What options are available?

[aflmom]

Every Life Scout should take Life to Eagle training and/or pull Randy Smith's guidance of www.eaglescout.org so they understand the process. A generic process is also in the back of the ES workbook. We have the scout present his project to the District rep and recommend that his project book never leave his possession.

Also I looked at all aflmom's post since she joined the forum in 2005.
Edited By Wagionvigil
Thankyou

Seems like this has been going on forever, huh? First one thing than another. I remember when he got in 'trouble' for advancing too quickly and the leaders were concerned about a younger scout being a higher rank than some of the older scouts or scouts who had been with the troop for a long time.

And then there was the time he was blindsided and called into a meeting of adults leaders because they disapproved of him going to college at 12 and said he was setting himself up to fail, etc. Well, two years later at 14 he graduated with a dual associates degree and honors. Now, at 15 he's working part-time, taking 12 credits, involved with youth group, music, drama, scouts and is happy. He's been accepted into a university for fall and thus the reason he's trying to get his eagle project wrapped up before he leaves home.

He does have copies of everything including the signatures and has gone through what information he could find online. Unfortunately, the troop doesn't do things by the book (i.e. blue card signatures) and it makes it difficult. Hopefully, he'll get off of work early enough today to make some phone calls.

[smtroop168]

He sounds like a great kid and you are obviously very proud of him. Given the history, I would have left that troop (but it might not have been an option). My point is that there are established procedures and you should not feel that you can't pick up the phone and call the Council office to sound the alarm and get answers no matter what the troop thinks. None of us wants him to leave scouting with a bad taste in his mouth. We want and need kids like him in adult roles in the future.

[aflmom]

He sounds like a great kid and you are obviously very proud of him. Given the history, I would have left that troop (but it might not have been an option). My point is that there are established procedures and you should not feel that you can't pick up the phone and call the Council office to sound the alarm and get answers no matter what the troop thinks. None of us wants him to leave scouting with a bad taste in his mouth. We want and need kids like him in adult roles in the future.

Actually, my dh and I wanted him to find another troop a long time ago, but he wanted to stay and work through the problems, and we respected his wishes. Hopefully, the problems won't leave a bad taste as you said. He seems to view 'problems' as opportunities to grow. I'm the one that gets tired of problems and wants to move on! lol

Although it won't help our son, I do see a light at the end of the tunnel. There's a leader that will probably move into the SM position in a couple of years once his kids are out of cub scouts. He's very organized and qualified.

I do feel bad that he won't be around to "give back" to the troop next fall but he feels the principles and things he learned will carry over into giving back to the community, if not the specific troop.

[wagionvigil]

I have boys that are in college attend when theyare home and a couple attend summer camp as an ASM. They take a week off from work.

[aflmom]

My son just spoke with someone from district to find out the status on his eagle application packet and was told they had not received it. I left a message for his SM. The person, who was suppose to send the paper work to the right people signed his approval for the project plan on 1/22/08. His title was listed as council or district advancement committee member. Although our son has a copy of his eagle scout rank application, he doesn't have a copy of the signatures on the back page of the application form. No one is giving him any answers. He has called the advancement committee member ~ every two weeks along with talking to his SM.

He's in the Gulf Ridge Council, Withlacoochee district. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[wagionvigil]

Is the missing item the project booklet or the completed Eagle APplication?

[cballman]

well if has been that long and yall keep geting the runaround. I would call the council office ask for the scout exec. to find out why yall keep getting the runaround. if you dont know his name the I would look it up on the web. to me for someone to mess with a kid as much as you have said then I would make a trip to the scout office and look the man or woman eye to eye and watch them make some phone calls and get answers while I sat in the persons office.

[aflmom]

District doesn't have records of anything being submitted. (sigh)

I spoke with the SM, let him a message, and just received a call back. He's going to talk to the executive chair or someone. He called the council advancement committee member a couple of weeks ago to talk to him about our son's project and the guy refused to talk to him. He told his wife to tell the SM it's taken care of. What a mess!

