Issue 596 – April 19, 2019

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Huge THANKS to the Scouters of the Michigan Crossroads Council 2019 Academy of Scouting & College of Commissioner Science!

Michigan Crossroads is a unique “super-council,” comprised of four councils functioning as “districts” in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula (locally called “The Mitten”): Great Lakes Field Service Council, President Ford Field Service Council, Southern Shores Field Service Council, and Water & Woods Field Service Council.

About two years ago, Steven Van de Wal, the Academy’s “Technomancer,” reached out to me on behalf of himself and Provost/Dean David Tubergen, to ask if I’d be available to join this magnificent day of training on Saturday, April 12th and 13th and, after checking logistics, I happily agreed!

What a great day for Scouting! Over 150 Scouters from throughout The Mitten enthusiastically turned out! We enjoyed Scouting fellowship, sharing ideas, training by subject experts, better-than-summer-camp-food, and high spirits throughout.

Happily, I was joined by long-time member and director of the U.S. Scouting Service Project (www.usssp.org), Mike “Settummanque” Walton. I opened the day with a keynote address and Mike provided closing thoughts at the close.

The Academy presented four Doctor of Commissioner Science degrees on Saturday—an inspiring and motivating moment for all. Over 90 different training sessions were held on Friday evening and throughout Saturday and—yes!—we stayed on time!

Important shout-outs to a “Class A” Staff… Council Commissioner Jen Betz, Director of Field Service Jeff Whitten, Unit Commissioner Bob Broene, Stage Manager Tim Deater, Council Commissioner and resident punster Stephen Foster, District Chair and Emcee par excellence RJ Winter, Scoutmasters David Nevins, Units Skills Trainer Kathy Weerstra, STEM Program Director Bridget Knight, W2S Transition Expert Jan Maike, “Scoutbook” expert Rob Unglenieks, Commissioner Basic expert Becky Burns, District Commissioner Gil Fisher, Trainer’s EDGE experts Debi Loudin and Shannon Faas, New Unit ADC Ron Gordon, Learning Center Director Melody Gordon, Bachelor’s Dean Bill Kazcmarek, RT Commissioner Bob Haglund, UC Anthony Greene, ADC David Bainbridge, National Commissioner Service Team member Mike Moegenburg, Dean-Roundtable Science Brent Loudin, Bachelor’s Roundtable Trainers Wanda Philippy and Jeremy Savoie, Master’s Dean Jim Mansen, Commissioner Service expert Bill Ewing, District Commissioner & ADC Trainer Darryl Nelson, District Chair Blaine Rawson, UC Joe Singerling, Roundtable Masters Dean Tom Baugh, Council Commissioner Kevin Will, ACCs Ron Blaisdell, James Newell, Ken Norin, Ron Scholl, and James Smithwick, Continuing Ed. Dean Elrico Hurley, DC Bruce Emaus, Deputy Scout Executive Gary Gilger, Challenged Scouts expert Dr. Tim Mills, and Special Needs Chair Midge Savage.

Thank you ALL. It has been my joy and honor to serve with you!

“Bring Cookies!” and “Read The Friendly Manual!”
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Hi Andy,

The leaders in our troop are trying to get those Scouts who want to do “just the bare minimum” to step it up a little. We have Scouts in the troop who are juggling everything nicely, and we have Scouts who are noticeably absent from things that aren’t “fun,” like troop service projects to benefit our sponsoring church, troop equipment organizing parties, Eagle Scout project work days, and showing up for meetings regularly…but “somehow” they manage to show up for camping trips, kayaking, and summer camp! Their Patrol Leaders and even our Senior Patrol Leader have spoken to the two most “notorious” no-shows-when-it’s-work, but so far to little avail. Even our Senior Patrol Leader is now thinking about some sort of “percentage” requirement, but we’re kind of thinking that even if we were to implement it troop-wide it wouldn’t make much difference—the Scouts who want to do more will do more and those who don’t, won’t. Any thoughts that might help with this? (MaryAnn)

First let’s keep in mind that, in Scouting, there’s no such thing as a “minimum” requirement. All requirements are stated and, so long as the Scout accomplishes what’s stated, that requirement is complete.

On the “active” aspect, Scouting is still a volunteer movement, and the Scouts themselves are the very first volunteers. But “active” is based on individual motivation. If a Scout doesn’t show up, that’s his/her choice. We can’t “legislate” or “cajole” a greater level of activity than the individual Scout is interested in giving. In the specific area of advancement, the BSA doesn’t care if a boy joins and stays Scout rank for his entire tenure, or if he goes all the way to Eagle rank. Advancement is, after all, just one of eight methods of Scouting–arithmetically, that’s just 12.5% of the BSA’s methods!

