I was recently contacted for advice regarding a Scout working toward Eagle Rank who was having difficulties with his advancement records being verified in Scoutbook. In addition to working with DWC staff on any technology issues (Gremlins / Ghosts in the Machine) that could be causing the difficulties with Scoutbook, I recommended that the Scout should locate and secure as evidence of his advancement:

1) All of his physical completed, signed and dated merit badge cards, MB certificates, and rank certificates that he should have received from his troop for each of his MB's and rank advancements.

2) His physical Scout handbook that should have been signed and dated for each of his rank advancements.

Glitches (Gremlins) in the on-line Scoutbook record system do happen, Scout leaders do make mistakes entering advancement items into the on-line Scoutbook database, Troop Advancement records do get misplaced, Merit Badge Counselors and Summer Camps do make mistakes and misplace merit badge records.

Scouts should always Be Prepared for any such unexpected mistakes or losses of their advancement records by keeping all of their copies of completed signed and dated merit badge blue cards and certificates, rank advancement certificates, and their Scout Handbook in a safe location at home.

Also, since Scouts take their Handbooks to meetings and on trips where they get well used, possibly soaked in rain or a lake, torn, dirty, and occasionally lost, an additional recommendation to Be Prepared:

After each rank advancement Board of review, either photocopy or keep a clear photo record of the Scout’s Handbook pages of the signed and dated completed rank requirements.

YIS,
John Kemp, Massabesic Advancement Chair

The Scoutmaster Key is an adult leader award that recognizes scoutmasters who have been a scoutmaster for 3 years within a 5 year period, have completed certain troop performance requirements and achieved a certain level of training.  Click the link below to get the complete details.  

Lets celebrate our leader's accomplishments and thank them for all their hard work.

https://www.scouting.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Scoutmaster-Key-23.pdf

OTHERS

Helping others is fundamentally important as it not only fosters a compassionate and supportive society but also contributes significantly to our individual well-being, providing a sense of purpose, meaning, and personal fulfillment while strengthening our connections with others. The Scout Law distills this concept of serving others into twelve distinct points. The Scout Law is a set of 12 principles that Scouts strive to live by for themselves and others:

• Trustworthy: Tell the truth and keep promises
• Loyal: Show care for family, friends, school, country, and Scout leaders
• Helpful: Volunteer to help others without expecting anything in return
• Friendly: Be a friend to everyone, even those who are different
• Courteous: Be polite and use good manners
• Kind: Treat others as you want to be treated
• Obedient: Follow the rules of your family, school, pack, troop, community, and country
• Cheerful: Look for the bright side and try to help others be happy
• Thrifty: Be mindful of resources and don't waste them
• Brave: Face difficult situations and do what you think is right
• Clean: Keep your body and mind fit, and help keep your community clean
• Reverent: Be reverent toward God and faithful in your religious duties

As we enter the year ahead, I challenge the adult leaders and scouts of Massabesic District to look for opportunities to help and serve others. As leaders I urge you to select one of the points of the Scout Law and focus on it for a minute or two at a meeting, with a new one each month. This will allow the youth we lead and teach to see that the Scout law and oath have meaning to the adults they interact with. When we help youth to better understand these principles, we create a stronger sense of community by fostering a culture of service to others, not simply a requirement to be checked off in a scout book. Happy Holidays to all of you.

Yours in Scouting and Service,

Allan Martel

Massabesic District Commissioner