How to Assign/ Work towards a Merit Badge By Advancement Committee w/ input and assistance from documents provided by the Shelter Rock District Dean of Merit Badges It is imperative that the adult in charge of assigning Merit Badge counselors or counseling the badge follow the procedures listed below - The Scout decides on the badge he wishes to do.
- He informs the Scoutmaster and or Advancement Chair that he wishes to do the badge. This is done usually prior to or after a weekly meeting has concluded.
- The Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair fills out /dates and has the Scoutmaster sign the front portion of an Official Application for Merit Badge form—commonly called the “Blue Card”. The Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair then ASSIGNS the boy to a specific counselor, which is obtained from the official District Merit Badge Counselor List. The Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair will do the assignments based on demographics, and where possible, try to match the Scout’s personality to the counselor’s methodology. Assigned counselors for specific merit badges do not always have to be the same individual. The District has asked its Troops to “avoid the usual suspects”. This seems to indicate that we should be sharing the wealth of our Scouts knowledge when it comes to counselor assignments
- THE SCOUT then contacts the counselor, informing the counselor that he is interested in doing the badge and to see if there are any special instructions he needs to be aware of.
NOTE- a counselor may NOT change any of the requirements to a badge. The purpose of the advanced contact is to serve as an introduction and to get any specific instructions from the counselor. 90 Day as well as all other prerequisites should be discussed. A Scout should not start a 90 Day or any other lengthy badges until this initial call is made. NOTE- Troop 55 has established a policy whereby Scouts not takes an Eagle required merit badge with his “Parent Counselor”. Merit badges are another way a boy matures and advances toward the ultimate review board—that of Eagle Scout. As part of this process we encourage the Scout go to independent counselors for merit badges his parent may counsel. We are attempting to instill maturity and self confidence in our Scouts. - The Scout then begins doing the badge requirements as specified in the Merit Badge Book.
- When the Scout has completed the requirement (or sooner if the counselor wishes) THE SCOUT should contact the counselor again in order to make an appointment that is MUTUALLY CONVENIENT for a counseling session.
- The Scout should report to the counseling session in FULL CLASS “A” UNIFORM w/ Neckerchief and Troop Hat, fully prepared with necessary materials and a signed blue card. A parent or another scout must accompany the Scout to comply with youth protection guidelines. National BSA policies require two deep leadership. If a counselor suggests that parents leave and come back later, end the session and contact the Scoutmaster or the District Dean of Merit Badges or the Council office immediately. ( Counselors should also be aware that the session is for the boys benefit, not the parent) Public places such as Libraries are good places to counsel Merit Badges.
- When the counseling session is complete, and if the boy has met all the necessary requirements for the badge, the counselor will sign the Application for Merit Badge (Blue Card) form in appropriate place and tear off the section labeled “Counselor’s Record” and return the section Marked “Applicants Record” to the Scout. The counselor maintains his records in case the boy needs to prove passage down the road due to clerical errors or loss of applicant’s record.
- The Scout then must turn in the two part “Applicants Record” to the units Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair, at which time it is signed off by the Scoutmaster. The Scout will then receive the “Applicants Record” along with his badge at an appropriate occasion that will allow for Troop recognition. We generally do this at a Court of Honor. The Advancement Chair will retain the last part of the card for the Advancement report and for retention by Council office.
NOTE-We use a computer data base called Troopmaster to maintain records. It is imperative that the Scout make sure with either the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair that the earning of the badge is recorded in Troopmaster. - The Advancement Chair or his designee brings the Advancement report plus the third part of the blue cards to the council office and purchase and collates the badge with the “Applicants Record”. It is awarded at a time when proper recognition can be made.
*Special Note* Special Note* Special Note* Special Note* Special note* The Applicants Record of completion of a Merit Badge is very important. In addition to recording in Troopmaster, all boys in Troop 55 should maintain a three ring binder with Baseball Card sleeves for storage of your returned “Applicants Record”. The cards are the same size as baseball cards and a three ring binder to track and document your experiences and advancement in Scouting can only be a good thing. Rank cards, old rank badges and all types of things can be maintained in this folder COUNSELOR NOTE ***COUNSELOR NOTE ****** COUNSELOR NOTE If a Scout comes to you with a card assigning him to another counselor, ask him to bring you a card assigning him to you. In actuality, when the Scout makes the initial call, YOU, the counselor should be asking if he has a card with your name and phone number on it showing assignment to you. If he shows up with someone elses name on the card, ask him why and refer him to the Scoutmaster. If you are completing a partial, the boy should bring you a NEW, signed card—assigning him to you. If circumstances dictate, sign the new completion and pass him. Staple the old partial to the new Pass and have all of this delivered to the Scoutmaster or Advancement Chair. Please do not write over the partial counselor name in lieu of a new card. Counselors act on an honor system. Partials should be honored if they appear legitimate. Although you cannot test on abilities passed by the original counselor who awarded the partial, you must be satisfied that the boy is familiar with the subject matter. ALL QUESTIONS TO TROOP 55 SCOUTMASTER OR ADVANCEMENT CHAIR |