Board of Review (BOR) BSC 205

Learning Objectives At the end of this lesson, participants will be able to State the purpose of the board of review and how it is used to further the Boy Scout program Plan a board of review with an eye to the individual Scout Conduct a board of review

Purpose of Board of Review Tracks the progress of a Scout Determines Scout’s understanding of the ideals of Scouting and how he applies them in daily life in the troop Board satisfies itself that the Scout has done what he was supposed to do for that rank Review with the Scout the requirements for the next rank Also a way of reviewing the troop's progress

Types of Boards of Review Most common type of BOR is for advancement Other reasons to have a BOR Scout's lack of advancement Perceived trouble in the troop Certain event at the last campout or troop meeting BOR training Outline on how often

Board of Review Characteristics What a BOR is/does An informal, friendly growth experience Asks about how requirements were done Checks requirements were done to a common standard Lasts approximately 15 minutes long, except for Eagle, which should be approximately 30 minutes long Determines the Scout’s attitude and acceptance of Scouting’s ideals, both in the troop and outside of it Checks on “health of the troop” Reviews with Scout the requirements for the next rank What a BOR is not An interrogation A retesting of a Scout's competence An examination A marathon session

Who Conducts the Board of Review? Tenderfoot through Life, Eagle Palms Who Does At least 3, not more than 6 members Troop Committee Members One member serves as chair Who Does Not Unit Leader or Assistant Unit Leaders* Relatives of Scout Parent or Guardian of Scout * Scoutmaster and Assistants for Boy Scout Troops

Who Conducts the Board of Review? Eagle Who Does Council decides if Eagle BOR is at Unit, District, or Council level Minimum 3, Maximum 6 members, 21 or older Do not have to be registered in Scouting but must understand importance and purpose of Eagle BOR At least one member from District our Council when conducted at unit level Who Does Not Unit Leader or Assistant Unit Leaders* Relatives of Scout Parent or Guardian of Scout * Scoutmaster and Assistants for Boy Scout Troops

When and Where to Hold a Board of Review Consider Monthly Possibly at the same time as a troop meeting BSA training guide suggest “Ideally, a Scout should sit for a board of review every six months, whether he is advancing or not” Where Where board members and Scout are only ones aware of what is going on Where there is no possibility of embarrassing Scout in front of others Room in chartered organization's facility Conference room at office of a board member A campout or summer camp

When to Hold a Board of Review Special Note for Scouts 18 and Older Scouts who have completed all requirements for a rank prior to their 18th birthday should submit their application and be reviewed and recognized within three months after that date. Boards of review conducted between three and six months after the candidate's 18th birthday must be pre-approved by the local council. A statement by an adult explaining the reason for the delay must be attached to the Eagle Scout Rank Application when it is submitted to the Eagle Scout Service. If an Eagle Scout board of review will be held after the six months following the candidate's 18th birthday, the Eagle Scout must petition the National Boy Scout Committee for an extension of time to hold the board of review. The petition must be processed through the local council, detailing the extenuating circumstances that prevented the board of review from being held within the six-month period following the candidate's 18th period, and be accompanied with a copy of the Eagle Scout Rank Application Source: Advancement Committee Guide, Policies and Procedures, version 33088E, 2004 printing

Mechanics of a Board of Review Scout neat in appearance, uniform “correct as possible”* Introductions BoR Chair can ask the Scout to come to attention, and recite one or more of the following: The Scout Law, The Scout Oath, The Scout Motto, The Scout Slogan but “discussion of the Scout Oath and Scout Law is in keeping with the purpose of the review” BoR membership is invited to ask Scout open ended questions Deliberation Scout leaves the room Have a (short) discussion that leads to a unanimous decision End a board of review by praising the Scout for the positive aspects of his character, skill level, and/or accomplishments Present badge of rank as soon as practical after the advancement report is submitted to council Scout holds his new rank as of the date of the board of review * quotes from Advancement Committee Guide

Sample BOR Questions Tenderfoot through First Class Who is your patrol leader? What do you think of the problems he is facing? How are you doing in your first aid skills? What are your goals for the next few months; how do they meet advancement requirements? What do you think would make the troop better? How do you fulfill your duty to country? To God? Source: Supplemental Training Guide Troop BORs, 18-625 Note: Many more questions in class handout

Sample BOR Questions Star and Life What merit badges did you enjoy, and why? What merit badges did you get the most out of, and why? How did you fulfill your Swimming (or other merit badge) requirements? How did you feel about your leadership position? How did you feel about how you exercised that position? Did you feel that you accomplished anything in that position? What were your frustrations? Who do you think is doing a good job in the troop? Have you thought about achieving Eagle? Have you thought about a service project for Eagle? How do you fulfill your duty to God? To country? Source: Supplemental Training Guide Troop BORs, 18-625 Note: Many more questions in class handout

