Service Project Policy? (Was Re: A Couple of Questions)
settummanque, or blackeagle (blkeagle@DYNASTY.NET)
Sun, 22 Jun 1997 14:46:31 -0500
Steve Lenhart asked us:
>I could use a little immediate guidance regarding the concept of a service
>project for ranks up to, not including, Eagle. Does BSA have any official
>policies regarding service projects?
Yes! The following comes from the BSA's Advancement Policies Procedures
booklet, page 15:
"Service Projects
SECOND CLASS RANK. For the Second Class rank, a Scout must participate in a
service project approved by his Scoutmaster. The time of service must be
minimum of one hour. This project prepares a Scout for the more involved
service projects he must perform for the Star, Life and Eagle ranks.
STAR AND LIFE RANKS. For Star and Life ranks, a Scout must perform six
hours of service to others. This may be done as an individual project or as
a member of a patrol or troop project. Star and Life projects may be
approved for Scouts assisting on Eagle service projects. The Scoutmaster
approves the project before it is started."
(I've deleted the verbage on the Eagle service project since Steve didn't
ask for it).
> Recently, I've had a couple of Scouts ask to count the time spent in
>fundraising "walk-a-thons" as service projects.
You, as the Scoutmaster, have the final say if that consitutes a valid
"service project". *I* would have questioned the service content of the
walkathon unless the Scout was able to get his entire patrol to participate
or in which he was able to have a large amount (in excess of $100) to be
donated through his participation in the project. I would also would want
him to participate wearing a Scouting teeshirt or something (other than the
uniform; we can't do any fundrasing in our uniforms!) that told others that
he's from OUR Troop.
>Somehow, that doesn't fit my concept of a service project. Likewise,
>another Scout has asked to use his participation in his school's gift
>wrapping sale, another fundraiser. Again, are these types of fundraising
>"good turns" generally accepted as service projects?
They can be, if the Scoutmaster says that they give goodwill to others and
allows the Scout to exercise some degree of service and sacifice for others.
>How about a Scout who volunteers to help run the annual district >Pinewood
Derby, or another who builds birdhouses for, and with, Ducks >Unlimited?
The latter two certainly come closer, in my view, to being >service projects.
The service to help run the annual Pinewood Derby wouldn't, to *me*,
Steve...because it assists the BSA. In *my* thinking, service projects
should benefit those OUTSIDE of the Boy Scouts of America's sphere. It is a
way in which we can promote the idea that the BSA does CARE about others
outside of our own; and it gets the BSA and your unit out into the open, to
the public, where they can SEE FIRSTHAND what the BSA and your unit in
particular, is doing for the community and for the development of youth.
Again, as Scoutmaster, *your decision* on what consittutes a service project
for Second Class, Star and Life are what's important here; not mine or
anyone else's.
(I've posted to you privately on the request for the "Welcome to our Troop"
booklet; whenever I can get some free time on Jessica's machine, I'll turn
it into a HTML document and post it to on my website. I'll make an
announcement when I've got it done.)
Settummanque!
(c) 1997 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
kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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