Eagle Project Application Format

[FieldSports]

The local district advancement chair is requiring the use of the PDF format for the project book. However, the scout cannot electronically save in that format. He checked the NESA website and it offers three formats (PDF, RTF and DOC).

Are all of the NESA versions considered "official"? and how has anyone dealt with this issue?

[riverwalk]

This nonsensical thing challenges one to stay cheerful as we must. So, I edited out the rest of what I wrote.

[PaulSWolf]

The local district advancement chair is requiring the use of the PDF format for the project book. However, the scout cannot electronically save in that format. He checked the NESA website and it offers three formats (PDF, RTF and DOC).

Are all of the NESA versions considered "official"? and how has anyone dealt with this issue?

Yes ALL of the formats are official and should be acceptable by the Council. A call to the Council Scout Exec should set things straight.

[Chief J]

Agreed, all three are the "official" workbooks, and correct, you cannot save a completed copy of the .pdf document.

I usually print the .pdf document to handout when my Scout makes Life. I also provide the website where he can download the document. The .doc and .rtf formats allow for editing and saving text in the document.

Our District allows the use of any of the three formats, and actually prefers the .doc or .rtf because if you have to make changes, they can be easily made and the document remains very readable.

With the .pdf it is like creating the wheel each time you open it.

A call to the Council should help your scouts with this situation.

Best of Luck,
Chief J

[mhjacobson]

There is an easy solution. A scout can open the file into MS Word and enter all of the data as he would like. Then use MS word to 'publish' the compelted file as a .pdf and send it to the individual who insists on receiving a .pdf file. The original data will still be on MS Word if the scout wants to edit the data in the future.

This is a solution that is temporary until someone explains to the chair what 'nothing more, nothing less' means. In fact, the committee should accept the information even if handwritten in ink on the form!

[smtroop168]

The requirement is to use the Workbook 18-927 and makes no mention of format. The NESA website has the PDF and RTF formats which show the 18-927 number. The DOC file shows 18-936 but says that this online version is okay. All three have the new Chief Scout Executive picture and message.

[wagionvigil]

Sounds to me like a District ADv Chair playing God

[evmori]

Any format is OK. The Scout can hand write it if he wants! And if the DAC kicks it back, have him show you Nationals chapter & verse that says his way is the only way. Bet he can't produce it!

[pipestone1991]

Sounds to me like a District ADv Chair playing God

Ditto, you can't require that.

[T180Scouter]

For cryin' out loud, what did scouts do before there were computers!
The 18-927 workbook is available is hardcopy print from our Council and probably most other Councils and National, too! Since when do we start REQUIRING TYPED DOCUMENTS? The workbook has blank lines in it so that the scout can WRITE in those sections. That fact that many today cut & paste, or fill out computer-generated facsimiles of the workbook does not invalidate any that are submitted the old-fashioned way. At least if we see his handwriting, we know that HE filled it out, and not his parents.
This kid's district Adv Chair needs to be whacked upside his head with a rolled up copy of an 18-927 and be brought into National compliance.
No wonder these boys get discouraged. NO MORE, NO LESS!

[Scout]

I am with wagionvigil in believing that the District Advancement Chair is playing God. Also, he is violating BSA policy adding requirements.

[pipestone1991]

I had printed off the pdf but used the printed copy.

[evmori]

You can save a ,pdf file if you have the correct software.

There is no "official" format. If the Eagle candidate wants to handwrite his Eagle Project (my son did) he can.

[smtroop168]

I agree you can handwrite your project but my experience in reviewing projects is that scouts use the Word format since they find it easier to edit and add to as they go along. Plus they can email it to folks if they need or want to.

Does anyone know when the requirement to have a project book and approval outside the troop came about? and why? Was it to standardize the process? Make sure projects were "worthy"?

[FieldSports]

Thank you everyone for the posts. Did my research and was able to show that the three formats on NESA sight are acceptable.

Then, at a district roundtable break-out this was brought up and I was able to get the advancement chairperson to say "yes" we accept the other formats. Made a very large group of leaders happy.

[Bill Pitcher]

Hey FieldSports, glad you worked it out. The .pdf format DOES not work for all scouts. All versions on NESA's web work for me, as is hand written, typed, cut and paste, etc. I've been an Eagle Chairman for over 20 years and have seen it all. Handwritten, however, can be pretty messy, so the troop needs to help him "clean it up" so the EBOR can read it and see the result as the scout's "Best Effort."