NeilLup

Our council is considering this but likely only for direct contact leaders phased in over several years. Training records are a major concern of mine. Availability of training is another. Having said that, is any of us really comfortable entrusting their child to a Scout leader who is unwilling/unable to take the time to become trained to do their job in Scouting. There are, after all, at least 3 ways to be certified as trained: 1) Group training 2) Personal coaching 3) Self study (including on-line) If someone is an experienced leader doing the job, they c

Having worked with more DEs in over 50 years of Scouting than I can count, I respectfully suggest that, in a case like this, it is the job of the District Executive to: 1) Listen to the parents 2) Make a reasonable decision on who should be involved (himself/herself, some volunteer(s) or some combination) 3) Help get those people involved and help come to a good conclusion If the unit goes defunct, it will be the responsibility of the District Executive to explain why and to come up with another unit to replace it. The District Executive would then like to dropkick the in

Hello Ev, I suspect that I didn't make my point clearly enough. The Scout shouldn't have to do those things. Nor, in my opinion and according to the BSA advancement guidelines, should he be required to show blue cards for every advancement. So here is the scenario. The Scout is preparing for his Eagle application and Board of Review. He is told that he must have the blue cards for all of his merit badges. He doesn't have all of them. I make the presumption that the effort has then been made by the Scout and/or by the unit to reason with the Council Advancement C

I agree, Snoring Bear, but I thought that I had read of somewhat of a more pugnacious approach suggested.

"I think we can all agree this Council Advancement Committee has set up a lose-lose situation. I'm just glad I'm not in this Council. " Hear hear! And I'm particularly glad that I don't have a son who is a Scout there. However, I suspect that every council has some policy or area like this. It's just that in this council, the area is advancement which is an area that allows National appeals.

Hello John and Ev, In your appeal, appeal, appeal scenarios, is there one factor you may not have reported. It's a Scout's Eagle, not yours. If some Scout has the blue cards, he presents them, no problem. If he doesn't, then he has the decision about which is to his greater advantage, getting them replaced or appealing. If, for example, he is thinking of Eagle palms, I believe that the time waiting out the appeal would detract from his eligibility time for palms. I would believe that replacing the cards would be, in most cases, the far simpler and fast

"That was you. Maybe your parents were enablers like so many post 1960s parents. "Don't worry, we'll get a new one." If it means something to the kid and his parents haven't stressed that nothing is important enough to worry about, he'll hang onto them. " With respect, I believe this is uncalled for in this case. I would respectfully suggest that the Scout is totally within his rights thinking that: 1) He has the merit badge card given to him by the Board of Review or 2) He has the merit badge itself or 3) The information is in the Troop records or 4) The information ha

A couple of thoughts: 1) Twocubdad - You're right. Suggesting bringing a Scouting memento is a great idea for a BOR discussion item. However, REQUIRING it, particularly before scheduling a BOR is something else entirely. 2) As has been written many times. I would suggest that an essential principle is "no surprises." If the Scout was told, at the time that he got his first blue card, "be sure to keep this as you will be required to have every blue card at the time you go for Eagle Scout", then that is one thing. If it is something that is sprung on the Scout as he i

Actually, Kahuna, I believe that technically, Eagle Scout awards are made by the National Court of Honor. It is a formality but I believe that is how it is done. Also, I believe that the Distinguished Service Awards (Silver Beaver, Antelope, Buffalo) are made by the National Court of Honor. Again, it is a formality for all but the Buffalo as when a person is recommended by the local council or by the region, the award is made. A friend of mine was, for a couple of years, chairman of the National Court of Honor. They did actually meet to consider and select nominations for t

One practical reason I can see for the BOR to have blue cards is to learn which counselor approved which merit badges. If, for example, Mom and Dad approved 18 of his 21 merit badges, it might be a topic of discussion. Having said that, REQUIRING the blue cards is, as others have said, adding to the requirements. I do believe that the Scout is required to document that he has earned the merit badges. This was presumably done at the time the advancement report was originally submitted to the council. If the Troop uses them, the Scout should have cards for the merit badges. N

To answer the original question, my understanding is that a Scout who turns 18 during the year remains a Scout until the Troop reregisters. He is no longer permitted to advance but does remain a member. (As noted often, advancement is one of the 8 methods, not the be all and end all of Scouting.) At age 18, he is permitted but not required to register as an asst. Scoutmaster. Upon reregistration, he either must be registered as an adult or his registration dropped. If he is mentally challenged, he can remain a Scout and advance as long as his mental age is under 18. Please

