****************************************************** “www.scoutstuff.org” news: Thirteen new and exciting Cub Scout Academics & Sports Program Belt Loops have arrived! These new Belt Loops focus on change and innovation, and feature topics that today’s Cub Scouts will enjoy exploring, including Skateboarding, Video Games, and Photography to mention a few. Read about the newest additions in the latest Academics […]

Hi Andy, Can a council demand letters of recommendation for an Eagle board of review? Our District Advancement Chair says that this demand can be made because the Council Advancement Chair has said that this is a council’s choice. Since there’s nothing on the application or worksheet to this effect, we have an Eagle candidate […]

Hey Andy, In reading your January 10th column “preamble,” it makes me start to wonder: Where’s the book! You ought to have more than enough material for at least one book about questions, observations, and experiences, and some thoughts on the more frequently recurring themes and issues that you’ve addressed over the years. I’ve been […]

Dear Andy, What’s the definition of “service” for the Star and Life service hours requirements? I’m told it’s service to others not normally done in the course of normal school or religious or other organizational (sports, for instance, being part of the baseball team repairing the diamond before spring practice) requirements. Is this correct, or […]

This is a landmark column: It’s the first in what’s now my tenth year of listening to you and writing for you. When in 2001 I first began these columns, I had little idea how fast and far they would grow—all by word-of-mouth! Now, in addition to receiving letters literally daily, many councils around the […]

Dear Andy, Whatever happened to the great index of your columns? It was very helpful when questions arose and I wanted to find out what you had to say on the subject. (Tricia Barber) Just like everything else on the usssp website, that index was done by a volunteer, and he, unfortunately, ran out of […]

They’re almost here… New merit badges for Boy Scouts, and new belt loops and pins for Cub Scouts! Check ‘em all out right here: www.scouting.org/ProSpeak/best_practices/2009_11_new_loops_pins.aspx And how about a new Cub Scout program! Yup, it’s on its way! Bob Scott, who’s on the BSA’s Innovation Team, tells us that “2010 will see the biggest change […]

Dear Andy, I’d like to encourage you to think more clearly about your comment, “…as they spend fretting about patches and where they go, Scouting would be a whole lot better! Ya think?” in your November 18th column. The BSA’s Insignia Guide shouldn’t be considered any less integral to the Scouting program than any other […]

Dear Andy, Shortly after my son returned home from his troop meeting last Tuesday night, he received a text message on his cell phone that called him terrible, profane names and saying for him to shut up, or better yet, just quit the troop, and then used another profanity. (Yes, my son saved the message, […]

One of my sharp-eyed readers picked up on an error I’d made a few columns back, that bears headlining here… Hey Andy, In your October 24th column, you mentioned that a Chaplain’s Aide doesn’t necessarily need to be working on his religious award. But this online resource, which I came across a few years ago, […]