LIFE AFTER LIFE A Unit Leader’s Guide on the Advancement Process for an Eagle Scout Candidate Presented by: Cathleen “Kitty” Hamberg Advancements Chairman Barbarossa District Updated

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook  This workbook is an invaluable tool for all Life Scouts wishing to attain the Rank of Eagle.  On the back of the workbook, BSA has provided “The 12 Steps from Life to Eagle”, outlined to ensure a smooth procedure for the Scout, Unit Leadership and the Council.

THE 12 STEPS FROM LIFE TO EAGLE IN TRANSATLANTIC COUNCIL

STEP 1 Tenure - Six months as a Life Scout Scout spirit - Determined by the Scoutmaster Merit badges - Minimum 21, with 12 Eagle required Positions of responsibility – Six months as Patrol Leader, Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, Troop Guide, Order of the Arrow Troop Representative, Den Chief, Librarian, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Quartermaster, Troop Scribe, Historian, Chaplain Aide, Instructor, Crew President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer or Venture Patrol Leader Service Project – The only part of the project that can commence prior to District approval is planning and developing. Scoutmaster Conference – The conference should be held after completion of the Eagle Project and all merit badge requirements have been met. Once the conference is held the Scoutmaster should sign the Eagle Scout Application with the date the conference was held. These requirements must be met before the Candidate’s 18 th Birthday

STEP 2 Using Workbook, the Life Scout must select and plan his project. Approval to start the project requires four signatures in the workbook: Benefiting institution representative Scoutmaster Unit committee (Committee Chairman or Advancements representative’s signature preferred) District Advancements Chairman Before approving the project, the Scoutmaster and Troop Committee should be checking to ensure that it meets the requirements of an Eagle Project as outlined in the workbook. Once all the signatures are secured it can now be sent either by post or to the District Advancements Chairman for approval. If approved, an will be sent, which will serve as the District Approval. Print out the approval and attach it to the Workbook The Scout can now begin his project!

STEP 3 Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Project summary –Listed as Changes in workbook Signatures on Page 8 of workbook –Scout –Scoutmaster –Benefiting organization Application, including: –References –Applicant signature –Scoutmaster signature –Unit Committee Chair signature –TAC Supplemental Advancement Form Reference letters –From those listed on the Eagle Scout Application Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose –Requirement 6 on application Scoutmaster conference –To be done when Scoutmaster signs application

STEP 4 The Unit Committee Advancements or Eagle Coach, prior to requesting a Board of Review with the District Advancements Chairman, will send to TAC: TAC Supplemental Advancements Form Eagle Scout Rank Application Statement of Ambitions and Life Purpose These documents can be faxed to TAC. Steps 1 through 4 must be done prior to the Scout’s 18 TH Birthday.

STEP 5  The Eagle Scout Application must be legible and fully completed, otherwise it can be rejected from the National Eagle Service Center.  TAC review all the documents and if no changes are needed, provide you with written approval, which must be available to the District Advancements Chairman at the Board of Review. (You must have this approval prior to scheduling the Board of Review with the District Advancements Chairman.)  References-The Unit Committee Advancements or Eagle Coach will contact the references on the application and receive responses. The scout only provides the contact information and should not see any responses from the references. References are confidential and their contents are not to be disclosed to any person who is not a member of the Board of Review, especially the Scout.

STEP 6  Instead of sending the workbook, merit badge and rank cards, TAC has designed the Eagle Scout Supplemental Form to negate the need to supply them with all the documents as outlined by the National Office and is completed by the Unit Committee Advancements or Eagle Coach. This form must accompany the Eagle Scout Application when submitted for approval to conduct the Board of Review.

STEP 7 Make a note of the sentence that states “Under no circumstances should a Board of Review be scheduled until the application is returned to the Chairman of the Eagle Board.” This is to protect the Scout from disappointment if the board approval does not come back in the time frame expected or if the approval is denied. Although the references are listed on the application that goes to TAC, it remains the responsibility of the Unit Committee Advancements or Eagle Coach to solicit recommendations from the references. This is the method TAC has determined by the Standard set forth by the BSA National Office. Once the approval is received from TAC and the references have been received, you are now ready to schedule the Eagle Board of Review.

STEP 8  The Eagle BOR is composed of three to six members, and shall not be Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmaster, or anyone related to the Scout  An Eagle Board of Review cannot be held without the District Advancements Chairman or their appointed Representative.  Educators, Religious Leaders, Adult Eagle Scouts, Chartered Organization Representatives, District Committee Members and Unit Committee Members make great board members.

STEP 9  The Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmaster, Team Leader or Crew Advisor should introduce the Scout to the Board.  Open the Board on behalf of the District and ask the Scout to lead the members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Ensure that the Scout knows who his Board Members are and their position.  Parents, guardians nor family members of the Scout are allowed to remain in the room during the Board of Review.  The Board of Review is NOT a test and the Scout is not asked to tie square knots, demonstrate first aid, etc.  The Board should be at a minimum 30 minutes in duration, not to exceed 90 minutes.  Once the Board is convened, the Scout waits outside while the Board makes their decision. If the Board determines the Scout to be worthy of the Rank of Eagle, all members will sign the Advancement Form and the District Advancements Chairman will sign the Boy Scout Handbook and the Eagle Scout Application. The Scout is then returned to the Board and the results given.

STEP 10  Now that the Board is over, TAC is ready to finish processing the Eagle Scout Application. TAC must receive the signed Eagle Scout Application, signed Advancement Form, Supplemental Advancement Form, Statement of Ambition and Life Purpose and the TAC “Send To” Form.  No other documentation should be sent. Reference Letters should be held by the Unit Committee until the Eagle Scout Certificate is received to ensure that there are no questions by National BSA. The letters are to be destroyed once the certificate is received, unless the Author has requested the letter to be released to the Scout

STEP 11  When the application arrives at the Council Service Center, the Scout Executive signs it to certify that the proper procedures have been followed and that the board of review has recommended the candidate for the Eagle Scout rank.  Only the Eagle Scout Rank Application is forwarded to the National Eagle Scout Service Center.

STEP 12  The Eagle Scout Service screens the application to ascertain information such as proper signature, positions of responsibility, tenure between ranks, and age of the candidate. Any item not meeting national standards will cause the application to be returned for more information. If the application is in order, the Scout is then certified as an Eagle Scout by the Eagle Scout Service on behalf of the National Council. Notice of approval is given by sending the Eagle Scout certificate to TAC. The date used on the certificate will be the date of the board of review. The Eagle Award must not be sold or given to any unit until after the certificate is received by the council service center. The Eagle Scout court of honor should not be scheduled until TAC receives the Eagle Scout rank credentials.  TAC will send the Eagle Scout Rank credentials to the person listed on the TAC “Send To” Form, along with an Eagle Kit, which contains the medal, pins and rank badge.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork…. Now that you know the steps, you must become familiar with the paperwork that is involved in all 12 Steps.

TAC Eagle Scout Rank Supplemental Form This form is provided to you on your CD, but you can also visit the TAC website and download it.

EAGLE SCOUT APPLICATION FORM

ADVANCEMENT FORM copy provided on CD

Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook

Eagle Scout Candidate Checklist

TAC “Send To” Form

WHERE YOU SHOULD GO…  TAC Website   Eagle Site 

WHO YOU SHOULD KNOW…  District Advancements Chairman - Cathleen “Kitty” Hamberg  Cell –  –  Council Advancements - Agata Dahl  or  -