Delaying BOR because...committee meeting for another troop and a holiday?

[DuctTape]

One of the purposes of a BoR in the early days was for the scout to gain familiarity with the job interview process. The BoR committee was made up of influential community people, and/or business leaders. It was a chance for the Scout to learn and grow at promoting themself and answering questions from unknown adults. I think it would be great if we brought this idea back. Conceptually it would not change current practice (or GTA regs), but it would provide both the committee and Scout a slightly different focus and perhaps make it more meaningful.

[qwazse]

I'll push back on @fred8033 that it's not a celebration. At least our BoR's don't throw confetti, play music, and serve pizza!

It's still a review. And I have had them tell a scout to come back in a couple of weeks because something was not up to snuff.

But, @Armymutt, it's no formality. It's also a great way to hear about troop life from the the scouts most engaged with the program.

The job interview analogy is apt. Also, some of us had to give a statement of faith to become a proper member of their church. By the time I had to do that, I had completed several BoR's and some of my church's elders were on the board. I think that helped me to better engage with that process.

Then there was Aunt Mary who loved to stir the pot at any family gathering. You weren't allowed to sit quietly in a corner around her. Yes, my BoR's help me keep my nerve in a hot-tempered Mediterranean family!

I think it helped my sons too. When I had friends over for dinner, they would be impressed that our boys would stay at the table and participate in conversation. Their kids didn't experience the adult association that mine did through scouting.

There are things that I think the advancement method has formalized unnecessarily (EDGE, bean-counting service hours, etc ...), but personal growth conferences are not one of them. If you are just jumping through hoops in SMC's and BoR's, you're doing it wrong.

[scoutldr]

On 11/10/2025 at 5:03 PM, Armymutt said:

We never had a BOR, other than for Eagle, in any of the three troops I was a member.  One was in IL, the others in England.  I don't even recall a SM conference.  We just completed the ranks and received the badge and card.  These seem like artificial barriers that are unnecessary.

A primary purpose of the BOR was to get a chance for Committee Members (who were less integrated in troop activities back then) to get to know the Scouts and have a conversation about their experience....feedback on how the troop program was meeting their needs.  Also it was a chance for encouragement and goal setting for the next steps.

[fred8033]

On 11/10/2025 at 10:39 PM, qwazse said:

I'll push back on @fred8033 that it's not a celebration. At least our BoR's don't throw confetti, play music, and serve pizza!

"Celebrating" as part of encouraging the scout to continue advancement.   No one said confetti, play music and serve pizza.   
 

On 11/10/2025 at 10:39 PM, qwazse said:

It's still a review. And I have had them tell a scout to come back in a couple of weeks because something was not up to snuff.

"not up to snuff?" ... that type of statement always scares me.   It's a review if all the requirements were completed.  It is not a review of whether completed requirements are "up to snuff".   It's not show how to tie a square knot or show how to do a square lashing knot.  Sending a scout back is a fall back option for when things have fallen apart such as the scout has a really bad attitude or the scout has been arrested by the police and a court date is pending.  

[Eagle94-A1]

Sadly the Powers That Be (PTB) in their more public communications do use the term "celebration" as well as saying the EBOR is not a "interview. 

 https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/11/07/an-eagle-scout-board-of-review-isnt-a-job-interview-its-a-celebration/

While they briefly mention, "While part of the board’s responsibility is to ensure that requirements have been met...," they later state " This candidate is by all intents and purposes an Eagle Scout when arriving at the board of review...Therefore, make the Scout’s Eagle board of review a celebration of their achievement."

My question is, how can you "ensure that requirements have been met," but consider the person "an Eagle Scout when arriving at the board of review?"

Now, I know that by asking questions about their experiences in Scouting, you can see if they really did the work. 

[fred8033]

1 hour ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

Sadly the Powers That Be (PTB) in their more public communications do use the term "celebration" as well as saying the EBOR is not a "interview. 

 https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/2018/11/07/an-eagle-scout-board-of-review-isnt-a-job-interview-its-a-celebration/

While they briefly mention, "While part of the board’s responsibility is to ensure that requirements have been met...," they later state " This candidate is by all intents and purposes an Eagle Scout when arriving at the board of review...Therefore, make the Scout’s Eagle board of review a celebration of their achievement."

My question is, how can you "ensure that requirements have been met," but consider the person "an Eagle Scout when arriving at the board of review?"

Now, I know that by asking questions about their experiences in Scouting, you can see if they really did the work. 

For Eagle ... that was always done at the council office by the person who confirms the scout is ready for an Eagle board of review.  ... they check things like are there enough days between each rank ... did the scout get the eagle project proposal approved ... was the eagle project completed and signed off by SM and beneficiary ... were all the merit badges recorded.  Is the scout currently registered in the troop? 

By the time the EBOR was scheduled (for our council), there no "requirements" to check.  

For lower ranks, the unit advancement chair should do the same thing.  Are there enough days between ranks?  Did the MBs get signed off by a registered MBC?  Did the SMC happen?  BOR checking "requirements" is about paperwork being right and not "quality" of how the scout fulfilled each individual requirement.  If there is a question about quality, then the BOR separately addresses the quality issue with the SM / MBC after and outside of the BOR.  

[Eagle94-A1]

8 hours ago, fred8033 said:

For Eagle ... that was always done at the council office by the person who confirms the scout is ready for an Eagle board of review. 

That is incorrect. Councils verifying the records of the Scout prior to the EBOR is relatively recent in BSA's history. Like since the late 1990s/early 2000s. Maybe even later as my memory is going. But I do  remember I was denied my Eagle because the council records were messed up. Had to use my BSHB and the signatures in it to correct the councils records, and get my Eagle. Same thing happened to several of my friends, as well as several of my Scouts. 

And I do not know of any council checking Eagle project paperwork. In none of the councils I have been in, have Eagle Project paperwork. That has always been the responsibility of the EBOR.

Now paperwork is the responsibility of the council, and they do check it. BUT the unit leadership now has access to those records, and can correct them. In my neck of the woods, unit leadership usually double checks the records prior to printing the application, and sending it to council for their approval. Which IMHO makes council approval redundant now.

Edited 3 hours ago by Eagle94-A1