Re: age or grade requirements-AOL

Nancy, I can relate to your dilemma. If I might add my .02 here.

I was in a similar situation and had the not to pleasant task of
informing our young man that I didn't feel he should advance to Scouting
and should remain in the pack for his second year. My situation was
that I was Committee Chair, 5th Grade(Second Yr) Webelos Leader and
PARENT of this boy. He tried very unsuccessfully to change my mind but
continued to work on advancements, attending summer camp, etc. he earned
16 awards, met all requirements for AoL, earned Conservation Emblem, and
convinced his just recently advanced older brother to work
on his behalf to convince me that I was
wrong in not allowing him to advance. The SM at the older boys troop
suggested that I allow him (and of course me) to attend several
functions and camps to see if he could handle the older boys and "keep
up".

I was WRONG, and of course he likes to rub my nose in it occasionally to
prove that he is growing up. This week he goes for his First Class BoR
after having joined the troop this past July, a crossover was held at
Day Camp on the Webelos overnighter and two weeks later he attended
Boy Scout Summer Camp.

Hopefully the point I'm trying to make is clear, if it is the BOYS inten
tion to go into Boy Scouts, HE has made the necessary commitment, AND he
is proficient in the skills and has meet the requirements by all means
get him his AoL, the immediate recognition is fine but if it is not w
hat HE wants it might be more harm than good to do anything to appease a
parent if the boy is uncertain what he'll be doing in six mo's

Finally, it is the kids that we are here for and while we wouldn't have
any type of program without them the parents had better be our secondary
or lower concern if the various programs are to grow and develop.

Very sorry for being so long winded but good luck in your decision
making and by all means present a united front as the committee.

YiS, John

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