Lincoln Heritage Council, BSA

_{E-mail:  griffamly@gmail.com}

 1.  After the Scout earns his Life rank, but before he turns 18 years old, the Scout must perform a Service Project.

          A.  Before the Service Project is begun, several people must sign the Eagle Service Project Booklet indicating their approval of the project; in the chronological order listed below.

1.  Service Project must be approved by a duly authorized representative of the community-based entity that will benefit from the project; i.e. the church pastor, the town board chairman, the DNR Ranger, etc.

                   2.  Service Project must be approved by the Scoutmaster.

                   3.  Service Project must be approved by the Troop/Crew Committee.

                   4.  Service Project must be approved by the G.R.Clark District Eagle Boards Chair, or his duly authorized representative.

          B.  Once approval is obtained from all 4 entities, work may begin.

          C.  Several records need to be maintained in this Booklet as you work on the project.

          D.  Once the project is completed, acceptance of the completed project must also be signed-off on in the Booklet by-       

                   1.  a duly authorized representative of the community-based entity that benefited from the project; i.e. the church pastor, the town board chairman, the DNR Ranger, etc.

                   2.  the Scoutmaster, indicating he knows the project was performed and completed.

          E.  For the time-being, you are done with the Project Booklet, but, it must be submitted with the Eagle Application, so DON’T LOSE IT.

2.  The Eagle Application itself - At least six months after the Scout has received his Life rank and before the Scout turns 18 years of age, the Scout may complete and submit their Eagle Scout application.

A.  Needless to say, at least 21 merit badges must be earned, eleven of which are required. The dates recorded on the Eagle Application as the award/receipt dates for these merit badges MUST match the dates the Council says those merit badges were awarded.

          B.  The Service Project cited above must be completed prior to the Eagle application being submitted, AND the signed/filled-in Service Project Booklet must be submitted with the Eagle application.

C.  The Eagle Application itself is a colored blank form.  There is a new Eagle Application form effective 5/1/2008.  The main difference is the new form requires the number of service hours completed in the project to be listed upon the form. This form is white paper with some light blue shading and printing on it, and an Eagle emblem, front and back, with red and blue inks on it.  It can be downloaded from one of several internet sites, or a hard-copy form can by obtained from the Council Service Center.  This form should be completed by typing in the data.  If you cannot locate a typewriter, the best alternative would be to download this form, type in the data in your computer, and then print out the completed form.  Worst case - you may manually write in the data, but it needs to be very neat!  (This is the ONLY document that goes from the local council to the National Council, and like it or not, this “book” is judged by it’s cover.)

                   1.  In addition to the blanks on the form that must be filled in, please note requirements #5 and 6, cited on this form. 

                             a.  #5 asks that you write about a paragraph explanation identifying your life’s goals.

                             b.  #6 asks that you write about a paragraph explanation overview of your Service Project.

c.  Both of these “writings” should be typewritten (computer-generated) on a plain sheet of paper, with your name on it, and entitled the respective requirement number, and included with your completed Eagle Application.

                   2.  In addition, the Lincoln Heritage Council requests Scouts to complete a 2 page questionnaire about your personal history. (Optional)

                   3.  The “transmission” sheet, that had a series of checklists on it is no longer required.

D.  When the Eagle Candidate thinks he has all this data compiled, the Eagle is to meet with the Scoutmaster for the traditional Scoutmaster’s Conference.  During this meeting, in addition to the routine counseling performed by the Scoutmaster at these conferences, the Scoutmaster should review all of this paperwork with the Eagle Candidate.  If/when the SM is satisfied that all is in order, then the SM should sign and date the back of the application form.  NOTE:  This signature needs to be dated prior to the Scout’s 18th birthday, unless there is some significant extenuating circumstance. 

E.  When the Eagle Candidate and the SM are satisfied with the paperwork, the Troop Committee needs to hold a Board of Review for the Candidate.  In addition to the regular-type of questions asked at a Troop Board of Review, the Committee needs to also review the application and attachments to insure all is complete.  Once this Troop Board is satisfied with the Candidate’s performance and paperwork, a member of the Board/Troop Committee needs to sign the back of the Eagle Application. 

F. The Troop Advancement Chair, or this representative, must now take this packet (all originals) to the local Council office, 12001 Sycamore Station Place, Louisville – (502) 361-2624.  There is a relatively new process in place where the Council electronically sends the application to the National Council to insure all the dates match.  This process takes about 15 minutes, and is done while you wait.  If successful, the Council will provide you with an additional form, 3 pages long, for the District Board of Review to sign, indicating to the District that all paperwork is in order.  After this is accomplished, the Scout is ready to request the District Board of Review with the District Eagle Board Chair.

1.  The Scout contacts the District Eagle Board Chair, currently Ken Griffin at: (502) 552-6760 (cell) or (812) 952-3386 (home), to arrange for the Eagle District Board of Review.  Normally, this is done by the telephoning the District Eagle Board Chair requesting the Eagle Board for a specific date, time and location.  Usually, the location is the place the Troop normally meets.  The day/date and time are open to negotiation, however, ideally, the Scout should request a Board at least two weeks in advance of the desired meeting date.               

 G.  The District Eagle Board Chair will schedule a District Eagle Board of Review with the Scout and/or the Scoutmaster.  The Troop is no longer allowed to have a representative sit on this Board to be the Scout’s advocate.  The District is required to have at least two people sit on this Board, one of which serves as the Board Chair, if the District Eagle Board Chair is not a member of this Board.  Said acting Chairman shall be appointed by the District Eagle Board Chair.  Additionally, the District Eagle Board must have a "representative from the community" sit on the Eagle Board.  This person is not a Scouter, but someone who is willing to sit on the Board as an outsider, providing different perspectives for the scouters and the scout.