{"id":2472,"date":"2019-06-25T17:49:20","date_gmt":"2019-06-25T21:49:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=2472"},"modified":"2019-06-25T17:49:20","modified_gmt":"2019-06-25T21:49:20","slug":"issue-605-june-25-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2019\/06\/issue-605-june-25-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 605 \u2013 June 25, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Dear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can I ask you some questions? In addition to being in a Scouts BSA troop, I\u2019m also a Sea Scout. I\u2019ve earned Eagle Scout rank and also received a bronze palm at the court of honor. Can I work on additional palms through my Sea Scout Ship instead of my troop? I\u2019m still pretty active with my troop, but I\u2019m spending most of my time with my shipmates right now. I have just enough time between now and my 18th birthday to earn a silver palm (I\u2019m working toward my gold palm right now), but my new \u201cblue cards\u201d are from my troop; not the ship. Does it matter where the blue cards came from? I\u2019m also confused about whether I can have a Scoutmaster conference with my Skipper or with my Scoutmaster, partly because the blue cards are signed by the Scoutmaster. Can you help me figure this out? (I’ve cc’d a parent here) (Scout\u2019s Name Withheld, Patriots\u2019 Path Council, NJ)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here are the current requirements for Eagle palms: After becoming an Eagle Scout and receiving the Eagle Palms you are entitled to, you may earn additional Palms by completing the following requirements: (1) Be active in the Boy Scouts of America for at least three months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after the last Palm was earned, (2) Since earning the Eagle Scout rank or your last Eagle Palm, demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law; tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life, (3) Continue to set a satisfactory example of accepting responsibility or demonstrating leadership ability, (4) Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm, (6) While an Eagle Scout participate in a Scoutmaster conference.<\/p>\n

So now let’s review…
\nRequirement 1 says that you will “be active in the BSA.” It does not<\/em> require being active in a specific unit type. This means that, as a Sea Scout active with a ship, this can count toward Requirement 1.<\/p>\n

Requirement 3 doesn’t specify where you “continue to set a satisfactory example of accepting responsibility or demonstrating leadership ability,” so that if this is done as a member of your ship, this would certainly count as “satisfactory.” This requirement could also be met by you as a member of an OA lodge or chapter, church youth group, student government at school, or other youth organization, since it doesn’t specify that this requirement be met in a Scouting unit!<\/p>\n

Requirements 2 and 5 can be accomplished in the same conversation, specifically with your Scoutmaster. Here, you can describe to your Scoutmaster how you accepted responsibility or demonstrated leadership ability in whatever youth group or groups you choose (refer to req. 3).<\/p>\n

So, since you\u2019ll be registered in your troop for no less than the next six months, and this is where you earned your Eagle and first palm, my overall recommendations are…<\/p>\n

(a) Have a conference with your Scoutmaster right away, to review this conversation between you and me\u2014especially reviewing the requirements\u2014and reach an agreement with him on how you\u2019d like to proceed.<\/p>\n

(b) Keep your Skipper informed of what you’re doing.<\/p>\n

(c) Remain registered in your troop till your 18th birthday (this should be simple!).<\/p>\n

(d) Continue your activities with your shipmates.<\/p>\n

(e) Preschedule your Scoutmaster conferences so that they match your necessary dates.<\/p>\n

(f) Pick merit badges that would be FUN and then enjoy your new knowledge!
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

My father said I should ask you\u2026 My Eagle court of honor is next week and there\u2019s an \u201cEagle Scout Mentor\u201d pin in the presentation box. What am I supposed to do with this? Can I present more than one mentor pin, or just one and that\u2019s all. Are there any rules on who to give it to? Thanks! (BTW, my Dad is copied on this email) (Scout\u2019s Name Withheld, North Star Council, AK)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for reaching out! The GUIDE TO AWARDS AND INSIGNIA says that the Eagle Mentor Pin is \u201cFor (a) non-parent who was instrumental in the Scout earning (his) Eagle; for non-uniform wear<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

I checked the \u201cBRYAN ON SCOUTING\u201d BSA blog, and the only reference there (10\/11\/13) said that this pin \u201cIsn\u2019t appropriate for (the new Eagle Scout\u2019s) troop-mates,\u201d but doesn\u2019t go on to specify or suggest anything further. I also checked the BSA\u2019s online resource, \u201cAwards Central\u201d (https:\/\/www.scouting.org\/awards\/awards-central\/) and was surprised that this recognition wasn\u2019t listed…or maybe I just couldn\u2019t find it.<\/p>\n

So, in the absence of any further official guidance, I\u2019m going to give you my own thoughts, in a sort-of chat\u2026<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with what we do know. First, we know that this isn\u2019t a pin for Mom or Dad because they each receive a special pin of their very own to signify their support of your quest an attainment of the rank. And we know it\u2019s apparently not for other Scouts (although I might argue that a fellow Scout\u2014your Patrol Leader or Senior Patrol Leader, for instance\u2014may indeed have played an important role in your earning Eagle). It looks like it\u2019s specifically for adults. And we know that it\u2019s not for uniform wear, although you\u2019ve already probably seen lots of Scouters wearing them (oh, well\u2026this isn\u2019t the Marines!). Beyond these guidelines, it\u2019s pretty wide-open!<\/p>\n

You might say that every single adult you\u2019ve encountered\u2014your Scoutmaster and assistants, your troop\u2019s Eagle advisor, and maybe even all the merit badge counselors who mentored you through the 21 necessary for this rank should get this pin. After all, they\u2019ve all been \u201cinstrumental\u201d in your earning Eagle. Yup, that\u2019s a lot of pins, but with \u201cinstrumental\u201d as the guidance, this is actually an option. This might even extend to a coach or music director who excused you from practices or rehearsals at critical times so you could complete your Eagle Service Project.<\/p>\n

But to me, even though these pins cost only $3.99, their significance goes way beyond their price. I\u2019d have to say they\u2019re not really for handing out like they\u2019re Skittles or M&Ms.<\/p>\n

A close friend and fellow commissioner I\u2019ve known for my entire Scouting life and beyond recently received an Eagle Scout Mentor pin\u2014something of a rarity for a commissioner. He already wears so many \u201csquare knots\u201d on his uniform that he\u2019s had to raise and re-sew the World Crest over his left pocket at least three times, yet he told me, \u201cOf all the recognitions I\u2019ve earned or received, the Eagle Scout Mentor pin stands alone: It\u2019s the one and only recognition that was ever given to me by a Scout. It means more to me than all the rest.\u201d<\/p>\n

This tells me it should be special. Yes, I know your Scoutmaster\u2019s always been there for you, but isn\u2019t that what Scoutmasters agree to do when they sign on for the job? Same with all other Scouting volunteers; they\u2019ve all signed on to serve the youth of their Scouting unit, community, district, and council.<\/p>\n

So maybe this is easier than we thought! Maybe it\u2019s a matter of just asking this one question\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cWho, in my experience, went beyond their normal Scouting role\u2014went above and beyond\u2014to play a crucial role in my deciding to and then achieving my goal of earning the pinnacle rank Eagle represents.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

I think that if you approach it this way the answer will reveal itself. Very best wishes, Brother Eagle.<\/p>\n

Happy Scouting!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Andy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

[No. 605 \u2013 6\/25\/2019 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2019]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Andy, Can I ask you some questions? In addition to being in a Scouts BSA troop, I\u2019m also a Sea Scout. I\u2019ve earned Eagle Scout rank and also received a bronze palm at the court of honor. Can I work on additional palms through my Sea Scout Ship instead of my troop? I\u2019m still […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2472"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2476,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2472\/revisions\/2476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}