February 9, 2021

[ISSUE 665 – 20TH YEAR OF HELPING SCOUTS, SCOUTERS, & PARENTS]

Hi Andy,
I’m a member of our Cub Scout pack’s committee and I’ve been tasked with fining out the regulations for Cubs wearing uniforms to present the colors. I’ve been wandering around online, but I haven’t found anything and I don’t have books in hand to search. Can you help me out? And if it’s in writing, can you possibly give me a link? Thanks! (Al Fresko, Grand Canyon Council, AZ)

Good news! You really don’t need it “in writing”! The volunteers at the pack simply need to review the Methods of Cub Scouting. If they don’t happen to have their own CUB SCOUT LEADER BOOK handy, they can go here: http://www.scouting.org/scoutsource/cubscouts/parents/about/pandm.aspx. Here’s a bit of what they’ll find:

Cub Scout uniforms serve a dual purpose, demonstrating membership in the group (everyone is dressed alike) and individual achievement (Cubs wear the badges they’ve earned on their uniform shirts!). Wearing the uniform to meetings and activities also encourages a neat appearance, a sense of belonging, and good behavior.

Scouting encourages all youth members and every direct-contact adult volunteer to set the example by always and correctly wearing their own uniforms.

So the good news is that this is really simple and straightforward: All BSA youth members and all BSA direct contact adult volunteers wear uniforms, complete and correct. Thus, any group of Cub Scouts will always be correctly dressed for flag detail. (I have just one cautionary note, and it’s about neckerchiefs. Please ask your pack’s den leaders and Cubmaster to use slides and not just an overhand knot, and have the Cubs do the same. A knotted neckerchief always looks sloppy and pretty cheesy.)
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Hi Andy,
Our Scouts BSA troop for boys has one Scout with severe food allergies. Because of these allergies, his mother—who is a member of our troop committee—has attended all pre-Covid campouts since her son joined our troop almost three years ago. Plus, two summers ago and the summer before that, she came along on the troop’s week-long summer camp experience. She is always there with him, and always with an Epi Pen in case her son has a problem (to date, she’s not had to use it).

Planning way ahead right now, we’re looking at a possible post-Covid weekend camping trip and, although our patrols always cook for themselves, this Scout will be bringing cooking his own food for all his meals to complete his Cooking merit badge requirements. His mother has already planned to attend with him.

My question is about this Scout’s safety around food and having an Epi Pen available while he is in camp without his mom. Mom notified the troop leadership that there wasn’t a need to have an Epi Pen on site because he will be cooking food the they have determined to be safe for him. We feel that since his BSA “AHMR” (Annual Health & Medical Report) includes an Epi Pen under medication needed, and since we have been notified by the family of his allergies to and reactions to specific foods, we can have an Epi Pen in the troop’s First Aid kit when he’s with his patrol on a campout.

What I’m looking for—obviously well in advance!—are the BSA’s official regulations that we, as a troop, need to follow in this situation. For instance, must a parent always accompany a Scout with Epi Pen-level allergies or, at 13 years old, is a Scout permitted (or required) to self-administer? And what are our Scoutmaster’s and other adult leaders’ obligations and responsibilities beyond monitoring safe food handling procedures; do they include delivering the Epi Pen injection? Thanks! (Ron Rycharski)

I think there are two separate issues here: Epi Pen use is one and the responsibilities of the troop is the other. For the Epi Pen, if the Scout’s parent says it’s necessary on all outdoor activities involving on-the-trail/in-the-campsite meal preparation, you’re within your rights to ask for a statement stating that from a qualified medical professional. The opposite applies equally. If this Scout or a parent can give the troop’s adult leaders an Epi Pen before the trip, for use by an adult in an emergency, ask her to produce a waiver to that effect, signed by both parents.

BTW, do you—and this parent—know that an Epi Pen is a First Aid device for emergency situations causing anaphylaxis, and must be followed up with finding professional medical aid right away? Thus, if you’re in a “deep-woods” or other isolating situation, getting immediate follow-up medical care may be impossible.
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On further thought, and after reading the entire multiple-page instructions and cautions for Epi Pens—which are lengthy and critical—I’m going to add to my first response. First, absolutely get the needed physician’s signed document, to include precisely what foods this Scout is allergic to and what his allergic response is likely to be (i.e., does it go beyond anaphylaxis). Second, discuss this in detail with your council’s Risk Management people (every council has this). These types of questions are precisely what RM folks are there for, so be sure to use your local resource to the maximum!
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Hi Andy,
I have a question about “Scout accounts” for troop-wide fund-raising for summer camps and other fairly costly activities (like weekend canoe rentals). I’m aware of a fairly recent IRS ruling banning the practice of raising funds and dedicating them to individual fund-raisers, for their use. And I’m told that BSA units can only raise funds for purposes that have a public benefit, like for service projects, or for a unit’s general operation, such as insurance premiums, necessary equipment, event or venue entry fees, and so on.
Are you aware of these sorts of issues and can you direct us to any BSA policies or publications? As always, thanks for your help and keep up the great work you do! (Jeff Barney)

If you go to http://www.scouting.org and dig around a little, here’s some of what you’ll find there…

Q: Can my unit credit amounts from fundraising to an individual, toward their expenses?

A: No. The IRS has stated that crediting fundraising amounts to individuals constitutes private benefit. However, the unit could use the funds (all or a percentage) raised to reduce or eliminate dues and various registration fees, purchase uniforms and Scouting books, and purchase camping equipment. The unit could also use its funds to provide assistance to individual Scouts in cases of financial hardship.
The idea here is straightforward and we learned it from Alexandre Dumas years ago. “ONE for ALL and ALL for ONE!” What Scouts earn together they put to use together.

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

Andy

I personally answer every message I receive. There’s no “writing staff”—just me. When writing, please include your name & council. If you’d rather be anonymous—if published—just tell me and I’ll honor that. 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. 665– 2/9/2021 – Copyright © 2021 Andy McCommish]