By Duane Fogg – Scoutmaster
All,
A scoutmaster conference for each rank should include the following:
- They should be in full uniform. Allowances for Class B if that is the declared uniform of the meeting/event.
- Ensure their current rank is on their uniform
- Socks and neckerchief are required
- Do NOT do a Scoutmaster Conference for anyone in your patrol or your family.
- Have them stand at attention and do the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout Motto, Scout Slogan and the Outdoor Code
- For all ranks there is a requirement: “demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath and Scout Law. Tell how you have done your duty to God and how you have lived the Scout Oath and Scout Law in your everyday life”.
- The key here is the must give you specific examples of how they have been living the Oath and Law in their lives.
- They like to give the definition of a law but that’s not correct, they must provide examples of something they did since their previous rank.
- For Tenderfoot, 2nd and 1st Class each require 4 of the 12 laws are specifically referenced so all 12 are covered by the time 1st class is finished.
- Should a scout not be able to provide examples for a law or part of the oath, you can move to a different law or part of the oath to provide them a chance to cover this requirement. However, if they can’t provide specific examples, then they SM conference can be postponed until they can provide an example. Doesn’t happen often but as an SM it is allowed to do.
- Review several of the requirements at random for the given rank. Technically we are not suppose to retest; however, I usually ask them to tell me where they were, what they did, who signed off on it, what did they learn from the requirement. This way I achieve verification that the scout did the requirement. I usually do 3 or 4 requirements.
- If you get little to no feedback on a requirement which makes you wonder if they did the requirement you can rephrase your questions to get it out of them.
- In the end if you are still questioning whether they did the requirement, you can pause the SM Conference to check with who signed them off. Maybe they can enlighten you on what was done.
- If things are still in question, you can send them away to work with a troop guide to re-teach, demonstrate and show they know it. Then they come back to finish the SM conference.
- ** Some scouts in a group session fade to the background and don’t really participate but because its a group may get signed off. We want to avoid this where we can. We usually after summer camps make them come back and demonstrate what they learned before signing them off.
- I usually ask them what is the favorite camping trip in the last year, how was summer camp or high adventure. Get them talking about their adventure what their likes and dislikes were. Mentor them on how to make it better.
- I usually finish with what their plans for the next rank is.
- OA Elections are typically in October, with Callout in Nov/Dec and Ordeal in January. Those working towards 1st class I push them to get done by end of September so they are eligible to be elected into the OA.
Here is who is authorized to do Scoutmaster Conferences:
Scout to First Class
- Jim Deland
- Steve Forbes
- Jeramy Gatza
- Chris Thompson
- Dan Mosher
- Joel Berman
- Mike Kochmann
- Lui Cuadrado
- Michael Lamott
- Ken Kaplan
- John Staines
- Eric Orndorf
- Craig Leiss
- Kevin Brashear
- Darryl Coppenhaver
- Art Woodruff
- Tom Hoisington
- Duane Fogg
Star/Life
- Darryl Coppenhaver
- Art Woodruff
- Tom Hoisington
- Duane Fogg
Eagle
- Duane Fogg
YIS
Duane Fogg
Scoutmaster