ESWDATWP00Eagletips "Whose Job is It":8uP@; Tta&* ,%a ap: Dps&* % a;`B:N\GEOWORKS\DOCUBDX HHHH@8,thd$]WdHHHHn \ddddddd4ddddLdd|<   sobN:&_` Wll?X#p$&(,*mz z a.0}z  p p"pp" @=A@<@ @b; @n@o@L@@R@@ E@@@@@c@@H@@KP @7@'8@@Z@@@A@v@C@@?@ @\@NO@Nt@@@j@@ to do it..which is a ame. The b has called e asking fohelp because"pp"pp EAGTIP16 [Whose job is it to plan, conduct and put together the Eagle Court of Honor? What's the "format"? ] From: Greg Stewart Dear Scouters: Whose job is it to plan, conduct, etc the Eagle Scout Court of Honor? In our troop, the parents of the boy and the boy himself have always decided what sort of ceremony they were going to have, who was going to speak and conduct, and when it was going to be. The SM or Chair would then make sure it comes off, with a lot of support from the parents. I have seen it conducted by the SM, the Chair, a Unit Commissioner, a representative from the charter group, and the SPL. I have been told that only a Unit Commissioner can actually award the badges, which I feel is not correct either. What has happened, as you might guess, is an Eagle has come along who has absolutely no support from home. Since his parents are not taking a lead in making decisions about the court, nothing is happening. The kit from National arrived over 2 months ago and the court still is not scheduled. The boy is very discouraged. When I ask the SM about it, he points to the Committee Chair. The Committee Chair points to the chartered organization and the boy himself. Nobody seems to want to do it....which is a shame. The boy has called me asking for help because I was his SM years ago. So who should be held responsible? Whose job is it? -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Jonathan Dixon Greg wrote: > > Whose job is it to plan, conduct, etc the Eagle Scout Court of Honor? I think that the primary planning of the CoH should be the boy himself (i.e. deciding what type of ceremony to have). Details are generally best taken care of by the Patrol Leaders' Council and the Scoutmaster (since they are generally the ones with most experience organizing such events). I've always seen either the SM or Senior Patrol Leader (or his Assistant, if the SPL is the one getting Eagle) run the CoH (act as Master of Ceremonies, basically). > I have been told that only a Unit Commissioner can actually award the badges, > which I feel is not correct either. I've never seen the UC present the award. Usually I've seen the SM present it, although in a few cases I've seen a former SM (who was SM for most of the person's tenure in the troop) do the presenting. If I remember correctly, the SM has generally presented it to the parents to pin on  ' @ 4 A  N [ h u @ @  @  8 E R +@ l   y@           " < / V c I@    p  _ @B & >zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  nCظ_^][ZYˑ'Y_^XPQRS4WWVSP͋A_^][ZYXNSUVWVS͋[_^][ZY˸h&y utu &u &u͍ '4A`;hNQY7`;[Z`;h;2ux`;h QY`;;A 0"&*@= 0&* D   bN:&_` Wll?X# p$&(,*m a.0[ !!  p pp"pp" @=Aq @_ @` U @c@p  @!R@ K L @F@@ @h@i@6@XD@b P] |@@T@j  e@s @)@ @fE@ @@@@1  @@J @.   Eagle optefor a priva  in-home cemony to avoi"pp"pp shouldn't suffer because of it. I have the policy that the boys always come before an adults feelings. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "Michael F. Bowman" Although the new Eagle should be a part of the planning process and be consulted as to his wishes, I wouldn't go so far as Jonathan Dixon to have him primarily responsible. Here I would agree with Ben Parker that the Scout has already earned his rank of Eagle and shouldn't have to be responsible for planning his own Court of Honor. In someways its embarassing to plan a ceremony to honor yourself and seems venal. I've seen instances where an Eagle opted for a private in-home ceremony to avoid the embarassment of planning an event. I think that most of us would be hesitant to go all out to plan something to cover ourselves in wreaths of glory. And I know that some of you make it a point not to wear all of the awards you can, because you're not there for the award. Once a Scout has earned the highest award he can, I think all concerned should do their best to make the awarding ceremony the best it can be to celebrate this achievement and encourage other Scouts towards the same end. Probably, the person best able to make the event a memorable production should be selected to be an advisor to the PLC on this issue and help them plan the event and make sure of adult support in the process. Adult support could take the form of soliciting letters of congratulations (it'd be great to have the Scouts do this, but you'd hate to see it fail due to the reality of teenager reluctance to write anything), obtaining special momentos (flag flown over the Capital), refreshments, press releases (including a photo for the newspaper), etc. Adult support can be critical. I can recall in my own Troop the hazards of foisting this off on the Scouts without close adult supervision. When I was to be presented my Eagle, the Scribe wrote a story for the newspaper, which it printed including the photo caption. Right under my picture were the large print, bold letters spelling out "WINS BIRDIE." :( You can imagine what happened at school for days and days afterward - hey its the "birdie boy" tweet tweet, etc. :( Nuff said. