Re: Advancement Display
(no name) ((no email))
Tue, 14 Jul 1998 07:28:44 +0000
John Yantis <jtyantis@FLASH.NET> asked:
>I'm looking for examples and plans for an Advancement Board
>display for use in my Troop. We've tried the BSA-produced wall
>poster, but, given the size of our Troop (50+ boys) and the
>transient nature of families in this area, it soon became an
>eyesore due to mark-outs and add-ins. We'd like something that is
>relatively easy to maintain, yet would be a very visible reminder
>of each Scout's advancement status, both at Troop meetings, and at
>Courts of Honor. What do YOU use?
One of the most frequently asked questions to me privately, John.
Here's what I've used and the way you can make it "portable":
For Courts of Honor and Troop Meetings:
Materials: ONE sheet of plywood, 38x26"
FOUR 1-inch strips of wood, 1/2" thick:
Two 38x1" and Two 26x1"
ONE sheet of plexiglass, 36x24, 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick
ONE Troop/Team Advancement Poster
stapler or glue (I prefer staples so when the new
chart comes out, I can replace it easily)
Alcohol-based markers ("permanent ink")
"Q-tips"(tm) or other similar cotton swabs
Rubbing alcohol
wood screws or nails (I prefer wood screws)
single nail and hammer or hand drill (single nail
works the best for me; you might want to use the
drill)
sandpaper
Create a frame around the plywood using the four 1-inch strips of
wood, attaching it to the plywood using the wood screws or nails
and either starting it with the single nail and hammer or the hand
drill. Sand the edges down a little with the sandpaper, but not
TOO much...just enough to prevent splinters. Next, attach the
Troop/Team Advancement Poster to the inside of your new frame.
You'll see that it *may* need some trimming or just be a perfect
fit (mine was a perfect fit, but that's only because I measured it
beforehand; don't be too technical with it..if it's a little larger
than the frame, don't worry about that either!), using either the
stapler to staple around the edges or the glue to attach it to the
plywood. Either way, let stand for a few minutes. Next, place the
plexiglass into the frame. It should fit pretty snuggly, and either
you will have a small "lip" in which you can place the markers or
it will be flush with the strips of wood.
Add each Scout's name and information using the marking pens. If
you make a mistake, use the Q-tips and rubbing alcohol to correct
the mistake. Don't use a cloth...it's too wide for the small
boxes.
Arrange the names any way you choose. I chose to do it by Patrols,
which once a year required me to "redo" the board completely (make
sure that your Troop's Scribe and Advancement Chair agrees with the
data on the board, or it's useless...and when it comes time to
"erase and start over", you'll lose all of the data!). I would
place the Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant at the top, followed
by three spaces and then the first Patrol Leader and the rest of
the first Patrol , then three to five more spaces, and then the
next patrol....and onward.
If your Troop is large (larger than the spaces on the poster!), I
would purchase an additional poster and cut the top off and measure
this to the dimensions I listed above and create a "larger frame".
I would then attach the additional poster (less the header
information and graphics) to the bottom of the "complete poster",
so that the only things I'm covering up are the listings of the
merit badges at the bottom.
Why did I leave so much space between Patrols and between the
Senior Patrol Leader and Assistant and the rest?? Because if your
Troop is like mine, you would change leadership positions at least
some time during the year, and you want to place those new names at
the top; and you are GOING to get new Scouts and instead of
alienating them by "putting them at the bottom", put them with
their Patrol instead.
Polyurtherane/paint as desired.
One thing I did was to purchase a complete set of rank (when we
could have done this WITHOUT providing an advancement report!)
and attach it to the Advancement Chart so that Scouts know REALLY
what the patches look like (it's a nice thing to show parents too
at Courts of Honor).
I also used the sides of the chart to place things like summer
camp, camporee and other patches that the Troop took part in, along
with an OA flap, Council strip, Troop numbers and the Paul Bunyan
Axeman Award patches. Don't try to use anything larger than three
inches long or in diameter, because you'll end up either blocking
the name line or the advancement line on the other side!
For your usage "on the trail":
I took one of the Advancement charts down to the local QuickPrint,
and had them to reduce it to a 8x11 sheet of paper...I then took a
page protector and covered this sheet up and placed it in my binder
(yeah, I had binders *even then*). The lines are really tiny, so I
had to write in all of the information with ink BEFORE summer camp
or InterCamp, so that I would have the information with me, ready
to share with my "slow pokes" during Scoutmaster Conferences on the
way down or back from camp.
Hope this all helps you out....
Settummanque!
(c) 1998 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
privately at kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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