Issue 582 – January 15, 2019

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For the bunch of readers who reached out to Scouter Ray Acocella and gave him a line on several highly usable advancement-tracking spreadsheets, THANKS! It’s a wonderful thing when we can help each other succeed!

And I’m also happy to report that, the day after he wrote to me, the 90 year-old Scouting veteran Billy Strawn received his Eagle Scout Directory! Here’s what Billy had to say…

“You asked me to let you know what happened with that Eagle Scout Directory…The next day, there it was! Obviously it was already in the mail when I asked. I’m very pleased with it. It’s very good quality and very thorough with the information. I’ll be proud to show it to my kids, grand-kids and great-grand-kids. Thanks! Billy
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Hi Andy,

Can you help out with a clarification on “Scout Sunday”? I’ve always thought it was the first Sunday in February following “Scout Sabbath.” But I’ve also heard that it’s the Sunday closest to February 8th. For 2019, our council has set it for February 3rd. But the BSA says it’s February 10th as does the NLAS (National Lutheran Association on Scouting). Our troop is planning on recognizing our sponsored units and leaders on Scout Sunday—whatever date it might be. But it would sure help to know what date that is! (Jim Henshaw)

Good question! Yup, this can definitely be a bit confusing nowadays. Whenever possible, I prefer to use the BSA’s own published material rather that “winging it,” so here’s what I found in SCOUTING magazine…

“In the past, Scout Sunday was always held on the Sunday before the birthday of the BSA on February 8th. Realizing that each chartered organization has a unique schedule of worship, the BSA no longer uses that guideline. For 2019, the BSA lists Sunday, February 10th, as Scout Sunday. However, because some religious organizations’ calendars preclude this date, flexibility is the order of the day. For example, the United Methodist Churches that sponsor Scouting units have, for 2019, chosen Sunday, February 17th as Scout Sunday…”

Keep in mind that, ultimately, the BSA isn’t a “governing power” when it comes to dates like these; it’s the church or temple that ultimately makes this decision. The BSA does request that Scout Sunday be held in February, because February 8th was the BSA’s “birthday” in 1910 (plus, Robert S.S. Baden-Powell, Scouting’s Founder, was also born in February… the 22nd, in 1857!), but also note that—February and Scout Sunday aside—the BSA was chartered by the U.S. Congress on June 15,1916. Coming back to the beginning, any Sunday in February is just fine by the BSA!
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Hi Andy,
I have three interrelated questions today…

First, can a reviewer, in a board of review with a Life Scout on the cusp of Eagle, ask the question, “Do you believe in God”?

Second, It the Scout responds with a “No,” can he be failed, and denied his rank advancement?

Third (and last), Is it correct that, once the Scoutmaster’s conference has taken place prior to the board of review, that the next rank has been achieved and that the board of review is a formality—with the exception of the rank of Eagle. (K.R.)

These are all excellent questions! Their answers—to be complete and unambiguous—may take a bit longer than it took to ask, and I’ll do my best…

Your first two questions are linked, so let’s start here: In any board of review, anyone can ask, “Do you believe in God?” however, I personally advise coming at this in a more gentle and meaningful way, and in a way that ties the inquiry to Scouting. For example, consider approaching it this way: “The Scout Oath talks about our duty to God, and the Scout Law talks about being reverent. Would you take a few moments to share with us how you, in your personal life, try to live up to these two aspects of being a Scout?” (and then be quiet—don’t “re-explain” your question—just listen attentively).

Boards of review aren’t about “failing” Scouts! They’re about celebrating and reflecting on his accomplishments. If belief in God hasn’t been discussed between the Scout and his Scoutmaster in an earlier conference, the Scoutmaster hasn’t lived up to his responsibilities. But coming back to your question more precisely, if I had asked that (sort of importune) question and received a “No,” I’d definitely ask further, “Well, what is it that you do believe in?” and “How did you come by this decision?” and “Have you always felt this way?”

Understand that, while BSA membership is in-part based on a fundamental belief in God by any name, the BSA is completely non-denominational and great latitude is available; that said, no one can truly be a Scout (or Scouter, for that matter) absent this foundational belief. Thus, the board of review might need to be put on “hold” until further conversations, including with the Scout’s parent(s) as necessary, can be accomplished.

Further, it’s best for all to not wait to explore a Scout’s belief structure until he’s a rising Life or Eagle Scout. This is something that can and should be approached—but with compassion—as early as a Tenderfoot-level Scoutmaster conference and board of review.

For your third question, ALL boards of review—including that for Eagle—are confirmations and celebrations of achievement. They’re neither “kangaroo courts” nor “rubber stamps.” They have value to the Scout, in talking over what he’s accomplished and where his future path lies. They have value, from Tenderfoot (Scout rank has no review) through Life in giving the unit’s committee members an inside view of how well the troop and its Scoutmaster are delivering the Scouting program and the “Eight Methods of Scouting” you all youth members. For Eagle, those not necessarily directly associated with the troop have the opportunity to see for themselves what fine individuals the Scouting program gives the world!
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Hi Andy,

We have currently had a schism in our troop, and there are a lot of “hard feelings” going around… Seems that our now-former Scoutmaster, who resigned in late December last year and planned to assume the position of ASM, has been denied re-registering by our local council. (Apparently, there were “incidents” that led to the council’s decision—incidents that involved my own son.) Now we have an ASM who stepped up and volunteered to be an “interim Scoutmaster,” and he’s pretty closely aligned with the previous Scoutmaster.

My son is 17 and will be ready for his Scoutmaster conference for Eagle rank soon, and I’m concerned that he won’t get a fair shake from the new Scoutmaster. Is there anything in place for a Scoutmaster conference with someone other than the Scoutmaster, like perhaps with someone at the council level?

Thank you for any information you can provide for a situation like this. (Concerned Scout Dad)

Here’s the good news: A Scout doesn’t “pass” a Scoutmaster conference—he simply has one! That’s right. Read the exact words of Eagle requirement 6: “While a Life Scout, participate in a Scoutmaster conference.” If the Scout has done this (i.e., participated), he’s met the requirement.

To carry this to the extreme, even if the Scoutmaster should (stupidly and with no sensitivity whatsoever) go so far as to rake the Scout over hot coals, that’s still a conference and the requirement is completed. Further, the Scoutmaster is obliged, even in this extreme circumstance, to acknowledge that the conference has taken place.

Taking this one step further, under the UNIT APPROVAL section on page 2 of the Eagle Scout rank application, if the Scoutmaster should, for some other dumb reason, refuse to sign, then the situation becomes an “Eagle Scout Board of Review Under Disputed Circumstances,” which is addressed at length in the BSA’s GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT, Topics 8.0.3.2 through 8.0.4.2.

Thanks for reaching out! If you have any further questions on this, or if your son is concerned in any way, write to me again and let me know. I’ll go to bat for him in all the ways available to me.

For your son: Keep your spine straight and strong, and your head held high.

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. 581 – 1/15/2019 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2019]