<p>My senior banquet is thursday, and my BGO is now in the ICU, and will be unable to make it. I think my counselor would like to present my appointment in my BGO's absense, but I was wondering is there a set BGO script? Or does each BGO write their own presentation speech? Any help/suggestions would be appreciated.</p>
<p>You may want to contact your BGO area coordinator. I was speaking with some other (other than my own) BGO's at a Navy League dinner and they said that they often fill in at awards ceremonies and such if the appointee's BGO is unavailable.</p>
<p>Our son's BGO kind of disappeared after his interview, early in the application process. We contacted someone (can't remember who) and asked if someone could come to his senior banquet to make the presentation. Someone new came, and did a FABULOUS job--nothing a guidance counselor could do!--and has kept in touch with him ever since.</p>
<p>I never had a BGO interview because I had a lot of problems contacting him so I talked to the BGO coordinator for my area about the ceremony. He told me that they just get another BGO to fill in. So like a previous poster said, find out who the coordinator is for your area and contact him.</p>
<p>I shot him an e-mail this morning, and I'm going to call him tonight. I guess I'm a little pessimistic because it's kinda last minute notice...</p>
<p>If that doesn't work out, contact a local recruiter. Our son's BGO was unavailable, so a recruiter made the presentation at the school awards ceremony.</p>
<p>First, don't be too harsh on your BGO. BGOs not being able to attend awards ceremonies/presentations happens all the time (in fact, it's happening to me next week when I have to be away on business and will miss the ceremony for three of my students). Remember, we are all volunteers and most of us have full-time jobs and busy lives outside of our USNA commitments. That doesn't mean we don't take them seriously, just that we may not be able to attend every event we'd like to.</p>
<p>In most regions, the Area Coordinator or someone he/she designates will help find a BGO to cover an awards ceremony if the regular BGO can't attend. Obviously, the earlier you can contact your BGO or AC the better. Explain the date and time of the event, the formality, and how long the presenter will be expected to stay. Most schools try to arrange for the military presentations to occur early (or late) in the event so that the military presenters don't have to spend 2-3 hours at an event for which they'll make a 2-minute presentation. </p>
<p>Another option (not ideal but better than nothing) is to ask the representative for NROTC (if one is present) or even the rep for one of the other SAs to help out. Most of them will be happy to do it. They may give you and the audience some good-natured ribbing (and I do mean GOOD-NATURED) but, ultimately all of us respect our fellow SAs, their grads, and their appointees. I've made a presentation in the past for another SA and was pleased and honored to do so.</p>
<p>USNA gives us "talking points" for the presentation. Most BGOs tweak those and/or try to personalize them in some way.</p>
<p>I'm definately not trying to be hard on my BGO, I realize that all BGO's are volunteers, and he's in the hospital... pretty hard to argue with his reason not to attend. It's just kind of a last minute scramble, and if all else fails, my counselor said he'd be honored to do it. Would it be possible for a BGO to PM me the "talking points" for my counselor in the likely event that I can't find another service connected presenter?</p>
<p>My daughter received a Presidential nomination but the Congressman from our area sent a representative to her Baccalaureate Mass-Senior award ceremony. She presented a beautifully bound letter from the Congressman and handed my daughter her appointment certificate (we provided in advance). She talked about the importance of service to our country and quoted the scholarship awarded is in excess of $350,000.</p>
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I'm definately not trying to be hard on my BGO, I realize that all BGO's are volunteers, and he's in the hospital... pretty hard to argue with his reason not to attend.
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<p>My apologies; I didn't mean to single you out. I was trying for a more general "you," as there are many ceremonies this time of year where the candidate's BGO won't be able to attend for various reasons. I know it is disappointing to the candidate and, in fact, it's disappointing to the BGO as well. </p>
<p>The system does its best to ensure someone is at every ceremony but I'm sure there are still many instances where it doesn't happen despite everyone's efforts and best intentions. </p>
<p>I will PM you my notes.</p>
<p>Thank you USNA1985, my counselor will certainly appreciate a base script.</p>
<p>You are all very lucky to have the option of being honored in a banquet! Enjoy it! I know many are honored in their high schools, but some of us never get that chance. So relish it!</p>
<p>There was only one quick mention of my son's appointment by the principal at scholarship night He got loud applause from the student body. No article in the local newspaper or any publicity at all. I think this is good. Better to be humble and quiet about this, and keep the head small, and just think and prepare hard for plebe summer and the difficult school year ahead.
JMO.</p>
<p>Very true kevinsmom! About 2 years ago there was a thread about exactly this with one plebe to be stating that he did not want the fuss, I think he put it as not his style. There were many that got down on him as I recall. I applaud those who chose to be humble and not making a big to do out of their appointment.</p>