Re: Life rank requirements HELP (long)
Strommen, Randy (RLSTROMMEN@DOWAGRO.COM)
Fri, 22 May 1998 15:55:53 -0500
As I write this, I have a young man who will advance to Life Scout at
the age of 12 yrs 5 months. He still needs 10 merit badges and an Eagle
Project, but if he makes good use of his summer, I expect him to reach
Eagle Scout close to his 13th birthday.
>The following is the requirements and how I see them:
>1. Be active in troop and patrol for 6 months.
> To be registered and attend meetings and campouts regularly.
BSA National's policy is to simply be registered for 6 mos. Attendance
is NOT measured. If you want to "deactivate" a Scout, you need to
remove him from your charter. Basically, if you collect his money, he
is automatically "active" for 12 months. If you deny advancement on
this issue, it will be overturned by council.
>
>2. Demonstrate Scout Spirit....
> Follow the Scout oath and law in everyday life. No disciplinary
>actions needed from school, home, or at meetings/campouts. Do your
>best to help others at all times.
This is where you can enforce your requirements for #1. How can a Scout
be helpful and loyal if he never shows up. Be sure, however, that your
expectations are clear. Also, don't let a good Scout advance who
doesn't attend meetings due to an "approved" absence, and hold back the
bad Scout because his absences are not approved. Make sure that as the
boy completes his merit badges, he knows that his performance on Scout
Spirit and other items are not adequate to advance.
>
>3. Earn five more merit badges...
> Clear enough -
>
Ah, don't forget, any of the 15 Eagle badges count towards the total of
seven required for Life. The restrictions of Swimming/Sport/Personal
Fitness and Lifesaving/Em. Preparedness are not in place until the Eagle
rank is requested.
>4. While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6
>hours of work. These must be approved by SM.
> Here is where one of our big differences hit - do they need to do
>any
>of the planning, show any leadership, or can it be a just show up and
>follow directions work??? Should it count if librarian at school asks
>for help reshelving books and boy volunteers to help 2 days a week,
>would it matter if it is during or after school? What about helping
>with craft area at a girl scout day camp? The only thing we have agreed
>on about this is that it will be a "Non-troop" service project (ie they
>need to find where help is needed and do it). Anyone--
>
This is any 6 hours of service approved by the ScoutMaster (or the
Acting Scoutmaster). There is NO restriction in BSA policies on who the
service is given to, unlike the Eagle Project. Therefore, service to
the troop outside the normal duties of the Troop or Patrol Office can be
considered service. The rule is Whatever the ScoutMaster approves. If
you are looking for guidance as to what to approve, I recommend common
sense. If it is service provided outside the scope of normal duties,
then it counts.
>5. While a Star Scout, serve actively for 6 months in one or more of the
>troop positions.....
> They have been scribe or librarian or such for 6 months from time
>of
>appointment - really haven't done anything or shown any leadership.
>Exactly how does everyone handle these???
>
Again, the BSA National rules are: If you give him the position, then he
is actively serving. If you don't like the job he is doing, the you
must remove him from the position. If he holds the position of Bugler
for six months, yet never blows his horn, then he has completed the
requirement. Performance in the job is NOT a measurement for this
requirement.
>6. Take part in a SM conference.
> Any guidelines as to what I should be talking with the scouts about
>besides double checking the records that everything is done?
>
This is the point at which you can put in all the intangibles. Poor
Attitude, non-performance, etc. Use this time to review where the boy
is, what his goals are, what he plans to do, and what your expectations
are.
I asked our District Adv Chairman about a hypothetical case wherein a
boy due for a District Eagle Board of Review in two weeks was arrested
for alleged vandalism at a major scout function. His answer basically
was as follows:
When a boy violates the Scout Oath in his daily life in a manner serious
enough to warrant consideration as to whether or not to advance him, it
is necessary for us as adult leaders to give appropriate tasks to that
boy that he can complete, in a fixed amount of time to demonstrate that
he can and will live according to the Scout Oath and Law. All other
requirements are met by meeting the tenure requirements outlined in the
handbook and by completing the merit badges. The Scout Oath and Law and
the SM Conference are in the list in order to judge the boys character.
These tasks should be utilized sparingly, and only when the boys
character is in question, not his age or maturity.
As an example of this principle, a boy who brought pornagraphic material
on a campout, could be required to write a letter of apology to the
troop and the charter organization, to have a monthly interview with the
charter representative, and to perform some hours of service to the
troop or the charter organization. The principles of repentance are
sorrow, restitution, change, and forgiveness.
>7. ?Take part in a BOR? (don't have new book in front of me)
> This I can handle -- have done these before .
>
>
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
