Re: new scout, requirements
Bob & Lorrie Dewar (dewar@TECHHEADNET.COM)
Thu, 29 Jul 1999 12:32:29 -0500
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Cutting <TURTLELTL@AOL.COM>
Subject: new scout, requirements
> the bsa hand book says that a boy can be a scout if he completed 5th grade
or
> is 11 years old. some have told me he still must have received his arrow
of
> light. since the book does not say that i assume it is not required. input
> please.
You do assume correctly that AOL is not required. And any Troop making this
demand will automatically cut out any prospective Boy Scout if the boy had
not been in the Cub/Webelos program AND earned the AOL. They are also adding
to requirements of being in and advancing in Scouting, and previous threads
have already covered the fact that this is forbidden by BSA. Changes to ANY
requirement MUST come from National Office.
The requirement(s) for eligibility to join Boy Scouting are as follows (ONLY
1 item on this list is needed to be eligible). There are others, but this
part only pertains to age/ability (AOL) to join. And the BSA Handbook does
state:
"MEET AGE REQUIREMENTS - Be a boy who has completed the fifth grade or is 11
years old, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award but is under 18 years
old." (New handbook, copyright 1998, Chapt. 1, Page 4) OR SEE
"BECOMING A SCOUT - In order to become a Boy Scout, you must: *Be a boy who
has completed the fifth grade, or who has earned the Arrow of Light Award,
or be 11 years of age but not yet 18." (Old handbook, copyright 1990, Chapt.
1, Page 2)
Notice all the times "or" is used without once saying "AND" for joining
requirements.This means;
1-As a Webelos Scout, earn the Arrow of Light. It does not matter how old
the boy is or whether he has completed the 5th grade yet, he can then join
any Troop of his choosing.
2-Having completed 5th grade. It does not matter how old he is, nor does it
matter whether or not he earned the Arrow of Light (indeed, it does not even
matter if he was or was not a Cub Scout!)
3-Having turned 11 years old. It does not matter if he earned the AOL (or
been in Cub Scouting) or has completed the 5th grade.
Hope this helps you turn around those who are trying to add to the
requirements of joining
Scout On
Bob Dewar
UC, The Fox
