Thanks for the explanations, both here and in the e-mails. I was probably being a little over dramatic when I said, I didn't know if I would get my son involved with an org. that handled problems in this manner. I am really not the type to judge an entire organization that I have always had a positive opinion of, based on one bad story. I did want to express how something like this can look to an outsider such as myself, and how this SM's attitude can hurt the perception of the org. as a whole. I understand that we are only hearing one side, but this lady seems to have been very open and honest and expressed this situation with great detail and concern, and I don't think she has been unfair in her evaluation. It appears that the "other side" is unwilling to express (even to her) his reasonning.
As was pointed out, the BSA's "chain of command" so to speak may be set up a little differently than I assumed, with little accountability to the national scope. But as (I think I) understand it, the BSA sets the roadmap that the scout follows to attain his Eagle Scout title. It certainly would be a shame in my opinion if this young man has done all that was required and is blocked from this goal due to what sounds like a personality conflict with one person. To me, these types of situations should be researched some, by those running the BSA. Regardless of the fact that the org. is run by volounteers who answer to a more local district or whatever. The BSA should not be so disconnected from its membership, not to be concerned with problems on a grassroots level. If there is a possible bad apple in the ranks acting as a representative of the BSA, then the BSA should at the least make a phone call to whoever is in charge of that region and request that he look into the complaint. And it is true that life is not always fair. Ussually it is not fair, that is a tough and disheartening lesson to learn. Sometimes life throws you lemons. But fairness should be a goal when an organization is dealing with youngsters where in there is an implication that rewards are based on merit and documented work. Not to change the subject, but I am finding only one cub scout troop in my area, and no boy scout troops. I am going to send an e-mail to the leader of this troop, about the possibility of my son joining up. I think scouting is right up his alley. Could there be other cub scout and boy scout troops that are not listed for some reason?