Re: Adult Training Awards (BSA)
MAJ (")
Sat, 1 Mar 1997 01:08:12 +0000
Bert asked:
>I need to clarify some things:
Me too...let's do it together!!
>1) the "Scouter's Key" (green & white knot) in the Boy Scout program
>seems only available to Scoutmasters.
The Key is for the "key leader" ...there used to be a Cubmaster's Key
as well. The Scouter's Key Award is presently awarded to Scoutmasters,
Commissioners, Explorer Advisors and Skippers, and Varsity Team Coaches.
> Is there no similar award for other Boy Scout Leaders?
Funny you don't know about the Scouters' Training Award. It is available
to Boy Scouters, commissioners, Exploring adults, Varsity adults, and
recently to, as you stated, District volunteers.
There's a description of the award at a couple of web sites as well as in
the District/Council Leadership Development Guidebook and a couple of other
resources available from your Council office.
The Scouter's Training Award is for those unit committeemembers, Assistant
Scoutmasters, and other registered unit adults in a Troop and requires two
years of tenure in addition to other requirements.
>2) In the requirements for the "National President's Scoutmaster Award of
>Merit," there is language about "resulting in a majority of his Boy Scouts
>attaining the First Class rank." Who has an interpretation?
Your Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Committee Chair has the final
say on it, because it is through them that the recommendation is made for
the 18-month point award. They have to sign that the requirements have
been completed and to what point.
>3) Where does a scouter turn in a signed off card for these awards?
>Training Committee?, Advancement Committee? Unit Comissioner? >District
Comissioner?
The "reminder/requirement cards" should be signed by your unit's
Commissioner, or in his or her absense, by the District's Executive or
Executive Team member. In some Councils, members of the District's
Training, Leadership Development, Adult Recognition, or Program Committee
sign the cards and are responsible for forwarding them to the Council's
Leadership Development or Training Chair or in yet other Councils, the
Council's Commissioner. I've seen only one case where the Advancement
Committee had anything to do with adult leadership
development cards.
I strongly recommend to all Scouters that they KEEP A COPY of the fully
signed cards, even after they have received the training awards. I've gotten
some wicked email a while back from two Scouters in two different Councils
(separated by a lot of distance, so I know that it's not a really
stupid Council that has been doing this). They have to purchase their
awards and to prove that they have earned the award, the Council asks for
the signed card. When one Scouter explains that he submitted it to the
Council's Training Committee for approval, the person at the trading post
replied to him that "without the card, you cannot get the award". When I
replied to both of them that one of the costs of the local Council are the
awards and devices which you earn and receive at an appropriate ceremony,
both of them replied (like in unison!) that "Our Council doesn't award
training awards...you have to buy your own!"
Didn't make me feel good as a former District and Council Commissioner!!
Are there ANY OTHER Councils out there doing similar stuff?? I can see
getting a duplicate award, or a knot, or a device....but earning and then
going in and buying your own Scouter's Key?? Your own Arrowhead Honor
Award? I say "Big Ol' NOT!!" but I can see it if the Council's having a
problem with financing...(I don't swallow it, but I can see it... in which
case the UNIT should be picking up the tab or some professional needs to do a
"project sale" to get those things underwritten!!)
Bert, hope the information helps you out!!
Settummanque!!
(I have no current signature because I am in the process of changing email
providers. Please send your email to me at blkeagle@dynasty.net or
kyblkeagle@aol.com. They have proven to be reliable addresses for now.
Thanks!)
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
