What comes first

[scoutchallenge]

I am sure that this has been talked about before -

Does the Scout have to choose the councilor before the SM signs the blue card?

If yes, what happens if the councilor is not able to do it anymore?

Can the scout change councilors if they want? IE. working on the MB then goes to camp and finishes it or finds a different councilor to work on it.

And as a councilor, can I help a scout with a few final items and sign the card off if the other councilor is not contacted first?

[Mad Dog]

In our troop the scout goes to the SM and gets his blue card. The SM gives him the signed blue card with the names of one or more registered MBC to contact. The SM does not enter the MBC name on the blue card.

[FrankJ]

My understanding of this is if you are a registered merit bagde counselor for that merit badge you can sign off any scout that comes to you. It is up to the counselor (you) to determine that the scout has satisfied the requirements for the merit badge. That could be work done for a previous counselor evidenced by an intialed the blue card, but in the end it is the signature on the completed line that counts. A common case for a scout having a partial would be merit badges started at summer camp. If I thought the scout was shopping counselors I would probally want to see a little more than intitials on the card or talk to the previous counselor.

On a slightly different subject, my understanding by what I have seen written by the BSA is that the SM & others can recommend but not require a particular counselor.

[wagionvigil]

Get a signed card,Find a counselor. That is the procedure Now a counselor does not have to accept a partial it is up to them, A counselor does bot have to give a partial. I never give partials for Climbing and unless I know who gave a partial I do not accept it in Climbing. Too many things to go wrong. I accept SCout Camps and Counselors I know and I know Many around the country.

[evmori]

Tell your SM you want to work on a MB. He will then give you a blue card for that merit badge with his signature & the name, address & phone number of a merit badge counselor for that badge. Then the Scout can start working on the badge.

[Mrw]

My boys usually bring back completed blue cards on which the counselor has filled in their name, etc. I give the counselor information to the boys on a separate sheet and often give them more than one contact in case they can't work out a time with the first one I suggested.

I also keep a handful of blank blue cards for when he is not available and a boy needs one.

[deweylure]

waigionvigal wrote he does not accept partials. I find this contradicting to what I was told at the meritbadg coun selor training session I attended. if an approved counselor signed off it should be accepted. He has certified ther boy has fullfilled the requirement.


Dewey lure

[ASM-142]

waigionvigal wrote he does not accept partials. I find this contradicting to what I was told at the meritbadg coun selor training session I attended. if an approved counselor signed off it should be accepted. He has certified ther boy has fullfilled the requirement.


Dewey lure

I agree - You can not expect a scout to repeat what is already signed off. That is expanding the requirements.

[wagionvigil]

A Counselor owes it to himself to make sure what is signed off on was completed. AS the person doing the final signing I MUST make certain of what was done.
I will accept Partials for any MB that I do except Climbing.

[cballman]

i beleive it is up to the MBC as to what he accepts or not. it seems to me there could be a lot of safe scouting involved here. if a scout comes to me with a partial in swimming from last year and I have not seen him swim then no I will not accept the partial. but if I was there like at summer camp and saw the boy in question then if he did the req. yes I would but if he didnt then NO. as a MBC I have to put the safety of the child first. like in climbing I have seen signoffs on blue cards that I know that the child has not done the climbs because he was scared of heights. but then again that poses more questions..

[FrankJ]

Realize a partially completed blue card consists of illegible initials on the back of the card. The counselor acceping a partial has a responibility to insure they are valid. That means different things in different situations. In general I accept them after a little review. The completed siganture is what certifies that the badge is complete.

[Mrw]

I have no problem with Waigon not accepting a partial in Climbing, because if they don't really know it and do it wrong, some one could get killed.

This is not the case for many other badges. If I were the counselor and a boy brought me a partial, I would certainly ask when and who he saw and why he didn't go back to the same person. I would probably ask for a summary of what he did for the requirements that were signed as well.

[odin]

The same could be said of other merit badges, such as rifle or shotgun. Unless the MBC verifies somehow that the requirements have indeed been met, someone could get shot, injured, or killed. Were I to get a partial on one of these MBs, I'd certainly question the scout on safety issues and be very attentive to how the scout handles a firearm.

[Eamonn]

I'm sorry Wagionvigil
while you make a valid point, you are not right.
If you were there would be no reason to issue a partial in the first place
By having the Scout re-do what he has already done you are in fact adding requirements.
If you have a beef about the quality of Counseling, you need to take this up with the District or Council Advancement Committee.

[evmori]

I do the same thing as wagonvigil on partials. If my signature is going to be on the card, I want to make sure the Scout know the badge. It is within my right as a MB counselor.

[wagionvigil]

Actually E the Climbing No Partial came out of camp school.

[Eamonn]

Wagion V
if there isn't one to start with then it's a different story.
But if a Lad comes having done half the work and the MBC has signed it, I don't see how we could not accept it.

[wagionvigil]

I will first say I seldom get partials and If I do they are mostly from Scout Camps or Counselors I know. I have no problem with that. OK? If I see a MB Card signed my OJ Walsh I would have a problem with that. If I see one siogned by Darek Kelsey There is no Problem.
I absolutely do not give partials in Climbing. The big reason is apparently the scout learned NADA! They are the ones that were not observant during class time or are a young scout that does not belong in the class to begin with.
I have the SM sign off on first aid and the Knots. They are too time comsuming for a class and it makes for good troop time.

[Eamonn]

I was wondering why Darek is the Boatswain of Ship 777?
Now I know!!
(Of course that Walsh kid isn't all bad!!)

[Daniel C. Cheezan Jr.]

I also agree with Eamonn.You may not add to requirements.This would be like going to a Board of Review and being asked to do a requirement.It can't be done.But you may ask what that Scout learned from that requirement.

Dan Cheezan
Troop Advancement Chair
District Advancement Chair