Issue 581 – January 08, 2019

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Resolution for 2019: As a boots-on-the-ground commissioner, I’m going to do my level best, when I mentor the units I serve, to present ideas that’ll improve a unit’s program delivery methods in a way that they believe it’s their idea that just slipped their mind for a moment. (I’ve found that hollering Hey, that’s not how to do it! Here’s how it’s supposed to be done! is a great way to turn off anyone or any group.)

By the way, this works from Scoutmaster to Senior Patrol Leader, too!
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Hi Andy,

I need some help. I was a Life-to-Eagle advisor for the Scouts of my troop a few years ago. At that time, I used an Excel spreadsheet created by another Scouter like myself that I’d found online. It was a great help in tracking these Scouts and help prepare them for their Eagle rank application. I’d like to pass it along, but I can’t seem to find it. I’ve searched on Google using many terms, and I’ve looked in my own records of course (I guess I must have misplaced it or forgot to copy it over when I changed computers a while back)

This spreadsheet was great! I could track a Scout’s progress but it helped me catch any missing requirements or dates that might conflict with the requirements, and it was the backbone for the rank application.

I’d sure appreciate it if you (or anyone) might know of this, or any other PC-based tool that’ll do the job! Thanks! I’m Ray Acocella and my email is aceman040@comcast.net

Okay – Your turn! Can any of our thousands of readers help Ray? If you can, feel free to write directly to him and, if you send a link to me, I’d be delighted to publish it for the benefit of all!
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Happy New Year, Andy!

Recently, in preparation for his Eagle board of review, a Scout contacted several people he’d wanted to list on his application as references, and they agreed. As coordinator for the review, I subsequently reached out to them asking for letters of reference. Most, but not all, letters arrived in time for the review and, following the review where all were read by the board, they were duly destroyed (shredded, actually).

Shortly after the review, when this Scout was officially an Eagle, a final letter arrived. What do I do with it? Do I just destroy it? It hasn’t been opened. I know this may be trivial, and since this Scout has already earned his rank, it would have no bearing on that, but I want to make sure I do the right thing.

On a different, but sort of related topic, this Scout has now turned 18 years old. He’d like to remain active in the troop, but since he’s 18, he’s now an adult and no longer a Scout. Is this correct? If it is, is he now eligible to be an Assistant Scoutmaster? If not, then can he still participate in events like Klondike Derbies or Camporees, as a Scout? Thanks! (Joe Sefcik, Connecticut Rivers Council)

For the tardy reference letter: Destroy it unopened.

As for an 18 year-old who wants to remain in the troop, the Assistant Scoutmaster position is available to him. Since we already know that ASMs don’t “participate” as Scouts, the Klondike/Camporee question has already been answered.
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Hi Andy,

I’m trying to identify some old merit badges on some really old sashes. This “search” started some years back, when my youngest son was challenged by another Scout about earning merit badges. Of course, at their ages at the time, it was all about quantity, not quality. But the other Scout eventually moved away and, we heard, and dropped out of Scouting. My own son stayed with the Scouting program and ultimately earned all 134 merit badges available at that time. With about ten or so “collected” sashes of Eagle Scouts hanging in his room growing up, these were a motivator, too.

Now, having identified almost all of them on these sashes, I’m stumped. There are two that I just can’t seem to find anywhere. One has “dividers” like what would be used in drafting or map-and-compass work. The other is a fist. Any ideas? (Bob Hendrick)

Thanks for an interesting challenge! Both have been discontinued or supplanted; the first is CRAFTSMANSHIP (that’s a drafting compass you’re looking at) and the second is PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT. I located them in the 2nd edition of the Boy Scout Handbook; they date back to 1914.
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Dear Andy,

I hope you can help out here. I’m a 90 year-old Eagle Scout, former Scoutmaster (15 years in the Alamo Area Council) and now retired except for serving as a merit badge counselor occasionally.

Last year I was contacted by the “Eagle Scout Association” (I think), who said they were going to publish a book that would include all Eagle Scouts. They even asked me to do a short article about some of my memories as a Scouter. They also wanted me to buy a book, when they published it in the Spring of 2018. I did advance-buy it and paid them over a hundred dollars. But I haven’t heard another word from them. Can you tell me if this is a scam? Do you know anything about them? If you do, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me what the deal is. Thank you, Billy Strawn.

Thanks for finding me and for reaching out.

For a 90 year-old guy, you’re pretty Internet-savvy! Check out http://www.nesa.org. That’s the official website for the National Eagle Scout Association. I do know that an authorized publisher has been given authority by the BSA to compile records for a book such as you’re describing, and that’s likely what this is. If, however, you’ve sent them money and you haven’t heard anything, I’d recommend calling the BSA national office in Irving, Texas, directly. The phone number is 972-580-2000. Before you call, if you sent them a check, go dig it out so you have the name, date, and amount in front of you. If you paid with a credit card (my best guess is that that’s what happened), find the credit card statement with that charge on it. If this is real, the BSA office will be able to set your mind at ease and may even be able to tell you if that book was published or not. If this was indeed a scam—and I sure hope it wasn’t!—they can help you sort this out with the information you have.

Please let me know what happens. You’re a brother Eagle and have my complete support.

Happy Scouting!

Andy

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you’d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that’s what we’ll do.)

[No. 581 – 1/8/2019 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2019]