AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH! Leadership for Eagle

I try to let things go that should be no big deal, but this is too much. I
have to respond. I simply cannot handle it any longer. (Note this is a
warning, the following text may be hard on people who have trouble with
my dry sense of humor. The message is serious, the method, well ...)

First: Leadership for the Eagle Scout Award is demonstrated working on the
Eagle Scout Service Project (I think they should rename this "Eagle Scout
Leadership Project that provides service to your community".)

The requirement that we have been discussing the last few days is for
(excuss the yelling, but this does cause nothing to become a problem and
even results in appeals, etc. you get the drift.)
A TROOP POSITION OF RESPONSIBILITY.

While I think having a Scout in the SPL position is great experience (I was
one for two years in a troop of over 50 Scouts - the Scouts liked me or the
others did not want the job?) THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO DEMONSTRATE
LEADERSHIP TO THE TROOP FOR EAGLE. Read the requirement for the project.
It says "plan, develop, and give leadership to OTHERS". You do not have
to use members of your Scout troop to execute the Eagle Scout Project. My
son, for example, used his buddies on the Soccer team for his Eagle Scout
Project.

The point I am trying to make is the Position with the troop is an
opportunity for the Scout to demonstrate RESPONSIBLITY and that is what the
troop leaders should be looking for and that is what the Eagle Scout Board
of Review should be looking for. The SPL position definetly offers the
opportunity for demonstrating responsiblity, as do ALL of the positions
listed. Troop Guide or Den Chief to me are GRRRRREAT opportunities to
demonstrate responsibility. So are all of the other positions, even the
ones like chapain aide that do not appear to offer much leadership
opportunity. (It's there, but it all depends on the execution.) To take
the responsiblity of chaplan aid and actully do something with the
positon, that is like WOW, these days. Leadership in the troop, however,
is not required for the Eagle Scout Award.

Some may say I am cutting a fine line, I disagree, there is a big
difference between responsibility and leadership. Together thay can do
great things, but I have also seen great things done by one or the other,
without the other present.

Chris Haggerty, Sierra Vista, Arizona
Catalina Council Advancement Chairman
Instructor Trainer for Water Safety, American Red Cross, FtEHuachuca Station
E-mail: haggerty@primenet.com or chaggerty@bpa.arizona.ed

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