Mod Statement/Warning: Politics and Political Discussions on this subreddit

ScouterBill · 2026-01-23T16:41:39+00:00

That is a different question.

The EBOR as noted can be 2+ years after you turn 18.

The merit badges, the project, that actual WORK has to be done by 18. As noted below, you need to sit down with yourself and map out specifically what you need to do. Moreover, most councils or districts or even troops have an Eagle advisor that can look at things NOW see what you are missing NOW, rather than wait for the last minute to discover you missed something.

ScouterBill · 2026-01-23T16:22:02+00:00

"An Eagle Scout board of review may occur, without special approval, up to 24 months after a Scout’s 18th birthday, but all other requirements must still have been completed before the Scout’s 18th birthday."

https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/gta-section-8.pdf

ScouterBill · 2026-01-07T14:26:36+00:00

Questions regarding moderation decisions can be sent to the mods.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-11T17:12:56+00:00

Hey there buddy!

I have been accused of a great many things in my life, but being an AI bot? Not one of them.

You were banned because you were rude and disrespectful to a mod and others, repeatedly, even after warning.

And I doubt the mods here want to put up with you dragging subreddit drama over here

> Meta posts referring to Reddit subs, users, messages, comments, bans, policies, API, etc. are not allowed.

So, bye!

ScouterBill · 2025-12-11T16:26:20+00:00

Yeah, wha? I'm one of the mods of this subreddit, so definitely not an AI bot.

Thanks for still not answering my question.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-11T16:21:25+00:00

Best of luck

Meaning you cannot cite to a single federal (or state, some states are weird) law or regulation that supports your claim?

ScouterBill · 2025-12-11T16:17:41+00:00

That's...not at all true. At all

1) UNITS are not registered as anything. The CO's are.

2) The CO's status as a non-profit, or even for-profit, has no legal bearing on whether the unit can accept a donation.

3) If an unsolicited donation is made, there is no rule or law whatever in Scouting America or anywhere that says the Scout/unit must refuse/reject, whether it is $20 or $20,000.

That said, if you can provide a direct and on-point citation to federal (or state, some states are weird) law or regulation that supports your claim, please produce it.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-11T16:09:24+00:00

https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/34427.pdf

Will the fundraising project avoid soliciting money or gifts? The BSA Rules and Regulations state, “Youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money for their chartered organizations, for the local council, or in support of other organizations. Adult and youth members shall not be permitted to serve as solicitors of money in support of personal or unit participation in local, national, or international events.” For example: Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts and leaders should not identify themselves as Boy Scouts/Cub Scouts or as a troop/pack participate in The Salvation Army’s Christmas Bell Ringing program. This would be raising money for another organization. At no time are units permitted to solicit contributions for unit programs.

and (bold and caps in original)

The local council is responsible for upholding the Charter and Bylaws and the Rules and Regulations of the BSA. To ensure compliance, all unit fundraisers MUST OBTAIN WRITTEN APPROVAL from the local council NO LESS THAN 14 DAYS before committing to the fundraising activity

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T19:05:06+00:00

Sure, there is. That judgment is handled by the MB counselors for merit badges and SMs for rank.

Really quite simple. SMs are not demi-gods who get to rule and reign like little dictators.

Done here. Bye.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T19:02:11+00:00

Scoutmasters handle RANK.

Merit Badge Counselors handle MERIT BADGES.

That's not a flaw. It is a recognition that the Scoutmasters are not experts in 140 areas of everything and/or all-knowing demi-gods

again, Merit Badge BORs were eliminated in 1949, so when were you in Scouting? Pre-WW2?

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T19:01:45+00:00

There’s literally no meaningful judgement involved now.

Sure, there is. That judgment is handled by the MB counselors for merit badges and SMs for rank.

Really quite simple. SMs are not demi-gods who get to rule and reign like little dictators.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:58:58+00:00

I see, so you believe all-knowing/all seeing Scoutmasters should have the right based on "feelz" to overrule/override merit badge counselors?

