Rule No. 67: “No” and “Let me think about that” have identical meanings. Dear Andy, I’m a pretty new-out-of-the-box Assistant Scoutmaster for a troop that’s been around for some seven decades, with a Scoutmaster who acts like he’s been around even longer.  I’ve done my “Scouter’s homework” and feel pretty confident that I’m up on […]

Rule No. 66: • Anything told to you “for your own good” isn’t. Dear Andy, We have a Scout whose Eagle project is re-building an animal enclosure that was destroyed during winter storms, for a petting zoo at a local day camp. He just found out that the animals will arrive in approximately nine weeks […]

Rule No. 65: • Anyone who must tell you he always tells the truth, is lying. Dear Andy, On merit badges, I can’t find anything written by the BSA about how long a Scout has to complete a merit badge once he’s started it. A troop has set a time limit, and if the Scout […]

Rule No. 64: • The length and complexity of PowerPoint presentations are most often in inverse proportion to their value. Dear Andy, I just read your column about the unit with adults “allowed” able to carry sheath knives and pepper spray without the Scouts being able to do either. Left me somewhat speechless. About the […]

NYLT Leadership Academy Special Issue Rule No. 63: “Co-leaders” who agree to share 100% of the responsibilities will each accomplish 10%. Good morning Andy, The BSA National Leadership Development Committee has approved the national promotion of the Northeast Region’s NYLT Leadership Academy program (formerly YSDC—Youth Staff Development Camp—designed to provide the same youth staff development […]

Rule No. 62: • Beware what a new acquaintance tells you he’s best at… This usually turns out to be his Achilles’ heel. Hi Andy, About that Scout who was kicked out of his troop for mouthing off… Our troop used to have some hard-and-fast rules about suspending Scouts who misbehave. Instead, I used some […]

Rule No. 60: • The extent of “politics” in any organization is inversely proportional to its ability to show results. MARLINSPIKE SKILLS A marlinspike is a tool used in rope-work, to unlay rope for splicing, untie knots, form a toggle, and more. It’s been the essential rope-working tool of sailors for centuries untold. Two absolute […]

Rule No. 59: • When your good work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt. Dear Andy, You noted, recently, that the new EAGLE SCOUT SERVICE PROJECT WORKBOOK allows for a project proposal to be presented as an overview, instead of (previously) a full-blown work plan, and commented that this was both a step in the right […]