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Olan Watkins To Greg Stewart Greg, a couple of times I too have run into situations were the kid's family were not very supportive and in one case had to do some arm twisting to even get the parents to show up for the kid's Eagle Court of Honor. In cases like that it is the responsibility of the Scoutmaster and the Committee Chairman to go ahead and plan and conduct the Court of Honor for the kid with what ever input they can get from the parents. The Troop owes it to the kid requardless of the parents, to provide him with the best Court of Honor that they are able to do. I know it is the custom for the parents to pay for and send out the invitations, provide an Eagle cake to serve and all that, but if the parents will not do it, the Troop needs to take the bull by the horns and do it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: John Bemis You should look in Woods Wisdom on the chapter on ceremonies, it provides some very specific guidance. You may also check the Advancement Guidlines for District and Council, it also has @ u h   @ E R _ y 4@    8   @   @ < I V /@ } p    A N @  '  @ l  +@  " c  P@ &>zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  p:A"'4"A @=NA[EAGhP16 [Whoseuob is it to$ <$(,.2 '4responsibiAty for gettNg things ro[ing should hst on the bu (he IS an gle Scout).=-=-=-$=-=-pB  bn&:N_` Wll?X# p$&(,*m a.0    ppp"pp" @=A@B s@ @ @8@9@V @Xd@ @@@6@a @]@ @@i @@ @ @0@d1@ @wtF@ p@S@@ @e@ C@@ @ @a b @ c@\V\, ]"pp"pp@ 4 A N [ h u @ @   + @ E _ l @   R@   @     @ / I V p "@ }   '  @ 8 y  @  < # the Eagle, so actually the parents present it in a way. > [stuff about buck-passing] > > The boy has called me asking for help because I was his SM years ago. > > So who should be held responsible? Whose job is it? In this case, I would meet with the boy and find out what he wants in the way of a ceremony (bringing along a bunch of suggestions since most times the boy has no idea). Then have him go to the SM and PLC to set the date (unless he already knows what date he wants to do it) and have them work on the details. If you're willing to do such things as solicit letters from politicians and such (or whatever else you might be willing to work at) let that be known up-front. But the initial responsibility for getting things rolling should rest on the boy (he IS an Eagle Scout). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Ben Parker In our troop, we have a model form of Eagle COH that serves as an outline of procedure. The boy and parents may follow it, or modify to suit their taste. Basically, our model (sent by email request) has a member of the committee appointed to oversee each COH and work with parents to get everything arranged. We suggest the type of speakers (representing the Boy, his school or religious or service life and his Scouting career), and include the 'Voice of the Eagle' and an Eagle Charge of Responsibility (which comes from all other Eagle Scouts present). Our SM will present to award to parents to have them pin award actually on the boy. There is no _requirement_ that any particular person make the award, it might be a UC or the SM or the parents or ... Our underlying assumption is that our Troop is basically responsible for the COH ceremony (as it is for all other award ceremonies), but allowing room for alteration to suit any special desires of the Eagle and his family. After all he has already done his project, he shouldn't haveto do another just to get the award presented. Our COH's are often 2-4 months after packet arrival, to allow time for all letters of congrats, etc. Of course frequently we start that process even before the Board of Review (we've never had a boy fail the BOR and feel pretty confident when he is ready that we can start some long lead-time arrangements.) -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Larry Gaian When I was SM the parents always planned their sons Eagle Court of Honor. If the boy doesn't have any support from home, he likely didn't have any support from parents while earning his Eagle. Therefore he probably did most of the work on his Eagle by himself. Why couldn't he plan his own Court of Honor? He could have anyone he wanted present the Eagle to him. I have been asked to present the award to boys who obtained the Eagle even when I was no longer their SM. Also, if the boy has no support from anyone on the Troop level, then why don't you help him plan it. If the adults on his troop committee can't seem to get their act together, then the boy A & >zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X" p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  *JVz'.4RrA>JNb[ :&vJhu&>bRf" R  ' B4 *`;A@DHN`;[ Phnt @uQM2xl`;^`;`;^ =  bbn&:N_` Wll?X# p$&(,*m~ ~ a.0~ oo . ppp"pp" @=A@F@?