Adult Leader
Advancement Training
Seminar
PRESENTED BY
Staten Island Council
ADVANCEMENT COMMITTEE
Greater New York Council
Boy Scouts of America
At the GNYC Training Extravaganza
January 9, 2010
IMPORTANT NOTICE
On occasion, BSA requirements change. Be sure to stay
up-to-date with all current requirements.
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Seminar Objectives
To review the basics of Scout Advancement Management
 To review paperwork and record keeping.
 Assure records are thorough, accurate and consistent with
GNYC policies.
 Discuss need for accuracy in leading up to Eagle rank.

EAGLE RANK DETAILED PROCESS
 To answer any questions from Scouts related to their
advancement.
 To understand and comply with ALL time requirements.
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 To
Avoid Any Surprises!
EXTRA ADDED ATTRACTION –
INTERNET ADVANCEMENT RECORDS
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Unit Organization and
Advancement Duties
It is strongly advised that each unit have an Advancement Chair with
SOLE DUTIES of keeping records and providing advice to adult
leaders and Scouts related to advancement status and needs.
Keep Advancement Records
 On a regular basis, Advise SM of Advancement status and needs of
each Scout. Also consider advising CC, SPL, ASPL and PL’s.
(This is very valuable to the PLC and trip/activity planning)
 Advise each Scout of his status on a regular basis.
 Advise SM, CC and SPL of the need for a Board of Review.
 In addition to the Normal duties, it is advisable for the
Advancement Chair to LEAD THE WAY in the Troop Committee to
guide and advise about activities and programs that satisfy
advancement requirements.
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Tracking Advancement
and Record Keeping - 1
By a show of hands, what format
of record keeping is used.
1. Troop Master
2. Traditional Paper
3. Other
One of the most important things the Advancement Chair can
do for a unit is to maintain a clear consistent record for each
scout. The records should have the following characteristics:
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Accurate
> Complete
R e l i a b l e
> Up-to-date
Tracking Advancement
and Record Keeping - 2
Good records allow for easy access to a Scout’s status at any
time and allow you to answer questions like:
 How many merit badges do I need to complete my Life
requirements and which ones specifically?
 What else do I need for my Scoutmaster Conference?
 When did I earn my First Aid merit badge?
 I am transferring to another Troop next Fall. Can I get a full record
on my Advancement and status?
With good records, these questions can be answered quickly - no
matter what format is used. Remember the criteria
accurate, complete, reliable and up-to-date,
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First Class in a Year
This is a policy introduced by National several years ago.
It has a primary goal of ENHANCING RETENTION. However,
there is some controversy surrounding it among experienced Scouters. On one hand,
it can have the benefit of retention if done with sound training principles. On the
other hand, it can RUSH a Scout through ranks without having learned basic scout
skills. Much is dependent upon the Scout’s interest, abilities and desires, as well as
the unit’s program of activities. If included among the unit’s plans, the following
guidelines are suggested.
Must have well planned and coordinated programs.
Use the Scout handbook as a basic guide.
The Advancement Chair is urged to assist in program planning.
Regular camping is a must for Scout Skills development Include Summer Camp.
Reward - with First Class Certificates
Service time is required for Second Class as an introduction to future rank requirements.
Be sure overall unit program includes service type activities.
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Merit Badge Counselors
MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS
1. MUST be registered as an adult leader.
2. MUST be approved by Council Advancement Committee
3. MUST have proficiency
4. MUST have up-to-date Youth Protection Training (Note:
this is not a BSA National requirement but is a requirement
of the Staten Island Council)
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EARNING MERIT BADGES
1. Establish a program at the beginning of the year to have merit badge
work at troop meetings.
2. However, encourage Scouts to seek Counselors outside the Troop. This has a benefit
of the scouts experiencing different adult leaders and a setting outside the troop
setting.
3.
Summer Camp is a great opportunity to earn merit badges. However, be sure to
monitor work of the Scouts, be sure they are prepared to sign up for the badges. Be
sure they have done the required prerequisites.
4.
Blue cards MUST be signed by an adult leader – preferably the SM. The
Advancement Chair is an alternative.
BE ALERT: Many merit badges offered at summer camps are done in 5 days but
in fact really require much more time to be done properly. Without proper
monitoring by adult leaders, especially the Advancement Chair, a dis-service can
be done for the Scout.
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STAR AND LIFE RANKS
Up through First Class rank, the emphasis is on Scout Skills.
As a Scout advances, the Star and Life ranks, the emphasis changes to:
LEADERSHIP
TEACHING YOUNGER SCOUTS
SERVICE
In addition, The Staten Island Council Advancement
Committee offers, each year, a training course for Star
and Life Scouts to teach them these steps and timing
related to earning the Eagle rank. It has been well
received by the boys and their adult leaders as well.
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OTHER AWARDS AND
RECOGNITIONS - 1
There are a number of other awards that are not required for
Scout advancement but serve to recognize special
accomplishments – for both Scouts and adult leaders,
Reference is BSA booklet entitled “Advancement Committee –
Policies and Procedures” – BSA publication #33088.
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OTHER AWARDS AND
RECOGNITIONS - 2
MILE SWIM (Scout) - A terrific accomplishment at Summer Camp.
TOTE N’CHIP (Scout) – Recommended for new cross-over Cubs to be earned
on their first camping trip.
WORLD CONSERVATION AWARD (Scout) - AUTOMATICALLY Earned
when a Scout earns Environmental Science, Citizenship in the World and either
Water Conservation or Fish and Wildlife merit badges.
DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT (Adult) – one per 25 units. “Noteworthy
service to youth”
LIFESAVING and MERITORIOUS ACTION (Adult or Scout) – Three levels
of recognition. Lifesaving, Meritorious Action (issued by National) Local
Council Certificate of Merit. (Discuss detailed requirements and process)
SILVER BEAVER (Adult) – noteworthy service of exceptional character to
youth. (issued by National)
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Eagle Leadership
Service Project
Project Ideas
 Plan / Proposal
 Approvals
 Working Project
 Final Report

