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So! You're ready to
become an Eagle Scout - Scouting's highest rank! You've progressed through
the ranks, earned many merit badges, and are well on your way to becoming a
leader and a good citizen in your community. This is a great achievement!
But before you earn the Eagle badge, there are a few critical steps you
must take. Aside from meeting the essential requirements, there is a lot of
paperwork!!
This step-by-step guide to becoming an Eagle Scout in Troop 681 is intended
to guide you as you complete your final requirements for Eagle rank, and as
you prepare the various applications and other documents leading up to your
Eagle Board of Review and Court of Honor.
Understanding the Eagle Scout
Requirements:
1. As soon as you become a Life Scout, pull out your BSA Scout Handbook,
and read pp.167 to 181. This is a comprehensive discussion of the Eagle
requirements. Compare the outlined requirements to your current merit
badges, rank achievements, and leadership roles.
2. The Troop recommends that you sign up for the Life-to-Eagle Scout
seminar held by the George Mason District (this is not required but is very
helpful). Generally, the Troop will keep you advised of the time and place
of the seminar. If you do not get a reminder from the Troop, ask any one of
the members of the Advancement Committee about it.
3. After you have read and understand the Eagle requirements, download a
copy of the “Eagle Scout Rank Application” off the BSA website. eagle_application(FI).pdf
Beginning the Paperwork:
1. Obtain from the Troop's Advancement Committee a copy of your individual
history report that summarizes your merit badges and advancements. This report
can be e-mailed to you on your request by a member of the Advancement
Committee. Remember that certain required merit badges for Eagle can take 3
to 6 months to complete. Therefore you want to allow plenty of time before
your 18th birthday to get them done.
2. Status check-Prepare a rough draft of the Eagle Scout Application
including all pertinent personal information, all merit badges you have
received and the dates that you received them. (In some instances you can
choose one of several “required” merit badges. Make sure you cross out the
“OR” choices that you are not using). Double-check all the dates against
your copies of the blue cards and the individual history report you have
been given from the Troop's Advancement Committee.
3. The Eagle Scout requirements (including merit badges) can be worked on
in sequence or can be worked on at the same time. This means that you can
start your Eagle Project before you have completed all your merit badges.
4. The Troop Committee will assign a member of the Advancement Committee as
your Eagle Scout Advisor. This Eagle Scout Advisor will work with you
during your Life Scout career to assist you with your progress to Eagle
Scout.
Obtaining a Troop Leadership Role:
1. Before you can become an Eagle Scout, you will need to serve in a
leadership role as a Life Scout for at least six months.
2. Talk with the Troop Scoutmaster and discuss what your interests are and
where you might fit.
3. Consider whether you want to be elected to Senior Patrol Leader,
Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, patrol leader, scribe or quartermaster.
4. Troop positions to which you can be appointed by the Troop's Scoutmaster
or the Senior Patrol Leader include (but not limited to): historian, troop
guide, den chief, chaplain or Order of the Arrow troop representative.
Your Eagle Project:
1. Complete your copy of the “Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project
Workbook” at the BSA Website Eagle
Scout Leaderhip Service Project Workbook and search for “eagle scout
project.” It contains a list of the 12 steps from to Life to Eagle,
worksheets, helpful hints and examples of Eagle Projects.
2. Consult with your Troop Eagle Scout advisor to check your idea for
suitability as an Eagle project. The project needs to be community
oriented, cannot be for the benefit of the Troop, and on average includes
100 hours from start to finish (the hours include yours, other scouts and
adults who help).
3. You will be the leader of your Eagle project, from the planning stage to
the completion of the finished project. This means that you make the
decisions, you make all the contacts, and you take responsibility for
seeing that the project is something of which both you and the Troop can be
proud. Make sure you choose a project that is achievable.
4. With the concurrence of your Troop Eagle Scout advisor, contact the
George Mason District Eagle Scout Coordinator. The initial contact is over
the phone to introduce yourself, and to set up a preliminary meeting at a
time convenient for both you and the District Eagle Scout Coordinator,
where you will present a written draft summary of your proposed Eagle Scout
project idea. The District Eagle Scout Coordinator will give you comments
on your draft project proposal; you will take your draft back and make any
suggested changes.
5. Once you have received the District Eagle Scout Coordinator's initial
approval after your first meeting, and you have made his recommended
changes, return to your Troop Eagle Scout advisor. At this time, you will
need to get your official sign-offs for the project before you can begin.
The sign-offs occur in the following order:
o Project sponsor, i.e., a representative of the organization for which you
are doing the project
o Troop Committee Chair (i.e., the unit committee member)
o Scoutmaster
o District Eagle Scout Coordinator (i.e., council or district advancement
committee member)
6. Now you are ready to organize and complete your project. Follow the
guidelines in the “Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook.” Some
hints include:
o It is important that you use the Eagle Scout project workbook that is
printed on the Web. Do not attempt to create your own Eagle project report
format.
o You will need to pick a couple of dates for your project. Check the Troop
calendar for conflicts. Once a date has been set, make sure the Troop
Secretary sends an e-mail announcement to Troop members reminding them to
come out and help. You should call scouts, family and friends, and
personally ask them to help you. The more help you get, the quicker the
project will go and everyone will have more fun.
o Make sure to take photographs “before,” “during” and “after” the project.