@@O @ O@X@@@@ @d@ @@. @ @J  @ 8 @C@ _@ @;@<@@@ @@w@8_@ p@/ @ I@@g v@~e sure thatomeone is gng to handl the Eagle Crt. I usual"pp"pp   @        " / @ < l V }    p@   N @ [ u  ' h A @  4@ E _ 8@ y R  I  +  c Whatever the situation in the troop leadership, the Eagle Candidate should not have to plan it himself. (I would hope that any Eagle worthy youth would not WANT to glorify himself) The troop leaders should consider themselves responsible for the whole thing, unless the parents desire to take it upon themselves. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Bob Sargeant Greg, The question of responsibility of conducting an Eagle Court of Honor is not one that is set by policy to my understanding. I have seen it done many different ways. In all the boy has had a central role in determining who would be involved and generally what the Court of Honor would include. Most troops have a "typical" format that is followed in these things. There are in most districts and councils ooklets that suggest types of Courts of Honor that can be used. In the troop that I served as Scoutmaster, we had a Committee Member who worked with each boy as he moved toward his Court of Honor. This CM often began working with the boy as soon as his Board of Review was completed. The CM often used parents of recent Eagles to help with things like a reception. We saw the Eagle Court as a celebration for the entire Troop. Everyone was involved keeping the boy's wishes always in mind. I personally find the actions of the troop you presented in your posting to be distressing. I hope that some one will pick up the ball and just do it. The boy deserves better than he is experiencing. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Bob Sargeant Olan, I notice in your message related to planning Eagle Courts of Honor, you state that it is a custom for parents to pay for invitations, postage, a cake and the like related to the Court of Honor. I ask "whose custom?" It surely was not the custom in my troop when I was a SM. The troop committee annually budgeted for these items and paid for them when each boy earned his eagle. I would hate to see a boy get less than he is due because he lacked parental support or because the parents may not be able to afford the cost. In the few instances where I worked with families who had the total responsibility for Eagle Courts placed on their shoulders, have found myself working with people who felt like it had been dumped on them. I think those units could do better. Probably the answer to the original question is that Eagle Courts are the responsiblity of the unit. The boy and his family should be totally involved in planning the Court of Honor. It is important to remember that customs will vary from boy to boy and unit to unit. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: hunteb > Probably the answer to the original question is that Eagle Courts are the >responsiblity of the unit. The boy and his family should be totally involved >in planning the Court of Honor. It is important to remember that customs will >vary from boy to boy and unit to unit. Bob Sargeant is right. We all have different "customs," all that is important is that we put on the bworthy ypC &ba>zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X" p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  resent the Eagle to 'sent the aw4d to boys wA obtained tN Eagle even[hen I was nhlonger theiuSM. Also, the boy hano support fro 'im plan it.4Iallowing rAm for alterNion to suit[ny special hsires of thuEagle and h family. Aer all$ all`F  bn:&N_` Wll?X#p$&(,*m!!a.0V!MM ~pp p"pp" b& >@@  @ %Y  @ X  k@K @X@  v @| @@@j@ @'2 T@@s @>0@@@p@~@ @fHNT9 6["pp"pp + 8 @ _ l y   E   @    @ / < I "@ c p   }@    N h A@ ' @ 4 u    [ R @  ?guidance on the Eagle Court of Honor. Having been a Scoutmaster with boys from affluent backgrounds and from hand-to-mouth backgrounds, it was always the troop (SM/CC and adult leaders) that laid out a basic ceremony, even to writing a script. We did this with the SPL, SM, and CC along with the parents/Eagle Scout candidate during 2-3 meetings. It was always Scouting that was providing the recognition to the boy, with the parents supporting the boy. Parents got to send the invititations, but the troop paid for some of the stamps. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "William A. Glover" I thought that I would add some input from my own experience with Court of Honors and Eagle Scouts. I have been an Eagle-candidate advisor for three scouts in my home troop. The role that I play is one of advisor, guide, and friend to a scout that is on his final climb to Eagle. This usually occurs once they have reached the rank of Life Scout and follows through to Court of Honor. In my experience, usually the scout has certain requests that he may make regarding his ceremony, including special guests that should be invited, the location, etc. Once he has given his input (along with his parents) the Troop committee steps up and runs the show. The key players seem to be the Advancement Chairman, Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, and the Eagle Advisor (myself). I have three or four ceremonies that we work from. If you look in the Troop Committee guidebook that is put out by National (this is from the top of my head) the responsibility of the Unit's Courts of Honor is that of the Troop Committee, including planning and