IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR STAR AND LIFE SCOUTS OF TROOP 358
The core of the Eagle Scout rank is the completion of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project. Boy Scouts of America has very specific criteria for how the project is carried out and documented. The BSA publication "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook" describes the format for writing the Eagle Project Proposal and then once the Project is complete, for documenting how the Project is carried out. Members of the Eagle Scout Board of Review will use this document to determine if the Eagle Scout applicant has met the requirement for a Service Project.
As it is often said, "it's not over until the paperwork is done!" Frequently Scouts complete the work of their Eagle Project but wait an extended time to document the Project in the Workbook. In some cases, two or three Scoutmaster's have served the Troop between the Project and the Workbook completion. The Scoutmaster is asked to approve a Project without any first-hand knowledge of the planning, preparation or effort put forth to carry out the Project. This is unfair to both the Scoutmaster and the Scout. As the leadership of Troop 358 responsible for Eagle Advancement, we feel the following policy is necessary to insure consistent and timely review of all Eagle Projects.
The Eagle Scout Service Project shall be documented in the format specified in the BSA Publication "Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook". Prior to beginning the Project, the Scout shall complete the Workbook through the section titled "Approval Signatures for Project Plan". Within 90 days of the final work day of the Project, the Scout shall complete the workbook section "Carrying Out the Project" including hours spent on the project, materials required to complete the project, changes to the original plan, and after photographs of the project. All volunteer hours need to be substantiated with the original sign-in sheets. A letter of completion from the benefitting agency on their official letterhead must be included. Additionally, a signature in the workbook under "Approvals for Completed Project" by a representative from the benefitting agency is required. A Scout who fails to complete and submit the Eagle Scout Service Project Workbook to the Scoutmaster within 90 days of the final work day of the Project may be asked to plan and carry-out another Project in order to earn the Eagle Scout rank. In the case of the 90 day timeline ending during the Summer break, the Scout is responsible for contacting the Scoutmaster prior to the last meeting of the year and establish a mutually agreeable plan for submitting the completed Workbook.
Should the Scoutmaster determine that the Project does not meet the standards required for the Eagle Scout rank, the Scoutmaster may extend the 90 day time limit to allow the Scout to correct deficiencies in the Project. According to BSA rules, under no circumstances will the Project be allowed to extend beyond the Scout's 18th birthday.
The only change is the 90 day timeline. All other requirements reflect existing BSA and Council standards. For clarification, this policy does not mean you need to complete your Eagle Board of Review within 90 days. It only means you need to complete the Project write-up within 90 days of your last work day. For the Scouts who have already completed their Project, but not completed the Workbook, we ask that you complete your write-up and submit it to your Scoutmaster by December 31, 2009.
Yours in Service,
Scoutmaster John Hochhausler
Scoutmaster Robert Tam
Troop Committee Chair Allan Kawaguchi
Eagle Advisor Brian Tyler