switched troops

[maddoro]

We switched troops about 2 months ago because of scheduling conflicts. My oldest son has not received his Eagle letters of recommendation back from his SM and was also told that the SM only had 3 instead of the 5 my son had turned in/were sent. We also have not received our financial statement. Like I said, this is now over 2 months ago. I called, emailed, called again and the only thing I received back was a nasty email from the SM, he does not have time for THIS, he has OTHER boys to take care of.

What should I do to get the paper work? I am getting very frustrated.

[sst3rd]

Sounds like you switched Troops at a most critical time. Why couldn't you stay long enough to see this process through? Anyway, the Eagle Application package is turned into the Council after the Eagle Board of Review. What's the Scoutmaster doing getting the letters of recommendation? What "financial statement" are you refering to? Is this in reference to donated or purchased materials needed for the Eagle Project??? The Advancement Committee person or the Eagle candidate's Board of Review Chairperson should be dealing with this. You guys obviously left this Troop for more than scheduling reasons, and now you'll have to pay the price of getting all of this stuff together and turned in. Good Luck.

 

sst3rd

[k9gold-scout]

Any Eagle letters of recomendation should have either been sent to your council office or your district advancement chair. Also any paperwork should go to the district eagle board (this is run by the dist. adv. chair.) Has your son started of finished his project yet? If your old scoutmaster did not sign the eagle application, your new scoutmaste can sign when the project and badges are finished. The only financial info I know is the section in the eagle workbook asking what materials were used in the project.

Good Luck with the paperwork it's important.

[maddoro]

The only thing my son has to do is the Eagle project and Board of Review. The letters were never sent on to the council. The SM still has them. He told me that he lost 2 of them. There were five. We could have stayed with the Troop, but scheduling with sports and church events made it very difficult. That troop required the boys to be at 75% of the troop meetings and 50% of the outings.With our schdule we could not fulfill the requirements.

The finacial statement is the statements about quarterly dues, monthly camp outs that you pay for, money from fundraising that goes into the boy's account. Statements are given out every quarter and when boys switch or leave. I want to have the statement because the troop owes me a refund for 2 months due I had already paid, but then had cancelled the membership in an orderly manner before the next quarter, which I had paid for in advance.

[OldGreyEagle]

I dont know if you want the hassle, but the troop CANNOT enforce its 75%/50% requirement. If possible I would contact your Committee Chair and explain the situation, if no satisfaction, then contact your Chartering Organizaiton Rep, if nothing happens your unit commissioner, then if nothing your Distrct Commissioner (I didnt say this would be easy) and finally the District Executive. Other people on this forum may have other people in other sequences to contact, I am not sure mine will be the best. The bottom line is there should be no reason your son cant get his Eagle from the troop he started with. If that is not tenable, explain the situation to the references and get more letters. Dont let this get you down.

 

I do hate when troops require a given percentage of participation, it is so unscoutlike(This message has been edited by OldGreyEagle)

[maddoro]

I contacted the committee chair person many, many times nd he never replied. This is going on 2 months now. My son wants to finish his Eagle and the new troop is very, very understanding about other time committments, which the first troop was not. We just want those letter back to hand them in where they belong. The SM has them since May and never turned them in to the council. I will try to contact someone on a different level. Thanks.

[maddoro]

PS.: We don't want to go back to that troop. The new troop is much better, more supportive to our needs, more scoutslike.

[yaworski]

"I do hate when troops require a given percentage of participation, it is so unscoutlike"

 

So to determine "active in the troop" you'd rather use some hand waving that is completely subjective?

 

 

[firstpusk]

"So to determine "active in the troop" you'd rather use some hand waving that is completely subjective?"

 

We had an eagle the year before last that was captain of the local football team. As a senior, a lot of demands were made on his time. We talked with him and used him when he was able to help. The community got a beautiful bridge at the local park (his eagle project), we got a mature influence on the younger boys and he earned the eagle.

 

We knew that with football and other extra-curricular commitments we would not see him much of the time. But when he was there, he was an example of scout leadership of which we were all proud. The key is the SM keeping in touch with boys. He should anyhow when boys are missing meetings to find out if there is a problem to address.

 

These ones can be tough, but the manner in which this troop addresses the problem is untenable. When I hear of troops putting up attendance requirements like the 75%/50% one here, I think you can be sure that there is a problem with the program not the boys.

 

It is especially galling considering the unbusinesslike manner in which the eagle reference letters and the scout account were dealt with. I might start by talking to the commissioner to ask his/her idea on the best way to approach the situation. Not in a threatening manner. Instead look for the win/win. The unit does not want a black eye and your son wants to earn his eagle.

[maddoro]

Firstpusk,

Thanks for the input. We had 3 SM in 2 years. When I asked the last SM for the referenc letters, he told me : "I am done with this, I have other boys to care about." He never asked what my son was doing other than scouts and when couldn't come to a meeting because he was helping at the church the SM was upset. My son had to be at the meetings or would not get his scout spirit. I told the SM finally that I believe church activities are a part of scouting, which he did not agree with. I am just sad that a simple thing was handle so dramatically and now seems to get personally. What does that teach my son?

We will contact the commissioner (who is that ad where do I find him/her) and go from there.

Thanks again.

[k9gold-scout]

Firt check at your council's office to see if you son has all of his merit badges and rank recorded at your old troop. Now go to your district advancement chairman and and ask his advive on the project and final paperwork. Many districts have eagle workshops for Life scouts. He may have some helpful advice as far as letters of recomendations. You new scoutmaster can sign the eagle packet.

Use your effort to move forward instead of backtracking.

[maddoro]

Thanks, k9gold.

I really would like the letters to be sent to the appropriate place and I also want my financial statement. I have worked hard in that troop and hwat is being done there now just not fit what I belive scouting is. Those letter are about my son, his character and may be very personel. I do not want this information being kept by someone who does not follow the scout law. This all seems to a lie to me if it does not go the way it should go. We are moving on but I want to have a clear pass behind me and my son.

[yaworski]

Sounds like he made his decision and that Scouts were way down on the list. If he had treated the football team or the drama club in that way, would he have been either the captain of the team or leading man? Maybe when Hell froze over. Why should Scouting roll over for him?

 

I know why. Because parents think that their son "deserves" to be an Eagle Scout even if other things are more important and every one in Scouting is afraid to take a stance.

 

You gotta make your choices.

(This message has been edited by yaworski)

[firstpusk]

maddoro,

 

I am sorry to hear the troop was in such turmoil. I can understand why you are upset. The SM's remarks show a lack of grace. Is this guy trained?

 

I have to agree with k9gold-scout. If you can find a way to have your boy meet all the requirements with the new troop, go for it.

 

A point on the letters, you or your son should not have possession of them. They are confidential. Have the advancement chair of the current troop ask for any letters that the SM of the old troop might possess.

 

When boys leave a troop to go to another, it can be a sore spot for a scoutmaster. I say this not to excuse the behavior. It was wrong - especially the remark about being done with this and having other boys to care about. I just want you to use productive avenues that with end the conflict. You asking could be viewed by this guy as an attempt to rub it in.

 

You don't want to appear to be a "stage mother" for your boy's effort for eagle. Let someone that would be viewed more neutral make the request. This is your son's to earn and you don't want to do anything to taint it. If the request does not work, have it followed up by a letter again by an official from the current troop. At this point the CO, CC and UC should be copied. Before that letter is sent the advancement chair should contact each of these people to appraise them of the situation.

 

Good luck and support your son. This kind of situation can be very upsetting for a boy.

[slontwovvy]

yaworski,

 

Even though I agree with you, I feel your remarks might be a better subject of debate in a new thread.