orchestration. Again, what I have experienced, is that an Eagle and his family "usually" want to be involved in most elements of the planning and preparation. But we (the troop) try to take as much of the "grunt" work because we recongnize that this is a time for the scout and his family to celebrate and enjoy the event. Regarding who awards the Eagle Award: I have seent his done many ways. I have seen the Scoutmaster (this is usually the case), but I have also seen it given by an older Eagle, that may have had a great impact on the boy's scouting career. In my own case, I received my Eagle Award from my Scoutmaster, but he was only Scoutmaster of my troop for one year. I may have preferred (If asked) to have had my previous Scoutmaster who had really inspired my scouting career. Always keep the Eagle Award recipient's requests and those of his family in mind. They have worked very hard to reach that glorious moment. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Chris Marsey I am the Advancement Chairman for troop 476 in Madison, Alabama. The Troop Committee Guidebook has me responsible (my position) for getting the awards and organizing regular cout-of-honors. In regards to Eagle ceremonies, the Scoutmaster or Team Coach passes on to me the award package after they receive it. I get the awards from the council office. Since I also conduct the Eagle Board of Review (since its my responsibility to hold board of reviews also), I would naturally believe it to be my responsibility to make sure that someone is going to handle the Eagle Court. I usually 'feel out' the parents while waiting for the official papers to come back from national. I help them plan it (if they need help) or do the whole thing myself if they are not interested. I feel that the committee members are the ones responsible for making sure the youth receives the recognition they are due. I've had some parents who do the whole thing (usually eagle scout fathers), most who just want help in developing the program, and a few that don't lift a finger. I know that not all troops have 'responsive' (trying to be polite) committees. lhA &>zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  'X"D246:8eAaN[h@u"p:A"A 'o, if the b4 @AN>N[.BRfhu  ,E^_Xp$_X`= , lybn:&N_` Wll?X#p$&(,*m a.0  !ppp"pp" @=A@]@@kg@" @u# \@@U[ @ @` @[@Z  4@( @8  @' w @9 T@ @ P@ @I @ ]J @@@C@D @_@@w@P@C wQ the Scout, sking him tlook them ov"pp"pp " / I @ V c p }   '  @   N A@ u@ [ @ 8 l R  @  y @      <  @ h +  @ E  the Troop's role to invite Council dignitaries, other Scoutmasters and Cubmasters (we invite them to get them excited about taking their Cubs beyond the Arrow of Light), the rental of the lodge at Camp Herms (the local urban Council Camp) and decorations), and to help cover the expense of feeding the rest of the members of the Troop. In addition, the Troop buys a redwood tree sapling to plant in the Eagle Grove at Camp Herms in the name of the new Eagle. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: John Pannell I find the various posts about customs regarding the Eagle Court of Honor rather enlightening. I grew up in New York (Long Island). At that time, it was customary for the parents to be responsible for the Eagle Court of Honor, according to their means. If needed, sometimes the troop would be called in to help out. But I suspect, if it were a choice between raising dues, or doing more fundraisers, so the troop would have money for Eagle CoH's or having the parents of the Honoree pay, the parents would get the bill. Some became quite elaborate. Some were just simple receptions. In all cases the ceremony was impressive. Local politicians and civic leaders were invited. The Scout's clergyman would be asked to give a benediction or appropriate words or prayer or thanks. Should the Scout not belong to a particular church, it was discretely handled in a different way. The ceremony itself was usually quite impressive. The honoree had that night/afternoon to himself. Friends and family of the honoree, whether involved in Scouting or not, were invited. This was the boy's Big Day. Fast foward 13 years... Now I am in North Carolina and work as an Assistant Scoutmaster. Here it is the custom for the Eagle badge to be presented in the Scout's church during Sunday services. Yes, that's _church_, virtually everyone here is of some sort of Christian denomination, with the Southern Baptists predominating. The Scout might have five minutes during the worship service. Until fairly recently, separate courts of honor were not the rule. Some troops now have separate CoH's in addition to the presentation at Church, but the CoH remains very simple compared to what I remember from my younger days in NY. Civic leaders, as a rule, are _not_ invited -- no one wants the darned politicos around. Invitees are usually the immediate family of the honoree and Scouting contacts and close friends. You would not be likely to see the Scout's peers there unless they were involved in Scouting as well. My observations are not very numerous, but this is how I see (have seen) the EagleCourt of Honor handled in two different locations and time. