{"id":1800,"date":"2015-02-17T01:08:36","date_gmt":"2015-02-17T06:08:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2015-02-17T01:08:36","modified_gmt":"2015-02-17T06:08:36","slug":"issue-433-february-17-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2015\/02\/issue-433-february-17-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 433 \u2013 February 17, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

________________________________________
\nIn my January 13th column (No. 431), in response to a reader\u2019s comment about \u201clard-butt Eagle Scouts,\u201d I responded, \u201cYup, pull-ups are still required for Personal Fitness merit badge.” I was right and wrong at the same time. Our USSSP resident expert on advancement requirements, Paul Wolf, mentioned to me that \u201cactually, that is no longer the case. The strength test procedure in the current merit badge pamphlet now calls for either push-ups or pull-ups.\u201d In effect, while both are \u201cencouraged,\u201d a Scout can qualify for the merit badge by \u201cimproving\u201d in just one of these two; improving in both is no longer required. (Just thought you oughta know\u2026)<\/strong><\/p>\n

====================================<\/p>\n

Howdy Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a recent post on Bryan Wendell’s Scouting blog about a Life Scout who\u2019s refusing to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. I’d appreciate hearing your own thoughts regarding this matter. (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019d say the several dozen comments Bryan received cover the topic pretty well. My own take on this touches several dimensions. Briefly, (1) how did this Scout get to Life rank with this sort of attitude, (2) does he not understand that by refusing to do the Pledge he’s repudiating the Scout Oath, and (3) where are his parents and Scoutmaster and what’s keeping them from having an illuminating conversation with this Scout about his responsibilities as a role model to his fellow Scouts? If push came to shove, I’d have to say this might signal the end of his advancement trail\u2014and maybe even his Scouting “career”\u2014unless he can achieve some positive attitude adjustment, for one fundamental reason: Why would someone want to be a member of an organization whose precepts are counter to one’s own?<\/p>\n

That said, my best guess as father of six is that this Scout is in his mid-teens and trying to individuate himself. So a little patience will probably go a long way. (Other Scouts, who all of a sudden have decided, for instance, that “there is no God,” have written to me over the past 13 years of authoring this column, and we’ve had some pretty intense conversations back and forth, with the end result that everything worked out okay for everybody once they learned that they can temporarily “rebel” without the world crashing down on them\u2026so long as they understand and appreciate what\u2019s really going on.)
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our district is in process of nominating and conducting elections for our district committee. So far, candidates for the nominating committee have been submitted to our council\u2019s President, and he approved them. The nominating committee is in the process of meeting to develop a slate of members-at-large, a District Committee Chair, and a Vice-Chair. We seem to have encountered differences of opinion as to what happens to the names of the nominees once they\u2019ve been developed and before they are presented to the voting members at the annual district meeting. One point of view is that the nominees\u2019 names should be presented to the Scout Executive and council President for their approval before they\u2019re presented to the district committee for election; the other is that this approval was basically given when the president approved the nominating committee. We\u2019ve watched the video, \u201cThe District Nominating Committee,\u201d and carefully listened to what it\u2019s saying, but we\u2019re not sure about what might not have been said. Can you help us with this? (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve just re-watched that video, and I must say it\u2019s excellent. It devotes 90%+ of its message to the quality of the people who serve as Nominating Committee Chair, nominating committee members, and\u2014ultimately\u2014the nominees selected and recruited by the nominating committee. As you heard in the video, the President of your council does approve the people who are identified as potential nominating committee members and the Chair. Parenthetically, although the Scout Executive isn’t directly involved in this process, it’s not unreasonable to assume that the S.E. will informally provide his or her own input to the President. Once the nominating committee identifies, selects, and recruits nominees to be elected at the district committee’s annual meeting, there’s no requirement or mandate that says these names must be further approved by anyone\u2014salaried or volunteer\u2014at the council level. Nonetheless, and although the video doesn’t state this, it seems to me that it would be an obvious courtesy\u2014in the spirit of “one team” cooperation and collaboration\u2014for the District Chair and Nominating Committee Chair to share these names with the S.E. and President; however, this would be informational in nature and not for the purposes of some sort of “final approval.”<\/p>\n

Okay, so that’s the procedure. Now, the real key to all this is how well you all attended to the 90% of the video that talks to the types and quality of people identified and recruited for the district committee, so that you all can keep the district moving forward\u2026maybe even taking it to a new and higher level than before!
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

The BSA certainly wants every registered adult in the unit to wear the official uniform, both to show a commitment to the Scouting program and to set a proper example for the youth. With this I have no issue and agree with completely. What I\u2019ve been searching for to no avail (yet) is something in writing on specifically which adults are expected to be in uniform, and if and where there are any exceptions to this? From what I\u2019ve been finding on the Internet, BSA publications, and so forth, is that Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters are uniformed for certain, since they have direct contact with the Scouts of their troops.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ambiguous area is those who serve on a troop\u2019s committee (and who, by way of their \u201cjob descriptions and responsibilities\u201d are really not \u201cdirect contact\u201d volunteers except in special situations [e.g., boards of review]). And then there\u2019s the CR\u2014the Chartered Organization Representative. The consensus in our troop is that although the CR and committee should own a uniform for suitable occasions, they\u2019re generally not required to wear one. (In our troop, however, we do require any adult sitting on a board of review do so in uniform, which also gives them somewhere to display their \u201csquare knots\u201d [if any] and position badges.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

