Maybe you’re already familiar with the BSA’s National Junior Leader Instructor Camp (NJLIC) at Philmont Scout Ranch. Heck, you may have been a participant or staffer there yourself! Maybe you already know that this premiere training course builds Scout leaders, builds top-flight home council course staffers, and BUILDS MEN. “It dropped off the ole radar […]
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 91 – January 2007
Dear Andy, I’m curious as to your understanding of religion in Scouting. I’m familiar with “God” and reverence in the BSA; however, how does a leader keep Baden-Powell’s edict to be sure that Scouting be available to boys of all beliefs? I become very uncomfortable at this time of year with some of the “forced” […]
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Issue 90 – Scout Spirit
“SCOUT SPIRIT”… What is it? How do we “measure” it? How can we get more of it? How do we get our Scouts to pay more attention to it? Why can’t the BSA give us a more tangible definition of it? How do we know when it’s there and when it’s not? Is a rank-directed […]
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Issue 89 – Mid-November 2006
Dear Andy, A question asked of me by a single mom… For Family Life merit badge, can the word “parent” be substituted for “father” in this requirement: 7. Discuss the following with your counselor: (a) Your understanding of what makes an effective fatherand why, and your thoughts on the father’s role in the family. (b) […]
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Issue 88 – November 2006
Dear Andy, In 1999, William Stewart Ward gave me a copy of a poem that he’d written, titled “Eagles Dare to Win.” He’s an Eagle Scout (1988), Wood Badge (SC-454), and a Brotherhood member of Caddo Lodge, in the Greater St. Louis Council. I’ve lost contact with him and hoping maybe your column might be […]
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Issue 87 – Mid-October 2006
Wendy Duprat is a new Assistant Webelos Den Leader in the Daniel Webster Council, Nashua, New Hampshire, USA. She’s thinking that it might be fun and educational for her son’s Webelos Den to write to other Cub Scouts around the world and exchange life experiences, where they go to school, their sports and other interests, […]
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Issue 86 – October 2006
Where are YOU right now as you read this column? Since this column started, folks from 221 BSA councils in all 50 states and Puerto Rico have written to me, plus Scouts and Scouters in Hong Kong; Mexico; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Okinawa, Japan; and, in Germany, Bonn, Frankfurt, and Mannheim. If YOU are reading right […]
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Issue 85 – More September 2006
Hi Andy! Greetings from Malaysia! I was reading your September column where you noted your readership in the Transatlantic Council (where I served years ago as a Cubmaster). I want to let you know that you also have a reader in Malaysia! Thanks for the good counsel! It really helps those of us who are […]
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Issue 84 – Mid-September 2006
In my earlier column this month, Tom Hager in the Northern Lights Council asked, “What’s the BSA policy on wearing patches on back of the sash?” and I replied that the INSIGNIA GUIDE is specific about the front of the sash but silent about its back. Well I obviously didn’t read far enough, and a […]
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Issue 83 – September 2006
Hi Andy, Well, you’ve done it again! Because of our earlier communication regarding my interest in work as a commissioner, a great old friend and roommate from more than 15 years ago in Boston was able to find me through you on the Internet. Thank you for being discrete and sending me his email first. […]
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