Re: Advancement w/ no SM?
Anthony Mako (ajmako@NLS.NET)
Sat, 31 Jul 1999 14:16:30 -0000
<Auntie Beans wrote>
...I was the SM pro tempore for camp (and we had a ***great*** week, thanks
very much for asking! <G>).
We had three kids finish reqs for advancement ... I did SM conferences w/
them ... and then we had some TC members camping w/ us and did BoR's for 2
of them.
Now we're all home and the questions are crowding my brain:
1) Are these advancements "legal," since I am not the SM for real?
</Auntie Beans>
The SM can designate anyone in the troop to sign advancement requirements.
The SM can also delegate SM Conferences to SAs. If he/she doesn't delegate
those responsibilities, but leaves the unit, they become the responsibility
of the person chosen as acting SM. Therefore, the advancements should be
legal.
<Auntie Beans continued>
2) Is my co-SA right when he says, "No problem, SM conferences can be done &
signed for by any SA"? I can't find anything that says anything other than
"Scoutmaster."
</Auntie Beans>
Your co-SA is half right. The SM can delegate that responsibility. It's not
automatic unless the SM leaves the troop without a replacement.
<Auntie Beans continued>
3) Does this mean that no advancement happens until the TC gets us another
SM?
</Auntie Beans>
No, the acting SM takes on those responsibilities. Officially, the TC should
appoint an acting SM to take care of the SM responsibilities until they can
find someone to take the job permanently. One part of "Two Deep" is that the
first SA should be qualified to be SM in the SM's absence (thus an 18 year
old couldn't really be a 1st SA, but he could be 2nd).
<Auntie Beans continued>
4) What about all the MB completions that need SM signatures now? Them too?
</Auntie Beans>
Those now fall on your capable shoulders, as will responsibility for the
troop program, guiding youth leaders, overseeing the advancement system, and
monitoring compliance with BSA, CO, and State and Local rules and
regulations.
<Auntie Beans continued>
I am hoping and praying that we get a SM REALLY soon, and do not agree with
the rationalization that "since our program is all planned thru Oct with
SA's for each activity we can afford to wait til then." If the advancement
issues, above, are as I suspect, thatis, that we have to have a SM on the
charter to sign for all of this stuff, then that may spur the committee into
faster action. Citations from the official literature will be helpful (hey
Mike, Mike, Paul, Steve, & Bruce, you're on!)
</Auntie Beans>
Technically speaking, Auntie, the SM remains the SM on the charter until
recharter time. The committee can change positions around at the council
office just to keep the paperwork straight, but it's not entirely necessary.
As an interesting note, a great many troops who have lost their SM for one
reason or another have found the perfect replacement in the "acting" SM. A
couple reasons for this are that the "acting" SM knows the Scouts, other
troop leaders, and parents. The "acting" SM also knows how the old SM worked
and usually prefers to maintain that longer. Finally, the "acting" SM is
convenient for the committee. That's how I got my first job as SM (twenty
days before my 21st birthday); it's also how my SA in that troop got _his_
first job as SM.
You essentially have to make the decision right now. Are you willing to
become the actual SM? If not, how long are you willing to be "acting" SM? If
you don't mind becoming the actual SM, you might as well tell the committee
now so everyone can concentrate on the program. If you would rather not be
the actual SM, tell the committee how long you're willing to be "acting" SM.
The committee then will have to get to work. Waiting any period of time
makes the job harder to do. The longer the job takes, the more attractive
the "acting" SM becomes as a "permanent" replacement.
YIS
A. J. Mako, ajmako@nls.net , Scoutmaster Troop 381
Home of the Unofficial Win95 Boy Scout Desktop Theme,
http://members.aol.com/Scouts381/
Old Portage District, Great Trail Council, BSA
"I used to be an Eagle (C-7-97), but I'll always be an Eagle (1981)"
