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 32 – May 2004

By AskAndy on May 5, 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 other 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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Issue 31 – Mid-April 2004

By AskAndy on April 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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Issue 30 – April 2004

By AskAndy on April 5, 2004 in 2004

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Issue 29 – Mid-March 2004

By AskAndy on March 15, 2004 in 2004

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Issue 28 – March 2004

By AskAndy on March 3, 2004 in 2004

In February (refer to my Mid-Feb column) David Rice, a DE in Illowa Council, IL, had asked: “What would District Commissioners and Unit Commissioners like to receive from their District Executive?” I responded, and David wrote back to give me some background on why he’d asked that particular question… Dear Andy, Thank you for your […]

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Issue 27 – Mid-February 2004

By AskAndy on February 15, 2004 in 2004

Here’s a question asked of our Webmaster and long-time Scouter, Michael Bowman, and his excellent—in my opinion—answer: Our Pack is rather large, and therefore unable to present all awards and advancements during a Pack meeting. Because of this, our Den Leaders are presenting Bobcats, recognition beads & various other awards within the Den meetings. Do […]

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Issue 26 – February 2004

By AskAndy on February 3, 2004 in 2004

Here’s another request that I’m delighted to honor… Dear Andy, I’m seeking permission to use excerpts from your column as part of my training course. I’ll be teaching “US 203–Just for ADC’s” at our University of Scouting, and I’d like to use some of the questions-and-answers in your column as discussion points. (Theodore Kakowski, CS […]

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Issue 25 – Mid-January 2004

By AskAndy on January 15, 2004 in 2004

Dear Andy, Does a Scout have to have a Court of Honor to get his Eagle? I have Scout who doesn’t want a Court of Honor; he just wants to get it and not make a big deal over it. But he’s being told he must have Court of Honor. (Percy Shackles, Missouri) A Boy […]

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Issue 24 – January 2004

By AskAndy on January 3, 2004 in 2004

I started this column just over two years ago, and since then, my notoriety’s been spreading. A number of councils around the country are reproducing this column or parts of it on a regular basis on their websites or in their printed newsletters. I’m honored that this is happening. Here are two of the more […]

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Issue 23 – Mid-December 2003

By AskAndy on December 15, 2003 in 2003

The other day, Mike Bowman, our esteemed Webmaster, was asked an “Ask Andy”-type question that he shared with me, along with his outstanding response – a response definitely worth repeating. So, here it is… Mike – Our Troop seems to have more and more Scouts who are coming back after a year or two of […]

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