Timing of Boards of Review

[milominderbinder2]

We schedule BORs once a month so our committee chair can line up enough members. We are a small troop...

Sierra Vista, AZ has a population of around 40,000 people. Why not buddy up with another troop to help with each other's Board of Review? Put a few of them on your Troop Committee and some of your people on theirs. It costs nothing to do and both units will probably learn a lot from each other.

- Craig

[WeeWillie]

Craig

BORs are a TROOP Committee function, not a shared function. Discussions raised in the BOR may include priviledged information. Several years ago our COR was an ASM in another troop. The situation created a conflict of interest.

Thanks for your idea!

[eaglesmom]

That is how our troop is run. 2 BOR a year. And if the scout misses it too bad.

[smtroop168]

Welcome to the Forum, however your post is absurd. Two BORs a year? I hope you meant Courts of Honor.

[wagionvigil]

I agree . If this is truly the case, two per year ,they are doing this to hold the scouts back. This is not a good scouting practice. This is common in troops that always have 17.999 year old Eagles. Another reason for mandatory movement to Venturing at 15

[eaglesmom]

Welcome to the Forum, however your post is absurd. Two BORs a year? I hope you meant Courts of Honor.

Thanks.

I wish I did. And 1 camping outing since summer camp last year.

[smtroop168]

Then my recommendation is to save yourself and your scout(s) and find another troop that has a clue.

[Billiken]

Then my recommendation is to save yourself and your scout(s) and find another troop that has a clue.

I couldn't agree more.

[milominderbinder2]

Boards of review are to be monthly:

http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Bo ... ment_Goals

(Quoted from: Advancement Policies #33088, pages 25)

"It is important that the troop committee and the Scoutmaster set an advancement goal for the year. A basic goal should be for each Scout to advance a rank during the year. New Scouts should earn their First Class rank during their first year in the troop. By doing so, these new Scouts become net contributors to the troop and are able to care for themselves and others. When reviewed monthly by the troop committee, Scouts will recognize the importance of Scout advancement. Troops should conduct boards of review for Scouts who are not advancing.

It is Courts of honor that are quarterly:

"A minimum of four formal courts of honor a year (one every three months) should be held to formally recognize the Scouts in the troop."

If your troop decides to not allow a timely board, contact your district or council about the process to appeal:
http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Ap ... a_Decision

- Craig

[milominderbinder2]

Craig

BORs are a TROOP Committee function, not a shared function. Discussions raised in the BOR may include priviledged information. Several years ago our COR was an ASM in another troop. The situation created a conflict of interest.

Thanks for your idea!

Wee,

If you do not have enough adult leadership, you can co-register certain adult leaders from another troop. Talk it out with them ahead of time. You are not sharing a board of review with another troop. You are providing minimum leadership. You might learn alot from each other.

My first thought would be to get more of your own parents invovled, registered, and trained.

- Craig

[eaglesmom]

I thought I would update you all. I really appreciate all the words of encouragement. We have left the troop. It was my boys decision. Even though the leaders of the troop did not know this. They sent me a letter kicking us out of the troop. Why? Because I brought up what you all had said here. They called me corrosive to their troop. It was a vicious letter fulls of lies. And to think this man wants to make the troop even bigger. Even worse he is part of the church that is the sponsor of the troop.

[wagionvigil]

If this is Bucktail council in Pa I will get this information out to some friends at region. Plesae let me know if it is in PA and if it is off forum send me the troop information.

[smtroop168]

Only Bucktail council listed is in PA.

I've lost the history of eaglesmom's issue. She only shows 3 posts and recently joined.

[eaglesmom]

I will email each of you offlist with all the details. Yes, it is Bucktail Council in PA.

I have been reading here for years and finally decided to speak out because what this troop does is not what you all write about. It was bothering me so much that I spoke up and was sent a vicious letter from the committee telling me my younger scout was no longer welcome in the troop because of ME.

[smtroop168]

I remember now...I think I said to run away fast. There is no excuse for a letter like you describe. Wagion will get the info to the appropriate folks.

[smtroop168]

WOW....all that because you told them that they should have BORs more than twice a year?

[Ursus Snorous Roarus]

How sad.... what can a committee expect to accomplish by not holding BoRs as needed?? Be happy you have a kid ready to advance! Yow...
I truly hope you have found another troop for your son and this event hasn't driven him from Scouting?

[wagionvigil]

This Scoutmaster is on a power trip and he is holding the boys back. ALso there is no help coming from council. The CE basicially said well thats how he does things. The troop is large and is very active and I think the council is just plain afraid of loosing those numbers and the unit. It is a shame when Numbers come before the Boys. Oh that is how it really is is it not?

[smtroop168]

For all, the gist of the letter is that because she chose to questions the 2x/year BOR policy, she is a corrosive and destructive person and the Committee "cordially recommends" her son transfer out of the troop and if she doesn't like it too bad. There is a PS at the end saying they are sending this letter to the new troop. It is signed by the CC, COR, IH and the Unit Commissioner.

Eaglesmom: Here's my take on what you COULD do.

1: Nothing and focus on the new troop and your sons
2: Visit the Council Office to express your concerns officially. The two items that are disturbing are that (1)the letter is being forwarded to the new unit. That is prejudicing the new troop's view of your sons and since they have done nothing other than join a new troop, this is a huge foul. You could get an attorney to review this. (2) The letter is also signed by the unit commissioner which the council should view with concern as their official endorsement of this troop's actions.(or maybe they don't have a concern?)

[FrankJ]

And National is wondering why numbers are continually dropping?