Rule No. 30: The moment you decide to wear the medal you received for your modesty, you no longer qualify. Dear Andy, I’m a parent and troop committee member. Recently I’ve been engaged in a discussion with the troop’s Scoutmaster on a topic on which we have opposing views. In the exchange of ideas, I’ve […]

Rule No. 34: All blanket statements have exceptions, including this one. Rule No. 35: While on tour and staying in a hotel, the very first thing all Scouts will do upon entering their assigned rooms is check to see if there’s access to the TV’s “adult” channels. Dear Andy, For the Disability Awareness merit badge […]

Rule No. 31: Sometimes it’s OK to be average: It still means you’re ahead of almost half the group. Rule No. 32: There are five types of people in brainstorming sessions: Yes-But-ers, Not-Now-ers, It’ll Never-Work-ers, We Tried it Before and it Didn’t-Work-ers, and Why-Not-ers. Rally the Why-Not-ers; shoot the rest: The Why-Not-ers will get the […]

Andy’s Rule No. 28: Order of the Arrow elections are always “popularity contests.” Scouts who best live the Scout Law with their fellow Scouts will always be the most popular. Andy’s Rule No. 29: Things you never want to see being made: Sausages and Troop Bylaws. Dear Andy, About that conversion in your July 28th […]

No. 26: A bought neckerchief slide will always become lost; a hand-made slide will never be lost. No. 27: Knowing where to get the answer always trumps guessing. Dear Andy, What’s the proper protocol for the opening ceremony of a court of honor? Our troop does the invocation before the colors are presented. Our Scoutmaster’s […]

Hey Andy, There’s been much talk in your columns over time about the old custom of the snipe hunt and how today it’s considered hazing. It’s all in how you approach it. In our troop, the snipe hunt is a well-enjoyed tradition we include in our first year Scout camp weekend. It’s actually become a […]

No. 24: Whoever says, “The score doesn’t really matter,” isn’t winning. No. 25: The batteries of your flashlight will die only when you need light the most. Hi Andy, Last night we had two Eagle boards of review. The Scout first scheduled was 30 minutes late. As we sat there waiting, I’m thinking, This is […]

No. 22: Any adult leader who can’t make his point to a group of sharp teen-aged boys in under three minutes is in the wrong job. No. 23: “Because I said so” is often reason enough. Dear Andy, Our troop will be going on a week-long camping trip soon. I’m curious if it’s “Scout legal” […]

Rule No. 20: “Commissioner Charm School” is where, among other things, we learn how to say “Now isn’t that just special,” instead of “Which of you geniuses thought that one up all by yourself?” Rule No. 21: Don’t waste time reading the “Nutritional Content” of a Three Musketeers, Snickers, or bag of Gummi Bears… Nutrition […]

Andy’s Rule No. 19: The extent of politics in any organization is inversely proportional to its ability to show results. Hi Andy, First of all, my thanks to you for your column. I read it regularly and often share what you’ve said with others or refer them to your column. Always good sense and good […]