader applications for background check. *\*Approving adult leaders cannot be delegated to any other account or role within Trail Life Connect.*

Annual Charter Renewal Tasks

When the time comes to renew the Troop charter, a few other tasks/responsibilities are specific to the SML and TML roles:

The **SML** must annually complete a Mission Statement form *and* sign the Charter Organization Ministry Agreement as part of the charter renewal process.

The **TML** must annually complete an alignment conversation with the Area Point Man as part of the charter renewal process.

The **TML** must also complete an annual review of youth Trailmen within the Troop, and deactivate any who are no longer participating.

*Any* Core Leader has the ability to process/pay the charter renewal fee, when that item becomes available during the charter renewal process.

More information about Core Leader roles can be found by going to the "Backpack" section of **Basecamp Training** in Trail Life Connect. View the role-based backpacks for more information, or use the search bar to locate documents with the word "role" in the title or description.