Hi Andy, Maybe it’s not exactly a Scouting question, but do you happen to know the origin behind the custom of saying “to” (or “too” or “two”) after saluting for the Pledge of Allegiance, or the Scout sign for the Scout Oath and Law? This is the signal to put your hand back down at […]

Hi Andy, Following up on your “Laws,” try this: Never wrestle with a pig; you both get dirty and the pig seems to like it. (Robert Schleich, SM, Occoneechee Council, NC) Yup, been there!   Lots of letters about Afghanistan Scouting! Here are two. Do feel free to follow up directly, on your own – […]

In no particular order… Commissioners are responsible for everything and have authority over nothing. The fastest way to create uncertainty about such Scouting fundamentals as The Patrol Method is to explain them in no uncertain terms. Left to themselves, Scouters will spend more time debating which way a “square knot” should face than how to […]

These are young people of Afghanistan, learning the Scout Oath and Law for the very first time. The American volunteers making this happen are all military or military contractor employees, and this is what they do with their “free time”! Captain Glenn Battschinger writes from Jalalabad, Afghanistan: Here’s our weekend project. These boys, age 10-17, […]

Hi Andy, Oh knower of all things Scouting, I’m looking for a bolo for Unit Commissioners to wear. (Paul Markoff) I’m guessing you’ve already checked www.Scoutstuff.org and found that there are some “general purpose” bolos for both the Cub Scout and Boy Scout program, plus Eagles and so on, and that you’ve also been to […]

Dear Andy, If someone attended the 2010 National Scout Jamboree and bought an on-site Jamboree patch, are they allowed to wear it on their uniform shirt? (Tim Black, ADC, Middle Tennessee Council) Do we agree that “attending” and “participating” are two different activities? OK, then since Jamboree participant and staff patches and Jamboree patches bought […]

Dear Andy, As a Commissioner, I work with new unit leadership as they begin to pick up the reins. No unit’s perfect and, as you know, there are varying degrees and types of dysfunction from one to the next. New Committee Chairs often want to make positive changes in the units they’ve volunteered to serve; […]

Hey Andy, About a year ago, I wrote to you about a pack that didn’t follow BSA rules in many areas, and your advice was “Get out…transfer now!” At the time, I convinced myself that, if I stayed, I could effect some change and get them to follow BSA guidelines on how a unit’s supposed […]

There’s no question but that these columns have sharp-eyed readers! Here’s a sampling… Dear Andy, In your June 12, 2010 column, you mentioned a Scout needing to change to the newest requirements for Camping merit badge instead of completing it using the requirements he’d started with. I think you’re just a bit off the mark […]

Hi Andy, I’m acting as a temporary Den Leader for my son’s Tiger Cub den. I didn’t realize until I found this website that there’s a new Video Game belt loop being offered for Cub Scouts. I’m an Eagle Scout, and I didn’t earn that rank by sitting on my butt playing Pac-Man and Donkey […]