Amy sent in this question:
My son has completed his requirements and a scoutmaster conference for his next rank. He has requested a board of review but was told he cannot have his board of review until school starts and regular meetings resume in September, two months away. Does this seem like a long time to have to wait?
Yes, that does seem like a long time to wait. A board of review would normally be scheduled as soon as possible. A board of review can be scheduled outside of a regular meeting, and in many troops this is the norm.
So not knowing more specifics, I would guess this is just a matter of having difficulty finding a time for the BOR to meet. I can understand why they might need a little more time during the summer to find a time which fits everyone’s schedule, but two months does seem like quite a while.
According to the Guide to Advancement:
8.0.0.2 Boards of Review Must Be Granted When Requirements Are Met
A Scout shall not be denied this opportunity. When he believes he has completed all the requirements for a rank, including a Scoutmaster conference, a board of review must be granted. Scoutmasters—or councils or districts in the case of the Eagle Scout rank—for example, do not have authority to expect a boy to request or organize one, or to “defer” him, or to ask him to perform beyond the requirements in order to be granted one. In a case where there is concern the Scout has not fulfi lled the requirements for a rank as written, it is appropriate to advise the young man that he might not pass the board and to make suggestions about what he might do to improve his chances for success. It is, however, the Scout’s decision to go ahead with a board of review or not.
This seems to frequently be a point of contention within troops. See the article Scheduling a Scout Board of Review for another BOR issue.
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