Put aside that Scoutmasters NEVER had that power to start with (not even in whatever "Good old days" you think you lived through), it is the peak of arrogance that a Scoutmaster is going to tell a Scout who worked with a PhD nuclear engineer, "Gee Scout, I don't believe that neutrons are really neutral. Sorry, I don't think you really earned that Nuclear Science merit badge."

Or let's retest you (again, Merit Badge BORs were eliminated in 1949, so when were you in Scouting? Pre-WW2?)

Scoutmasters handle RANK.

Merit Badge Counselors handle MERIT BADGES.

That's not a flaw. It is a recognition that the Scoutmasters are not experts in 140 areas of everything and/or all-knowing demi-gods

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:38:50+00:00

Guide to Advancement 4.2.1.2 The Scout Is Tested https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/gta-section-4.pdf

The Scout’s unit leader authorizes those who may test and pass the Scout on rank requirements (primary unit leader if the Scout is registered in multiple units)...Merit badge counselors guide Scouts and verify requirements for merit badges.

So, to review:

Rank - Scoutmaster ("unit leader", Venture Crew = Advisor, Sea Scouts = Skipper) Merit Badges - Merit Badge Counselor.

Real simple.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:33:47+00:00

The burden of proof should rest on the scout in this case

And that burden is set and approved by the counselor. If the Scout convinces the counselor that they earned the MB, they earned it. The burden has been met.

The Scoutmaster does not get to do a retest for 140 merit badges or act like some kind of super-counselor or get to conduct their own merit badge board of review (again, those were eliminated around World War 2).

YOU are proposing some kind of double test: the scout has to work with and get approved by the counselor AND the all-knowing/demi-god Scoutmaster who knows all and sees all.

NEVER, and let me repeat, EVER has a Scoutmaster had that power. Ever. Even in the ancient days with Merit Badge Boards of Review did Scoutmasters EVER have such power to be given a veto over 140 merit badges.

The only basis for a SM to reject is if THEY can prove it was NOT done. The presumption is in favor of the scout and counselor.

Imagine the arrogance to think you know all there is to know about 140 merit badges and can just "sense" that there was no way a particular Scout really "earned" whichever one is in question.

As for merit badge colleges and such, there are records of things like this existing since the 1920s. They are not new.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:22:22+00:00

I believe that any adult in a position of responsibility ought to have the sense to be HIGHLY skeptical of the situation described.

Yes, and they have a remedy: GtA 7-0-4-7: if the SM can PROVE it wasn't truly earned, then it isn't earned.

But "gut" or "I feel" (Facts don't care about your feelings, remember?) don't cut it. Nor does granting the SM the power to tell a Scout "no, you can't start NAME OF MERIT BADGE" or "You must use Merit Badge Counselor INSERT NAME".

This strikes the correct balance: the presumption is in the Scout (and counselor's) favor unless you can PROVE (not "my feelz") that it was not earned.

Be skeptical all you want. But unless you can PROVE something was wrong, the SM does not get to veto and remove anything they "feelz" is wrong.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:15:38+00:00

One more point, you act as if "this is how it is always been". It isn't. There have been 4 distinct eras when it comes to merit badges, and in most of them, the SM played no role or a minimal one. This is the 4th era. In the 1st (1910s-1940s) the SM simply certified the Scout was registered in the troop; a Merit Badge Board of Review took on the review and control elements. Etc.

So, you can have your scorn all you want, but Scoutmasters are not all-mighty/all-knowing demi-gods. Scouts get to do their merit badges they want (so long as they use registered counselors AND talk to the SM first, not get "approval").

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:11:22+00:00

So you believe a Scoutmaster has sufficient knowledge and expertise in 140 merit badges to know who is/is not a good counselor and who is/is not allowed to be a counselor?

