Download the Lifesaving & Meritorious Awards Procedure
Download the Lifesaving & Meritorious Awards Procedure

These procedures and guidelines are supplemental to BSA Publication 33088B (© 1989 Revised 1999), Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures of which you should have a good understanding.

The district advancement chairman is responsible for forming a committee, for investigative purposes, to document the facts of each individual potential case of lifesaving or meritorious action award forwarded for processing. In the situations where the individual does not have a "home district", the Council advancement chairman is responsible for forming the investigative committee.

This investigative committee shall consist of members of the Council advancement committee (a minimum of three in number), or a subcommittee of at least three qualified Scouters that is named or approved by the chairman of the Council advancement committee. The investigative committee must include, as one of its members, the advancement chairperson (or a person designated by the advancement chairperson) from the district in which the investigative case is taking place. Members of the investigative committee must be present during the actual interviews of the principals and the witnesses.

The district advancement chairperson and/or Council advancement committee person who has taken the responsibility to complete the award application(s), polls the investigative committee for the award recommendation to be made to the Council advancement committee. The district advancement chairperson and/or council advancement committee person completes the award application(s), and submits four signed application copies, appropriate attachments, and with two color photographs (5"x7" preferred) of the nominee in uniform, when presenting the award application for council advancement committee approval. Upon review and recommendation of the council advancement committee the application, attachments, and photos will be distributed to the following:

• district chairperson
• council advancement committee chairperson (with photo)
• council professional staff
• National Court of Honor (with photo)

The process for all applications is the same, which also includes recommendations for a Council Certificate of Merit.

The National Advancement Committee may approve a nomination for an award level other than the one that was recommended. To remove the possibility of false expectations, all names and circumstances regarding the event are to be kept in confidence by the Council advancement committee.

Exceptions to this procedure must have the prior approval of the Council advancement committee chairman.

Approved award notification with applicable medal, embroidered knot and/or certificate are forwarded to the Council advancement chairperson who in turn will meet with the district advancement chairperson to review the presentation plan.

Because of the significance of these type of awards, the council executive may call upon the council or district advancement chairperson to assist in coordinating a special presentation or re-presentation of the award. This could includes events such as FOS meetings or events; annual meeting, special luncheons, special awards ceremonies, and others.

The Council Certificate of Merit is the only award that is prepared without a presentation frame. If funding permits, you may want to consider obtaining a frame, matted or unmatted. It really makes a nice presentation package in contrast to handing out a paper certificate..

Awards presentation:

• --at a combined Cub Scout & Boy Scout Roundtable
• --at a Cub Scout or Boy Scout Roundtable
• --at Pack, Troop, Crew, Ship meeting

Invitations to

• --annual district dinner
• --annual Detroit Area Council meeting (luncheon)

Press Release issued to:

• --local papers, television, & radio stations
• --Leader's Digest, with photo
• --district newsletter or district advancement bulletin
• --troop newsletter, with photo
• --school newspapers
• --religious organization bulletins/newspapers
• --Council advancement chairman
• --Council Executive

Letters of Congratulations from:

• --Council Executive
• --Council Advancement Chair and the Council Advisor.

Other Considerations:

• --make sure the recipient gets a copy of Leader's Digest
• --make sure the recipient gets a copy of the council annual report

adopted 8/26/00