Issue 568 – June 5, 2018

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Hi Andy,

On a Scout’s position(s) of responsibility relative to six months’ tenure in one or more slots, I advise our adult volunteers that if there’s a Scout who has this position but isn’t showing up to fulfill its responsibilities, then it’s time to remove the Scout from that position. The Scout needs to be told that the position has ongoing responsibilities; it’s not a “no show” position. Frequently, adult volunteers are shocked to learn that if a Scout holds the position for a full six months but hasn’t shown up and also hasn’t received any counseling about this, the Scout does receive tenure-in-position credit—if it’s for a rank requirement, that requirement has to be considered completed.

Maybe the BSA GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT needs to specify what “the unit’s minimum expectations” should be. I know that expectations can vary, troop-to-troop, but this can sometimes create a dispute at Eagle boards of review because the Scoutmaster or Committee Chair might refuse (or both) refuse to sign the Scout’s rank application because he—the Scout—didn’t meet the minimum expectations that were communicated to him. (Chet)

If a Scout’s not doing his job, as described to him at the outset (this has to happen so that there are no later misunderstandings), then he needs to be counseled to get on the ball. If he still isn’t performing, then a second counseling conversation (I wouldn’t wait more than two weeks) is in order. If this one is also unsuccessful in producing a more positive result, then the Scout needs to be asked to resign and to pick another job that he’s able to do (and that’s available, of course). If there are none, well, he’s just going to have to wait till there’s an opening. (This is, after all, “training for life”!)

The two keys, of course, are (a) an up-front agreement on the responsibilities of the position and the Scout’s commitment to carry them out, and (b) no waiting around when nonperformance is happening. Help the Scout course-correct or nip it in the bud. Our “job” is to help Scouts succeed; it’s absolutely not to simply stand by and do nothing to guide them while they’re failing.
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Hi Andy,

I have a question about Eagle Scout service project hours. I understand that there’s no minimum number of hours for projects, but now that I’m our troop’s Eagle Coordinator, I want to make sure I’m putting out accurate information to our Life Scouts on how to approach their service projects for Eagle. When counting total hours (including his own) for a project on the Eagle rank application and in the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook, does a Scout start counting hours after the four signatures are complete at the end of the “Proposal” section of the workbook? Or is it okay for a Scout to start accumulating and counting hours that he spends in the preliminary stages of defining his project and when he writes a draft of the Proposal section (and maybe subsequent revisions) that’s ultimately signed by the potential beneficiary, his Scoutmaster, his Committee Chair (or representative), and the District Eagle Coordinator? I’m asking because I have a feeling that many Scouts under-report the time they spend defining the scope of their projects and I’d like to see them receive credit for all of their efforts that benefit the community. (Chris Kolm, Mt. Diablo Silverado Council, CO)

As soon as a Scout begins to seriously contemplate possibilities for what he’d like to do and starts thinking and writing, the clock has started. (Yup, it’s that simple!)
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Hi Andy,

Your recent discussion about counting service hours brings up an issue we recently faced, and I’d like to get your take on it…

The way I see it, service time is not just time spent with “shovel in hand,” but also promoting and representing Scouting in the community. For example, when our troop marches in our community’s Christmas parade, we count that as service. The whole event usually lasts about a couple of hours, but since it promotes Scouting, we count it. Same with Scout Sunday: That’s service too, IMHO.

But at our most recent Scout Sunday, at which one of our Scouts operated the sanctuary’s sound board, he arrived in uniform, but with a jacket over it, while all other Scouts, in uniform, marched in together and sat together in the pews. Before the service began, I suggested to our sound board Scout that, since he was representing Scouting and our troop, he should remove his jacket so that the congregation knows he’s a Scout, too. But he kept it on.

I don’t believe his presence that morning should be counted as service, since he didn’t contribute to the troop’s participation in the service, and no one was aware that he was a Scout because he hid his uniform under his jacket—even after I suggested he remove it.

But I’m having some second thoughts now, and I’d appreciate your take on this. (Name & Council Withheld)

Let’s start here: No service-related requirement anywhere among the ranks or merit badges insists on a uniform. In fact, not a single thing in Scouting makes uniforms mandatory—not even boards of review.

So, for your Scout who kept his jacket on, even though you “suggested” he do so, since (a) you’re not his direct leader and (b) you made a suggestion (understand that a “suggestion’ doesn’t make anything “mandatory”) you might just want to cool your jets on this one. After all, running the sound board for the entire service is a lot more rigorous and exacting than the efforts of those in the pews.
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Dear Andy,

In our troop, following Scoutmaster conferences, the Scouts must report to the troop treasurer to confirm that their dues have been paid before they’re granted their boards of review. If a Scout is in arrears, his review isn’t granted until paid up. Our troop’s committee members have had some heated discussions about this process. Defenders claim that it’s necessary so that we don’t “cheapen” advancement and so that families aren’t being irresponsible with their financial obligations to the troop. Those opposed believe that this is an “added requirement” and that we’re teaching our Scouts little more than how to deal with a bureaucracy and, at worst, outright discouraging some boys from advancing. Can you provide any advice or thoughts on this? Thanks! (Confused Committee Chair)

A Scout’s advancement and his parents’ currency with dues and other financial obligations to the troop are separate issues. The troop treasurer’s responsibility is to assure that all such obligations are paid; there should be no connection between dues and ranks.

Moreover, Scouts aren’t “granted” boards of review. A troop’s adult volunteers are obligated to provide timely and non-prejudiced boards of review for each Scout who, having completed all requirements, is ready to advance to his next rank.

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. 568 – 6/5/2018 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2018]