Artigas

Go for it. Maybe you are doing it for the "wrong reasons", but that much dedication to scouting will give you so many experiences and opportunities, that I wouldn't be surprised if your reasons became the "right ones" by the time you are close to Eagle, or if you really did gain a genuine appreciation of and devotion to Scouting and its principles.

Respectfully,

Artigas

"Sadly, I see more 14 year old Eagles in our neigboring LDS troops than anywhere else. It's an edict from the church president that all boys are expected to get their Eagle. So, they get them..."

I've never heard of such an edict and don't believe it was issued. Maybe the President said that all boys should get their Eagle, but he certainly didn't mean they should get it artificially.

As to the topic of shoddy MB instruction...

My scoutmaster provided solid teaching, and in his home I learned to tie knots and lash for myself. But many of my own merit badges were earned at summer camp. In those classes, I think I probably experienced the "we taught this, you heard it, therefore you demonstrated knowledge" fulfilment of requirements on some occasions, and I missed out on some solid learning this way.

For example, I don't know how to sail very well, despite having the merit badge. I was signed off on the waterskiing merit badge, but I know for a fact (it was the most recent MB earned) that I shouldn't have gotten it, even by a reasonable stretch of the requirements--you're supposed to slalom ski for 30 seconds, and I probably managed twelve.

Then, on the other hand, I've done a lot of sailing at scout camp, and even managed to upturn capsized craft that was way out of my league. I know enough to be a fair tillerman and sailor. I was one of the better water-skiiers in my group, and I found it to be something I genuinely enjoy. I learned, and isn't that the point? Besides, with the amount of (albeit clumsy) sailing I did, I'm sure I demonstrated the required knowledge that was assumed in class.

No, that doesn't negate the fact that requirements may not have been met. I wish my experience had been otherwise, and I think there will always be some lingering doubt in my mind about whether I really earned the ranks I recieved. I guess that's something I'll just have to live with. But I don't think my scouting experience can be completely discounted, just because of the shoddy instruction I, and countless other scouts, have received.

Respectfully,

Artigas

No real experience yet... but I hope to be going through the MSF course and get my endorsement as soon as possible.

I was looking at a Honda Rebel earlier, but from what I've read in multiple sources, a Honda Shadow VLX would still be small enough to be a good beginner bike, but big enough not to outgrow too quickly.

Of course, all of this is predicated upon the idea that I can afford the costs of motorcycling... the MSF and licensing, the bike, the protective equipment, the insurance...

Sure, I'll stick around. I might even drop a line to the scoutmaster of our regular troop about this site, in case he might like to discuss/has questions.

Thank you sirs. You don't know how much your confidence, compliments, and assurance mean to me.

Respectfully,

Artigas

I'd just like to reiterate, in case people miss the edit to my last post, that my main concern here isn't if my paperwork will be approved or not. It's if it IS approved, would it be honest for me to accept the award, since it's likely that there's no way the higher-ups would know the BOR was not done according to procedure?

I think I'll wait to call it official until it's official. But thanks for the responses, guys!

ETA: So you don't think it would be dishonest for me to accept the award from this point, assuming I am approved for it?(This message has been edited by Artigas)(This message has been edited by Artigas)

My scoutmaster, as well as my two former scoutmasters, plus the district rep, sat on my Eagle BOR last night. He (and the other two former scoutmasters) only asked 3 or 4 questions apiece. The District Rep did most of it, and I passed. Immediately after the BOR was completed, the district rep realized his mistake, but proceeded to continue with the normal procedures and paperwork.

Is this really a problem, that my scoutmaster was on the BOR? Do I need to request a new one, supposing that the higher levels of approval don't catch the mistake? Or is my Eagle candidacy secure despite this fault in procedure?

Just trying to be a trustworthy Scout. Thanks for your help,

Artigas