Eagle Scout Board of Review Policy

As provided in the Guide to Advancement, section 8.0.3.0: “Council advancement committees must determine — and make known — method(s) for conducting Eagle Scout boards of review: whether unit committees or the council or district advancement committees administer them, and also how board chairpersons are selected.” Potawatomi Area Council has elected to have the Eagle Scout Board of Review (“EBOR”) exclusively in the hands of the district or council. Nothing in this policy adds to or subtracts from any other part of the EBOR policies as provided in the Guide to Advancement. Any aspects of an EBOR not addressed in this policy should be referenced in the appropriate section of the Guide to Advancement.

The policy of Potawatomi Area Council is that the EBOR shall be administered at the district level. The District Boy Scout Advancement Coordinator (or Council Boy Scout Advancement Committee when necessary and at the council committee discretion) or his or her appointed representative have sole discretion to determine the members of an EBOR, consistent with the eligibility requirements found in the Guide to Advancement. Units may not determine the members of an EBOR.

It is further the policy of Potawatomi Area Council that every EBOR shall have at least one member representing the district on the EBOR. That member of the district shall serve as EBOR chair, or, if there is more than one, they shall decide between themselves which shall be chair. Only persons accepted by the Boy Scout District Advancement Coordinator are eligible to be a district member of an EBOR.

Potawatomi Area Council acknowledges, as provided in the Guide to Advancement, that Eagle Scout Board of Review Members must be 21 years of age, may not be parents, relatives or guardians of the subject Scout, may not be unit leaders or assistant unit leaders in the Scouts own unit, and there must be no less than three and no more than six members of the EBOR. The candidate may have no input as to the members of the EBOR. It should further be noted that an EBOR should take approximately 30 minutes and should not take more than one hour.

EBORs are to be conducted following the guidelines provided in the Guide to Advancement. In EBORs a certain level of formality is expected, but it is important that the atmosphere be relaxed. While the EBOR is tasked with determining if the Scout did what was needed to meet the requirements, it shall become neither a retest or “examination,” nor a challenge of his knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishments.

Group Merit Badge Instruction Policy

This Potawatomi Area Council policy is to ensure that all badges earned in a group setting are instructed and earned in compliance with the aims and goals of Scouting:

POLICY STATEMENT

Excerpt From Guide to Advancement No. 33088: [ 7.0.3.2 ] — Group Instruction

It is acceptable—and sometimes desirable—for merit badges to be taught in group settings. This often occurs at camp and merit badge midways or similar events. Interactive group discussions can support learning. The method can also be attractive to “guest experts” assisting registered and approved counselors. Slide shows, skits, demonstrations, panels, and various other techniques can also be employed, but as any teacher can attest, not everyone will learn all the material.

There must be attention to each individual’s projects and his fulfillment of all requirements. We must know that every Scout —actually and personally— completed them. If, for example, a requirement uses words like “show,” “demonstrate,” or “discuss,” then every Scout must do that. It is unacceptable to award badges on the basis of sitting in classrooms watching demonstrations, or remaining silent during discussions. Because of the importance of individual attention in the merit badge plan, group instruction should be limited to those scenarios where the benefits are compelling.

Who This Policy Applies To

·       Sponsors of events involving merit badge instruction for multiple scouts including:

o   Council sponsored events

o   District sponsored events

o   Unit sponsored events that are offered to Scouts from units other than the sponsor

General Guidelines for All Group Merit Badge Instruction

·       The Council Boy Scout Advancement Committee shall:

o   Post this policy on the council’s advancement website

o   Publicize the policy through the district roundtables

o   Maintain a current list of qualified merit badge counselors

o   Receive and give prompt review to all applications for group merit badge instruction events

·       Class structure and operations must comply with the following:

o   The class size should be limited for each counselor, to provide sufficient opportunity for individual review with each Scout.

o   Merit badge sessions should be of adequate length and depending on the merit badge, pre-requisites defined to allow the merit badge to be completed in the time allotted.

o   Each class must be taught by a qualified merit badge counselor who is listed on the PAC merit badge councilor list for the merit badge they are instructing.

o   The location of the event must provide an appropriate venue for reviewing the subject matter of the badge.

o   Requirements cannot be altered in any way to fit the event format. For example, if the requirement is for a Scout to create a spreadsheet on a computer, they must do it individually and not as a group. Showing the Scout how to do a requirement does not meet the requirement for the Scout to demonstrate the requirement.

·       Advancement standards are:

o   The Scout must be reviewed individually by the counselor to ensure that he has met all of the requirements.

o   Partial credit must be given for partial completion of a merit badge.

o   All attending Scouts must bring an approved merit badge application (blue card) with them signifying their unit leader’s approval to attend. Fliers and registration materials should urge Scouts to contact a counselor and complete certain requirements prior to the event. Blue cards shall not be issued at the event. (If a Scout does not bring an approved Blue Card, the Scout may not be signed-off at the event.)

Additional Guidelines for Unit and District Group Merit Badge Events

·       Council Boy Scout Advancement Committee application approval must be requested at least 30 days in advance of the event date. The request must include a completed Potawatomi Area Council Application for Group Merit Badge Instruction with appropriate attachments.

·       Event sponsors who wish to charge a registration fee are encouraged to charge no more than their expected costs.

·       Sponsoring organization responsibilities include:

o   Complying with this policy and all other BSA advancement and activity policies.

o   Providing a list of all counselors and their phone numbers at the event for Scouts to follow-up and complete the partially approved badges.

Additional Notes:

·       Organizations planning group instruction for members of their unit only do not need to obtain council approval.

Latest JtE Dashboard

Training Update

This is Scouting is no longer a mandatory training for a unit leader to be considered "trained."  Leaders will need to complete Youth Protection every two years to be a registered leader.  They also need to complete the Position Specific Basic Training for their current Scouting position.

ScoutStrong PALA Program

Please promote this to all youth and adults!  (and consider earning it yourself)

The SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge will help you add activity to your life, and reward you when you do! This challenge is for everyone associated with the Boy Scouts of America, including Scouts, Venturers, Parents, Volunteers, Council Staff, Board Members, Friends of Scouting, and BSA Alumni.
To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids under 18 for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Stick with the program and you'll earn an award in less than two months.

For more information:  http://www.scouting.org/scoutstrongpala.aspx

PAC Journey to Excellence Dashboard

As of January 16:

Religious Relations Documents

Please note that the council's Religious Relations Committee is a function of the Membership Committee under the leadership of the Vice President of Membership.  This information is to serve as a link between program planning and membership/relations.
Duty to God
Scouting in the Catholic Community
Scouting for Lutheran Youth
Scouting for Presbyterian Youth
Scouting in Protestant Churches
Scouting in the Islamic Community
Scouting in the Jewish Community