Advancement Resources
Scouting ranks, merit bades, and the advancement programs
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LATEST POSTS
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Pictures... good to know. Son said he couldn't attach them to the actual workbook and I just took his word for it. Second son still has his workbook to start, so I'll let him know in case he tells me the same thing. -
It does support pictures. Physical signatures are an issue. At times, we've used printed emails from the reviewers as evidence of their approval in lieu of signature. Redundancy ... yep ... most if it is because things are written three times ... once as a concept / proposal ... once while doing the work ... once in hindsight after everything is done. I agree it can keep improving and evolving. It will never be perfect. I'm just very glad we have it. I really hope the project is more about the service than about the paperwork.
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I'm a defender of the project workbook in that it helps a scout understand the scope of the project better, makes the plan more realistic, helps reduce unforeseen issues, etc. But... In looking over my son's workbook there was a lot of redundancy that I'm not sure was helpful. He was getting advice from the Eagle Coach on how to write things out and what to include to increase the chances of approval by Council. That should, IMHO, be something spelled out in the workbook itself, not be information that a scout needs to get from someone else, lest his proposal be rejected or have the workbook come back for revision. From a technology standpoint, having to get physical signatures on a page then scan that and add it back into the workbook is something that could easily be improved. Being able to insert pictures, would be helpful.
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Because of the sins of the past, I am a strong defender of the project workbook. In our district before 2011, the district advancement chair (and his team) were from the troops that felt it was their job to require formal presentations and require the XXX hours and require large project proposal binders submitted in advance. I truly believe they perceived their job as adding steps so that the scout could appreciate earning Eagle. I also believe if they did not think the scout's experience was enough or the scout was not "worthy", then they would add even more hoops. Worst, they were effectively using their own troop's extra expectations for the rest of the district even though it was nowhere described in the requirements for earning Eagle or any of the BSA published guides. Our troop's scouts often had to go thru multiple months of project proposal review. In 2010, one of our scouts had four plus months of district reviews and was always was sent away with requests for more information. The last month was the district asking for the project proposal to include a map to the hospital just in case something happened. The project was painting rooms at his church and installing shelving. ... THEN ... THEN ... They lost the his three ring binder of the project workbook. The project workbook does NOT exist to make the scout's job harder. It exists to reign in the adults and to set level expectations across all units, districts and councils. IMHO, the workbook and the G2A have been a true gift.
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