Rule No. 93 • When you demand that someone meet you halfway, be sure he doesn’t use his fist to do it. ________________________________________ In my September 26th column, Scouter John Ruppe of the San Diego-Imperial Council asked how the BSA views outstanding military service. He noted having witnessed a Navy Corpsman and Eagle Scout contribute […]
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 329 – October 4, 2012
Rule No. 92 • The unit with the fewest youth will be the one requiring the most attention by their commissioner. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’ve taken Safe Swim Defense training but I’ll admit I’m still confused. Do the lifeguards have to be BSA Lifeguard certified, or can any responsible person be designated lifeguard? (Mark Sharman) […]
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Issue 328 – September 30, 2012
Rule No. 91 o To avoid being elected to a volunteer position you don’t want, chair the nominating committee. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, I went to a Roundtable the other night and received a stack of paperwork for our troop and crew. For both units, I was given a list of registered adults who were missing […]
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Issue 327 – September 26, 2012
Rule No. 90 • The Scouts who show up for every meeting are usually the ones who don’t need to. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, I returned from Scout camp after spending six days with my son and his troop a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say is I’m shocked. I was there with […]
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Issue 326 – September 22, 2012
Rule No. 89 • All ninety-minute meetings last two hours; all thirty-minute meetings last two hours. ________________________________________ Thanks for your patience! For nearly three weeks, I’ve been in Alaska, with little time to respond to questions or put a column together. Most of this past week has been devoted to answering everyone who’s written to […]
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Issue 325 – August 24, 2012
Rule No. 87 • When you’re actually right you can count on one or two folks hearing you; when you’re wrong you can count on everyone hearing you. ________________________________________ Seems like my August 1st column about earning Eagle Scout rank by age 14—15 at the most rang some bells…especially my final comment about the benefits […]
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Issue 324 – August 11, 2012
• EAGLE – It’s a No-Brainer! ________________________________________ This is for all Scouts; especially those destined to become Boy Scouts in February 2013. Here’s the big idea: EAGLE’S A NO-BRAINER! That’s right! Who says you have to earn Eagle just in time for it to be another 18th birthday present, and you never get to wear […]
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Issue 323 – August 1, 2012
Rule No. 86: • Keep your eye on the heavens and your feet close to the ground. ________________________________________ U.S. Army Captain John Green (photo above) is one of the most dedicated Soldier-Scouters it’s become my honor to know. He’s served our country in multiple tours in Iraq. While there and following his tours, he was […]
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Issue 322 – July 25, 2012
Rule No. 86: o Opinions are never substitutes for facts. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, About the question posed of caravans and convoying on Scouting trips, I was also surprised to not find this in the GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING. But I teach a BALOO course and the no caravan rule is part of the curriculum. This […]
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Issue 321 – July 17, 2012
Rule No. 85: o Opinions are never substitutes for facts. ________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m the Advisor for a Venturing crew. Our council us to start this crew with a group of 13 year-old girls, and we were told that they could do anything Venturing-related so long as they had a parent along with them. Right […]
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Scouting Cartoons
Scouting Cartoons by Rich Diesslin - Click to visit the cartoon gallery at usscouts.org. 
Internet Scout Patch
Missing Kids
The NetCommish web site was selected by Scouting Magazine in 1998 as one of ten "Quality Scouting Web Sites." The article, entitled "
