Boardsofreview

8.0.0.1 Purpose and Timeliness of Boards of Review
After a Scout has completed the requirements for any rank or Eagle Palm, he appears before a board of review. Its purpose is to determine the quality of his experience and decide whether he has fulfilled the requirements for the rank. If so, the board not only approves his advancement or Palm but also encourages him to continue the quest for the next rank or Palm. Because the board of review date becomes the effective advancement date, boards should be scheduled promptly as Scouts are ready, or set up on a regular basis that assures Scouts are not delayed in beginning time-oriented requirements for the next rank.

8.0.1.1 Not a Retest or "Examination"
Though one reason for a board of review is to help ensure the Scout did what he was supposed to do to meet the requirements, it shall become neither a retest or “examination,” nor a challenge of his knowledge. In most cases it should, instead, be a celebration of accomplishment. Remember, it is more about the journey. A badge recognizes what a young man has done toward achieving the primary goal of personal growth. See "Personal Growth Is the Primary Goal," 2.0.0.3. It is thus more about the learning experience than it is about the specific skills learned. See also "Mechanics of Advancement: In Boy Scouting and Varsity Scouting,"4.2.0.0. A Scout must not be rejected at a board of review for reasons unrelated to advancement requirements. For example, he must not be rejected just because he did not bring his Boy Scout Handbook with him or because he was tardy for a board of review, but the reason for his tardiness may certainly be a topic for discussion.

8.0.1.2 What Should Be Discussed
During the review, board members may refer to the Boy Scout Handbook, Boy Scout Requirements book, Troop Leader Guidebook, and other such references. The Troop Committee Guidebook, No. 34505, has examples of appropriate questions. A Scout may be asked where he learned his skills and who taught him, and what he gained from fulfilling selected requirements. The answers will reveal what he did for his rank. It can be determined, then, if this was what he was supposed to do. Discussion of how he has lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in his home, unit, school, and community should be included. We must remember, however, that though we have high expectations for our members, as for ourselves, we do not insist on perfection. A positive attitude is most important, and that a young man accepts Scouting’s ideals and sets and meets good standards in his life. A board of review may be conducted posthumously if all the requirements were met prior to the Scout's death. See topic 5.0.6.0 for more information. A positive attitude is most important,and that a young man accepts Scouting's ideals and sets and meets good standards in his life. A board is not required to record “minutes,” but it is a good idea. Any such notes must remain confidential to the members of the board or to administrators with a need to know. They may be used in preparing a follow-up letter, should a Scout be turned down, and they can be helpful in an appeal process. In any case, once a review or appeal is completed, all notes must be destroyed.

8.0.1.3 How Boards Can Lead to Program Improvement
Periodic reviews of members’ progress can provide a measure of unit effectiveness. A unit might uncover ways to increase the educational value of its outings, or how to strengthen administration of national advancement procedures. For example, if it is discovered troop leaders are not ensuring that all requirements have been met before Scouts present themselves for the board of review, then process improvements can be recommended. A board can also help by considering the style of leadership best suited to current circumstances and ways to adjust it to different needs. Note that boards of review may also be held for Scouts who are not advancing. Much can be learned from them, as well. 8.0.1.4 Board Members Must Agree Unanimously on Decisions to Approve
After the board of review the Scout is asked to wait outside the room or out of hearing range while the board deliberates. To approve awarding a rank or Palm, the board must agree unanimously. Every effort should be made to deliberate with careful consideration of each member’s perspective, and in sufficient detail as to avoid factual misunderstanding. It is appropriate to call the candidate back if additional questions may provide clarification. Still, if any member dissents, the decision cannot be for approval. In the case of such disagreement, the Scout shall not be informed about the specifics of the conversations or any arguments taking place. As indicated below ("After the Review," 8.0.1.5),he is told only how he can improve.

8.0.1.5 After the Review
If the members agree a Scout is ready to advance, he is called in and congratulated. The board of review date— not that of a subsequent court of honor—becomes the rank’s effective date. If a board does not approve, the candidate must be so informed and told what he can do to improve. Most Scouts accept responsibility for their behavior or for not completing requirements properly. If it is thought that a Scout, before his 18th birthday, can benefit from an opportunity to properly complete the requirements, the board may adjourn and reconvene at a later date. If the candidate agrees to this, then if possible, the same members should reassemble. If he does not agree, then the board must make its decision at that point. In any case, a follow-up letter must be promptly sent to a Scout who is turned down. A copy of the letter should also be sent to the council’s designated appeals coordinator. The letter must include actions advised that may lead to advancement, and also an explanation of appeal procedures. (See "Appealing a Decision,"8.0.4.0, or—if applicable—"Appealing a Quartermaster Bridge of Review Decision," 4.4.2.8.) The council must keep a copy of the letter. After any board of review, the unit leader is informed of the decision.

Troop 792 policies:

Uniform: The Scout is to have his

• Class A shirt, tucked in, all insignia properly placed and affixed (sewn, at least tacked - not with safety pins)
• neckerchief (with a slide),
• jeans (blue or black), or short pants (tan, green, khaki, gray, or black), but no basketball shorts or sweats, and
• shoes (no open-toed shoes or flipflops).
• Star, Life, and Eagle-Palm reviews also require the sash with the merit badges (for the rank being reviewed) properly attached (not stapled or safety-pinned on).

Time: The Board will be done during the Troop meeting, be it outdoor or indoor. The above uniform requirement does not change. This will begin right after bulletins.

The Scout is to be prepared for the Board. He should be able to discuss everything he has done for this rank and the previous ones.

One-word, or worse, one-syllable answers are not acceptable.

The Board's decision must be unanimous.

The time will vary. For example, a Tenderfoot board will last about 15 minutes, whereas a Life board will last 30. When a Board is scheduled, this estimated time will be posted in the meeting agenda (page).

A question that will again surface is that about ASMs being on Boards. The idea is, those on the Board are not to have been greatly involved iwth the Scout's advancement. Troop 792 prefers that most (officially all but two) of the registered adult leaders be ASMs, doing the outdoor activities and getting training like OLS.

coming: standard list of questions

Notes from 3/1/16 meeting with Commissioner

Boards of Review- ways we do them are guidelines

Questions about what we can ask on a BOR:

• We can ask them what they did when completing the requirements.
• When you did that, what did you learn? Or how come you chose that one?
• Inquire the why's, when’s, etc. What did you understand about completing this?

Who should be on them and when should we hold them:

• Committee members run it
• ASM can sit in but not if you have done sign off’s with the Scout’s
• Higher Rank Scouts can sit in but listen only for learning
• It’s recommended that BOR are ... scheduled by the Advancement Chairman.
• We talked about maybe once a month. Not at an outdoor meeting?
• It was recommended that BOR’s be held separately from troop meetings - for example, to be held on the Tuesdays each month we don’t have a regular meeting.

Scoutmasters Conference:

• Should be a catch point to address whether a Scout is ready to have their BOR.
• Address: Character, un-scout like conduct, unpreparedness, etc…
• 2 Adult Leaders for accountability and to train adults on the how-to’s
• Conferences are meant to be more formal than how we currently do them
• Go through Scout Handbook and ask questions, but not retesting
• We’ve had several Scouts that have come in with a requirement not signed off previous. This shouldn’t be found in the BOR.

Reason to not Pass someone in their BOR:

• Not in full uniform
• Un-Scout-like attitude

Roles of a Scoutmaster and ASM:

• Mentor/ friend/ coach
• Runs the program

Roles of the Committee:

• Award (Awards chairman works with SPL for COH also)
• BOR and helps support and run troop