Court of Honor

[t305spl]

I have also spoken with many other Sm's, and SPL's and attend many other troop COH's and they all run it the same way we do with regards to when awards are given out. I am sorry but we just have difference of opinion on this one and I am willing to bring this topic up with my leadership when a complaint/disappointment comes in. We have a lot of other things to cover already. If no one has a problem with it lets not waste hours trying to change it.

[t305spl]

Are the scouts ever made aware that the badge that they have earned should be awarded at the next meeting for instant recognition without having to get it on their own?

No that is the suggested way its not written anywhere that, thats how it has to be done. Every troop does it a little different and I beleive that this is fully up to the individual troops. So no we do not say well since some other troops give out the awards the next meeting you can complain that we should too.

[t305spl]

Sorry but i am sure that if anyone had even the slightest problem with the way we do it we would have heard something about it. They see the way other troops run and they know that we have our own way of doing somethings, they also know that every troop puts a little of their own custom ways into the program.

[ASM-142]

... every troop puts a little of their own custom ways into the program.

But why would a troop tell a boy he has to wait 2 months for a badge he earned or buy it himself.

[t305spl]

Because we dont run out 30 miles to council everytime a completion comes in. We go out and buy them all at once. If you are willing to run out and buy them for us I will be sure to make the change to awarding them the next week. No parent has been able too.

[PaulSWolf]

Are the scouts ever made aware that the badge that they have earned should be awarded at the next meeting for instant recognition without having to get it on their own?

No that is the suggested way its not written anywhere that, thats how it has to be done. Every troop does it a little different and I beleive that this is fully up to the individual troops. So no we do not say well since some other troops give out the awards the next meeting you can complain that we should too.

Actually it very precisely IS written that way. Here is a quote from the "Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures" (33088E)

4. The Boy Scout is recognized. When the board of review has certified a boy's advancement, he deserves to receive recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his new rank may be presented later at a formal court of honor.

Can't be much clearer.

[t305spl]

Except it says as soon as possible and that it should. We can not get it to them then. We have no one willing to go out to council that often. So soon as possible for us is the COH when we have someone that can go out.

[t305spl]

Listen I am not saying its a bad idea nor am I saying that it shouldn't be that way. Its just not possible right now for us to do that. Maybe someother time but not right now. I do agree with it but I dont have my license and we dont have anyone willing to go so I am sorry but we cant do that right now.

[commish3]

Matt,
Why not have the council mail the awards to your unit?

[t305spl]

Because our council runs at half a mile an hour but you know what commish that is a good idea. I am goin to talk with some of my leadership this weekend. OK well I off to go camping.

[ASM-142]

Are the scouts ever made aware that the badge that they have earned should be awarded at the next meeting for instant recognition without having to get it on their own?

No that is the suggested way its not written anywhere that, thats how it has to be done. Every troop does it a little different and I beleive that this is fully up to the individual troops. So no we do not say well since some other troops give out the awards the next meeting you can complain that we should too.

Actually it very precisely IS written that way. Here is a quote from the "Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures" (33088E)

4. The Boy Scout is recognized. When the board of review has certified a boy's advancement, he deserves to receive recognition as soon as possible. This should be done at a ceremony at the next troop meeting. The certificate for his new rank may be presented later at a formal court of honor.

Can't be much clearer.

Paul - Thanks for ths information I knew that i read it somewhere

[Mick Scouter]

Today I participated in my first Eagle COH. It was great. I need to review the posts here but I have a few questions that may spin another post.

[optimist]

Instant recognition, which is stessed in scouting, does not include a 2 month (or even 2 week) wait to receive a badge that has been earned.

I'm sorry but what the BSA says and what they do is sometimes entirely different. The BSA does not allow merit badges to be bought in advance. They must be earned first.

A long time ago, before the BSA enforced this policy, my troop kept a stock of merit badges which were awarded immediately upon being earned. If the BSA is so concerned about immediate recognition they should adopt policies which promote it.

Also, please note that Paul's quote of BSA policy doesn't say anything about earned merit badges being awarded immediately. It says there should be immediate recognition. I always immediately recognize advancement and, therefore, I am in full compliance with the stated policy. Badges are presented at the next Court of Honor.

[Lynda J]

A scout should not have to buy his own rank patches or badges. If a troop earns Quality Unit and Commissioners Award our rank patches are provided to us by the council at no charge.What we do is try to keep one of each rank patch in our inventory and we can award the boy that at the meeting after his BOR. Then we turn in the advancement report and receive the patches to replace those given out. Now for merit badges we announce that a scout has earned the badge then at COH we award the badge.

[ASM-142]

When a scout complets his BOR for rank we announce it to the troop that night. Then at the next meeting he is presented his new rank patch and at the next COH he is presented with the card. This way he gets recognised three times. There have been times that a boy has advanced two ranks between COH. If you wait until COH to present rank they don't get the honor of wearing all their . We do the same think with merit badges.

Linda - I am not sure how you work things with MBs. In the quote above you imply that when a scout earns a MB it is announced to the troop that night. Then at the next meeting the scout is presented his bage. Finally, at the COH the scout is presented the MB Card.

However, in your last quote you stated that

Now for merit badges we announce that a scout has earned the badge then at COH we award the badge.

[optimist]

What we do is try to keep one of each rank patch in our inventory and we can award the boy that at the meeting after his BOR.

According to our council, this is not allowed. Merit badges and rank patches may not be purchased before they are earned.

[ASM-142]

Instant recognition, which is stessed in scouting, does not include a 2 month (or even 2 week) wait to receive a badge that has been earned.

I'm sorry but what the BSA says and what they do is sometimes entirely different. The BSA does not allow merit badges to be bought in advance. They must be earned first.

A long time ago, before the BSA enforced this policy, my troop kept a stock of merit badges which were awarded immediately upon being earned. If the BSA is so concerned about immediate recognition they should adopt policies which promote it.

Also, please note that Paul's quote of BSA policy doesn't say anything about earned merit badges being awarded immediately. It says there should be immediate recognition. I always immediately recognize advancement and, therefore, I am in full compliance with the stated policy. Badges are presented at the next Court of Honor.

Why would a troop want to deny a scout from wearing his earned badges as soon as possible. Waiting for a earned MB until the COH is like waiting for a paycheck until the end of the fiscal year.

[commish3]

I was taught and still teach 3 recognitions for every accomplishment. The first as soon as it is earned, (a hardy hanshake and warm pat on the back), the second at the next meeting in front of his peers (the actual award), And the third at the quarterly Court of Honor (the pocket record card or a certificate.)

I agree that waiting 3 months (or longer in the case of many units) is far too long. Once the Scout completes the requirements he should have the actually recognition devise as soon as physically possible.

[optimist]

I don't want to deny a Scout anything but if the BSA does not support instant recognition through their actions why should I have to use my time and put miles on my car driving back and forth to the Scout Shop every time a Scout earns an award?

[ASM-142]

I don't want to deny a Scout anything but if the BSA does not support instant recognition through their actions why should I have to use my time and put miles on my car driving back and forth to the Scout Shop every time a Scout earns an award?

You should use your time and put miles on your car because that is the position that you volunteered to be in. I know that this is a lot but at the most it should once a week and different adults can rotate who goes to the scout shop. In fact I am heading to my scout shop tomorrow since it is my turn.