Issue 565 – May 1, 2018

________________________________________
Hi Andy,

This isn’t really a question so much as it’s something we’ve learned along the way… As references for soon-to-be Eagle Scouts come in to us, we respond with thanks to the person participating in the process. However, more important is that we believe the Scout himself should contact all references and get permission to do in advance. They should ask the person if they would be a reference and why the reference is needed. Obviously, the Scout should thank them at that time, whether they agree to be a reference or not. Believe it or not, some Scouts just put names down on their application without asking. We do hear from people that won’t give a reference, because either they just don’t know the Scout well enough (in their minds) to do so or they’re just not comfortable providing a reference. More specifically, we’ve received notes from the religious reference stating that they “don’t know this Scout.” This is why we’ve found that coaching our Scouts in advance can contribute to a great learning experience. (Chet Wickett)

Yup, the Life Scout’s “Eagle coach,” Scoutmaster, or troop advancement coordinator does need to advise these Scouts to do exactly what you’re saying, in order to avoid the kinds of problems you’ve described.

(Luckily for Life Scouts going for Eagle, while they’re expected to list no less than five references, there’s no BSA-mandated requirement that the board of review must receive 100% of these, or even that they’re in written form.)
==========
Hi Andy,

I’m a merit badge counselor for Emergency Preparedness. As a firefighter, I have connections within our community’s emergency services organizations, and this has helped me, and the Scouts I counsel, fulfill the requirements for this merit badge. But I do have a question. Req. 7 says: “Take part in an emergency service project, either a real one or a practice drill, with a Scouting unit or a community agency.” I understand that I can neither add to or take away from the requirements. In the past, when we’ve done drills within the troop, we generally have the scouts acting as rescuers. But I often get requests for Scouts to act as victims for a drill. Would being a victim count as “taking part” in an emergency service project? (John Pinchot)

EP req. 7 has two parts. The first (a) is to “take part,” but it doesn’t state in what role. Consequently, whether rescuer, victim, leader, or other, it strikes me that this shouldn’t interfere with the intent or the language of 7a.
==========
Dear Andy,

My son’s Scoutmaster and troop committee chair (a married couple) don’t allow our Scouts to advance as they choose. Their belief is that Scouts must only work on merit badges with other Scouts; never individually. Over the past two years, my son has expressed interest in several merit badges and has asked his Scoutmaster for a signed blue card, but each time he’s done this he’s been told “No.” These two—the SM and CC—have decided that they’re the only ones who can “approve” Scouts to work on the merit badges the SM and CC agree upon, and only with other Scouts.

I’m a merit badge counselor myself. My son expressed interest in one of the five I counsel. But when he went to his Scoutmaster for a blue card he was stone-walled. He was told that any work he’d already done wouldn’t “count” unless he “demonstrated,” “told,” or “showed” his work to the SM and CC, and only once he found a “buddy” to do the remaining work with could he proceed further. And they still wouldn’t give him a blue card.

Assuming there are good reasons why he can’t transfer to another troop, what recourse does he have? These practices are clearly against the Guide to Advancement. There has to be a way that the troop can accept merit badge work signed by a registered MBC without putting the Scout through unnecessary paces. What should we, as his parent, do? (Name & Counsel Withheld)

This situation is incredibly unfortunate… and entirely wrong. It strongly suggests that your son’s Scoutmaster and the troop’s Committee Chair either have never taken, or have chosen to override, the position-specific training offered by your council and district. They also seem to fit the definition: Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

To be clear: The BSA clearly states that a Scout can embark on any merit badge he chooses to, with or without a “buddy” (although a buddy is strongly urged). The BSA also makes it crystal clear that a merit badge counselor can indeed counsel his or her own relatives including sons and nephews. Moreover, the BSA clearly states that that no one and no group (e.g., a troop’s adult volunteers) has the authority to alter or supersede any BSA advancement procedures or policies or requirements, including the signature of completion by a registered merit badge counselor.

ALL volunteers for Scouting have one primary responsibility: To be gate-OPENERS for all Scouts and not gate “keepers.” You, as a parent and a registered volunteer, have the right to go directly to your home district’s advancement chair and request that he or she step in and correct these two misguided volunteers. The incorrect actions of this SM and CC are damaging the Scouting experience for EVERY Scout in this troop, and the only ones who can fix this are you, their parents, so definitely take action and speak up! (If these two people continue to insist that they’re “correct,” demand that they show you this in BSA literature on the subject.)

Finally, consider forming an ad hoc “parents committee” to either get these two people in line with BSA policies and procedures, or get them thrown out of the troop and replaced by people willing to get it right!
==========
Greetings “Doctor Andy” –

I’m a volunteer Scouter in a very small city, and concurrently small council. We only have one week of Scout summer camp. My Scout son wants to enjoy the adventures of Scouting, particularly via the stellar summer programs offered in other councils. Locally, unfortunately, there’s no interest in experiencing the richness and fullness that Scouting can offer via out-of-council experiences, even though “provisional” troops are an option for out-of-council Scouts like ours. I don’t want my son being considered “on his own program” by his troop, but at the same time, there’s no interest in exploring the top-end that Scouting offers outside of our home council’s camp. Would it be wrong for my son to partake in out-of-council events that his troop doesn’t want to do? (Concerned Parent)

All Scouts are “free agents” and Scouting’s FIRST VOLUNTEERS! There’s no “mandate” that they participate only in their own council’s (or troop’s) events. If you son goes to camp with his troop (which I’m sure he’d want to do), and then also find another council’s camp that he’d like to go to (maybe even with a few of his friends), that’s perfectly okay.

Happy Scouting!

Andy

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you’d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that’s what we’ll do.)

[No. 565 – 5/1/2018 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2018]