John-in-KC

CP, I think the answer is pretty simple: When a unit goes as a unit to an activity, if something happens, and the Chartered Partner gets exposed, the local and National Council will get to pick up the tab for the Partner, under liability coverage. I rather suspect the leaders involved will be banished from Scouting. SEs nationwide will get a memo from the legal department in Irving, and the DE's and Commish will get sent out with the message of "Don't even go there." Until then, it's sort of like sod surfing ;-)

Moderator's Note: Since this is about the beads, and not really about course content, off to uniforms it goes.

Moderator's Note: www.scouter.com is not a source of tax or legal advice. Consult with your local Council's General Counsel or the attorney for your Chartered Partner for legal advice that applies to your specific unit situation.

A couple comments: First, it sounds like the DE and the Unit Commissioner need to sit down with the IH, the COR, and the CC/program officers. If the CO doesn't have buy-in to Scouting, it's time to ask why. (See the bumping of the ECOH for an internal youth activity). Second, to quote that great Scout Executive and Mayor of Kansas City, H Roe Bartle, "If you give them great program, they will come." If the Webelos Den went elsewhere, the first place I'd look is the quality of the program in the Troop.

Moderator's Disclaimer: Scouter.com is not a provider of tax or legal advice. Consult with your tax professional or attorney before taking any action. That said: I've deducted mileage and life support for campmaster weekends and work weekends at Scout camp.

Sigh. So much for "game with a purpose."

Sigh. Game with a purpose, anyone?

To answer your question, Scouter Arrowmen, even those who were youth members, have an advise and assist role. Now, that said, your Scout Reservation may well make use of Scouter Arrowmen to lead the "heavy lifting" work crews ... doing things which are beyond the limits of G2SS for youth ... In my council, Candidates and Arrowmen who have skilled trades tend to do their work days on major projects. Otherwise, you start by getting wiht the Chapter Adviser, and start doing things to assist: Being 2 deep at OA events and such. It goes from there. ICS.

Agree with all. My sole comment is to reinforce Stosh: It is absolutely, postively, a bad business practice of your District to assign an adult with a youth member to be his troops' own UC. The downside risk of your husband being the unit UC is you two get known as helicopter parents. Let your son fly on his own. Be there behind the scenes to help him dust off when he falls. He's strong already, and he'll be stronger for taking the falls.

One thought: My Tenderfoot - Star patches were rectangles. My Life patch was a heart.

I don't have a Scout handbook to hand, others will have to answer that part of it.

Guide to Advancement, p 23. 4.2.1.0 Four Steps in Advancement 4.2.1.1 The Scout Learns 4.2.1.2 The Scout Is Tested 4.2.1.3 The Scout Is Reviewed 4.2.1.4 The Scout Is Recognized Download the Guide to Advancement here

All y'all are just begging RichardB to enter this fray and tell you NO, from Irving. If I were a COR, and the SM/CC proposed this to me, the answer would be NO.

Nails the matter. Solves the problem.

I do not remember seeing my leaders wearing rank on their shirts when I was a youth member. (Tenderfoot starting in 1968) I remember my summer shirt. It was collarless. My winter shirt had a collar, and like so many, I tucked it in.

MODERATOR'S NOTE: If you are asked by another member to directly cite a policy, please do so. Thank you.

So much for Lions being the first half of your tenth year of age... Read this, folks "Lions, a new Boy Scouts of America pilot program for kindergarten boys, will begin in participating councils this fall."

The Archbishop of St Louis is not happy about the values of Girl and Boy Scouting Two paragraphs... "St. Louis Archbishop Robert Carlson has issued a letter calling on parishes to seek alternatives to Girl Scouts, arguing that the program and related organizations conflict with Roman Catholic teaching." "Carlson’s letter further references concerns with the Boy Scouts of America, wondering “in which direction this once trusted organization is now headed†in terms of protections to religious organizations."

GTA, page 58: The Council decides how EBORs will be conducted. If they decide District or even Council Boards only, then the unit has no choice. My Council Advancement Committee deferred to the District Advancement Committees. I know several which use Unit EBOR with District Guest, and several which use District EBOR.