LEADERSHIP
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Eagle Leadership
Service Project
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Purpose is to “Demonstrate ability to LEAD Others”
Must benefit community organization
 other than Boy Scouts and not on Boy Scout Property
May NOT benefit a commercial business
May NOT be purely a “fund raiser”.
Must be planned and carried out by one Scout
 no joint projects
Approval process and project completion may take up to 6
months to complete - plan ahead!
May begin planning project immediately after passing Life
Board of Review – work book can be requested.
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(not necessary to earn all 21 merit badges before project.)
Time-line handout.
Sample Eagle Projects
 Build
a church sign
 Landscaped church grounds
 Repaired church playground
 Built church janitor closet
 Repaired & cleaned out storage shed for a community group
 Collected eye glasses for Lions Club
 Build “patrol boxes” for Girl Scout Troop
 Did repairs at a home for aged & sponsored social event for
residents.
 Built newspaper re-cycling bins for an Elementary School
 Re-landscaped and fixed up church sign
 Built bull-pens for a High School baseball field
 Built cabinets for Sunday School rooms
 Repaired, re-roof a church gazebo, landscape grounds
 Build a bridge in a Park.
 Build a set for a local theatre group.
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Eagle Leadership
Service Project Plan
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Meet with an adult advisor before doing too much planning.
Draft a project plan write-up.

Must use official BSA Workbook to submit plan and final report
(electronic version OK)
Download
from BSA National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) website)
http://www.nesa.org/trail
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Approvals required with signatures and dates.

Scoutmaster / Project Advisor - signatures and dates.

