The checkbox Marked as Approved/Recorded
i would like to suggest this is seperated
Marked Approved should be for the Scoutmaster
Marked Recorded should be reserved for the Advancement Chair
@MichaelWilhelm2 when something is approved it is recorded Nationally. The system is working as National wants and as the Guide to Advancement lays it out.
so let me go further into this conversation
when that box is clicked by our advancement chair no scoutmaster signature appears on the printable blue card resulting in our scouts printing out the sheet and getting a wet signature and submitting it to our advancement chair.
If the scoutmaster clicks this button then his signature appears and also marks his initials in teh recorded section which is tracked and done by our advancement chair
If these items were seperated then signature would show on the pdfs correctly
@MichaelWilhelm2 are you talking about this Unit Leader Signature? This is the Initial Unit Leader Signature. If they do not Click the On Behalf of - it shows their signature. This on behalf of is a newer item also.
That is not the initial unit leader signature. When you do that the signature appears on the other side of the Blue Card. The one you are showing never shows a signature.
OH - I see what you are saying - let me look - the programming might be wrong. And that recorded section is just antiquated and dated..
If you wish we can talk about this offline, I am not sure if my message makes sense but if you are someone that can bring it up the chain I can talk it out better than typing
@MichaelWilhelm2 - are these blue cards really relevant anymore. I think it’s time to move on from paper records.
You have a point but then to move electronic then the process in Scoutbook needs to be refined to match the process and thank you for the feedback as it really became a solution.
Let me break this down:
1)Scouts to do a merit badge and meets with the Scoutmaster and get the Merit Badge opened and Initial Leader Signature. This works electronically and places a signature on the PDF Version
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MBC is assigned to the Scout and then marks the Merit Badge completed. This places the MBC Signature on the PDF File.
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Scout tells Scoutmaster they completed MB. In our Troop we have them print the Blue Card from Scoutbook. They present to Scoutmaster and they sign and then Scout brings to Advancement Chair.
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Advancement Chair marks as Approved/Recorded
This is where the problem is. If the Advancement Chair Checks this box then their initials show in recorded on PDF version but Scoutmaster does not appear under the line for unit leader signature. This why we print it and have a wet signature.
If the Scoutmaster checks the box then their signature appears on the unit leader signature and also in the recorded section of the PDF version.
So I was proposing and requesting separating those two items so the system works as intended and we can ho completely electronic. The items do not line up electronically and need to be changed or corrected
Maybe this explains it better as you probably assumed I am doing paper from the beginning. We do this method for a checks and balance.
The developers are looking into this.
The process MANY units use, and how Scoutbook is architected, is the Scout meets with the Scoutmaster, or designee, after the MB is approved by the MBC. At this point the Scoutmaster marks the MB Leader Approved. The Blue Card, when printed is supposed to have approver’s signature on the center card and initials on the left card.
We have reported an issue where the signatures are not being included properly and that wil be fixed. There is no plan to add essentially a 2nd unit approval as this would require a non-trivial change to how Merit Badges work.
I think we are saying the same thing but the initials on the left side are for it to be marked recorded which in many units is not the Scoutmaster. After the Scoutmaster approves the completion then the recording goes to the Advancement person who marks it as recorded. I mean I am curious, do other units have the scoutmaster approve and also record it and then order the items for COH? Separating this checkbox would make it clearer and allow all units to move to a completely electronic MB.
We are not looking for a second approval but have the approval appear on the correct location and allow the person who records it to check that separately.
There is no difference in Scoutbook between approving completion and recording. The act of approving IS recoding. Since it is the same thing, there is no need for another state.
That is from Redit, not an official Scouting America source.
This is being closed as it has become pointless. I suggest you read the Guide to Advancement not do an IA search for scouting information. in section 7.0.3.0 in the “Merit Badge Process” it clearly says at the end of the process.
- The counselor approves completion and signs
the blue card or other documentation. - The Scout gives the blue card or other evidence
of completion to the unit leader. The unit leader
signs the applicant record section of the blue
card or otherwise documents completion of the
merit badge. - The unit leader gives the Scout the applicant
record portion of the blue card or other hard
copy record that the Scout may retain. - The unit reports completion of the merit badge.
The GTA is simply behind the times - as #12 is now accomplished with #10.
