Dear Andy, On the Scout badge, what type of knot is represented that serves as the reminder to do a good turn daily? (Paul Bellavance, Webelos Den Leader, Bay Area Council, TX) Believe it or not (no pun intended), you have to go all the way back to the 5th edition of the Handbook for […]
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 161 – February 16, 2009
Editor’s note from the NetCommish: Ask Andy was red hot and ready to publish a week ago. Andy wrote a great column and had it ready, but, your old editor, The NetCommish, was dealing with some real life issues that made it impossible to publish for awhile. My apologies for the delay in releasing this […]
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Issue 160 – January 16, 2009
Remember the Green Zone Council and the Victory Base Council in Iraq, and Captain John Green? I just received a letter from John that I’d like to share with you… Dear Andy, In the middle of the night two years ago, my sergeants and I boarded a Blackhawk helicopter and took off from a […]
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Issue 159 – January 4, 2009
Dear Andy, One of your recent Q&As was for a chap who’ll be serving as a Camp Commissioner this coming summer. Here’s an example of a “Camp Commissioner Guide” that one of my NCS (National Camping School) participants created for the CC course:CampCommissionerStaffGuide_2006.pdf Here’s another, from a camp where I served as Commissioner: CampCommGuidebook.pdf (Ken […]
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Issue 158 – December 21, 2008
Dear Andy, I’m looking for plans for a pack advancement ladder, ideally one that comes apart and stores nicely. Can any of your readers help? (Carl Sommer, CM, Occoneechee Council, NC: cubmaster@pack222nc.org) If you have what Carl’s looking for, you can send them directly to him (his email address is there) or to me and […]
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Issue 157 – December 7, 2008
This boy’s tying his very first square knot, and learning how it symbolizes his connection to Scouting. Nothing unusual, right? Except… He’s an Iraqi, in Baghdad, right now, this very moment.He was taught this knot, and lots of other stuff, too, by American Scouters in the military, giving their precious free time, and money, and […]
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Issue 156 – November 30, 2008
A Scouter told me that the sheepshank knot has been removed from the Scouting program. I can’t find that information anywhere. Is this a fact, or just wishful thinking? (Ralph Lee)Yes, you heard it here: The sheepshank knot has been removed as a result of high-level conversations between the BSA and PETA. Seems that far […]
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Issue 155 – November 20, 2008
Hi Andy, The son of a friend and co-worker is currently serving in the 82nd Airborne, in Iraq. His military unit is stationed in an Iraqi village where some American Girl Scout volunteer leaders have started up a troop for the girls of the village, complete with the famous Girl Scout cookies! My friend’s son […]
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Issue 154 – November 16, 2008
Hi Andy, While catching up on some of your columns that I missed over the summer, I noticed you’re your comments about the Roman Catholic Church’s “Protecting God’s Children” training program; in particular, this statement: “…The (R.C.) church powers-that-be do need to understand that Cub Scout camping is not like Boy Scout camping, where a […]
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Issue 153 – November 1, 2008
Howdy Andy,Your October 12th column had a question about whether or not the Wood Carving merit badge required earning the Totin’ Chip. I think you may have given out some incorrect information. Req. 2a says: “Earn the Totin’ Chip recognition”. (My pamphlet’s 2002, so I may have an outdated list of requirements, and I’ll check […]
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The NetCommish web site was selected by Scouting Magazine in 1998 as one of ten "Quality Scouting Web Sites." The article, entitled "