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "Todd N. Tingblad" Hello Everyone: Last night I was at my district's bi-monthly Unit Commissioner & District Committee meeting. I brought this Scout's Eagle presentation concern up to a number of members of the district, including the District Exec. Over-all, they could not understand how a unit could look away at such a great chance to present Scouting to the community. One of the member added that in one of the Cub Scouts in her unit, as a Tiger, saw an Eagle Court of Honor. He is now a Webelos and has set the goal of age 16 to get to Eagle...WOW!!!! The old timers in the group said for the Scout to get the District Exec. or the Council Exec. the X> &s >zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  '8e4aAN[pChp:Au";A"@=A 'im plan it.4ICOH and woAwith parenNto get eve[hing arranh. We suggu0@i@@B  frbn&:N_` Wll?X#p$&(,*mG G a.0G   p pp"pp" @=A@?A@@'@ g@@(`a@@@<Y@>@m Vl@=  @  @ @@  @4 @ hR @ i@[3x@ E@e@fX@@C@1@2@ZP[x@l@y@K@@o@8G@}@ @{~@@;@" /  < I "pp"pp @      " / < I V c p }    ' B  u   N  h@ [ R@ 8  @ y  +  @ _    4  E  x best CoH possible and make the Scout, Parents, Troop and Community proud of the Eagles and Scouting. I find the CoH experience as fun as getting the boy their to begin with. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: keen jason matthew On Tue, 8 Nov 1994, Bob Sargeant wrote: > I notice in your message related to planning Eagle Courts of Honor, you > state that it is a custom for parents to pay for invitations, postage, a cake > and the like related to the Court of Honor. I ask "whose custom?" It surely > was not the custom in my troop when I was a SM. The troop committee annually > budgeted for these items and paid for them when each boy earned his eagle. I > would hate to see a boy get less than he is due because he lacked parental > support or because the parents may not be able to afford the cost. I agree that a scout should not be punished for lack of parent interest but eagle courts oh Honor can become quite expensive, especially if the parents are involved. Our troop has a policy of paying for $300 of the COH. From that point, the parents must pay themselves if they want something more elegant. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: alan houser Greg Stewart asks: >Whose job is it to plan, conduct, etc the Eagle Scout Court of Honor? It boggles my mind that parents cannot get behind their son when he has earned his Eagle rank, but there's a lot of things out there on the evening news that I can't comprehend either. Anyway, as Scoutmaster or especially as a former Scoutmaster that he called to for help, you ARE a surrogate parent for this young man. If his parents are not in a position to provide what he needs in pulling together a Court, you should definitely step in. It pains me to see the lengths to which adults will go to get in the way of the boys. One of the satisfactions I find as Scoutmaster is finding ways to get around that and promote the Scouts for their merits. I try to keep a copy of the scripts for all of our Eagle courts, and I bum additional scripts from whomever I can, including the collection in the archives at SCOUTS-L. [NOTE: You don't have to bum any copies, because all of the copies of various Eagle Courts of Honor are within this collection.] Sometime after the Board of Review I make copies of all of them and give them to the Scout, asking him to look them over and decide what he wants to do. If his parents aren't interested (thank goodness all of my Eagle parents have been very interested) and even if they are interested but need some help, then I will work with him to define the ceremony and put together the booklet. Olan Watkins wrote: >I know it is the custom for the parents to pay for and send out the >invitations, provide an Eagle cake to serve and all that, but if the parents >will not do it, the Troop needs to take the bull by the horns and do it. Our Troop provides some money (I think it's around $170.00 -- I'm not quite sure how they arrived at that number) towards the cost of putting on an Eagle Court. The rational is that it is hop and C% &>zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  ,a'24=A.`;?NHide All[Mhsurement Unus@̂2= ' 4Y7=A&B=NAuto[tically Sughst Spellingu0Autati  @ 4 =-bN:&_` Wll?Y#p$&(,*m(P a.0 oo s"ppp"pp" b&@@@@jl0@@DQ@@ @ d @@@ @.@/@I@@r@2@c@@@84@b@.@z@?@#XL=@aI @@/@@K@@@@@@@,@ [ h u  "pp"pp This citation in trimmed in ribbon and framed. Parents are invited onto the stage. The actual presentation is from the SM to the mother of the Eagle. The mother pins the award to her sons chest. The SM administers the Eagle Oath. A special guest speaker presents the "Eagle Charge" to the Scouts. Presentations of "Letters of Congratulations" from the mayor, state senator, district rep, Governor, U.S. Rep, U.S. Senators, and the President of the United States are presented. The presidents is read aloud to the audience. Some Scouts have elected to wait a few months until their best friend is ready for his Eagle. Two boys entered as Tiger Cubs and went through the entire program together, having their Eagle presentations together. We have had as many as 300 people in the audience, which