Starting an Eagle Project

[diamondbackAPL]

yes, it does. thank you.

[ASM-142]

ASM-142, I'm confused. why would it not be a service project since it benefits both the strip mall and the individual people?

A private entity should not be the benefitting organization of a service project.

[evmori]

Not an Eagle project but a really good service project! A service project needs the approval of the SM & it seems like that was done. And, if I'm not mistaken, a service project doesn't have the same requirements as an Eagle project.

[ASM-142]

Not an Eagle project but a really good service project! A service project needs the approval of the SM & it seems like that was done. And, if I'm not mistaken, a service project doesn't have the same requirements as an Eagle project.

From reading the initial postings it does not appear like the SM knew exactly what was going on and therefore did not approve the project (I may be wrong on this).

As far as a service project I always went by the rule that it could not benefit a private organization. Is this is wrong let me know.

[Lynda J]

I talked to this gal over the weekend. They are meeting tonight with the SM, their "new" district advancement chair, a representative from council and the boys mother. She told them that they had gotten approval. So we will wait and see.

[Scouting179]

. It is a good landscaping project except for the fact that it was done at a small strip mall. ... Got all the material donated.
But missed that every important requirement of getting approval before he started.

The key here is that if the work was done on private property of a business (i.e. the strip mall), then the project would never have been approved by the district or council advancement committee in the first place.

The requirement reads

The project idea must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee and the council or district before you start.

and the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook says:

The project also may not be performed for a business or an individual, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.

So as beneficial as the project was, and as unfortunate as it sounds, the Scout may have to do another project that meets the requirements.

WELL SAID. The Scout, SM, and Committee all blew this one.

Some MAJOR education and training needs done here.

[ASM-142]

I talked to this gal over the weekend. They are meeting tonight with the SM, their "new" district advancement chair, a representative from council and the boys mother. She told them that they had gotten approval. So we will wait and see.

Being that approval was never obtained prior to starting the project and the project was done for a private organization (strip mall) for the troop to even to consider approving this is against the principles of the Scout Law.

[Scouting179]

I'd love to hear how this turns out.

Prediction: they won't want to 'hurt the boy', so they'll approve it and slap everyone on the wrist, but I totally disagree. The write up, pre-approvals, and post-approvals were never done and it was done for a commercial enterprise.

[ASM-142]

If Counsel is thinking about approving this they should get approval from National. You would not want Counsel to approve it at this point and then have National reject it when the scout applies for his Eagle.

What is counsel going to do? Backdate the approvals. This is not very trustworthy.

[Lynda J]

As soon as I know more I will let you all know.

[ASM-142]

Linda - You never stated if this scout has an Eagle Leadership Service Project Workbook?

If he did then he can only blame himself if counsel does not allow this to move forward.

[Lynda J]

I don't know if he had the workbook or not. It is out of our district and I really don't know many people in that district. We give each of our boys the project book after they are awarded Star Rank. It is simply something we make sure they have. And should be something every SM makes sure their Star Rank boys have.

[ASM-142]

Why do you give it to the scouts at Star. It makes more sense to give it to them when they become life

[Lynda J]

I'm wrong we give it to them at Life. I had picked up Kevin from school and he was doing some paper work on a badge and was talking about Star. Enter brain exit fingers.

[wagionvigil]

Our council sends it out with the Life Scout Badge when we put in the Advancement

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Why couldn't the council give this boy an extention and allow him to do another project?

[Buffalo Bill]

I've placed two items on our Troop web site that hopefully help avoid some misunderstandings about the steps from Life to Eagle.

Either or both could possible be adapted to other Council/District/Unit needs. Here's the URL: http://troop509.org/usefulforms.htm Look for "Troop 509 Life to Eagle Packet" about 1/3 down the page.

[Lynda J]

Got more information last night on the Eagle Project.

The boy is getting credit for it. The project was actually done through a city echo program. It wasn't really done for the shopping center. The city had contacted several business property owners about doing zero scape projects on their property.
As far as not getting prior approval. The mother showed up with the Boy Scout Hand Book with page 173 marked.

It reads. The Eagle Scout service project requires that you be a leader. You must plan, develop, and provide leadership to others in a service project of real value benefiting the envioronment, your community, or a religious, group, school, or other worthey group.

Your idea for a project must be approved by your troop leader, troop committee, district OR council advancement committee. and the recipient of the project before you begin. Upon completion, the project must be reviewed by your district or council advancement committee.

She stuck on the OR because she said the Troop committee approved the project.

Once again BSA has things worded differently in different areas making thing unclear.

[Scouting179]

Your idea for a project must be approved by your troop leader, troop committee, district OR council advancement committee. and the recipient of the project before you begin. Upon completion, the project must be reviewed by your district or council advancement committee.

She stuck on the OR because she said the Troop committee approved the project.

Once again BSA has things worded differently in different areas making thing unclear.

Why didn't the troop committee tell the lad what to do next? If they did, then the boy is at fault for not following directions.

Whatever happened to the project where the District Rep wanted the lad to do more than the benefitting organization wanted?

[evmori]

Got more information last night on the Eagle Project.

The boy is getting credit for it. The project was actually done through a city echo program. It wasn't really done for the shopping center. The city had contacted several business property owners about doing zero scape projects on their property.
As far as not getting prior approval. The mother showed up with the Boy Scout Hand Book with page 173 marked.

It reads. The Eagle Scout service project requires that you be a leader. You must plan, develop, and provide leadership to others in a service project of real value benefiting the envioronment, your community, or a religious, group, school, or other worthey group.

Your idea for a project must be approved by your troop leader, troop committee, district OR council advancement committee. and the recipient of the project before you begin. Upon completion, the project must be reviewed by your district or council advancement committee.

She stuck on the OR because she said the Troop committee approved the project.

Once again BSA has things worded differently in different areas making thing unclear.

Hmm. Must be an old book. The current requirements in the Handbook read: The project idea must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee and the council or district before you start. I don't see the word OR.