Re: "Active" tenure for Eagle rank
Robert W. Myers (focus@FUSE.NET)
Fri, 30 Apr 1999 11:29:58 -0400
Sorry, for possibly jumping into the middle of this thread without reading
the earlier posts, but I just shot my mouth off to another Scouter and said
that National BSA defines "active" as being registered, nothing more, and
that there is a written statement/policy to that affect. I even remember
someone posting the contents of an Eagle appeal letter that stated this. So
I set out to back up my words, but I'm having problems.
I checked the 1999 Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures manual and
could find nothing. I searched the web extensively and found many unit
policies that all (100%) ran counter to my statement. I checked
EagleScout.Org and they also say just the opposite:
"While this may seem as easy as falling off a log, you should note the
operative part of the requirement, which is to be active. It goes beyond
just being registered. It means that you are an active, contributing member
of your unit. "
While this is certainly not an official site, National BSA had the perfect
opportunity to clarify its requirement in the recent issue of the
advancement manual, which, unless I missed something, they did not do. I
can see valid argument on both sides, but baring some policy statement in
the proper document, I am going to assume that this item is intentionally
being left to the councils and units. Even if I could find, through this
particular grapevine, the text of a letter from National stating that only
registration is required, I believe that the Scoutmaster, while subject to
being overruled in the defined appeals process, is free to interpret this
requirement as he feels is proper and fare.
Am I right? If I'm not, then there's a lot of troop policies and web pages
out there that need revising.
YiS,
Bob Myers