is about max for our church's social hall. We have had judges, congressmen, clerg clergy, etc. present the Eagle Charge. Each COH is a little different but follow roughly the same format. I believe it is important to: + Make the presentation dramatic and impressive. + Instill in the audience the importance of the Eagle Award. + Be flexible to the needs of the families. (sometimes we've included meals at the families request) + Make the younger Scouts feel challenged to become Eagles. + Follow up with newspaper article and photo. There is no right or wrong way to do an Eagle BOR. Each unit will develop their own traditions. If you feel you need guidance, talk with your unit commissioner or district exec. There is a Ceremonies Handbook available from BSA. I don't feel that families should be made to pay for a presentation or that an Eagle candidate should have to plan his own ceremony. It could be very awkward for a family with limited resources. A troop should consider Scouting's highest honor worth the effort and expense to make it memorable for a boy. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Greg Stewart Thank you for all the advise and help. I appreciate the sample programs, etc. etc. etc. even though it is not ideas we are short of, rather it is leadership. My favorite courts have been held in the out of doors at dusk around a large fire. I have to say that I completely disagree with those who believe it is the Scout's job to plan his own Court. This young man in particular has overcome very tough obstacles to earn his rank, including being abused by his parents, falling in with a bad crowd and then breaking clean from them, plus being man of the house while his father served nearly a year in Desert Storm. His overcoming and achieving deserves to be honored without him doing all the work. I agree that e  V N @ u  h @ E  _ @ +  8 @   R    l   /   c  @ p "  }   A@ I  [  4 '@ y < @ P @7 &>zBFZn~*nf j`^_5P$@D4;DRHH[` W66ubY0@&(*.,e(Pa<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)Y"p246:8e(Pa@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  the Eagle Award: I h'I have seen4he ScoutmasAr (this is Nually the c[e), but I hhe also seenut given by older Eagl that may have 'my own case4I @AN>N[.BRfhu  ,E^_Xp$_XF D cabN&:&_` Wll?X#p$&(,*m a.0 -{ !ppp"pp" by an older Eagle, that @ @A@@~'@@4 @  @Q@-@@^n@G @@@@f@9:@@@ 7K@P@ @I@2 U @ @= @ @ @ " @v ]6@> @ @{ P"pp"pp word out about the problem. In the LaCroix District of Indianhead Council, we have had this problem (I have learned) and the Disrtict Committee came in and gave the Scout an Eagle Court of Honor to remember. One was held at our council's oldest Scout Camp along the St. Croix River. The local council does not want an important event like an Eagle Award to go without the public knowing about it and will do whatever it takes to make it so. As I said in my first posting on this, wish I could come out and help this Eagle...I found 5 other Eagle in the LaCroix District who echo the same. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "Jim Miller, Jr." I had a very differnet experience than most with my COH. I earned my Eagle in January of 1988. My Troop folded due to a lack of adult Leaders in February of the same year. I didn't get a COH at all. I just sewed on my Eagle Knot and went on my way. Fotunately, a friend in a nearby Troop earned his Eagle shortly afterward. I was invited to have my Eagle presented along with him at his COH. My family, my Troop, nor I had any say at all in what went on at the COH. My family did send some invitations, but that was about it. I think my Eagle was more special than most because of the generosity of a fellow Eagle Scout and his family in getting my Eagle presented. As with all Eagle COH's, it is something that I will never forget. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Cliff Golden via Darla Keller It has been interesting to hear about traditions of Eagle Courts of Honor. I have been invovled with the same troop for 29 years, the last 18 as SM. I can share with you our traditions. We have a regular Court of Honor every 3 months. August-Troop Picnic November-Cake Auction, February-Scouting's Anniversary/FOS, May-Summer Program Kick Off. These themes are automatically superceded by an Eagle Presentation. We do not hold a seperate Eagle COH, we incorporate the Eagle presentation into a regular Troop COH. We have a large troop, about 60 scouts. Some years we've had as many as 5 Eagles, so a seperate COH for each Scout would get a little tedious. By including the entire troop, younger Scouts are there to witness a very important ceremony. The troop picks up the costs, unless the family wants something extra ordinary. We have regular troop announcements & business, awards of and rank for the other boys. The finale of the evening is the presentation of the Eagle award. We say a few words about the Eagle Scout Award, its history and meaning in the Scouting program. We use a candle board with candles representing the spirit of Scouting, 3 points of the Oath, and 12 points of the Law. We also have candle boards representing past Eagles in the troop. The past Eagle's names