Sample BOR Questions Eagle How did you feel your Eagle project went? Did you run into any rough spots? Did you plan enough to get you over the rough spots? How did you work with the agency for which you did the project? Where they clear in their goals? Would you do the project differently now? How do you think the troop is doing? How do you intend to help the troop now? Do you have any goals for the troop? What are your goals for yourself? How to do fulfill your duty to country? To God? Source: Supplemental Training Guide Troop BORs, 18-625 Note: Many more questions in class handout

Sample BOR Questions Eagle Palm How do you plan on contributing to the troop now? What are your goals for the troop? What are your personal goals? Will your Scouting experience help you? How do you fulfill your duty to country? To God? Source: Supplemental Training Guide Troop BORs, 18-625 Note: Many more questions in class handout

Issues for Boards of Review Current completion of T/S/F requirements is concurrent. Though no concurrent boards are to be held for T/S/F, the boards can be held on the same day. How does the Board measure the Scout’s progress between the ranks of T/S/F if all three boards held on the same day? (Can’t hold back—or stall—a scout if he is progressing) Substituting rank requirements (disabilities) What is Scout Spirit? Is it an automatic given? A Scout is to “serve actively” in positions of leadership. How does the Board determine whether the position(s) were carried out (as explained in the Junior Leader handbook)?

Denying Advancement Age or “gut” impression not basis for holding back a Scout if he is meeting requirements Sole basis of denial rests on the Scout’s not meeting the requirements Board should certainly give the Scout the opportunity of learning what he needs to do to advance Scout should be given a definite time for a subsequent board of review Follow-up letter must be sent confirming agreement and necessary actions Scout should be given appeal procedure nformation if he/she disagrees with decision BOR training guide states “having a Scout deferred for advancement by the board of review is unusual. If there is a problem with a Scout, normally he will not be presented to the board of review.” Discussion?

Appealing a Decision When can appeals occur? Troop leader or troop committee does not recommend a Scout for a board of review or fails to sign an Eagle rank application If a board of review does not find favorably for the candidate Appeal can be taken by the Scout, his leader, or the Scout’s parents. “Appeal Chain” is unit – district – council - National Boy Scout Committee Committee to whom the appeal is addressed will promptly review the facts All parties must be interviewed by the committee, hopefully without confrontation. A written report with all details will be prepared by the reviewing committee and forwarded to the National Boy Scout Committee. Appeals to the National Boy Scout Committee are made only through the local council. There is no direct appeal. In Eagle matters, a copy of the Scout’s Eagle Scout Rank Application must accompany the national appeal.

Venturing and BORs Rank Advancement for Venturers Any male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a troop or Varsity Scout in a team may continue advancement toward the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks up to his 18th birthday. He must meet the requirements as prescribed in the official Boy Scout Handbook and the current Boy Scout Requirements book. The Venturer may fulfill leadership requirements by serving as president, vice president, secretary, or treasurer of his crew, or as boatswain, boatswain's mate, yeoman, purser, or storekeeper for his ship. The Scoutmaster conference will be conducted by the Advisor or Skipper. As the Venturer meets requirements for the Star and Life ranks, a board of review will be conducted by the crew or ship committee. The Eagle board of review should follow the procedures established by the local council. Reference: www.scouting.org

“Non-Advancement” BOR Reasons to have a board of review may include Scout's lack of advancement Perceived trouble in the troop Certain event at the last campout or troop meeting Guidance and care should be shown to encourage advancement Ask the kind of questions that may reveal why Scout is not advancing If resolving a problem, should be non-confrontational

Resources for more information about the advancement process? (1 of 2) Every aspect of advancement procedures is discussed in the Advancement Committee Guide Policies and Procedures (No. 33088), which is updated and reprinted annually. Every troop leader should have a copy of the Scoutmaster Handbook (No. 33002). This indispensable resource is a Scoutmaster's and assistant Scoutmaster's best bet for guiding a Boy Scout troop and its patrols Committee members should have a copy of the Troop Committee Guidebok (No. 34505) which is updated periodically Supplemental Training module “BOR Training” publication 18-625 http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/supplemental/18-625/index.html Boy Scout Requirements online http://www.scouting.org/boyscouts/resources/32215/index.html Saddleback District Guide http://www.macscouter.com/Scoutmaster/BoR_Guide.asp Buckskin Council Guide http://www.buckskin.org/Resources/Boy_Scouts/boards_of_review.htm

Resources for more information about the advancement process? (2 of 2) The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook (No. 18-927) is required for completion of the Eagle Scout leadership service project. This workbook can be downloaded from the Internet (http://www.nesa.org/trail/manual.html) in PDF format, to be printed and completed by hand, or in DOC or RTF format, to be completed on computer. The Eagle Scout Rank Application (No. 58-728) is available online. (http://www.nesa.org/trail/58-728.pdf) The application must be printed and filled out by hand; it cannot be submitted online. The Application for Alternate Eagle Scout Rank Merit Badges (No. 58-730) includes the guidelines for advancement to Eagle Scout rank for Scouts with disabilities. To download this publication online, http://www.scouting.org/forms/58-730.pdf. NESA Trail to Eagle site http://www.nesa.org/trail/