Eagle94-A1

Let me tell you the story of the "Unqualified SPL" There once was an 11 year old Tenderfoot. He was in the troop about 5 months when his patrol elected him PL. He did such a great job, that his APL nomintated him for SPL when his term as PL was over. So this 11 year old now Second Class Scout with 11 months in the troop was elected SPL. Now his dad is an Eagle, and active in Scouting still in too many roles. Dad thought it was a joke when told the son was elected SPL. Then he freaked out. Dad actually wanted son to think about what he was getting into and was he sure he wanted the job, and said it was not too late to back down. Son took it on. Over the next 6 months, the troop made a lot of progress towards being boy-led. The 11 year old Second Class Scout set a lot of good precedents. Was he perfect, no. Did he ask for help from his dad. yes. My proudest moment was when one of the older Scouts said my son was the best SPL the troop had ever had. And this was the ex-SPL whom my son looked up to. Sadly, a new influx of adults, as well as some health challenges with the SM caused major changes. The adults interfered so much that progress towards boy-led took an almost 180 degree turn, and the older Scouts have lost interest in being in leadership b/c the adults interfere so much. Heck they just did a fundraiser. SPL wants to divide the money up by the three patrols and let them purchase equipment they want/need. And one adults stated "They can do that, as long as they get what we want them to get."

The Survey was done in December 2014, and the results published were published in march-April 2015 on page 12 of this document found here: http://www.scouting.org/filestore/advancement_news/2015_Mar-April.pdf Some details of the results: 69% of respondents agreed at some level that the Eagle Palm program is an important factor in retaining Scouts. 80% agreed at some level that Eagle Palms strengthen the unit through continued participation of Eagle Scouts. 85 percent of those polled disagreed with awarding Palms based solely on earning five merit badges. In effect the new policy makes the "insta-palms" soley based on 5 extra MBs. 81 percent rejected the idea of allowing additional active time at Life rank to count toward Eagle Palms. In effect, the new policy does exactly this by awarding palms without 3 months additional tenure as an Eagle. 75 percent rated the three months of tenure as “very important, and another 19 percent rated it as “important.†(OK, I was off a bit with my statement above. but it still is 94% thought 3 months were important.) 78 percent agreed that three months was the proper tenure 80 percent agreed that activity outside the troop or patrol should be allowed in meeting the tenure requirement 87 percent rated the Scout spirit requirement as “very important,†69 percent rated the leadership requirement similarly. Regarding whether or not Bryan's Blog can be considered an official BSA source of policy, that question was asked on one of the blogs comments, and the answer was YES.

Under the FAQs on Bryan's Blog, they give guidance that if you had your EBOR this past Monday or earlier, you have to wait 3 months per palm. Yesterday and onwards, you can have 'insta-palms." And yes, I am part of the 94% who took the poll and opposed "insta-palms."

Again I would not wear it because i didn't go. But I also have enough "bling" that it would not matter. May I offer another option of making it meaningful? I have some very special patches framed and hanging in my office at home. My overseas collections, gifts from Scouts and friends, and some special ones I have earned/received over the years are on display.

1) WELCOME TO DA FORUMS!!!!! 2) Scouters should NOT interfere with the election of a units leaders. Let the Scouts vote and live with the consequences. If you interefere they learn NOTHING (emphasis) The Scouters in my current current troop interfered with unit elections last year. It sets the Scouts in the troop back. if you look at my previous posts, the adults would not let the leaders lead. It got so bad that I thought of restarting a troop that had folded. That interference is still affecting the troop today. The Scouts know what is up. If you truly have a Scout-run troop, they will take unit elections seriously. But if adults constantly jump in and interfere, they will not care. I know of a troop that had a real slacker and trouble maker decide to run for SPL. Scouts knew what was up and he only got 2 votes: his and probably his best friend's vote. 3) good luck

But it appears as if the BSA IS following the way the YMCA went.

Yes fine for you to wear. Most folks don't for the reason Col. Flagg stated.

My advice has always been to get the project over and done with. I know one Scout has 62 MBs and missed earning Eagle b/c of the project, Also know of Scouts waiting to the last minute to do a project, and it's a rush job.

This. Ticks. Me. Off. I did my project as soon as I turned Life.

Don't remind me about those seeking Eagle for the resume. Had one dad tell me he cannot wait for BSA to go coed so his daughter can earn both Eagle and GSUSA's Gold Award.

Sorry about the sarcasm. As you can imagine, I am in total disagreement on this. The palms were meant to be more than bling. They were meant to show going above and beyond by not only earning MBs, but continuing to give back to the Troop by continuing to serve. Now it's bling and has no meaning. If someone works the system, they can wait until they earn all 140+ MBs then have their EBOR, get all the palms, then quit. No further commitment.

I agree make it retroactive to 1927 when they first came out. heck, lets go back to 1912. As you can guess, I was part of the 94% who thought the 3 months tenure per palm as a good thing.