and year of presentation are read. If present, they stand as their name is read. Soon the entire stage area is lit by the lights of the Oath, Law, Scout Spirit, and past Eagles. We use the spirit candle to light the Eagle candles. Next any Eagles present and not called are invited to stand. All are seated. The Eagle candidate(s) are introduced. An informal anecdote about the Scout is told by an appropriate adult leader. these usuall usually involve some humor and some insight into the boys character. A citation is read highlighting his Scouting career, other civic, church, or school activities, and his Eagle Service Project. y  @    A@ N 4 h@ ' @ + @ 8 E _ l @  R  @  c  @ y  @ < p V@ I }@  [@  @ /  u @  "` P 0D &to>zBFZn~*nf j`^_X$@RHH[` W66ubX0@&(*.,ea<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)X"p246:8ea@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  b is it to plan, con't of Honor?4It boggles A mind thr N"p:A[@hM@uS@{@@ '@t4 @AtoN>N[.BRfhu  ,E^_Xp$_X= H bubn&:N_` Wll?Y#p$&(,*m(P a.0 ml S&ppp"pp" @=A@ @@ @ <@;@9 @u@' m@0@tfX W U H/@\ @ G4@ @ @E@B@  ~ @@J V@@ @ @ |P @:@6@`P e@a@t@@ >@ @ement chair n (referencwas the comm"pp"pp  @   @ / E   @ I }  p@  @ N  _@ u  ' h V l@  [ + A@ 8 R @ y   @   "     c you get the idea.) This is a showcase event for any troop or post or ship. If I had been given the task of planning my Eagle CoH, I would never have had it. (Hard to believe it now, but I was painfully shy in those days.) By having the unit to do the CoH, the Eagle and his family and just sit back and enjoy being honored by others. {Soapbox off} NESA has many good Eagle CoH ideas that you can use. The troop should take the lead and honor the young man for his achievements in your troop. Don't burdon him with the details. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: Charles Schmidt Lots of good stuff has been posted in reply to the question of who does it. I would like to suggest a motive for major involvement of the Troop and Troop Committee. There may be no more effective motivater for a Life, Star,...,Tenderfoot scout to get onto the next requirement for advancement than attending an Eagle Court of Honor. I doubt a single boy who attends one leaves without thinking he wants that for himself. Most, naturally, quickly loose the drive, but few don't work a bit harder for a while. For some it is the real push they need. So I suggest that the Troop should see to it that an impressive ceremony is conducted (including a reception) as a matter of enlightened self-interest (never mind that the boy deserves it). -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: GSchmit@AOL.COM Greg, An Eagle Court, as are the usual Courts of Honor, is a troop function, not a personal or family one, to recognize BSA achievement. The SM and the Troop Committee are responsible for the ceremony and the PR (Comm. PR person writes the article and takes the photos); the parents and Eagle are responsible for the invitations, reception, and site. Our troop has a basic ceremony which we follow for all Eagle Courts; however, in a meeting of the Eagle Scout and theSM, modifications to the ceremony are made. It is important to customize the basic ceremony so that each Eagle is recognized as a special individual. Because we consider the Court a troop function, we try to involve as many Scouts as appropriate in the ceremony; it's a great incentive. Young scouts can see themselves standing there in a year or two, the center of attention and applause. We had an Eagle Court last Sunday afternoon; the Eagle had one of his brothers and two of his friends for the Color Guard, and all three of his brothers lit the candles for the Oath. Two weeks earlier, we had had another Eagle Court; in this one, a Scout of each rank lit the candle for that rank during the "Trail to Eagle" reading. We've been fortunate that each Eagle's family has been able to cover the the cost of the reception (punch, cookies, and cake) and invitations, but I know that the Troop would cover those costs for any Eagle that needed it. We are blessed with sponsors who help with the cost of dues and summer camp fees for those who need it. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: WKUVX2::WALTOML "Settummanque, the blackeagle" Gerald Demontgny writes: >I have been busy with my children for the last few days so have been >off the network. There have been so many issues that I wanted to >address. I found the discussion on Eagle ceremonies fascinating, but >was surprised by the sum of money required to conduct the presentation @ip. 0? &re>zBFZn~*nf j`^_5P$@E48ERHH[` W66ubY0@&(*.,e(Pa<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)Y"p246:8e(Pa@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  ly recently, separat' rule. Som4troops now Ave separateNoH's in add[ion to the hesentation u Church, buthe CoH remns very simple 'Y. Civic l4dQAT>NP[/hub,QrH@HC L bn:&N_` Wll?Y#p$&(,*m(P a.0 FF }%ppp"pp" @=A@) ' @t> w @J @l;@'OV@`@[b@ @a  @m@@&@ 1@*e S  @c @l@@"@@@6l@@# @Q  @@@@ @@"pp"pph @  8 @  l _@   E   @  +   @ R I c /    @ " } [ '  < u p   N@ y  @ 4     A he and his parents should be involved in the idea planning and decisions, etc. etc. But