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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

Author Archive | AskAndy
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Issue 182 – Get A Life

The Eagle Court of Honor was happily moving along. Several speakers had inspired the audience and Scouts alike, then the final speaker before the actual presentation took the podium. He spoke about another Eagle Scout he’d recently read about… One who went on after Eagle to earn a fistful of palms and virtually every merit […]

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Issue 181 – July 7, 2009

Dear Andy, Would you please give me an accurate interpretation of Second Class Req. 2a and First Class Req. 3? Would the Scout actually have a total of 5 overnight camps and 5 troop/patrol activities or…? (I was challenged on this recently and would like your clarification on this.) (Name & Council Withheld) Thanks for […]

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Issue 180 – June 30, 2009

Dear Andy, In a recent column you mentioned that a Merit Badge Counselor must be 21 years old. Both the MBC application (No. 34405) and the BSA website (www.scouting.org/faq/volunteer.aspx) say 18. (Mike Whittington, SM, East Carolina Council, NC) Yup! I checked the link you provided, and also the MBC application, and that’s exactly what it […]

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Issue 179 – June 21, 2009

Dear Andy, My son is 14 and still Second Class rank. His sole hang-up for First Class is the swim test requirement. He has ADHD and developmental delays, and receives special help at school. We’ve tried private swimming lessons, laps at the local pool, and even having Dad swim along beside, but he just can’t […]

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Issue 178 – June 7, 2009

Dear Andy, I’m Committee Chair for a Troop of about four dozen. Recently, a Scout and, separately, his parents, have expressed concerns to me about his advancement to First Class rank. I know the boy, and while he does have some physical challenges, he’s a good Scout; very intelligent and can quickly absorb materials and […]

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Issue 177 – June 1, 2009

Dear Andy, Our district recently appointed a training chair who, despite more than 20 years of involvement in Scouting, has never taken a single training course…for anything. One of the first courses he was responsible for was Den Chief Training. Shortly after that course, he bragged at a district committee meeting that although he’d never […]

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Issue 176 – May 31, 2009

Dear Andy, We have a newly elected ASPL in our Troop (we elect the ASPL for a six-month term, and then they become the next SPL for a six-month term) who, right after his swearing-in ceremony, informed us that he’ll be missing summer camp, our major troop fundraiser, and our troop’s annual community service project. […]

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Issue 175 – May 26, 2009

Dear Andy, Double-dipping’s a no-no, yes? I’m confused about the achievements and electives for Cub Scouts. Is it double-dipping for a creek clean-up as both Bear elective 15e and as an outdoor activity (5 or 6) or Leave No Trace 4 or the World Conservation Award req. 3? (Name and Council Withheld) This is Cub […]

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Issue 174 – May 14, 2009

Hi Andy, I’d like to give the mom from your April 20th column, with the Cub Scout son who’s a year off in school, some insight. My own son was in the same situation: by his age he could have joined Boy Scouts a year sooner. But he stayed with his den and pack and […]

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Issue 173 – “Bill”

April 1953, a brand-new Boy Scout, I walked for the first time into a troop meeting. I’d been a Cub Scout, earned my Webelos Badge (Arrow of Light, it’s called today), and had just turned 11 years old. I was taller than most boys my age, and more shy than most. Painfully shy, a characteristic […]

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