The New Internet Advancement
 

Online advancement entry is here! The Katahdin Area Council is excited to announce that units can now use Internet Advancement to record their youth member advancements from any online location—at home or at the office. You will find this new method to be easy, convenient, and accurate because you enter the information. Units may use this service at any time as long as the unit is an active unit, which means it is no more that two months past its expiration date.

Here’s how it works: Internet Advancement makes it easy for unit leadership to record awards, ranks, and merit badges to youth via an online process. This system is separate from Internet Rechartering, but uses a similar concept.

At any time during the year, the unit advancement processor from each active unit will be able to record advancements to youth member records. And, they’ll also be able to print a unit roster at any time. The roster is the most current information from ScoutNET, and it will include the person ID for each adult and youth member.

These are other reports available from Internet Advancement.

• Unit Advancement Summary shows ranks, merit badges, and awards saved in each person record for current members of the unit.

• Advancement Report lists each youth member that has new ranks, merit badges, and awards, if any. This is the official unit Advancement Report to be signed and submitted to the office.

• Unit Awards Summary lists the number of new ranks, merit badges, and awards by name as a shopping list.

• Advancement Update Summary lists any ranks, merit badges, and awards that were already in the member record and were updated online.

The council will provide each unit with a unit ID, and the unit will assign an adult to record advancements. Ranks must be recorded based on program identification and in the correct rank and date sequence. Only the Eagle Scout rank cannot be awarded by this process. Awards to be entered will not include nominated awards, such as those for meritorious action, and awards that are controlled by other organizations, even if approved for uniform wear. As BSA policies for rank entry are enforced, what units enter will meet these requirements.

There’s also a Frequently Asked Questions link on the Internet Advancement site and these should be reviewed.

If you have any questions or comments,
contact the Vicki Mower at the Council Office (866-2241)
and she will be glad to help you out.

OVERVIEW

Process ranks and awards for packs, troops, teams, crews, ships, and posts. Units can now submit advancement for unit youth members online. Use Internet Advancement to: add ranks, merit badges, and awards! Update information on existing advancements (except the Eagle Scout rank)

To use Internet Advancement:

• Select the unit advancement processor. This person must have Internet connectivity and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

• Obtain a unit ID code from the council. The unit advancement processor attends the roundtable training session.

• Gather information for advancement, including merit badge applications and advancement records with dates.

• Click Internet Advancement on this page. Follow the instructions in Internet Advancement to process advancements and print an advancement report.

• Have the appropriate people sign the printed unit advancement report and submit it to the council. Save a copy for your files.

• Units should submit monthly before the end of each month, or more often if needed. In December, submit a report before the end of the month to update your unit and council statistics.