I believe the foot work should be born by someone in the troop. The only official documentation that has been presented is that it is the job of the advancement chairman (reference was the committee handbook). That is who I will approach and beg to get in gear. Undoubtedly I will be involved quite a bit as well. I have put on many such courts and no doubt will end up spear heading this one too. I guess, since I am no longer involved directly with this troop, that I would like to take someone and explain to them and show them what their job is so this doesn't happen again. The problem here is not a conflict between the family and the scout leaders. The scout leaders are just used to the parents doing all the work. In this case, the boy barely gets along with his dad, who can be very abusive, and his step mom just isn't very supportive of him. None of the scout leaders know who should pick up the ball and run with it ... they all point to someone else Hopefully we can clear this up and make it someone's responsibility. FYI: At this point I have met with a member of the chartered organization together with the boy and explained the problem and began the process of setting a date for the court. The boy is a bit less discouraged now and I will ensure that things come off good for him. He deserves the best court ever held! -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: "Michael F. Bowman" Greg, You are to be commended for making sure that this young man gets some of the recognition and kindness he richly deserves and probably will not get anywhere else in his life, given the abuse at home. Sometimes Scouting is all a young man has. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- From: BRUCE C JOHNSON Fellow Scouters: Until I moved to Columbia Maryland ten years ago, I'd never heard of an Eagle candidate's family having anything to do with planning the Eagle Court of Honor (other than submitting names to which invitations were sent). The troop I grew up in, Bala Troop One in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, had been using the same Eagle Court of Honor ceremony since its first one in 1914. (The troop had the first all-Eagle patrol ... 7 young men and 1 assistant scoutmaster.) The event is, after all, a troop function and not a family function. By put it off on the Scout's family, it becomes an occasion for glorifying the family and not glorifying the young man's achievements within thetroop and Scouting in general. I said at the opening of this message that I hadn't seen a family-planned Eagle court of honor until I moved to Columbia Maryland. It seems that in Columbia, most Eagle CoH's are family planned. They tend to be over-blown and needlessly complex in ways that is hard for non-Scouting people to relate to. My memory of my Eagle CoH (which how we have held our Eagle and Quartermaster Bridges of Honor with my Sea Explorer Ship) is something like a 20 minute ceremony, a brief talk about the significance of the Eagle (or Quartermaster) award, an even briefer talk about the young man (or in the case of Quartermaster, it could be young woman) in the context of his (or her) accomplishments in Scouting, present the Eagle and parents' pins, and move on to the refreshments. (Yes, I have over simplified, but pA &>zBFZn~*nf j`^_5P$@`B4`:`BRHH[` W66ubY0@&(*.,e(Pa<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)Y"p246:8e(Pa@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  s it to$ '4A'N4responsi[Aty for gehNg things u[ing shoulhst on theu (he IS an '4s (we inviA them to geNthem excite[about takinhtheir Cubs uyond the Arw of Light)the rental of e repE  b_` Wll?Y#p$&(,*m(Pa.0M&pp"pp" @=A@@Z@E@@*Ph@guPhHw@A[H/@U@k@j@XR@q@@^E@@@+@8@>@n @l@\@_@@[UH8HGyHA@ @G"@8@V@^n@9@m6@B@@@K@V@U@4@l@ @H@I>ceremony, $300. While I do not want to be critical of another >country's Scouting program, and while I was relieved to read postings >which indicated that many of you pay for the reception and other costs >rather than putting them onto the family, I feel that the issue of >increasing costs is one that all of us need to examine, regardless of >our nationality. Hi Gerald! Thanks for the great information and I am sure that you had a great time during Halloween. There are many Eagle Scout Courts of Honor that don't involve such a high figure. The actual award ceremony takes up twenty minutes of a regular Court of Honor, and the total expense is no more than the costs of the additions to the presentation kit (items that theEagle candidate gets for his parents, his girlfriend, or someone else special), the additional Eagle Scout napkins and program covers ($40 for both, for 200 people), and perhaps some other minor decorations. The total cost fo such an event should not be more than $100. This cost, in most units, are covered by the unit's treasury (or should be, since this is a special event of the unit, and not of the parents nor Scout). s"pp"pp / V   c I }@  < p [ '  N h@  > &li>zBFZn~*nf j`^_5P$@@4@F@R"p "pHH[` W66ubY0@&(*.,e(Pa<> ?? @"pp"pp"pp[` W6u)Y"p246:8e(Pa@B ? @"pp"pp"pp(  _Xp$0?'4"= A=HHN[[W66ubhX000?&(u.,ea> ? 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