"Be active in your troop and patrol for at least"

[Hamish17]

Sorry for not including this in my last post.
After reading page 169 in THE BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK, I think a Scout is encouraged to be active when it states "Take part in meetings, in planning activities, and in the fun of adventures. If you're there, you can do your part to make your patrol and troop a success." But there apparently is no minimum required or defined. Thanks again.

[Scouting179]

I would consider attendance counting for being active, but not for doing one's job. What if a Scout attends and sits in a corner all the time? That is not doing his job.

If a Scout is not doing his job, he should first be talked to and then if he still doesn't do it, be removed from it.

[OldGreyBear]

But I think the BSA standards are clear. To reach any of the ranks you have to be active in your patrol and troop. To reach first class, you have to do the requirements, I am not sure how you are going to earn the ranks if you are not active. To earn Star, Life and Eagle, you have to be active in your troop and patrol for a set period of time, this period of time aligns with the required position of responsibility. Now, if a scout satisfactory completes his POR stint, I dont see how he couldnt be active in his troop and patrol. If the scout then drops out of sight for a few months and then comes back, he did his six months, what more do you want? He does his six months as mentored and monitored by his troop adults, if he isnt seen for 14 months, but registrers again, he is eligible. He did his time. The requirement is to be active for the set period time, 4 or 6 months, not for the entire they are working on a rank

[Scouting179]

The BSA standards are vague. They are not clear at all. If they were, we wouldn't be having this discussion.

You said something like "if he completes his POR". What if he held the job and never did a single thing?

What constitutes Scout Spirit --- before you say read the book, the book's answers are all open to intrepretation. I'm sure your idea of loyal, brave, etc don't match mine.

What's active?

Again, if the standards were clear, this thread wouldn't exist.

[OldGreyBear]

I said "satisfactory completes" his POR, that means the adult troop leadership is happy with his work. It means the scout was told what his job was and how he was to do it and what resources are available to do his job. It means the scout was monitored while doing his job and received feedback on how well or not so well he was doing. if he did nothing, clearly he didnt satisfactory complete the term and wont be surprised when he doesnt get credit.

As far as scout spirit, ask the scout if he lives it, can he give examples when he was brave, it doesnt mean you have to jump on a live grenade to save the buddies in the fox hole. Some of the bravest men I know go to work every day to keep their family secure. Scout spirit is being proud to be a scout and it shows even while not in uniform. It doesnt take long to determine who wants to be a scout and who is there for a vacation from the folks. He doesnt have to live up to my standards for being brave, nor yours for that matter, but his, and its our job to shape those definitions in is future life.

[ASM-142]

I said "satisfactory completes" his POR, that means the adult troop leadership is happy with his work. It means the scout was told what his job was and how he was to do it and what resources are available to do his job. It means the scout was monitored while doing his job and received feedback on how well or not so well he was doing. if he did nothing, clearly he didnt satisfactory complete the term and wont be surprised when he doesnt get credit.

As far as scout spirit, ask the scout if he lives it, can he give examples when he was brave, it doesnt mean you have to jump on a live grenade to save the buddies in the fox hole. Some of the bravest men I know go to work every day to keep their family secure. Scout spirit is being proud to be a scout and it shows even while not in uniform. It doesnt take long to determine who wants to be a scout and who is there for a vacation from the folks. He doesnt have to live up to my standards for being brave, nor yours for that matter, but his, and its our job to shape those definitions in is future life.

Until National comes up with something better I think that this is something that most of us can live with.

[Scouting179]

See the companion thread on being active too.

These issues will always be coming up and there will always be differences in how they are implented until National comes up with a clearer standard that is not so vague. This only add to the inconsistencies in the program.

[yardhunter]

....................I hope this post isn't deleted, but if it is, here goes my opinion anyway.

One thing most comments here hasn't focused on yet is.......of course the National will tell you a scout is active if registered. That's because they have their charter fee & what goes on after that is up to the local council & District level.

National (IMHO ) isn't too worried about this issue. The charter $$ is what counts to them & those attendance issues are left up to the BOR members.

IMHO......BOR participants should ask the scout ( with poor attendance ) these type of questions about participation & allow the boy to answer for & be accountable for himself.

Then decide something from there.................see ya yardhunter

[Hamish17]

I was the one who originally started this thread. I have asked similar questions, about attendance, in a BOR and typical response is: doing things with school, family, sports, church or band. These are all important and after reading all the responses I understand better why National has taken their position - "if he is registered then he IS active". Although at times it seems hard to accept.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

The fact that Nationals claims a scout is active if registered makes sense only to the idea that one could contact Nationals as a reference and if someone's name shows up on an active roster for the year - there you go - that person is active. What other status would Nationals have for somone who has paid dues for the year. Either active or in-active (as in active during prior years). Nationals is looking at rosters at a national level. BUT this shouldn't be confused within a troop level. Maybe this is why ranks have a sign off for scout spririt which includes living the scout law and oath. Only those within a troop would know this for individual scouts. A Scoutmaster does not have to sign off on this if they have a valid reason not too. The issue of a scout being active or not doesn't really play into this. As previously stated, a scout could even be in a leadership role but if they sit in the corner and never participate, then the SM should know this. BUT ALSO, in fairness to a scout, (remembering that they are youth) I don't think it would be fair to wait until a scout is in a SM conference to point out to him that he never participates in anything. An adult or scout from the PLC should be approaching the scout before this to let him know that his attendance/attitude/particiation whatever it is, isn't what a scout living the oath and law should be.