________________________________________ THIS JUST IN: SCOUTMASTERS ELIGIBLE FOR THE SENIOR PATROL LEADER POSITION—FOR LIFE! The BSA has just announced that Scoutmasters are eligible to appoint themselves Senior Patrol Leader, thus acknowledging the superior leadership that comes with age and experience. Concurrent with this acknowledgement, the Scoutmaster-as-Senior Patrol leader position can be held for life, instead of […]
About AskAndy
Andy is a Board Member of the U.S. Scouting Service Project, Inc.Andy was recognized in 2017 as a National Distinguished Eagle Scout and Regent of the National Eagle Scout Association. He is currently serving as council member-at-large. His previous position, which he held for over 20 years (except for several years when he served as District Commissioner and Assistant Council Commissioner-Training), was Unit Commissioner. He has previously served as Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, Scoutmaster, International Representative, and--as a Scout--Patrol Leader, Senior Patrol Leader, and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster. He is a charter member and founding director of his prior council's Alumni Association and Eagle Scout Alumni Association, both established in 2001. He earned Eagle Scout rank at age 15, in 1957; two years later, he earned the Explorer Silver Award--at that time referred to as the "Double-Eagle." At age 16, he served on the National Junior Leader Training Camp Staff at Schiff Scout Reservation (at that time this was a salaried position). He also served on the Philmont NJLIC Staff in 2002, 2003, and 2004, and, later, on two Pilot Regional NAYLE Staffs. His recognitions include: Kashafa Iraqi Scouting Service Award, Distinguished Commissioner, Doctor of Commissioner Science, International Scouter Award, District Award of Merit (2), Scoutmaster Award of Merit, Scouter's Key (3), Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Cliff Dochterman Rotarian Scouter Award, James E. West Fellow (3), Wood Badge & Sea Badge. He has attended four National Scout Jamborees: Scout in 1957, First Assistant Scoutmaster in 1993, National Staff in 2001, and NESA Featured Speaker in 2014 and 2017. The BSA included his article titled "Frictionless Scouting Events" was incorporated into the BSA National Training Video, "Meetings of the District" for ten years. He is a charter member of the BSA National Advancement Advisory Board and has written multiple technical articles for the BSA Advancement Team's "Advancement News" since 2012. Read Andy's full biography
Issue 349 – March 25, 2013
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’ll be going to camp this summer with my son and his troop. The camp offers the Mile Swim award. According to both the BSA’s “Scout Stuff” (www.scoutstuff.org) and “advancement” section of the U.S. Scouting Service Project (usssp.org) the Mile Swim is for both youth and adults. At scoutstuff.org, the Mile Swim […]
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Issue 348 – March 14, 2013
________________________________________ Hi Andy, We have a fifth grade boy who joined our pack last October. He’d like to earn his Arrow of Light award before crossing over to Boy Scouts. He’s just turned 11, and school gets out at the end of June. According to the Webelos Handbook, a boy has to be active in […]
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Issue 347 – February 28, 2013
________________________________________ We talk about “Scouts in Action”… How about a “Scouter in Action” in one of the least-probable locations on the planet!? Check out this video, sent to me by John Fox, of the Daniel Webster Council, NH. It’s the story of Keith Blackey, a veteran of the Vietnam War with a lifelong involvement in […]
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Issue 346 – February 12, 2013
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m supposedly a “hover” parent. I’m trying to learn not to be, even though my son’s considered on the immature side. He’s had a fear of the unknown since he was an infant, and it persists. Does this make him “immature”? I have to coax him in multiple ways to get him […]
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Issue 345 – February 3, 2013
________________________________________ Hi Andy, I’m our troop’s Committee Chair. We’re trying to put together a “handbook” for Scouts and parents. We’ve been told there’s one in existence, but none of us has ever seen it. We’re wondering if troops are allowed to set their own standards on requirements that don’t agree with BSA national standards. For […]
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Issue 344 – January 24, 2013
________________________________________ Dear Andy, I recently heard about the “American Heritage Award.” It states that Scouts helped in the curriculum and design of the medal and patch that can be earned. Is this medal authorized for wearing on the BSA uniform? (Bill McClain, District Advancement Chair, West Tennessee Council) The BSA does allow certain non-BSA recognitions […]
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Issue 343 – January 12, 2013
________________________________________ THE BADEN-POWELL INSTITUTE By the GREATER CLEVELAND COUNCIL-BSA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th – 8 AM to 3 PM. Your choice of 45 SCOUTING TOPICS in 50-minute sessions. o Dutch oven cooking o Fly fishing for Dummies o Philmont from a Ranger’s perspective o Trail-building Eagle projects o Adding PIZZAZ to pack and den meetings o […]
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Issue 342 – January 6, 2013
________________________________________ THE BADEN-POWELL INSTITUTE By the GREATER CLEVELAND COUNCIL-BSA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9th – 8 AM to 3 PM. Your choice of 45 SCOUTING TOPICS in 50-minute sessions. o Dutch oven cooking o Fly fishing for Dummies o Philmont from a Ranger’s perspective o Trail-building Eagle projects o Adding PIZZAZ to pack and den meetings o […]
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Issue 341 – January 1, 2013
________________________________________ A SCOUTMASTER’S RESOLUTION FOR 2013… Tell the young men you serve that they’re SCOUTS and THIS IS THEIR TROOP. Tell them nobody runs their troop but THEM. Show them by your actions what it means to believe in something greater than themselves and stand up for this. Teach them by your example honor and […]
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Scouting Cartoons
Scouting Cartoons by Rich Diesslin - Click to visit the cartoon gallery at usscouts.org. 
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Missing Kids
The NetCommish web site was selected by Scouting Magazine in 1998 as one of ten "Quality Scouting Web Sites." The article, entitled "
