Issue 656 – September 15, 2020

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Just drop a line to me at askandybsa@yahoo.com.

Dear Andy,

We have a Scout who completed all the work for the Game Design merit badge over the course of a year and a half. His counselor was a teacher by profession, who ran a session at a neighboring council’s merit badge “university” and then followed up with Scouts interested in completing it. Unfortunately, despite multiple attempts on our part, this teacher can’t be reached to verify that all requirements were completed.

My own council has no counselors for this particular merit badge, so there’s no one locally who can verify the work done. This is particularly frustrating because we do want to facilitate the correct process for merit badge work and confirmation. Any ideas here? (Council Commissioner)

I’ve just checked the BSA “requirements” book, and Wow! Game Design is hardly your “average” merit badge! But there may be some light at the end of this tunnel. This Scout, I’m suspecting, kept his notes and learned a lot that he can describe; plus, he actually designed a new game, prototyped it, and even “beta tested” it! He’s got to have this sort of thing written down somewhere! So how about just sitting down with him (or Zooming) and ask him to take you through what he’s done and what he learned along the way? The purpose of a counselor is to “teach beyond the requirements” and provide insights into the subject matter that aren’t necessarily “in the book.” This Scout has already done that, and so one option is to simply apply the principle of Scout’s Honor and okay the merit badge. But if you believe it’s necessary to “vet” this Scout, then, as Council Commissioner, your judgement certainly won’t ever be challenged if you were to do this. As you proceed, just keep in mind that our objective is to open gates; not to keep them locked tight.
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(I received this next letter in late February…)

Hi Andy,

We have a 17-year-old Scout—I’ll call him “Scotty”—who had his board of review for Life rank on February 12th. Shortly thereafter, we came to find out that is 18th birthday is going to be on August 10th. If you count days from February 12 including August 10, they add up to 180. In view of this, can Scotty complete his requirements for “active” and “tenure in position” for Eagle? (CR, Susquehanna Council, PA)

The tough part of this situation is that those requirements say “six months,” and “six months” from February 12 is August 12. August 10 is two days short.

But let’s not let this go quite yet… Is there some reason why the reviewers, who are all adults and have access to all Scouts’ records, held a board of review for Scotty “inside” the six-month mark? Help me out here, because I’m really puzzled.

Thanks, Andy. Turns out that Scotty actually came to the troop meeting on February 5th (troop meetings are used by the committee to hold boards of review for advancing Scouts, using a separate room in our church), but he hadn’t brought his handbook with him that night. So he was told to bring it the following week, and he’d have his review. (I should mention that we haven’t figured out how to use “Scoutbook.com” yet, so we use each Scout’s own handbook.) I guess the committee didn’t realize at the time that that one week would create this sort of problem. (CR)

Wow! So, even though these reviewers were told by the Scoutmaster that Scotty is ready to advance to Life rank (that’s what Scoutmasters are supposed to do, by the way, so I’m going to assume that that conversation actually happened), the reviewers just had to see that handbook. For what purpose? Scotty’s Scoutmaster just told them he’s good to go!

So here’s the bottom line: This is NOT Scotty’s fault and not having his handbook is a pretty lame reason for screwing up on dates—getting the dates right is the committee’s responsibility. I’d call this a “situation beyond the Scout’s control” and an immediate mea culpa and appeal to the BSA National Advancement Committee needs to happen right now. Good luck and good luck to Scotty! (BTW, The person at the national office to start with is Mr. Michael LoVecchio, Advancement Program Specialist: michael.lovecchio@scouting.org)

If the committee is having any reluctance here, they might be reminded that Scotty could have been instructed to go home, get his handbook, and return. (Yes, I get it that Scotty might have known from his four prior reviews that he’d be smart to bring his handbook. But let’s allow that Scotty’s a teenage boy, and we want to cut him a bit of slack, especially since he can go home and bring the book back. All that’s necessary is to remember that WE are here for the SCOUTS and not the other way around.
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Hi Andy,

I’m trying to help our Scoutmaster make a valid determination if a Scout has indeed been “active” in the troop, for an upcoming Life board of review. I know this question has come up pretty frequently in your columns. Can you point me to a specific issue or issues of “Ask Andy” in which you discuss this? I’m thinking this might give our Scoutmaster some guidance. Thanks! (Lee Murray, Nevada Area Council)

You bet this has come up lots of times! The most recent is right around the corner—Issue 654 on September 1st. Check out the last Q&A and see if it helps.

Here’s the problem with “generalities”—they’re like a Mumu dress: They cover everything but touch nothing.

If you can get me the specifics, I can help you better, but I’ll also help right now. Check the GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT-Topic 4.2.3.1. It’s a bit convoluted, but the foundation for it makes it instantly easier to decide what to do. This Scoutmaster needs ask just one question: Why am I here? Is it to “guard against advancement,” as a gatekeeper keeps people from passing through the gate? Or am I here to help young people make the most of themselves in a way that, when they reflect back on their Scouting experiences later on in their lives, they not only appreciate what they accomplished for themselves but also appreciate those who guided them along their journey…these people are the gate OPENERS; they’re the core of what Scouting’s truly all about.

Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!
Happy Scouting!
Andy

When you write to me, please include your name and council. If you’d rather be anonymous—if published—just say so and that’s what I’ll do.

Although these columns are copyrighted, you have my okay to quote or reproduce any column or part, so long as it’s attributed: “Ask Andy” by Andy McCommish.

[No. 656 – 9/15/2020 – Copyright © 2020 Andy McCommish]