1. What’s New in Advancement?
Bay Area Council, Boy Scouts of America
In conjunction with the National Council, BSA National Committee on Advancement

2. National Structure Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazucca
Deputy Chief Scout Executive
Wayne Brock
ASCE Development
Brad Farmer
Asst Chief Scout Executive: Council Operations
Gary Butler
ASCE Chief Financial Officer
Alf Tuggle
Council Impact Group Director
Chuck Keathley
Program Impact Department Manager
Chuck Ezell
Volunteer Development Team
Mark Griffin
Youth Development Team
Don Shepard
National Advancement Team
Chris Hunt

3. National Advancement Committee
Cub Scout Specialist
Boy Scout Specialist
Eagle Rank/Palms Specialist
Special Needs Specialist
All Markets Specialist
Webinar & Education Specialist
Eagle Issues Task Force
Merit Badge Maintenance Task Force
Advancement News Coordinator
Advisory Panel Chair
Everyone a generalist!

4. Guide to Advancement History
Started in 2010
Exchange of ideas began with 20-page outline, consolidated by single author
Decisions tied to vision, mission, aims of BSA
To be updated annually
Organized as reference manual

5. Guide to Advancement Introduction: 1.0.0.0
Official source for administration of advancement
No change or additions allowed.
Living document - use direct link to
Guide to Safe Scouting applies.

6. Guide to Advancement Introduction: 1.0.0.0
Must or shall = mandated
Should = recommended
May or can = best practices

7. Guide to Advancement Introduction: 1.0.0.0
Questions? First consult district and council!
Suggestions for new merit badges:

8. Guide to Advancement Advancement Defined: 2.0.0.0
The process by which youth members … progress from rank to rank.
A method of Scouting
Experiential learning
Personal growth

9. Guide to Advancement Committee Responsibilities: 3.0.0.0
Establish objectives and implement action plans that stimulate advancement and lead to maximum success in Scouting’s Journey to Excellence.

10. Maximizing JTE Success
Assist unit commissioners
Resource for training & roundtables
Provide units with advancement reports
????

11. Guide to Advancement Awards & Recognition: 3.0.0.4
Guide to Awards & Recognition – coming in 2012
Council option to keep awards under
Advancement Committee

12. Guide to Advancement Mechanics of Advancement: 4.0.0.0
Largest section
Program areas
Cub Scouts
Boy Scouts/ Varsity
Venturing
Sea Scouts

13. Guide to Advancement Cub Scouting: 4.1.0.0
Updated per New Delivery Method
Using extra achievements as electives
Extra time to complete rank

14. Guide to Advancement Boy Scouting: 4.2.0.0
Reasonable expectations
Definition of active
Positions of responsibility
Boards of review
New Eagle Scout Project Workbook

15. Guide to Advancement Reasonable Expectations: 4.2.3.0
The concepts of “reasonable” and “within reason”
Used to determine if a Scout is “active” or has fulfilled his position of responsibility.
Helps unit leadership and boards of review gauge the fairness of expectations.
Unit allowed to establish reasonable expectation acceptable to unit committee & chartered organization

16. Guide to Advancement Reasonable Expectations: 4.2.3.0
For advancement purposes, Scouts must not be held to those standards which are so demanding as to be impractical for today’s youth (and families) to achieve.

17. Guide to Advancement Reasonable Expectations: 4.2.3.0
“Ultimately a board of review shall decide what is reasonable and what is not. In doing so the board members must use common sense and must take into account that youth should be allowed to balance their lives with positive activities outside of Scouting.”

18. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
“The purpose of Star, Life and Eagle Scout requirements calling for Scouts to be active for a period of months involves impact.
Since we are preparing young people to… make a positive difference…, we judge a member “active” if his level of activity in Scouting, whether high or minimal, has had a sufficiently positive influence towards this end.

19. Guide to Advancement
Mission: The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
Vision: The Boy Scouts of America will prepare every eligible youth in America to become a responsible, participating citizen and leader who is guided by the Scout Oath and Law.

20. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Three Tests:
Scout is registered
Scout is in good standing.
Scout meets unit’s reasonable expectations OR, if not, a lesser level of activity is explained.

21. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Time counted as active:
Need not be consecutive.
Can be at any point during tenure at that rank.
Is based only on participation.
Units may establish additional expectations on uniforming, equipment, dues, parental involvement, but these cannot be considered in evaluating this requirement.

22. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Alternative to the third test, if expectation are not met:
To qualify as active under this alternative if a young man has fallen below his unit’s activity oriented expectations, then it must be due to other positive endeavors – in or out of Scouting – or to noteworthy circumstances that have prevented a higher level of participation.

23. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Alternative to the third test:
Those who don’t meet expectations must be allowed to offer an explanation.
Have Scouting values already taken hold and been exhibited?
Would the Scout have been more active if he could have been?

24. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Alternative to the third test:
A fair leader will seek opportunities to empower a young man to plan his growth opportunities both within and outside of Scouting.
- School - Religious activities
- Sports - Clubs

25. Guide to Advancement Active Participation: 4.2.3.1
Alternative to the third test:
A board of review can accept an explanation … if there have been sufficient influences in the Scout’s life that he is meeting our aims …regardless of his … level of activity.
Does he present himself and behave according to the expectations of the rank he seeks?
Is he the sort of person who, based on present behavior, will contribute to the BSA’s mission?

26. Guide to Advancement Positions of Responsibility: 4.2.3.4
Serve actively for a period of … months in one or more … positions of responsibility.
Positions must be chosen among those listed.
For Star and Life -- may be a leadership project .
Time test
any number of positions
need not be consecutive.

