ECOH and Still Mad

[ThunderingWind]

I went to an ECOH this past weekend for boy who is my crew. I was the only green shirt there.

What a terrible event. I am glad I got there earlier than the invitation. The unit started a full 45 minutes early.

It started as a normal COH for the boys in the troop. They handed out MB after MB ad nauseum. Then the handed out rank promotions for the boys. One of them was the one of three boys getting his Eagle that day. He was promoted to from 2nd class to Life (still had 2nd Class on his shirt). Then Eagle a little later.

The unit did break for two minutes before starting the Eagle COH.

This was the units first COH in a little about two years. One boy was given his Eagle after actually earning it in '07. He still had his Life rank on his shirt.

The only reason this COH took place was that my Crew member asked when will it take place now that his was done and approved. His mother is on the District Committee and I know she was asking as well.

[AquilaNegra2]

How awful for those boys to have earned such an achievement only for it to be handled as a chore to recognize it.

[ccjj]

In our troop here, the ECOH is planned by the family of the Eagle Scout. It is up to them to decide when and where it is held. The troop will assist in any way possible, but it is their responsibility to plan it. The ECOH (in my opinion), is for the Eagle Scout. It is his day to be in the spotlight so to speak. He shouldn't have to share it with anyone, unless he wishes to do so. I have been to a couple, where 2 boys had a combined ECOH.

BUt, to have a regular troop COH just before hand, no that shouldn't have happened in my opinion.

ccjj

[lifescoutforlife]

ccjj is correct, It is the scout and his family that should call the shots. It should be a time just for the boy and not others unless he wants it that way. I have seen a troop that the boys have to wait for others to make Eagle because the SM wants them all to have thier ECOH together. This is totally wrong but they know no different because they think that is just the way it is. It is time for that boy to shine, and he and his family should plan the whole thing out the way they want it.

[Mrw]

Wow!

What a way to discourage the boys from advancing at all!

Amazing that troops with this level of function manage to continue to exist at all.

[smtroop168]

I went to an ECOH this past weekend for boy who is my crew. I was the only green shirt there. Did your boy invite the other crew members?

What a terrible event. I am glad I got there earlier than the invitation. The unit started a full 45 minutes early. Wow. I can't get folks to show up on time let alone 45 minutes early!

It started as a normal COH for the boys in the troop. They handed out MB after MB ad nauseum. Then the handed out rank promotions for the boys. One of them was the one of three boys getting his Eagle that day. He was promoted to from 2nd class to Life (still had 2nd Class on his shirt). Then Eagle a little later. I wonder what uniform, if any, he wore to his EBOR?

The unit did break for two minutes before starting the Eagle COH.

This was the units first COH in a little about two years. One boy was given his Eagle after actually earning it in '07. He still had his Life rank on his shirt. We did have a scout that it took a year to have his ECOH because he turned 18, joined the Canadian Military and had to go to school prior to getting his medal back

The only reason this COH took place was that my Crew member asked when will it take place now that his was done and approved. His mother is on the District Committee and I know she was asking as well. The other posts address responsibility for ECOH planning. What District position is this mom?

The whole troop sounds like a mess. What does your crew member say and how active is he in the troop?

[Quailman]

Perhaps the reason for the CoH starting 45 minutes early was that the troop CoH was planned to end before the ECoH began. Most boys I know have had the 'wedding without a bride' type ceremony, where the parents planned it and former den leaders, etc. showed up. The family sets up displays of the paraphernalia accumulated over the years - pinewood derby cars, red vests, camporee patches, letters from congressmen... They're sometimes at the venue (church) where the Eagle Project was carried out.

One boy had a simple ceremony following a troop CoH. Several of his friends and relatives arrived near the end of the troop function, and they were separate ceremonies. They even retired the colors before beginning the ECoH. I expect that's why you had to sit through the distribution of troop MBs and ranks - you were invited to the second part.

Of course, for this to be the troop's first CoH in two years is inexcusable.

[evmori]

What a mess!

[mt_goodrich]

A great ECOH can help motivate younger Scouts and light a new fire under them.

[smtroop168]

And a lousy COH can demotivate younger scouts and throw a bucket of water on their fire.

[ThunderingWind]

[The whole troop sounds like a mess. What does your crew member say and how active is he in the troop?

