Ask Andy | Author Archives

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

Issue 42 – October 2004

By AskAndy on October 5, 2004 in 2004

“Merit Badge ‘partials’ expire after a year”…“Eagles have to be at least age 16 because younger than that they don’t understand the significance of what they’ve accomplished or have the maturity to be a ‘real’ Eagle”…“Merit Badge Counselors can’t counsel their own sons”…“Unless a Scout completes a requirement while with his Troop or patrol, it […]

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Issue 41 – Mid-September 2004

By AskAndy on September 15, 2004 in 2004

Hey Andy, I’m a new Assistant Scoutmaster who was looking forward to joining my son (Arrow of Light Cub Scout) in Boy Scouts this year. But, being in the National Guard, my country came first. Now I’m stationed in Iraq until mid-2005, looking at pictures of my son making his achievements without me. It saddens […]

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Issue 40 – September 2004

By AskAndy on September 5, 2004 in 2004

Hi Andy! May I copy your article titled “The Day the Music Died” for use at our next Roundtable. I will, of course, include the appropriate credits. (Dave Hudson, UC, Ojibwa District-Clinton Valley Council) I’m honored that you’d ask, and the answer is absolutely YES! May I also ask that you encourage your folks to […]

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Issue 39 – Mid-August 2004

By AskAndy on August 15, 2004 in 2004

Well, the summer’s starting to wrap up, and here we are, beginning to look forward to the start of school and the Fall Scouting programs. So, I thought I’d take a personal moment and share with you a letter I received from my grandson, Andy III. Here it is… Dear Grampa, Our Scoutmaster told us […]

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Issue 38 – August 2004

By AskAndy on August 3, 2004 in 2004

Hi Andy, I’m trying to answer a question, asked by my Scoutmaster. I need to list all the Presidents who were in Scouting, and their ranks. I think I have all that, but it also mentions the Silver Buffalo Awards. All the sources I’ve found say that 13 Presidents received the Silver Buffalo; but none […]

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Issue 37 – Mid-July 2004

By AskAndy on July 15, 2004 in 2004

Dear Andy, As a Scoutmaster, I must respectfully disagree with the BSA’s absence of restrictions on merit badge counselors signing off on their own son, particularly when other counselors for the same merit badge might be available. How can Scouts “learn how to initiate contact with an adult they don’t know,” when that “adult” is […]

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Issue 36 – July 2004

By AskAndy on July 5, 2004 in 2004

Hi Andy, I’m the religion reporter at the Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle. Can you tell me the origin of the symbolism attached to the 13 folds in the flag-folding ceremony for the American Flag? There are several places on the Internet where I can find the symbolism, but nowhere can I find the origin! It must […]

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Issue 35 – Mid-June 2004

By AskAndy on June 15, 2004 in 2004

Want to add my “Ask Andy” column to your council’s website? Easy! Just check with your scout executive and webmaster first, then have one or the other of them send me an email requesting the full column twice a month, as I complete them, and giving me the name and email address to send them […]

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