Friendly reminder: RichardB is a Professional who seems to cover down on safety matters at the Irving offices. Even @@Beavah couldn't win with him...

Moderator's Note: Topic moved to Advancement Resources.

The Appication for Merit Badge #34124 has specific procedures tagged to it in the Guide to Advancement #33088: It is important to note the “blue card†is the nationally recognized merit badge record. It has been updated from time to time and carries the information needed for proper posting and for evidence and reference as needed later. The card has three parts: the actual “Application for Merit Badge†portion, the “Applicant’s Record,†and the “Counselor’s Record.†It requires a total of four signatures—two each from the unit leader and a merit badge counselor. The unit leader signs first on the front of the Application for Merit Badge portion and gives the entire blue card to the Scout. See “The Scout, the Blue Card, and the Unit Leader,†7.0.0.3. Typically after the unit leader signs the blue card, the Scout contacts the merit badge counselor and sets an appointment. Even though Scouts may benefit from reviewing requirements with a counselor before pursuing them, a boy may begin working on a merit badge at any time after he is registered. It is the counselor’s decision whether to accept work or activities completed prior to the issuing of the signed blue card. Common sense should prevail, however. For example, nights already camped as a Boy Scout, or coins or stamps already collected, would count toward their respective badges. A merit badge counselor—once he or she is satisfied a Scout has met all the requirements—signs in two places: on the reverse of the Application for Merit Badge (to the left) and on the Applicant’s Record (in the middle). ... (portion omitted) ... Once a registered counselor signs that all requirements have been met, the Scout should meet with his unit leader to discuss his experience. The unit leader then signs the Applicant’s Record portion and returns it to the young man, who should retain it in his personal permanent records. Boldface, italics, and redface are my annotations...JKC As an aside, the portion about the MB card being the only authorized form has been deleted... The Application for Merit Badge is not the form filed with the local council. From the GTA: 4.0.0.2 Reporting Advancement All Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, and Sea Scout ranks, and all Venturing advancement awards must be reported to local councils.* The best and most accurate method is through the BSA’s Internet portal for reporting advancement (see “Internet Advancement Reporting,†6.0.0.0, for more detail on reporting). At the council’s discretion, the paper form, Advancement Report, No. 34403, may also be submitted. *An advancement report is not required to purchase adventure loops or pins. However, to ensure that each Cub Scout’s record is complete and accurate, all adventures—required and elective—should be posted in the BSA system using the Internet portal for reporting advancement. Highlighted box on page 18: All badges of rank, merit badges, Eagle Palms, and Venturing awards are restricted items. Unit leadership may not purchase these insignia for presentation without having filed an advancement report with the local council. So, the answer to the question is the UNIT needs to file an advancement report, either using the Internet Advancement portal or a paper Advancement Report, with the local council.

Remember, one role of the District Eagle Board of Review, or the District Eagle Guest at a unit Eagle Board of Review, is to ensure the BSA Standard of what comprises an Eagle Scout is met. I did not, in my initial post, say deny. I do not use that word now. I used the word adjourn. The matter I cited is one where the adults may have failed to implement the Advancement and Leadership Development Methods to standard. That is a matter for the District Advancement Operating Committee, the Commissioner Service, and the Professional Service, not a single Eagle Guest, or even an Eagle Board Chair. I want the Scout to achieve Eagle, no matter how the adults screwed it up. I also want the brand upheld. It's like being a Range Officer. Stop, assess, correct and retrain as/if needed, and finally resume. My thoughts.

Yes, Yes, and Yes. In a multi-patrol troop, they are responsible to the SPL/ASPL. In a single patrol troop, they are responsible to the PL. Think about it. Your unit is fortunate enough to have not one but two full patrols of Scouts come over. Even using the more traditional method of integrating them into existing patrols, why would you want only one older youth to be a mentor? When training using EDGE, why would you not want small groups for instruction, requiring more Instructors???

Moderator's Note: The discussion moved from quality pants for field use to alternates for Supply Corporation uniform pants. Off to uniforms this goes.