Troop functions well otherwise. They are at camp with most of their boys. They are at most of the Spring/Fall District Camporees. Active with popcorn sales. Active in the community etc.....He never complained to me, neither did the parents - other than this CoH, ECoH issue. All three boys that got thier Eagle had at least 40 plus MBs. And the one boy who earned his last year was actually given the first two Palms (I forgot that in the OP).

The SM even made note that "they hope to hold another CoH NEXT YEAR."

[alex gregory]

"The SM even made note that 'they hope to hold another CoH NEXT YEAR.'"

One COH next year? Maybe this troop should really hope for another SM and CC next year.

[Quailman]

A great ECOH can help motivate younger Scouts and light a new fire under them.

My son received his initial motivation to join scouts when he was about 5 and went to a 'wedding without a bride' ECoH. He was fascinated by the way everyone was making a fuss over the honoree (the son of friends of ours).

Now he gets temporarily motivated each time he hears of another Eagle.

[Mrw]

Even if the troop is lax in having their COH's regularly - we have been that way at times too - for a boy to be receiving his Eagle and still have the second class patch as the last actually awarded rank is flabbergasting.

Even if we have missed what should have been a troop COH period and have extra the next time, the boys have gotten the patches in a more timely manner. They just waited longer for the public recognition in front of their families. It only takes a moment at the beginning or end of a regular troop meeting to pass out newly earned stuff!

(And we have sometimes missed a mid-winter COH due to the boys just not quite getting it together and getting it on their calendar.)

And my boys both had very motivating moments after seeing another boy's ECOH. Some kids want to opt for short ceremonies, but a touch of pomp is great for those coming behind!

[Chief J]

We also place the responsibility for the planning of the ECOH up to the family of the Scout who is the recipient of the award. The Troop provides a committee member who is knowledgable in what is and is not appropriate for the ECOH to assist and provide guidance. The Troop will also commit all the speakers, and colorguard/honorguard, etc for the family to use. I.e., if they want the Scoutmaster to speak, then the SM speaks, etc.

The responsibility for obtaining the congratulatory letters, planning, etc all rest with the family.

Other COH's occur on the quarter in our Troop some are small ( A couple of merit badges, perhaps a rank or two), and some are huge (after summer camp). Next one is scheduled for December.

Regards,
Chief J

[smtroop168]

[The whole troop sounds like a mess. What does your crew member say and how active is he in the troop?

Troop functions well otherwise. They are at camp with most of their boys. They are at most of the Spring/Fall District Camporees. Active with popcorn sales. Active in the community etc.....He never complained to me, neither did the parents - other than this CoH, ECoH issue. All three boys that got thier Eagle had at least 40 plus MBs. And the one boy who earned his last year was actually given the first two Palms (I forgot that in the OP).

The SM even made note that "they hope to hold another CoH NEXT YEAR."

This makes it even stranger that they hold COHs so rarely. Active/well run troops know better.

Even if the troop is lax in having their COH's regularly - we have been that way at times too - for a boy to be receiving his Eagle and still have the second class patch as the last actually awarded rank is flabbergasting.

That is the most incredible part of this story.

[Quailman]

That is pretty amazing. I've caught boys in our troop who are a rank or two behind on their uniform - but not because it hasn't been awarded. At first I thought that might be the case here, but this is clearly a case of not having COHs to distribute the patches.

[Bill Pitcher]

We ALWAYS hold the ECoH separately from troop CoHs. Planned by the family, the Eagle Scout and (we have the luxury) the troop Eagle mentor. We are a small troop (20 boys) but still hold 4 CoHs a year and as many ECoHs as needed. Each boy has his own, unless two close friends and their families request a joint one. Then letters from dignitaries are gathered and placed in a "Memory Book" along with troop outing pictures (parents love them) and local politicians are invited and make presentations, etc., etc. As you can see, lots of pomp. It's a big deal for the new Eagle AND the younger guys in the troop.
The Eagle CoH is a motivator and should be special. Not part of the troop CoH. If it is, then the younger scouts never get to hear of the Eagle rank's history, prominence, and importance. It's just another rank and no big deal.

[kwildman]

That is pretty amazing. I've caught boys in our troop who are a rank or two behind on their uniform - but not because it hasn't been awarded. At first I thought that might be the case here, but this is clearly a case of not having COHs to distribute the patches.

The patch should be awarded when earned regardless of when the COH is scheduled. We provide the scouts their cards and mother's pins at the COH.

[Quailman]

We award the rank patches when they're earned, but giving them to the scout and seeing them on the scout's shirt may be temporally distant events.