Dear Andy, Our Troop Committee and our Scouts would like to nominate our Scoutmaster for the Scoutmaster Award of Merit. But we can’t because even though he meets all of the other requirements to be nominated, he’s not completed any training in Scoutmaster Fundamentals (or equivalent). As Committee Chair, I’ve tried for several years to […]

Hi Andy, I was a Boy Scout, and earned my Eagle a bunch of years ago. Now, my older son’s Boy Scout age, and joined a Troop this past Spring. But he’s not happy in the Troop. The Scoutmaster acts more like “the world’s oldest Patrol Leader” than anything else. There are no “real” Patrols […]

Last month, J.S., an Assistant District Commissioner in Richmond, VA, had a problem: “(Our) district has no clue as how to use commissioner service as it should be…Our District Executive and District Director (are) not happy with the performance of the DC, but they continue to let him bobble along. Our District’s two other ADC’s […]

Last month, my “Scout Trivia” Question was: A boy can become a Boy Scout 3 ways: Be age 11, finish 5th grade, or _________? Here’s the first correct answer…   Hi Andy: The answer to your “quiz” last month is: EARN THE ARROW OF LIGHT AWARD. Scott Hemgren, Assistant District Commissioner, Zimmerman, Princeton, Milaca, MN […]

Andy’s “Scout Trivia” Question: A boy can become a Boy Scout 3 ways: Be age 11, finish 5th grade, or _________? (Send your answer to me at askandybsa@yahoo.com and I’ll publish it next month!) Last month, we had a Safe Swim Defense/Safety Afloat Quiz. A sharp Scouter picked up on one of my points and […]

Andy’s “Scout Trivia” Question: So you think you’re pretty sharp, do you? Well here’s another “Scout Trivia” question: Before Philmont Scout Ranch was called Philmont, what was its name? (Send me your answer and I’ll publish it in June!)   WHAT’S YOUR “H20-Q”? It’s just about time for Scouts to start taking to the water […]

Hi Andy! This is J.C. from Montague again. I want you to know we were able to find and contact our Commissioner, and he met with our Pack Committee. He’s going to help us iron out our Cubmaster problem, and we’re all working together now. I don’t think we would have called the Commissioner if […]

Another month; a new set of good questions – About Packs and Troops, and Leaders and Scouts! Maybe one will prompt you to ask a question you had on your mind! Go ahead – shoot me an email, and you’ll get a personal answer in no more than 48 hours (you’ll probably see a slightly […]

Want to breathe some new life into an opening ceremony for a Blue & Gold meeting, Court of Honor, or other special occasion? Here’s something a fellow Commissioner sent to me about our American Flag and how and why it’s folded the way it is, that you can convert into a “voice-over”… WHY THE FLAG […]

Dear Andy, For Eagle Scouts, where can we get a list of people who write congratulatory letters? (M.J.K., SM, Garwood) You have any number of options here! Locally, be sure to contact Mr. John Lawson, of the Sons of the American Revolution, at jl07076@aol.com and he’ll prepare a special certificate and he’ll also check to […]