"I do think that if a family has an Eagle Court of Honor in its home and elects to serve adult beverages, I am not sure how to stop them. Troop adults can leave, but to tell someone that in their own home they are enjoined from serving alcohol due to BSA policy is not an argument I want to make" The methods are exceedingly simple but potentially very painful: 1) The Troop has a policy -- no Eagle Courts of Honor in parent's homes or 2) The Troop has a clear understanding with the parents that the ECOH is a Scouting function. The guidelines of the Guide to Safe Scouting will

Hello Your Honor, That's my point about being allowed to twist in the wind. The council could have said "This was an after day camp activity held for the benefit of the Boy Scouts of America, an educational institution. Participating were an employee and a number of adult volunteers. Two youth were present and care was taken to ensure that they did not consume any alcoholic beverage. No Scout uniforms were worn." This would, of course, have required the council to stand up to these two mothers and support their DE. Do I misunderstand how the law is interpreted?

I missed this earlier, but here would be my suggestion. I understand that it has gone now to the boy's father and may be too late but here goes. Once upon a time, I was general manager of a small division of a very large company. There was a story that one of the other general managers had become extremely angry with a supplier and had written an absolutely flaming letter to the supplier. The president of that supplier had simply written to the president of our very large fortune 500 company enclosing the letter and said "Apparently someone has gotten ahold of your stationery and

Hello Your Honor, I think that I know the answer to this question but didn't this activity fall under the "benefit or other auspices of an ....educational institution" provision. Or was the DE allowed to twist in the wind?

"Unfortunately, when you agreed to move the troop ECOH to their home, you lost control. The parents are within their rights to tell you to "get bent" if you try to enforce BSA rules in their home. " With respect, Scoutldr, I strongly disagree with this. Let's say that the parents of a Scout agree to let the Troop camp on their private property on which their house is located. The parents choose to dispense with some of the rules G2SS on their private property. Say, for example, they are perfectly comfortable with adults tenting with youth, showering with youth, etc. In

From the Guide to Safe Scouting: "The Boy Scouts of America prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages and controlled substances at encampments or activities on property owned and/or operated by the Boy Scouts of America, or at any activity involving participation of youth members" It would seem to be very simple. If it is an Eagle Court of Honor and youth are involved, it would fall under this provision of the Guide to Safe Scouting. And it would be hair splitting of the first order to say something like "Well the Eagle Court of Honor with the youth is in the living room and the

Let's see: Patrol Leader Training 1958 SPL Training 1960 Scoutmaster Basic 1969 Cub Leader Training 1975 Explorer Training 1995 Wood Badge 1970

At the risk of taking a very positive thread and turning it a bit negative, there is an element of goofiness which can come with dating Venturers. Venturers date each other quite commonly. The rub comes that "adults" are not allowed to date "youth." And "adults" are defined as 21 or over -- even one day over -- while "youth" are under 21, even one day under. There was a story I heard that several years ago that the National Venturing President (male) was dating the National Venturing Secretary (female.) He was 20 and she was 19. Everybody thought it was cute. Then (shudde

" Sorry Neil -- I don't think panicking a Scout for the fun-of-it does a thing to advance character, citizenship or fitness." That's why they make vanilla and chocolate. I wouldn't do it with a Scout who is nervous or marginal. But for a guy who comes in loaded for bear and arrogant as the day is long -- it can sometimes be beneficial to teach that old age and treachery can defeat youth and enthusiasm.

" Covenant of the Goddess sponsors the Over the Moon award and Hart and Crescent for Wiccan Youth. It may not be approved by BSA, but there is something out there." In theory these exist. As a practical matter, they may not. WE have a superb Wiccan Scouter in our council and I nominated him for the "Hart and Crescent Distinguished Service Award" offered by the Covenant of the Goddess including paying the cost of the award personally. I first wrote them 18 months ago and then again about 9 months ago. I haven't heard a word. In my second letter, I asked if the award was not g

"I do love seeing the look of panic as they think I'm serious. " And THAT, my friend jet, DOES contribute to citizenship, character and fitness.

I'll be interested to see GKlose's definition, but here's my example: Scout comes into Board of Review Is handed a piece of rope Is told "Tie a bowline." Knot is examined by members of the Board of Review Is told "That's wrong. You fail the Board of Review."

Hello Narraticong: "Both are being welcomed back to their Dens for a second year as Den Chief. " Did both of your Den Chiefs qualify for the Den Chief Service Award?

"If it isn't in the Boy Scout HB, then shame on him for expecting the Scout to know something that isn't covered in the manual. " "And thank you, fgoodwin, I wanted to say that too. If it's not in the book, I think it should be barred from formal examinations. Right?" ARGGGGGH!!! The Board of Review is NOT AN EXAMINATION. If it is, there are really serious problems. If there is retesting going on, then there are really, really, really serious problems. And the only reason I can see for being bothered by this question would be if the Board of Review were a retest. I