The Council has adopted a new policy governing the use of the Donut Trailer for the benefit of parishes and organizations other than Bishop Ackerman Council. This policy, which will be published elsewhere for review, includes guidelines regarding the presence of minor age youth in the Donut Trailer. Among the guidelines is a requirement for the outside organization providing staffing to the trailer, to provide a minimum of two adults who meet the youth protection guidelines under which they operate (Virtus, BSA Youth Protection, etc) who shall be present in the trailer, when minor youth are present in the trailer.
During the discussion, the question was raised as to whether Supreme Council guidelines for “Youth Leaders” would apply to Council members working in the trailer when youth are present. A cursory review at the time of the meeting on June 14, would seem to suggest that the K of C Supreme Council guidelines would not apply to trailer operations, as they are currently held.
The guidelines, as published on the Supreme Council website (here) are posted to the link below for interested members to download and review. Please leave comments regarding whether, and why, you feel the Supreme Council Youth Protection Policy does or does not apply to Bishop Ackerman Council 5453 Donut trailer operations. Addition, Supreme published a program supplement in 2003 which gives clues as to the intended scope of the program.
Just to give a little clarification with regards to youth protection. The BSA recognizes the VIRTUS youth protection but the Diocese does not accept the BSA youth protection. If a troop or pack is chartered by a Catholic church all adult leaders must be trained in VIRTUS. I am updated by IHM if one of the leaders is not compliant with their updates and VIRTUS training. I think this is wonderful that the Knights want to make sure the kids are protected. If you have any questions please let me know.
Sissy, you hit on precisely the point of our policy. The Council cannot maintain all the certifications necessary to run the trailer with minor youth, using Council members as the required supervision. Therefore the organizations supply manpower, Scouts, youth groups, etc., will be required to supply their own supervision, and to meet any and all requirements they are governed by.