Advancement

  • Encourage Scouts to advance in rank
  • Post advancement sign-up sheet
  • Maintain all Scout advancement records in TroopMaster
  • Verify Scout’s merit badges and rank requirements are completed prior to Scoutmaster Conference and Board of Review
  • Make sure there is a advancement folder for each Scout
  • Assign ASM for Scoutmaster Conference (Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star)
    • Supplies the ASM with the Scoutmaster Conference Form
    • Reminds the ASM of his responsibilities before each conference (Troop 1776 has published guidelines)
  • Assign SM for Scoutmaster Conference (life)
  • Coordinate and complete Board of Reviews (need at least 2 people for each BOR, one should be committee member)
    • Supplies the Board of Review Form
  • Arrange quarterly troop Boards of Review and Court of Awards
  • Know and enforce the procedures of the merit badge Blue Cards
  • Facilitate the Scoutmaster and Scout in finding an appropriate merit badge conselor
  • Collect blue cards (making sure they are properly completed)
  • Report to Patriots’ Path Council all advancement records
  • Purchase the badges and certificates for the Court of Awards
  • Report to the troop committee the advancement progress; giving special attention to new Scouts to Tenderfoot, Life Scouts to Eagle, and if any Scout has stalled in his progress
  • At least one week prior to Court of Awards enter merit badge and rank advancement info into Troop Master
  • Print out advancement reports and upload advancement report to Council
  • Obtain 3 signatures on advancement report
  • Work with the Troop Librarian to build and maintain a troop library of merit badge pamphlets
  • Acts as a sub-Chairperson to coordinate:
    • Court of Awards Organizer
      • Contact ASM’s and Committee members to determine if any will be presenting awards at the COH and if they need anything from Scout Store
      • Give list of scouts earning rank advancement to COH Refreshment Coordinator
      • Pick a scout to serve as Master of Ceremonies
      • Take signed advancement report to Council and purchase merit badges, rank cards, rank patches, advancement pins and any other supplies
      • Put together rank cards and merit badge cards with labels, patches and pins
      • Get Merit Badge Cards and Rank Advancement cards to Scoutmaster and Senior Patrol Leader for their signature
      • Complete and print the COH program (Scout’s working on Communication merit badge can assist)
      • Contact Tenderfoot Scout parent to make sure the scarf is completed and turned in by night of COH
      • Make Red Mom Ribbons and make sure there are ribbons for all Scouts earning Tenderfoot
      • Contact a ASM to retrieve staves from the barn for each Scout earning 1st Class rank
      • Night of COH go over program with MC and set up awards table
      • After ceremony retrieve any awards not handed out. (try to get them to the scout at the next weekly meeting)
    • Refreshments for the Court of Awards
      • Organize refreshments for troop functions, mainly Court of Awards
    • Special Troop 1776 Awards
      (There is a notebook available that describes how to track Troop 1776’s Special Awards in TroopMaster and present these awards.)
      • Appalachian Trail Awards
        • Prior to each Court of Awards provide the Advancement Chair the number of pins needed for AT Awards, so they can be purchased at the same time of advancements
        • Arrange for AT patches for first time recipients (after 3 states)
        • Arrange for a special plaque award after all 14-states have been earned
      • 100 Camping Day and Night Awards
      • 200-mile Backpacking Award (Harry Schmidt Award)
      • National Day & Night Awards
      • Special Recognitions
        • Subscribe to the Patriots’ Path Newsletter to keep the Troop informed on special recognitions which may include: scholarships, Scout, Scoutmaster, & Volunteer awards, etc.
        • Supports the SM and ASMs in presenting special awards such as recognition to our high school seniors, the OKPIK Award, or trek leadership
        • Supports the SM and ASMs in planning special ceremonies; i.e., New Scout Induction, New Scoutmaster Induction, New ASMs, etc.
      • Patch Box
        • Responsible for distribution and replenishing uniform patches
        • Provides neckerchief and patch kits for the new Scouts
        • Provides Troop 1776 hats in time for the Webelo Crossing-Over Ceremony
      • Eagle Advisor Coordinator
        • Review Scout’s advancement history report from TroopMaster to make sure it matches dates on merit badge blue cards and rank advancement cards
        • Provide Scout with final advancement history report
        • Be a resource to the Scoutmaster and Eagle advisors on knowing the procedures for advancement to Eagle rank
        • Maintain an adequate staff of Eagle advisors to support our Troop’s needs without over burdening any one Eagle advisor
        • Train new Eagle advisors on the procedures, time lines, and resources that would aid the advisor in coaching an Eagle candidate
        • Recruit and train your replacement
      • Eagle Ceremony Coordinator
        • Be a resource to the Eagle Scout family as to Troop 1776 traditions, procedures for using Neshanic Reformed Church, and knowing storage location of supporting ceremonial propts
        • Maintain existing ceremonial props and initiate new materials
        • Provide alternative programs to instill variety
        • At least 6 weeks prior to Eagle ceremony send out ‘Eagle Letters’ to local, county, state, and federal elected officials as well as school principal. Scout can also have letters sent to others (i.e. college president, CEO of corp, etc.) but must supply the contact info.