school work for merit badge requirements?

[Hunt]

In my son''s troop, the Advancement Coordinator (me) also assists with paperwork involving MBCs--such as getting people to agree to serve, sending in the required documentation to the district MB "dean," and also assisting the SM with identifying available MBCs. The boy still goes to the SM to get his blue card signed.

For the MBs I counsel, I would use a rule of reason as to whether I would accept something done before the blue card was signed. Sometimes it''s obvious that you should accept it (serve in a school band, for instance). Sometimes it''s pretty obvious you shouldn''t (I wouldn''t accept a letter written in second grade). In between, you have to use your discretion, and remember that it''s for the boy''s benefit, not to hold him back.