In your photos, include as many scouts and helpers in the project as
possible.
o Have each volunteer sign-in and out during the time you are working on
the project. Use a simple sign-in sheet. You need to keep track of who
worked on the project and how long so that you can complete the table of
volunteer work hours.
o You will need to arrange for drinks, snacks and possibly lunch for your
helpers.
o Make a budget for your project and keep track of expenses.
Pay attention to planning before you assemble your workers to avoid
"bottlenecks" and quality control issues. Bottlenecks occur when
volunteers do not know what they are supposed to be doing, or they do not
have the right tools or supplies to perform their tasks. Quality control
problems occur when insufficient time is set aside to instruct volunteers
on how to properly perform the work, and/or insufficent effort is made to
inspect the work while it is being done.
7. Upon the completion of the project, and completion of the written Eagle
Scout project workbook, obtain the same sign-offs in the same order as
listed above.
Completing Eagle Scout Rank Application Form:
1. Above you completed a rough draft of this form shortly after reaching
Life Scout. Take this rough draft and complete a more comprehensive draft
up to Requirement 6 on the Application form. Take your draft to be reviewed
by your Troop Eagle Scout Advisor. Make sure you have completed Requirement
2 on the Application form which outlines your recommendation requests (you
will need at least three recommendations from those who know you).
2. You do not send the requests for recommendations yourself. You will
provide your Troop Eagle Scout Advisor with pre-addressed and stamped
envelopes for those that you want to write you a letter of recommendation
in your behalf. Your Troop Eagle Scout Advisor will actually mail out the
recommendation requests.
3. Your completed Eagle Scout application should include the following:
o Merit badge records-including copies of completed and signed Blue cards
o Recommendations-minimum of three references, plus you can include one
from your parents
o Statement of Life's Ambitions
o Your completed Eagle Scout Project Workbook
o Put it all together in a three-ring binder. Use graphics to enhance the
cover, etc.
Your Eagle Board of Review:
1. When you have completed your Eagle Scout Rank Application Form to the
satisfaction of the District Eagle Scout Coordinator, you need to contact
your Troop Eagle Scout Advisor to schedule your Eagle Board of Review.
Generally, the Eagle Scout works out possible dates with the District Eagle
Scout Coordinator and then makes sure these dates work for the Advancement
Committee.
2. The Eagle Board of Review will consist of three members of the Troop
Committee, who generally will be members of the Advancement Committee, plus
the District Eagle Scout Coordinator.
3. Before your Eagle Board of Review, you should make 2 copies of your
original Eagle Rank Application and your statement of life's ambition.
Provide these copies and your completed Eagle Project workbook to your Troop
Eagle Scout Advisor.
4. On the date of the Eagle Board of Review, come in complete uniform. Make
sure your can recite the Scout Law and Oath by heart.
5. All Eagle requirements (including the Eagle project and all sign-offs)
must be completed no later than mid-night of the day before your 18th
birthday.
6. Your Eagle Board of Review does not need to be completed before your
18th birthday, but must be completed no later than 90 days after your 18th
birthday.
Arranging for Your Eagle Court of Honor:
1. The Troop has appointed an “Eagle Scout Court of Honor Coordinator” to
help you and your family prepare for your ceremony. Your family is
responsible for planning your Eagle Court of Honor.
o Please begin the initial planning for your Court of Honor about three
months ahead, and notify the coordinator as soon as you have a date in
mind.
2. There is a great deal of flexibility in putting together the program.
The Troop will provide a $100 check to you to help cover expenses. Expenses
can include: refreshments (including a cake), invitations, program covers,
plates, cups and napkins. Many of these items can be obtained at the Scout
Store in Bethesda, MD.
3. The Troop Eagle Scout Court of Honor Coordinator can assist you with the
following:
o Arrange for a U.S. flag to be flown over the U.S. Capitol in your honor.
o Arrange for elected officials at all levels of government - from the
President of the U.S. to your local representative - to issue letters of
commendation.
o Provide you with samples of the following:
a. Invitations to be sent to family and friends
b. Examples of typical Court of Honor proceedings
o Arrange for Scout House to be available on your preferred date.
o Compile all the certificates, proclamations, letters, etc., into a
binder.
o Help schedule a rehearsal for you and those whom you would like to
participate in your Court of Honor ceremony.
4. Your Court of Honor can occur after your 18th birthday, but can only be
scheduled after you have been notified by the Troop Advancement Committee
that your Eagle Rank Application has received national approval.
5. You can schedule you own Court of Honor or coordinate with another Eagle
Scout or two to have a group Court of Honor. It is your choice. Many scouts
have their Eagle Court of Honor at the Scout House, but you can choose
whatever venue you want.
People You Need to Know:
There are certain people in the Troop you will need to get to know on your
path to Eagle Scout.
Troop Committee Chair
Dick Lobb 703-359-0440
dicklobb@aol.com
Troop Scoutmaster
Kevin Coleman 703-241-1617
scoutmaster681@verizon.net
Advancement Committee Chair
Jan Welch 703-532-4968
jbwelch1@verizon.net
District Eagle Scout Coordinator
Jack Lundin 703-938-0369
lundinjack@yahoo.com
Eagle Scout Court of Honor Coordinator
Tom Goodwin 703-560-7246
tgoodwin@steponecommunciations.com
Troop Eagle Scout Advisor
To be assigned when you reach Life Scout
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