District Award of Merit. The Award of Merit is a council award presented by districts or Exploring divisions. The award is available to any registered Scouter who renders service of an outstanding nature on the district or Exploring division level.

The award is made annually on the basis of one award for each twenty-five units, or fraction thereof, registered on December 31. The district or Exploring division need not present all of the awards to which it is entitled each year.

Requirements

• A nominee must be a registered Scouter.

• A nominee must have rendered noteworthy service to youth.

• The nature and value of "noteworthy service to youth' may consist of a single plan or decisions that contributed vitally to the lives of large numbers of youth, or it may have been given to a small group over an extended time.

• The nominee should have contributed some type of service to youth outside of Scouting as well.

• Consideration should be given to the nominee's position and the corresponding opportunity to render outstanding service beyond the expectation of duly. The nominee's attitude toward and cooperation with the district or Exploring division and council is to be taken into consideration. The nomination is confidential. To avoid possible disappointment, the committee should not advise the nominee of action on his or her behalf.

Procedure

1. Annually the district and Exploring chairmen will appoint an Award of Merit committee of not more than five persons, who will consider all district or Exploring division candidates and make their recommendations The committee's term of office shall be for one year from the date of appointment.

2. These recommendations should be submitted confidentially to the Scout executive, who will inform the district or Exploring chairman and the district commissioner

3. The following procedure is suggested for such presentation ceremonies:

a. if possible, the recipient and spouse should be in attendance at the district or Exploring division annual meeting with no knowledge they are to receive this award.

b. A district or Exploring division or council officer or both should explain the award and its significance.

c. Eagle Scouts should be asked to escort the recipients to a place of honor at the head table or on stage.

d. A suitable citation for each recipient should be read indicating what each has done in Scouting.

e. The award should be presented at this time with appropriate congratulations.