________________________________________ Happy New Year Andy, As a regular reader, I’ve been able to serve as a more effective commissioner. I got a “paycheck” last night that I want to share with you. It was at an Eagle court of honor for a Scout that had needed help navigating around some adults. I used advice you’ve […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, I’m the Chartered Organization Representative and Committee Chair for our troop. I’m looking for the best way to communicate with the troop, the parents, and the troop committee. We have “Scoutlander” and it’s just not user-friendly. Some want “Scout Track,” but I don’t want advancement tracking because that’s done through our council […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, I just gotta know! When can we expect to see more of “A Winter Tale”? You’ve done a great job with the first two parts. They remind me a lot of the old fiction stories about Scouts from about the time of WWI. (Bob Elliott, Northern Star Council, MN-WI) Thanks for asking. […]

________________________________________ Here’s what a reader recently had to say about Eagle Scouts… Most last-minute Eagles think the rank will help them in the future, particularly getting into the military academies. These last-minute opportunists dilute the accomplishments of real Eagle Scouts. I remember hearing, at a troop meeting, “Who’s that guy?” Turns out he was the […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, In our district, registration fees for district events are paid by having checks made out to an individual. The claim for doing this is so that the district, by circumventing the council’s accounting system, can have direct and instant access to the funds. But one of the results of this process is […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, When I click on the bookmark I have for your columns, I ask myself, “How is he going to find a way to be unkind this week?” Yes, I know this isn’t a discussion forum and I’m not asking a question. Although your columns aren’t official BSA publications, you do, indeed, represent […]

________________________________________ Dear Andy, This isn’t a question; I just want to comment on that letter about the Scout who was denied his Eagle rank (he’d completed all requirements as stated) by a dubious board because of his supposed “lack of Scout spirit.” I nearly cried when I read that letter. What a horrible, horrible thing […]

________________________________________ Hi Andy, You do a great job with those merit badge worksheets! But while I was downloading the ones for Rifle Shooting I noticed that the last requirement changes were shown as 2002. This should be 2012. The requirements are correct, but the year isn’t. (Gary Balzarini, W.D. Boyce Council, IL) Thanks for your […]

________________________________________ CHICAGOLAND SUCCESS! The Chicago Area Council’s annual University of Scouting was tops! Broke past attendance records, great Scouters, and a fine group of Scouts to boot. Thanks to all, and especially Rich Carroll for inviting me! ========== Dear Andy, I have a Scout in the troop who’s being held back in advancement, or being […]

________________________________________ CHICAGOLAND ALERT! The Chicago Area Council’s annual University of Scouting is coming up on Saturday, November 15th. It’s going to be held at the Veterans Memorial Campus, 4248 West 47th Street, Chicago. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., and the program kicks off at 8 a.m. sharp! I’m honored to be the Keynote Speaker, and […]