Re: Advancement Records

Chris Haggerty <haggerty@PRIMENET.COM> wrote:
>
> Keeping advancement records. I find it is a lot of work for the
> Cub Scouts, but the Boy Scouts should know better. The best
> place for the advancement records are in his Scouts Book. When
> he finishes something he should know that it is time to talk to
> Mr. Scoutmaster. Worried that young Master Scout might lose
> his book. Don't, it is time for young Master Scout to start
> learning to take care of his property and know that it is his
> responsibility to approach the Scoutmaster and the Committee
> when it is time for his SCM review and Board of Review.
[clip]

Though I agree that it is the reponsibility of the boy to keep his advancement
records in his book up to date and accurate, I also know that books get lost.
We've had one Scout lose three so far - the first time there were no troop
records (I was only an interested parent at the time), the second time I had
records, but they were slightly outdated - six weeks behind or so, and the third
time I was fully up to date.

This Scout had to re-earn many requirements toward Tenderfoot, Second Class and
First Class. Although a Scout is trustworthy, it would not have been fair to the
boys who have never lost a book to simply let this boy tell us what he has left
to do for any one rank and accept his word for it...

Keeping a Troop record book that is last least current within the month is not a
big deal and only takes a few minutes at one meeting a month. I have the boys
turn in their books during a patrol competition or other activity and the Troop
Records Book gets updated. The boy's book also gets updated if the Troop Records
Book was used to record an advancement during a campout or some time when the
boy's book was not "at the ready." This inforamation later gets transfered to
Troopmaster software, which helps the leaders - youth and adult - in keeping
boys on track for First Class/First Year, Camping Merit Badge and others.

This is also the place where service projects get recorded, activities get
recorded and individual Scouts get credit for participation, etc. It's no big
deal to keep these accurate, and provides for a much more honest advancement
process for all concerned in my opinion.

YiS,

-Tim

--
Tim Hewitt, Scoutmaster
Troop 350, Old Orchard Beach, Maine
Eagle '74

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