So relax. The Scouts who are “into” Scouting will take charge and run the troop and those who are less enthusiastic may or may not “catch Scouting fever”–and there’s really little one can do to “control” the motivational level of another!

But let’s add something… Showing up for the “work” usually has a “fun” component—or at least it should! Like a pizza party afterwards, or a game on-site that has a few corny “prizes,” or something else that’s actually fun. (Heck, would we adults show up at all these Scout meetings and such if we weren’t enjoying it? Same applies to teen-aged young people!)

So concentrate where you’ll accomplish the MOST good! Even when the tide raises the whole ship, there’s still stuff way down in the hold and below the water-line!
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Hi Andy,

I remember when I first discovered your columns, back when you were in the mid-400’s! They were so fascinating, I actually went back to #1 to catch up! Your Scouting perspective is excellent and your columns have really helped shape my thoughts about Scouting in the best possible way.

Here’s a (hopefully) interesting situation… My oldest son is a whisker away from both Eagle and 18, so it’s a fun time. He was working on Citizenship in the Community and thought that the Eagle Service Project should be able to count towards the 8 hours of community service for the merit badge. He and I read the requirements and from a “technical” perspective it looked like he was onto something. Then after some poking around the internet, chatting with fellow Scouters, and general thinking, we realized that a big part of Scouting is all about service. So while “double-dipping” might be technically allowed it really is “picking at the rules” and not in the spirit of Scouting. I’m always encouraging Scouts in these situations to “do the right thing,” and I did the same here.

And another… In your recent column (#594), where a Scouter mentions questions from an Eagle rank board of review about the “thinness” of the paperwork. While I agree with the Eagle rules and the Scouter letting the Scout write his report in his own words, I have to comment on where I think the others were at least partially coming from. A huge part of an Eagle project is the Scout learning what a project is all about. Most if not all Scouts have never done a project this involved. This is where the Eagle Coach, fellow Eagle Scouts, parents, and Scouters can help out by teaching and guiding the Scout through the process. For sure, this is a very fine line, but what’s the alternative? Throwing a bunch of papers and links at Scouts and letting them poke around?

My own goal for Eagle Scouts is to complete the project in such a way that some day in the future, when in a similar situation, they look back and think two things: (1) I remember how this is done! and (2) Wow, I really could have done better with my Eagle project!

It’s that second part that I like the most. Reflecting on something that you did and seeing how it could have been better is a huge win. And, really, isn’t that most of Scouting? You’ve got all these young people who are learning, struggling, and having a blast—but someday they’ll think back. That’s huge—thinking and doing better. On my honor I will do my best… Thanks! (John Dyer, Cradle of Liberty Council, PA)

Personally, I don’t favor the expression, “double-dipping” because it carries a negative connotation. The BSA is, in actual fact, perfectly accepting of permitting the completion of one requirement to satisfy another matching requirement. The key is “matching”: Both requirements must be identical. For example, “camping nights” for Second Class and First Class ranks can and do qualify towards the camping nights required for Camping merit badge and also for qualifying to stand for election to the Order of the Arrow!

For Cit-Community, on the other hand, its requirements 7(a), 7(b), and 7(c) don’t actually match the requirements for an Eagle Scout Service project. For Cit-Community, the Scout is a single volunteer for a charitable organization in his or her community, adhering to what that organization is doing and performing per its instructions. For the Eagle service project, the Scout is solely responsible for the purpose of the project, must do all the planning for it, must recruit and lead multiple helpers, and prepare written documentation of that project. This is very far afield from the requirement for the merit badge.

As for an Eagle Service Project report, so long as the questions in the workbook are answered, nothing further is required. This includes typos, spelling errors, and awkward sentence constructions: These aren’t “graded” by anyone because this is distinctly NOT an English class composition. Moreover, that workbook is an enormous AID to the Scout! Imagine if he had nothing but a blank sheet of paper! If the Scout simply follows the questions and “fills in the blanks,” he’s done his job!

As for “I could have done better,” I’m impelled to remind us both—so long as Scouts DO THEIR BEST, nothing further is required.

The service project, we need to keep in mind, is nothing more or less than one requirement out of hundreds the Scout will complete for all seven ranks and at least 21 merit badges. To make more of the service project than what it really is is some combination of “mission creep” and overzealous reviewers. Here’s the bottom line: So long as the concept (proposal) was approved and the beneficiary’s signature confirms that the project was completed to satisfaction, nothing further is required.

These are my opinions, of course; however, you’ll find that they’re confirmed not only by the introductory pages of the workbook but also by the Chair of the BSA National Advancement Team.

Thanks for becoming a loyal reader! I’m humbled by your comments about having read them all!

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. 596 – 4/19/2019 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2019]