27. Guide to Advancement Positions of Responsibility: 4.2.3.4
“If a unit has established expectations for positions of responsibility, and if, within reason based on his personal skill set, the Scout meets them, he fulfills the requirement.”
Expectations MUST be established up front.
When a Scout assumes a position something related to the desired results must happen.

28. Guide to Advancement Positions of Responsibility: 4.2.3.4
In absence of unit expectations:
Adult leader and/or Scout should work out responsibilities to fulfill.
If left to Scout alone and he makes reasonable effort to perform, he fulfills this requirement.
Scouts cannot be held to unestablished expectations.

29. Guide to Advancement Positions of Responsibility: 4.2.3.4
When responsibilities are not met:
Communicate early with Scout.
Work toward constructive result. We want Scout to succeed!
May be removed from position of responsibility if clear performance will not improve,
Must give credit for time served.

30. Guide to Advancement Positions of Responsibility: 4.2.3.4
If Scout disagrees:
Possible that expectations are unreasonable.
Discuss with Scout, leaders, parents.
Upon completing remaining requirements, must be granted a board of review.

31. Guide to Advancement Venturing & Sea Scouts: 4.3.0.0 & 4.4.0.0
Expanded coverage
Past/multiple credit clarified
Boy Scout advancement in Venturing/Sea Scouts
Time extensions for Quartermaster Award
Bridge of Review
Appeal process

32. Guide to Advancement Special Considerations: 5.0.0.0
Advancement in Camp Settings ( ).
Extended Absence From Scouting ( ).
Lone Scouting ( ).
Youth From Other Countries ( ).
Religious Principles ( ).
Bestowing Posthumous Awards ( ).
Spirit of Eagle Award ( ).

33. Guide to Advancement Internet Advancement: 6.0.0.0
Benefits of Internet Advancement ( ).
How Internet Advancement works ( ).
Where to find Internet Advancement help ( ).

34. Guide to Advancement Merit Badges: 7.0.0.0
Work may not begin on discontinued merit badge.
If start with old requirements, may finish under old requirements.
May use MBC registered in another council.
Some merit badges require certified supervision.

35. Guide to Advancement Merit Badges: 7.0.0.0
IMPORTANCE OF THE “BLUE CARD”

36. Guide to Advancement Boards of Review: 8.0.0.0
Boards of Review MUST be granted when requirements are met.
When the Scout believes that he has completed all requirements.
Scoutmasters do not have the authority to expect a boy to request a BOR, or to “defer” him.

37. Guide to Advancement Boards of Review: 8.0.0.0
Wearing the uniform ( )
Full uniform preferred
If impractical, should be clean and neat in appearance.
May not reject candidates described as above.

38. Guide to Advancement Boards of Review: 8.0.0.0
Unit leaders and parents/relatives do not normally attend boards of review.
If parents insist on attending they should be counseled on why it is not a good idea.
However, if they persist they must be permitted to attend.

39. Guide to Advancement Eagle Boards of Review: 8.0.3.0
Unit, district, council – council discretion
Cannot deny or postpone due to unresponsive references
30 minutes average – no more than 45
If unit leader or committee chair fails to sign, still granted board or review.

40. Guide to Advancement EBOR Under Dispute Circumstances (8.0.3.2)
Held at district or council level when:
Unit leader or committee chair does not sign.
Scoutmaster Conference denied.
Unit leader or beneficiary will not approve what might be considered an acceptable project.
Believed Scout will not get fair hearing.

41. Guide to Advancement Appeals: 8.0.4.0
Lower ranks/ Eagle palms not appealable.
Star/ Life may be appealed to local council.
Eagle appeals – must apply to National through local council.

42. Guide to Advancement Eagle Scout Service Project: 9.0.2.0
New workbook
Proposal vs. Plan approval
Eagle Scout coach
Fundraising approvals
Safety & risk management

43. Guide to Advancement Time Extension for Earning Eagle: 9.0.4.0
If a youth foresees that, due to no fault or choice of his own…may apply for a limited extension.
Form found in Guide to Advancement.
Granted only by National. Local councils do not have the authority to grant extensions.

44. Guide to Advancement Time Extension for Earning Eagle: 9.0.4.0
Must have joined, rejoined, or become active again…in time to complete all requirements before age 18.
A new circumstance precludes completion before the deadline:
Beyond control of youth
Severe and not the norm in Scout’s life
Could not have been planned or anticipated.

45. Guide to Advancement Special Needs: 10.0.0.0
Flexibility possible for Scouts with a permanent physical or mental disability (or a disability expected to last more than two years beyond their 18th BD)
Cub Scouts – “Do your best.” (unit)
Boy Scouts – alternative requirements T/2/1 (council)
Eagle Scouts – alternative merit badges (council)
Complete as many requirements/merit badges as possible before applying for alternative ones.

46. Guide to Advancement Special Needs: 10.0.0.0
Registration beyond the age of eligibility ( )
Disability must be permanent and severe to preclude advancement at a rate even significantly slower than normal.
Approved by council executive board or group of designated council level individuals.

47. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook

48. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook The Proposal

49. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook The Final Plan

50. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook Fundraising Application

51. The Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook The Project Report

52. Guide to Advancement 2011 QUESTIONS & COMMENTS
National:
Diane Cannon:
Chris Hunt:
MAIL:
National Advancement Team
Program Impact Department, S209
Boy Scouts of America
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane
PO Box
Irving TX