Eagle Scout Service Project

[Old Greenhorn]

I feel your pain Doc, my first troop came close to not having enough, but we staved it off for as long as I was there, but a few years after I left that area, they could not re-charter. They had a long history that was lost. When we relocated up here and went through another iteration it was a similar thing, I forget how long I was SM after serving once again in other positions with the troop, district, and council levels. About 5 years after I left due to issues with the council, our troop no longer had enough to recharter. Now I hear through the grapevine that our council will be dissolved and absorbed by (possibly) 2 other councils, which will really kill it for the local troops, having to drive over an hour to those new council offices.
 We got a council exec a number of years ago who was more of a politician than a scouter and he alienated a large number of men and women who had been keeping our council alive with their endless work days at the camp on their own, contributions, and efforts all around fr several generations. He also drove away 2 generations of camp staff. He was the beginning of the end. 
 Funny thing though you made me think of. I had more Eagles in my last 5 years than I had in my previous 25 years. I wonder why that was? I never made Eagle, my son never made Eagle, but we both had some great Scouting experiences and gained a lot to carry us through life. In fact, I wouldn't be here were it not for Scouting. My Mom met my Dad at and Eagle court of Honer around 1940.

[Ianab]

Lara has just earned her Girl Guiding Queens Medal, which is the top award for the Girls. But she had to join an out of town troop at the Ranger level. They have enough interest to keep the junior, and up to full Girl Guides active, but Lara and her friend were the first for the District, in 11 years to achieve the Queens Medal. 

After School sports is a thing, and sometimes the meetings get shuffled around to account for sports. They are moving start time from 5:30 to :6:00 next term as Taylor and a couple of others have Touch Rugby practice 5 - 6:00 that evening. 

Recruiting is generally kids bringing their school friends along , some join, some don't, but enough interest to keep the troop active. 

[doc henderson]

You need the majority to be active, academic, athletic, and energetic kids. with a few that need more help.  Payton is the epidemy.  He was not into sports, but also in FFA and has several part time jobs, and also his own business trapping rascal armadillos.  I needed one more merit badge, Citizenship in the Nation.  It seemed too much like school.  and a service project and that comes with a lot of paperwork.  I did not decide to not get it, I was almost there.  But I bought a truck and had a girlfriend, 3 sports a year and 9 clubs or so.  So, my time and interest just ran out.  I did not get my eagle rank but still try to live my life by all the teachings of the BSA.  

[Ianab]

Yeah, Lara worked to get the award this year as she is off to University about 4 hours away at the start of next year. So life would have gotten in the way. She was also lucky that a lot of her other activities counted for "community service", as well as her trip to the Cook Islands for a young leaders course counted for another badge.