While I'd be cautious after what I've seen happen once, I wouldn't outright turn them down. Besides the troop I grew up in, I was an ASM in 2 other troops before oldest was even born. While I am a Scouting addict I wanted to give back.

1) WELCOME TO DA FORUMS! 2) Paperwork can vary. When I was a DE, I had a pack that took about 3 weeks from start to finish with paperwork. A year later, the troop's paperwork took less than 2 weeks! Another pack I worked on took about 3 months. 3) They key will be getting your troop functioning. Depending upon the guys you have starting up, it can take a short time, or a few years. Troop I'm currently with is about 7 years old. We are finally getting to a good point in my opinion. But we still have a ways to go too. 4) Good Luck.

LOTS of controversy on this one. Especially since it went against 94% of those surveyed.

Sometimes the "solo: ceremonies are the more special ones.

I’ve used Art of Manliness articles, as well as other resources, to supplement items in the BSHB and Field Book and other BSA publications that I find lacking or non-existent. I read my old 2nd edition FB and see entire sections missing from the 4th edition I have. I do not own 3rd or current 5th editions, so I cannot comment. As for demand for this type of program, yes there is. We have a new Scouter in the troop who does this type of programs. They sound great as they remind me of some of the more intense weekend campouts I did as a youth. Then he tells me the price tag. Some of these weekend trips cost as much as sending my two Scouts and I to summer camp! But as someone supposed for folks who do this, he was never a Scout. Same thing with another friend of mine. He is into the GoRuck craze. Basically intense weekend backpacking treks with some challenges. Again he was never a Scout. Thinking about this, one of my Eagles who would be an ace in these type of programs is into something more mundane: weightlifting. Only thing he still craves to do is Philmont, but he is “overweight†according to BSA’s guidelines since he is over 300 pounds.

Here's my problem with BSA. Not only on this issue, but on others, when they solicit opinions, they ignore them. Specifically this issue, what they are proposing, a separate program for girls, will not work. A) the girls only program has issues B) folks do not go for "Separate but Equal." I know studies from when I was an undergrad showed that single gender education programs worked better than coed programs,an apparently studies still show it as both the BSA and GSUSA have stated that much. But society want everything coed. BSA would do a lot better IMHO in making hte entire program coed from the get go than make minor changes and having the issue constantly appear. It's death by a thousand cuts.

I am not saying the Girls Scouts have problems. Girls, like your daughter, are the ones saying the GSUSA has problems. When the BSA went off the tracks in the 1970s, it listened to it's members, got Bill out of retirement, and went back to basics. I think that is why BSA is in better shape/

Troop growing up allowed ANY Scouting hat to be worn. We had folks with camp, Philmont, scout show, campaign covers, and even Canadian Scout hats. I got a hold a gray, British Air Scout beret. I wore it for a little bit. But prefer either the expedition or my smokey.

I WANT THE CAMPS NAME AND WRITE THAT THANK YOU LETTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (this time I'm shouting at the top of my lungs in joy!) Seriously, write that letter, because the camp needs to know the good it is doing.

Well I watched the video and took the survey. Looks like they want to what i call the Finnish Model: Cub Scouts is coed, then split into Boy Scouts and Girl Guides from approx. 1-approx 15, then coed, I think Venturers. It's been over 20 years since I saw this in play, so bear with me. While I would not mind the BSA using the Finnish model, in reality it would not work here. There are folks who will not be happy with "Separate but equal." Let's face it, IT ALREADY EXISTS WITH THE GIRL SCOUTS OF THE USA AND PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING INSTEAD OF FIXING GSUSA'S PROBLEMs. (emphasis, not shouting). And in all honesty, the palm survey really struck a nerve. National went against 94% of those polled with "insta-palms." 94% is almost a unanimous agreement. My gut tells me BSA will be going coed on or before August 1, 2018.

Heads up on Eagle Badges. IF you are not going to present them to the Scout, but use them for other purposes, the manager MAY sell you an extra or two. One of the things my troop growing up was make an individual table tops for our COHs and banquets.One side had the troop patch other side had an Eagle Badge, name of the Eagle Scout, and year. Scout Shop had no problem with us doing that, or buying an extra patch. Aside, since my troop folded, I'd love to get my table top as a memento.

Back in the day, I was the one who ran the trading post and responsible for ensuring we had enough supplies. First year was hard as we had no stats to look at to make sure we had enough supplies. It was all guesstimation, and there were several times I had to make runs to the main Scout Shop or meet my boss 1/2 way to get supplies. Second and subsequent years were much better. I ordered what we sold and added 10% to the order. While I had to carry more stuff back those years, I never ran out of supplies. Now food was a different. One thing that ticked me off to no end was the camp my oldest earned Basketry MB. They ran out of supplies. Supposedly the Scouts "shared" making the stuff, in my son's case, he made some items, his "buddy" made others. Yep, he got the MB. Mean father that I am, I told him he couldn't put it on the sash or use it for rank advancement until he made the missing item. I ordered the materials, and he finished it.

Love it.