Scouts: before you start working on a Merit Badge, you must follow these steps to ensure that proper credit is given for your efforts:

1. Consult with the Troop's Advancement Chair (Mr. Lynch) who will provide you with the name and contact information of the counselor  registered to work with you on your merit badge.  You will also be given a blue-card at this time.

2. Contact the Merit Badge Counselor and set up your first meeting.

3. Complete the merit badge requirements as described by your counselor.  When completed, the counselor will sign the blue-card and return it to you.  If your counselor is only signing off on a portion of the requirements, known as a "partial", the Scout must consult with the Troop's Advancement Chair to discuss steps towards the merit badge's completion.

4. Once the merit badge is complete and the blue-card signed by the counselor(s) as complete, the Scout is then to deliver the signed blue card to the Troop's Records Keeper (Mr. Merick).  Mr. Merick will double check to ensure that all parts of the blue-card are completed and that the Merit Badge Counselor is still properly registered with BSA.

5. The Scout will be presented the Merit Badge at the Troop's next Court of Honor.

Counselors: please ensure that the following are completed:

1. As a counselor, ensure that you are properly registered with BSA as a merit badge counselor.  If you have any questions regarding this registration, please contact the Greater Cleveland Council at 216-861-6060.

2. When contacted by a Scout, ask how they received your name and contact details.  Unless you determine that an adult leader in their Troop (generally a Scoutmaster) provided these details, then ask the Scout to first contact their Scoutmaster to discuss them starting this merit badge.

3. Ensure that the Scout has a blue-card (signed by the Troop's adult leader) before you begin.

4. Schedule a meeting with the Scout.  Remember that the "Guide to Safe Scouting" requires that no one-on-one meetings take place ... schedule your time together with this in mind.

5. Work with the Scout to complete the stated requirements.  As a counselor you are not permitted to change these requirements in any way.  If you are uncomfortable with this or must make a change, please contact the Greater Cleveland Council at 216-861-6060 to discuss your needs.

6. Once the Scout has completed the requirements, please indicate such on the blue-card and return it to the Scout.  The Scout will then deliver the signed blue-card to his Troop for further processing.  Should a Scout not complete all the requirements, and as a counselor you will no longer be working with this Scout to finish the remaining requirements, please indicate on the blue-card those requirements that were successfully completed and return the "partial" completed blue-card to the Scout.  Direct the Scout to meet with his Troop's Advancement Chair to discuss steps required to complete the remaining requirements.