new to BSA Advancements CH.

[J. Rob]

I am new here so I hope this is the correct place for this posting.

I have been in Boy Scouts as a leader(committee member) for just over two years. I served as a CS den leader from Tiger to Web. II. I was in Cubs as a boy but did not continue into Boy Scouts.

I am about to assume the role of Troop Advancements Ch, with a troop of about 20 boys. My knowledge of advancements is fair but not great. The troop does not currently use TroopM. Software (not sure how to use the name due to copyrights) but I intend to set that up.
I would appreciate any suggestions on books, materials and general resources, you experienced people, think I would find helpful. I will have some personal training from the current Adv. Ch. And before you ask, I have not done as I should and called the council office for suggestions.

Also is it normally the Adv. Ch. who keeps up with the Adult training records?

Thanks for any suggestions/info.

Jim R.

[wagionvigil]

First Jim welcome to the board. I am quite sure you will be getting some answers shortly

[evmori]

Software - Troopmaster. Works great!

Books - Current advancement procedures, current advancement requirements, Boy Scout Handbook, SM Handbook.

Download the Guide to Safe Scouting from Nationals site.

This is a very important position in the Troop. I would have a talk with each Scout & review their advancement to date.

Good luck!

[riverwalk]

This Scouter isn't skilled in the software side of Scouting, but many here are, and have already helped. As an experienced Scouter, you'll already know what I'm gonna post. But get thee to Roundtable again, and "search, discover, share" all over again. Could get useful tips there.

[Mrw]

Troopmaster is great and makes my life much easier. Hopefully, you council also does on-line advancement which means less errors in data entry since you do it yourself and can review it before sending.

Get an up-to-date print out from your council of what advancement has been recorded for each of your boys too, and check against your records and the boys records if this has not been done recently.

[scoutaholic]

Definately get Troopmaster (or something like it). I can't imagine how I could run a quality advancement program without it. With 20 boys, SM can't possibly remember all of it, or effectively track it by hand. Once you have taken the time to gather and enter all the advancement records for the current scouts, you and SM and PLC will find the reports you can run very helpful. This can greatly improve the planning process when you know who needs (or how many need) to complete certain requirements or badges. If you, as Adv Ch, are in charge of all advancement data, you will need some system of getting updated info from SM and/or boys as things are done. Then you can enter it in the system and run updated reports. I like to keep a recent copy of advancement reports with me at troop meetings/activities/events. Then I can update them by hand and refer to these notes to update the computer file. Otherwise, you can also give SM access to the data by using Troopmaster Traveler.

As Adv Ch, a big part of your job is keeping track of the information and keeping the SM / PLC / boys up to date on where they are, and what the next steps need to be. With this info, you can encourage the boys, as well as help the SM and PLC to plan activities to help in areas where it is most needed. Current reports from Troopmaster can make this fairly easy.
The other thing you may want to start on soon, is updating the MBC list, and recruiting more MBCs.

You will probably want to go to some leader training sometime soon, which will help you to be sure you understand all the different facets of your new position, and how to do them. Some of the earliest/simplest training modules are available online. The others should be offered by your district/council 2-3 times each year. More advanced training like Woodbadge and/or University of Scouting (or whatever your council calls it) would also be helpful.

As far as books, I'd start with the Advancement committee guidebook. A requirement book would probably also be useful. However, the requirements change often enough that it might be more useful to just download requirements as you need them.

Ask you committee chairman who is to track the Adult training records. That assignment could be given to someone else on the committee, or it could be you. It may be that there is nobody currenlty assigned to that task and they would be happy for you to volunteer.

[LSR]

Ha! There's two of us now. We're taking over!

[smtroop168]

Does your head hurt yet?

Seriously, welcome. You'll find lots of folks you are willing to help. Most advancement is pretty routine. Bring the hard stuff to the forum and we'll help you sort it out (or at least have lots of opinions )

From one who started with no records and in addition to the books and Troopmaster, I recommend you contact your District Advancement Chair and have a meeting with him/her. They should be able to give you the current District MB Counselor listing and the process for adding new ones. Go over the Council Life-to-Eagle process particularly as it pertains to Eagle Project Approvals. You will see how gummed up that can get if you look at the posts under "Eagle Scout". Your troop may have a separate person who works with Eagle Candidates but they will come to you when it's application time.

We also use TM to keep Adult Training. It's an area that our council is weak in plus with the ability to do your own on the web, the adults can just bring you their certificate printouts.

[J. Rob]

Thanks for all the great ideas/suggestions. As for going to Roundtable and other council related things, it is a bit more difficult to schedule, because I live 70miles from the council office. I will have to make a run to the Scout store soon and get the publications suggested. Any other ideas go ahead and post.

Another related question: Is it usual for the Troop adv. Ch to also handle the
CS Pack's advancements? We do have a small pack also and I think the Cubmaster has been doing it. Although I really don't relish the idea of having the extra load of Cubs as well, I may talk myself into it.

Jim R.

[J. Rob]

(Probably not the best place to post this, so I hope it will not get me on the bad side of the Site Adin. )

Could someone please tell me, IF I can print the replies on this board? IF so
I guess I missed the obvious way to do so.

Thanks,

Jim R.

[wagionvigil]

Sure Can
copy and paste
wagionvigil

[J. Rob]

Thanks, I should have thought of Copy and paste.

Jim

[FrankJ]

Scout track is another program to look at. It lets individuals update their own personal information, has a calendar, & can also send email alerts.

[mhjacobson]

My Scouting bible is the current edition of Boy Scout Requirements. Not only does it have the current rank requirements, but the current requirements for ALL merit badges. I consider this manual so important to me as a Troop Advancement ASM, but I have the 2008, 2007, and 2006 editions on my desk so that if a scout has started a MB or rank, prior to the new requirements, I can refer back to the old requirements.

I track advancement with Troopmaster. Each month we present a scout with a printout of the requirements that they still need to complete for the next rank. It really helps to have the other ASM with this information in their possession and advancement has really taken off since I have started doing this. In addition, I use Troopmaster to print out all of the Blue Cards as well as all of the advancement pocket cards for the COH.