[wagionvigil]

Here is the contact list start calling and making noise


Meet the Staff

(813) 872-2691 (if after hours, use phone extension shown)

Scout Executive Warren Wenner, ext.104
Administrative Services Manager Angelique Saffore, ext. 103

Field Service / Customer Service
Director of Field Services Jim McKitterick , ext. 112
Registration / Membership Information Pam Miller, ext. 110

Finance Division
Finance Director Al Teschner, ext. 121
Controller Kathy Brown, ext. 107
Assistant Controller Jane Whitney, ext 120
Finance Nina Wolfson, ext. 109

Learning for Life
Learning for Life Director Jon Ralston, ext. 133
Learning for Life Director Ted Johnson, ext. 116
Learning for Life Director Ralph Snyder, ext. 118
Learning for Life Executive Kimbery Wright, ext. 135
Youth Diversion Program Specialist Angela Yarbrough, ext. 136
Assistant Lilliam Nieves, ext. 108

Support
Receptionist Natasha Faiola, ext. 101
Mail Room/Print Specialist Jessica Thomas, ext. 111

Program Service
Program Director Jon Ralston, ext. 133
Program Director Ted Johnson, ext. 116
Program/Activities Specialist Jeannie Upton, ext. 106
Ranger at Flaming Arrow (vacant)
Ranger at McGregor Smith (vacant)
Ranger at Camp Brorein Frank Marion
Outdoor Education Program Coordinator (vacant)

Field Team Tampa
Field Director (vacant)

New Fire District Director Halvern Johnson, ext. 131
New Fire District Executive Armando Khalil
Northeast Hillsborough
New Tampa, San Antonio, Temple Terrace, Thonotosassa, Ybor City, Belmont Heights, Clairmel, Jackson Heights, Orient Park, Palm River, Sulphur Springs

Tocobaga District Director Jan Garber, ext. 115
Tocobaga District Executive Mirna Topke , ext. 122
West Hillsborough
Citrus Park, Carrollwood, Northdale, Lutz, Odessa, Town N Country, South Tampa & Downtown Tampa, MacDill AFB, Westshore

Field Team Mickey
Field Director Major Alston, ext. 117

Allohak Sr. District Executive Michael Goggin, ext. 102
Eastern and Central Pasco County
Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Lacoochee

Calusa District Executive Shawn Marler, ext. 114
Hardee & Highlands Counties
Lake Wales, Avon Park, Frostproof, Lake Placid, Sebring, Wauchula, Zolfo Springs

Lake Region and Thunderbird District Director Dave Riley, ext. 119
East Polk County
Auburndale, Davenport, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Polk City, Winter Haven

Thunderbird District Executive Aaron Pickle, ext. 113
West Polk County
Bartow, Fort Meade, Lakeland, Mulberry

Timucua Senior District Executive Steve Cox, ext. 132
Timucua District Executive (vacant)
East Hillsborough County
Apollo Beach, Brandon, Durant, Plant City, Riverview, Ruskin, Seffner, Valrico, Wimauma

Withlacoochee District Executive Duane Rieker, ext. 123
Citrus, Hernando, & Sumter Counties
Crystal River, Inverness, Wildwood, Bushnell, Brooksville, & Spring Hill

[aflmom]

THANK YOU!!

I'll wait a couple of days, try the SM again, and then call if he doesn't have any answers.

[wagionvigil]

This is why it is important for everyone to put their council name oon their Profile

[cballman]

well if it was me i would find out who refused to talk and call te council exec. first thing tommorow. when a scouter with that position of authority refuses to talk to someone about a Eagle scout project needs a boot planted somewhere and out of scouting quickly. this is what gives the kids and parents problems and they want to quit before the benefit of scouting can be spread around.

[Mrw]

I would not wait any longer either. Call tomorrow, and if it were me, I would start at the top rather than work my way up.

There is really no excuse for the long wait and refusal to help.

[WVBeaver05]

I agree. Call tomorrow and don't stop until you get answers.

YiS

[Chief J]

Begin calling immediately, begin at the top and let him work his way backward to the problem.

Best Regards,
Chief J

[aflmom]

I called and left a message with the District Executive--the same person the SM was going to get in contact with. The person at the main number didn't know when he was going to be in.

Thanks for the 'push' to call today rather than wait until Monday.

[smtroop168]

I don't know how far you are physically from the Council Office, but I might go sit in the CE's office until I got some answers.

[wagionvigil]

I don't know how far you are physically from the Council Office, but I might go sit in the CE's office until I got some answers.

Yep that works!

[Mrw]

If the District Exec does not call back after a couple hours, then go ahead and call the Council Exec.

That should shake some folks into moving!

[aflmom]

Aren't computers wonderful? I was just going through my son's eagle stuff (he's at work) and not only did the advancement committee member have him change his start, completion, and dates of other individuals working on the project, he told him to put down that the materials were donated.

What's the point of that??? There was almost 2K that he had to raise the money for. I know fund raising doesn't count in the hours, but it was still part of the project. There was also the research and ordering of the materials that could not be bought locally due to them being commercial grade. The equipment that was needed for installation was donated by a local rental company.

At this point and time, distance is immaterial. I don't mind camping out at the 'office' as long as it's indoors. Guess I'll mop the floors while waiting a little longer for that phone call. (sigh)