POLICY OF NORTHERN NEW JERSEY COUNCIL, BSA
for
REGISTRATION OF MERIT BADGE COUNSELORS
To all potential merit badge counselors:
As a result of various legal actions against the Boy Scout movement, the national
office has ruled that all merit badge counselors must registered with the
local council. There is no choice in the matter, and in order for the record keeping
to work, every merit badge counselor must complete an adult application.
This even applies to scouters who are already registered in unit, district or
council positions.
An adult application must be completed, signed and returned with the Merit Badge
Counselor application to the Council Advancement Committee at the Council Office.
The forms will be forwarded to the Dean of Merit Badge Counselors who will be
sure you are included in the Merit Badge Counselor list and that you are notified
you are a Merit Badge Counselor. Until the Merit Badge Counselor and file Adult
Application forms are reviewed and approved, and you have attended a brief Merit
Badge Counselor orientation, you are NOT appointed a Merit Badge Counselor. In
addition you will have to take part at some time in a Youth Protection Program
to continue as a counselor.
NO registration fee is required! There is, however, an annual renewal procedure
which requires completing a tear-off form and returning it.
Remember it is a firm national policy that there will be NO one-on-one counseling
with a Scout. The national policy stated in 1994 is:
"A Scout must have a buddy with him at each
meeting with the merit badge counselor. A Scout's buddy could be another Scout,
or be a parent or guardian, brother or sister, relative or friend. The Scout
obtains a signed merit badge application and the name of the appropriate merit
badge counselor from his Scoutmaster. The Scouts sets up his first appointment
with the counselor. The counselor should explain to the Scout what is expected
to start meeting the requirements. The Scout and his buddy then meet, as appropriate,
with the counselor until the Scout completes with badge."
Good Scouting!
Application
Form
Council Advancement Committee Northern New Jersey Council, BSA
Adopted: 15 March 1999