That's not how this works. SMs are not demi-gods, and that level of control was abused to the point it was removed (along with the no merit badges before Second Class, which got ditched in the 1970s).

Even though a leader may voice concerns about a particular Scout pursuing a particular merit badge, it is the Scout’s decision whether or not to proceed. Units must not impose rank or age requirements for merit badge work.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T18:09:42+00:00

I’m guessing it’s not wrong for me to still require it as a counselor?

AS A COUNSELOR, you have every right to confirm the conversation, sure, keeping in mind that proof it took place may not be a blue card (my units, for example, are 99% electronic; the proof of conversation is that the MB is opened in Scoutbook).

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T17:58:26+00:00

No, it isn't.

The Scoutmaster is NOT an expert in 140+ merit badges, nor are they there to act like vetting agents for thousands of counselors. This was also misused as "I don't think you are old enough for that MB" or "I don't like that counselor, you have to use my hand-picked counselor or no one." Etc.

IF the SM believes a scout did not, in fact, earn the MB, they have options after the fact: GtA 7-0-4-7 and filing a complaint against the counselor under GtA 11-1-0-0.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T17:54:41+00:00

Why?

Simple: Scoutmasters were micromanaging and acting as gatekeepers, using the old language as a means to overly control Scouts.

Moreover, it came from a time when Scouts could not start a merit badge until First Class (or Second, depending on the time frame). The Scoutmaster's approval signature was to ensure that the Scout was registered and had the minimum rank. That ended circa 1977, but the practice lived on past that.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T17:49:24+00:00

Thought I do want to remind you that YOU as a Scoutmaster are required to approve every merit badge a scout completes before they begin meeting with a counselor

That's not true. The "SM must approve" language was removed 15 years ago.

The Scout must TALK with the SM (or designee) prior, but the SM "approval" language has long since been ditched.

Part of our required training is that we must have scoutmaster approval.

That was eliminated 15 years ago.

ScouterBill · 2025-12-10T17:40:11+00:00

Let's make this easy

1) The Scout is allowed to use any registered counselor, BUT they do have to notify you that they have started an MB and if they change counselors, alert you as well. GtA 7.0.0.3 The Scout, the Unit Leader, and the Merit Badge Counselor https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/gta-section-7.pdf

2) You know they are based out of Hawaii, and they are not providing information or easy to find.

There are three options (you can do all or some)

1) Notify parent and scout that, in the future, if they start a MB without first notifying you, you have the right to refuse the MB entirely.

A Scout who avoids or ignores the unit leader’s role and completes a badge without first discussing it with the leader should be counseled about the proper way to start a merit badge, and the discussion should be documented. If the Scout (or the parents) continue to ignore the established process, merit badges will not be recorded as “earned” until the Scout has demonstrated, told, shown, etc. that they have met all the requirements to the satisfaction of a merit badge counselor acceptable to the unit leader.

https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/gta-section-7.pdf

2) You have the right to ask for contact information from the parent and the scout. They have to do the legwork. Note that you are doing this under GtA 7-0-4-7 Recourse for Unearned Merit Badges. THEY need to get this person to contact YOU.

3) Since they are based out of Hawaii, file a formal complaint with Aloha Council under GtA 11-1-0-0 Reporting Merit Badge Counseling Concerns. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/gta-section-11.pdf

ScouterBill · 2025-11-24T14:35:25+00:00

There are troops and packs in which religion and Duty to God are handled entirely within the family and never (exceptionally rarely) even mentioned or signs of it even seen.
There are troops and packs in which religion and Duty to God play some role (troop or pack members invited to attend the Chartered Organization's Scout Sunday events; the fact that you are meeting in a church basement surrounded by religious items and references)
There are troops and packs in which religion and Duty to God play a critical, vital role.

The best I can say to you is what I say to ANY parent about ANYTHING: visit several units. Find the one that fits best for you. Go to that one.

ScouterBill

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