Troop Committee - signatures and dates

Organization served - signatures and dates

District Advancement Committee - signatures and dates
Must have Council approval BEFORE starting work!
(To begin earlier could invalidate the entire project)
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Eagle Application Process
 Complete
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Utilize the S.I
Eagle web site to
guide you, to get
forms, announce
your project,
solicit help/bodies
and get a list for
letters of
recognition.
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
all requirements
Write project final report – with pictures.
Complete Eagle Scout Application
Submit Application & Project Final Report to:
Troop Committee & Scoutmaster
Council verifies Scouts records
Returned to District for Board of Review
Conduct Board of Review with signatures and dates
(this date becomes the actual date of eagle rank)
Council approval with signatures and dates
 National approval
 Conduct Court of Honor (not a requirement)
statenislandeagle  See handout for detailed steps and time-line
.org
 NEW APPLICATIONS MUST BE USED
AS OF AUGUST 2009.
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Eagle Application
Process – Time line
Month
1
2
Step
Activity
1.
A Completed Project Book is submitted to Council Advancement Committee for
review. (1) Be sure all signatures are included.
2.
Council Committee reviews the book and either accepts the project or notifies the
Scoutmaster that additional information or clarification is required.
3. When the project is approved, the Scout carries it out to completion.
3
5
4. After the project is completed, the Scout writes it up noting any changes. He then
writes his "ambitions" letter, prepares an Eagle application (2a) and gets appropriate
signatures. These include sign-off by the sponsor organization. He then submits the
application to the Council Eagle Coordinator At that time, the Coordinator sends a
letter to those designated by the Scout for recommendation letters. (2b) Simultaneously,
a merit badge check is requested from GNYC by the coordinator.
6
5. Upon receipt of all letters of recommendation and completion of the merit badge
verification by GNYC, the Scoutmaster is advised that a Board of Review needs to be
4
scheduled. The SM contacts the BOR coordinator making a request for a BOR date.
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8
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(3)
6. Upon completion of the BOR and appropriate signing of the application, the application
is returned to the Eagle coordinator to send to National. (4)
7. Application is sent to National which takes about three months. It is usually returned
approved unless there is a question or procedural issue.
Note: Any project
not approved by
the Council
Committee will not
be considered a
valid project.
INTERNET
ADVANCEMENT - 1
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How to use BSA Internet Advancement tool.
Must use Internet Explorer
WWW.bsa-gnyc.org
Click on Volunteer & Parent Resources left hand column
Click on internet advancement
Go to Internet Advancement
If you are a first time user click first time user button and follow
set up procedure. You must have a Login number which is
supplied by GNYC, not the same as re-chartering login
number.
 If you are already registered click on returning user.
 Enter user ID and password
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INTERNET
ADVANCEMENT - 2
 Step one – load unit roster
 Click load roster or upload advancement file. If you use
packmaster, troop master, rank n file, scoutmate or
scoutsoft there is an option in these software packages to
create the file to upload.
 Once your roster is loaded you can add advancement for
your scouts. You can add rank, merit badges or awards.
There are also buttons to review unit roster, unit
advancement summary, Member Summary or review
Advancement Report. You may also print member cards or
do a multi person entry
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INTERNET
ADVANCEMENT - 3
 When you are finished adding advancement click next
 Review your advancement report
 Click Send to GNYC
 When you send to GNYC it will print your 3 copies of the
Advancement report for you to sign and turn in to scout
shop and buy awards. There is also an option to order
awards on line.
By using this tool, you can help to shorten
the turn-around time when Eagle
applications are processed. It also keeps your
records in good order.
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SUMMARY
ask questions
1. Unit Org. – Dedicated Advancement Chair
2. Tracking records – Accurate, complete Reliable, Up-to-date.
3.
First class in a year.
4. Merit Badge Counselors and merit badge guidelines.
5.
Skill ranks vs. Leadership/Teaching/Service rank.
6.
Other awards and recognitions
7.
Eagle rank – LEADERSHIP
8.
Eagle Rank – SERVICE PROJECT
9.
Eagle rank – PROCESS TIME LINE
10. What is missing that you want to see.
Who would like an additional course on Troopmaster use?
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Discussion
Questions
&
Answers.
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FINAL REQUESTS
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Be sure you have signed in.
Complete questionnaire.
Complete evaluation sheet.