Advancement Committee
Chairman:
E-mail: steve.fisher@obg.com
updated 1/24/2012
The Advancement Committee schedule for the 2011 - 2012 is as follows:
2011: September 15, October 20, November, 17, December 15
2012: January 19, February 16, March 15, April 19, May 17, and June 21
Additional sessions may be held as required to meet the needs of our District
Scouts.
The District Advancement Committee conducts Eagle Boards of Review, Eagle
Project Reviews, and administrates the District's Merit Badge Counselor
approval process.
Policies and Procedures of the Advancement Committee are issued
by the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America and can be obtained
from the BSA National Website by clicking on this link:
http://scouting.org/filestore/pdf/33088.pdf
This guidebook covers all aspects of the Advancement Process from Cub
Scouts through to Venturing and should be used by all units.
Eagle Application and Projects
A new Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook has been issued by National. All prospective Eagle Service Projects must use this version of the Workbook. The format is significantly different from the previous Workbook, which has been in use for many years, and should make the project execution easier.
A "PDF fillable" version of this document is now available,
as is the new Eagle Scout Rank Application. You will find them both at
the following links:"
The Eagle Scout Application :
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-728_web.pdf
The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/512-927_fillable.pdf
All projects must be approved by the District Committee
prior to starting the actual work.
The project review, as conducted by
the District Advancement Committee, is a process
to determine if the project is “Eagle” caliber and if the candidate
has an understanding
of what he is undertaking and what steps are required for implementation.
Much
emphasis is placed on the fact that the role of the Eagle Candidate is
to Plan the work,
Organize the personnel needed, and Direct
the project to its completion. His job is to
give instructions, provide guidance and encouragement, assure the work
is conducted
safely, adjust schedules and requirements, and document the whole process.
Documentation means maintaining detailed records of activities, manpower
and
expenses, plus a photographic record that will be used in his Project
Write-up. There is
no specific time (man-hour) requirement. However, the amount of time spent
carrying
out the project must be sufficient for the Eagle Candidate to clearly
demonstrate his
Leadership skills.
Eagle Board of Review
The Board of Review for an Eagle Candidate is composed of at least three
but not more
than six members of the District Advancement Committee. One member serves
as
chairman. The candidate’s unit leader may remain in the room, but
does not participate
in the Board of Review. In no case should a relative or guardian of the
candidate attend
the review, even as a unit leader.
There are no set questions that an Eagle candidate is asked. However,
the Board must
be assured of the candidate’s participation in all aspects of the
Scouting program. This
is the highest award that a boy may achieve and, consequently, a thorough
discussion
of his experiences and successes in Scouting should be considered. The
decision of
the Board of Review must be unanimous.I f the candidate does not meet
the
requirements, he is told the reasons for his failure to qualify and asked
to return at a
later date.
Life to Eagle Seminar
Periodically the District Advancement Committee conducts a Life to Eagle
Seminar.
Our last session was held in November 2011 at the Eastwood Baptist Church
on James
Street in Eastwood (two blocks East of Midler Avenue). The next Life to
Eagle Seminar
will be announced through all of our media as it becomes scheduled. Life
Scouts
should attend this informative session with their Eagle Scout advisor
to learn what is
expected to become an Eagle Scout.
Merit Badge Counselor Program
There are three things you must do to become a Merit Badge Counselor:
1. Submit a Merit Badge Counselor Information
Sheet. This form is available at the
Scout Office or on the Council Web Site.
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34405.pdf
2. Submit an Adult Application. This Application is required even if you
are currently registered as an Adult Scouter. It is available on the Web
at:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/524-501.pdf
3. Complete the Youth Protection Training and submit the certificate of
completion along with the other documents. The training is available on-line
at:
https://myscouting.scouting.org/_layouts/MyScouting/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f_layouts%2fAuthenticate.aspx%3fSource%3d%252f&Source=%2f
Submit these documents
to the Longhouse Council, 2803 Brewerton Road, Syracuse, NY 13211
If you are already an approved Merit Badge Counselor and are in the approved
counselor database, then the only form that is required is the Merit Badge
Counselor Information sheet. If you are not in the approved counselor
data base, your request to be a Merit Badge Counselor will be returned
with a letter explaining the registration requirements and an adult application
for you to complete. If you have a question on your status as a merit
badge counselor please contact Walt Shepard at: woshepard@verizon.net
Requirements for each Merit Badge are available at the Scout Office or
on the Web at:
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
This site has Merit Badge work sheets, links for background and research,
and guidelines for merit badge counselors.
Merit Badge Counseling guidelines and requirements are available
at the Scout Office, or on the Web at:
http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/GuideforMeritBadgeCounselors.aspx
Important
Information for Merit Badge Counselors:
Never meet alone with a Scout. Have at least one other person
present (either another Scout or another adult) with each Scout at all
instructional sessions.
Follow the requirements of the merit badge, making no deletions or additions
(no more / no less), ensuring that the advancement standards are fair
and uniform for all Scouts.
The Scout is to do
exactly what is stated. If it says "show or demonstrate," that
is what he must do. Just telling about it isn't enough. The same thing
holds true for such words as "make," "list," "in
the field," and "collect, identify, and label."
Talk with the Scout rather than examine him. There is a big difference,
yet you can find out what the boy knows. Express honest enthusiasm for
the things he has done, particularly if projects are involved. Your approval
will give confidence to the Scout.
The skills of a subject can be taught to several Scouts at one time. This
has a time advantage for you. However, the completing of the requirements
always must be done on an individual basis.