Can an ASM serve on an Eagle Board?

[Fibonacci]

Guidelines for Board member selection:
The Board of Review for an Eagle candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members.
Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout's Board of Review.

Our latest Eagle candidate gave me a list of folks he'd like to serve on his Eagle Board. As I reviewed the advancement policy information, I read and reread the part about "assistant unit leaders...may not serve" and realized this probably means he can't have his requested Assistant Scoutmaster on his Board. Is this correct? (None of our Scouts have asked for an ASM in the past; all have chosen Committee Members, involved parents, clergy, or community members.)

FYI ~ in our troop the Eagle Board is composed of one member of the District Eagle Committee and 2 - 4 members selected by the candidate (and formally asked by the Adv Chair.)

[wagionvigil]

That is correct. Now to add a little. Many do not know that a non scout person may serve on the board. A teacher,minister etc selected by the scout may also serve on the board. Many scouts from this area ask for leaders from other troops that have influenced them to serve on their board. I have driven to Pittsburgh and served on a EBOR and they are a different council from me.

[ThunderingWind]

Also, do not interpret this rule too tightly....A person who is actively serving in the Assistant Scoutmaster position in a unit OTHER THAN THE BOY BEING REVIEWED may still serve on board.

I have found each Council I have been in has developed it's own board gathering techniques all within the spirit of the give rules and policies. Same said for the project approval committee.

[wagionvigil]

While I was ASM and SM I was not permitted to serve on EBOR in my troop but did many in other troops in the council

[smtroop168]

Also, do not interpret this rule too tightly....A person who is actively serving in the Assistant Scoutmaster position in a unit OTHER THAN THE BOY BEING REVIEWED may still serve on board.

This is allowed because the other unit ASM has no official standing within the unit of the scout being reviewed. Mr Clark is really just another adult on an EBOR.

ASM's are not allowed to serve on any BORs because the BOR is a Troop Committee function. ASMs are not members. The BOR also assesses how the boy is doing in the troop and the scout could be uneasy to speak up about the adult leadership

[ThunderingWind]

ASM's are not allowed to serve on any BORs because the BOR is a Troop Committee function. ASMs are not members. The BOR also assesses how the boy is doing in the troop and the scout could be uneasy to speak up about the adult leadership

Interesting that you mention this....I have yet to be in a Troop that only uses the Troop Committee to do the normal BORs. All have used a combination of TC and & ASMs based on who is present at the meeting so the can get done. All three units have never really "scheduled" the BORs to be "next week" or "next month."

We get them done, the Adv. Chair uses the CO computer to udpate TroopMaster and send forth the data to the Council. We then hand the boy the rank card and patch during the opening of the next meeting or COH if he wants - boys choice. But it is announced he earned it and is now considered X rank.

[Fibonacci]

Advancement Committee, Policies & Procedures
2002 printing
page 29 Review for Tenderfoot through Life Ranks and Eagle Palms
Note ~ the bold face is copied from the book.

This board of review is made up of at least three and not more than six members of the troop committee.
Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout's board of review.

We do not use ASMs for regular Boards of Review, only trained members of the Troop Committee. (Thundering Wind, you might want to go over this book with your Troop Committee.) I just didn't know this rule also applied to Eagle Boards.

Thanks everyone, for the confirmation that this rule still applies. It's odd tho'. Page 30 describes the composition of the Eagle Board and it does not exclude assistant unit leaders. I found the exclusion on-line. Oh well. I'll ask our Eagle candidate to select other members for his Eagle Board.

[ThunderingWind]

Advancement Committee, Policies & Procedures
2002 printing
page 29 Review for Tenderfoot through Life Ranks and Eagle Palms
Note ~ the bold face is copied from the book.

This board of review is made up of at least three and not more than six members of the troop committee.
Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives, or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout's board of review.

We do not use ASMs for regular Boards of Review, only trained members of the Troop Committee. (Thundering Wind, you might want to go over this book with your Troop Committee.)

I will mention this at our next meeting. None of my training has ever quoted the book like you did. However, I do not feel that using some ASMs is a bad thing. I see it more of a "practical, real world" application. If my current Troop waited for all BORs to be conducted by the at least three members of the TC, then it would make the boys wait for a month (for all practical purposes).

My second Troop used a large contingent of TC/ASMs. Each parent was "required" by the CO to register as a TC or ASM. The CO paid for everything except Boy's Life subscription and uniforms. I was an ASM and MBC with that unit. It is where my crossed over in March 2005.

[evmori]

Guidelines for Board member selection:
The Board of Review for an Eagle candidate is composed of at least three but not more than six members.
Unit leaders, assistant unit leaders, relatives or guardians may not serve as members of a Scout's Board of Review.

Our latest Eagle candidate gave me a list of folks he'd like to serve on his Eagle Board. As I reviewed the advancement policy information, I read and reread the part about "assistant unit leaders...may not serve" and realized this probably means he can't have his requested Assistant Scoutmaster on his Board. Is this correct? (None of our Scouts have asked for an ASM in the past; all have chosen Committee Members, involved parents, clergy, or community members.)

FYI ~ in our troop the Eagle Board is composed of one member of the District Eagle Committee and 2 - 4 members selected by the candidate (and formally asked by the Adv Chair.)

An ASM can serve on an Eagle BOR providing the Eagle candidate isn't a member of the ASM's unit.