The Phil-list May_2007: [philmont] Eagle Scout

From: Jack Bolinger <bolinger@cox.net>
Date: Tue May 01 2007 - 14:07:28 CDT

Dan:
This is what NEEDS to take place. The scout is entitled to his Eagle
Board of review. It matters not that the scoutmaster refused to sign the
project as being completed. The scoutmaster also probably will refuse to
sign the application. NEITHER signature is required. In fact the 12 steps to
Eagle outlines the process if a scoutmaster refuses to sign. The buck DOES
NOT stop with him. The troop committee chairman can sign both or either on
behalf of the troop. Then the application can be processed normally. The
EAGLE BOR can consider the fact that the scoutmaster failed to sign and
investigate why and make an independent determination as to whether the
scout met the requirements or not.
Changing the scope and a project and not seeking approval to do so from
the scoutmaster, the unit committee, the beneficiary of the project and the
district advancement chairman may be sufficient enough reason for the Eagle
Board of Review not to pass the scout. Similarly lying about what was done
can get an eagle candidate in hot water. It sounds like the project was in
fact done. A project doesn't have to be done by scouts it can be done by
ANYONE that works under the direction of the scout who must show his
leadership in directing the workers. The fact that he went back and did the
actual project that was approved bodes well for the scout at the Eagle board
level.

I am hopeful that there was a scoutmaster conference of some type
even if it was merely the scoutmaster telling the scout that he would not
sign the project booklet. The date of this meeting needs to be before the
scout turned 18. The conference doesn't mean that the scoutmaster approves
the scout but merely that one took place. It could in fact be one where the
scoutmaster outlined the scout's deficiencies. That date needs to be placed
on the application. The committee chair then signs that the conference took
place.

If the committee chair also refuses to sign then the scout needs to
file his application anyway and the District should convene an Eagle Board
of Review. The lack of signatures should NOT prevent the scout from having a
board of review. If the board agrees with the scoutmaster then the scout can
appeal to the council advancement committee. However of the district agrees
that the boy met the requirements then it can award the rank of eagle
without the scoutmasters or committee's signature. ANY SCOUT IS ENTITLED TO
A BOARD OF REVIEW. Prior scoutmaster approval is not required. The board can
consider his refusal however. Please read the 12 steps to eagle in the
project booklet. It will cover some of this.

Jack Bolinger
District Advancement Ch.
Beau Bassin District
Evangeline Area Council

-----Original Message-----
From: philmont@troop47.com [mailto:philmont@troop47.com] On Behalf Of Daniel
Preston
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2007 2:21 PM
To: philmont List Member
Subject: [philmont] Eagle Scout

This is completely off-topic but I have come to respect the combined
wisdom of this list more than any other resource that I know, so here
it is:

I have been asked by a parent of an Eagle Scout candidate to attend a
meeting with her, her son's scoutmaster and a few committee members to
discuss why the scoutmaster refuses to sign-off on the Scout's
completed Eagle project. The Scout has now turned 18, so the
scoutmaster's approval is critical to his obtaining the Eagle rank. As
I understand it, the scoutmaster has two objections to the Eagle
project:
1. He changed the scope of the project while it was being executed.
2. He embellished the work in his final write-up.

The project was to make improvements at a local City park. A small
part of the project was to paint a basketball goal. However, the
weather was cold over the weekend of the project, so the Parks
Department did not want the basketball goal painted. In lieu of
painting the goal post, the Scout adjusted his project to include
mulching about 70 trees. The following weekend, his family painted the
basketball goal.

In his final write-up, the Scout said that the basketball goal had been
scraped, primed and painted, which was not accurate. They simply
painted it with a final coat of paint.

The scoutmaster is upset that the project scope varied from the
approved project and has accused the scout of "lying" about the work
that was accomplished. I don't know the scout well - his brother is a
member of our Troop, but I do know that he is a good kid. He was very
active in his Troop and was twice elected Senior Patrol Leader. He
completed all of his Eagle requirements except his project by age 15.
There has been some conflict between the Troop leadership and Scout due
to his lack of participation over the last year. They rejected his
project write-up repeatedly without giving him good explanations why.
I read one of his write-up's that was rejected and it was the most
complete, thorough description of an Eagle project that I have
reviewed.

Although I know the scoutmaster, I am an outsider to the Troop
committee and am not sure what help I can provide for the Scout's
parent. This is not your typical Boy Scout Troop. It is the largest
Troop in the area and is run like a corporation, with a very active
committee and a six-figure endowment fund. The Scout's parents don't
think they will have any luck appealing at the District or Council
level because of the Troop's strength and connections. Any advice?
Any similar experiences?

Dan Preston
Scoutmaster, Troop 319
Louisville, KY
Philmont '70, '72, '02, '06

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Received on Tue May 1 14:39:21 2007

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