And then we have Merit Badge Counselors, who, although duly registered with the BSA, but don\u2019t wear uniforms, even though they\u2019re \u201cdirect contact\u201d volunteers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, o great and wise one, is there a black-and-white answer to this apparent dilemma? (Jim Kangas, MC, Northern Star Council, MN)<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re spot-on that the adult volunteers in a troop who are expected to always wear full and accurate uniforms are the Scoutmaster and Assistant Scoutmasters, if any. Committee members can wear uniforms if they choose, but this is purely optional for them. Merit Badge Counselors, likewise, have no mandate to wear a uniform. CRs, although members at large of the council itself, also have that personal choice. That\u2019s about the sum and substance of it.<\/p>\n

Based on my own experience in several councils and districts, I\u2019d say simply: When you choose to wear a BSA uniform, do yourself and the Scouts your role-modeling for: Wear the COMPLETE uniform and leave your jeans and khakis at home, please.
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I have a couple of situations I need some help with\u2026 First, can I, as a Scoutmaster, conduct my own son’s Scoutmaster conference? Second, as much as I’d like to be present at an upcoming Eagle court of honor, because I\u2019ll be with my own son, who\u2019s heavily involved in sports, I\u2019ll be missing it and I\u2019d like to know if I should feel guilty about this or not. Lastly, at our last summer camp stay, there was some inappropriate behavior and language among the Scouts, one of whom is very close to his Scoutmaster conference and sign-off for Eagle, and I\u2019m really struggling with what to do with a Scout whose actions were counter to the idea of Scout spirit. Can you help me with any insights on these points? (John Benik)<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the first of your questions: Yes, you can conduct your own son’s Scoutmaster conference; however, it might be a fine courtesy and a great self-determination booster for Dad to ask his son what he\u2019d prefer.<\/p>\n

Regarding your possible absence at an Eagle court of honor, while Scouting is important in your life, your family including your son always comes first. Since there\u2019s no Hoyle’s Law that demands the Scoutmaster be present, select a capable Assistant Scoutmaster to carry out the appropriate duties, and write a personal letter to the new Eagle Scout, to be read aloud at the court of honor.<\/p>\n

As for “inappropriate behavior and language” while at summer camp, this should have been instantly dealt with, on-the-spot, by the adults there. Now, a whole bunch of months later, the water’s passed under the bridge. It’s done and over with. If the adults took no corrective action, well, time to move on. We’re here to support and guide young men; not hold “swords of Damocles” over their heads or “remind” them of past “transgressions.” So, unless this behavior is continuing, there\u2019s no reason to lose sleep over what happened months ago\u2026unless, of course, there was some sort of permanent emotional or physical damage as a result of the outburst (which would have immediately required to filing of an incident report to the Camp Director and Scout Executive). So, time to move on, because either the outburst was ultimately inconsequential or proper action by others wasn\u2019t taken.
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

As our troop\u2019s Committee Chair, it\u2019s been bought to my attention after every meeting for the past six months that we have two specific Scouts in our troop who are generally disrespectful to their Patrol Leader, our Senior Patrol Leader, and the adult leaders of the troop. In general, these two refuse to do what their Patrol Leader asks of them and, when spoken to about this become extremely belligerent and start fights. When expected to be quiet and listen to instructions, they start by acting silly and, when the SPL tries to calm them down, they start yelling at him.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve personally witnessed these behaviors several times. One of them will also use foul language to distraction but when removed from the meeting and told to call his mother to come take him home, he begins to cry and tell us that his mother won\u2019t come and get him. In fact, when this happened on a recent overnight camp-out, the Scoutmaster called this Scout\u2019s home and no one answered the phone.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Scouts of our troop are tired of and unhappy with these ongoing problem behaviors and the inability for anyone to curb them. When the Scoutmaster conferenced with these boys\u2019 parents, the immediate result was that their untoward behaviors accelerated. Now, they\u2019re telling their parents that they\u2019re \u201cbeing bullied\u201d by their fellow Scouts, even though by actual observation we have not seen so much as an iota of this allegation; it\u2019s pure fiction. In sum, these two have managed to effectively ruin just about every troop meeting for the past six months.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a teacher, I have seen this sort of behavior in school, but we have professional counselors and social workers to send such students to for guidance. Their parents haven\u2019t advised us of any learning disabilities or autistic or other challenges these two Scouts may be dealing with, so that\u2019s not an avenue we\u2019re able to pursue. So how can we assist or guide these Scouts to start making the right kinds of decisions about how to interact with their peers and troop adults?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Right now, our Scoutmaster is documenting all the aberrant incidents. Our concern is that, if we don’t suspend these two Scouts, we\u2019ll ultimately lose the other Scouts. What do you suggest? What is the BSA policy? Thanks! (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Waste no further time. The longer this persists the greater the danger to the Scouts as well as to the troop as a whole.<\/p>\n

You adult volunteers have the clear obligation to protect and defend the other Scouts of the troop who are becoming the victims of the boys with behavioral issues. You aren\u2019t professional therapists, counselors, or youth counselors; you\u2019re volunteers. As such, you have the right to state that these two boys can\u2019t be retained as troop members when you\u2019re unequipped to deal with their outbursts and other ongoing disruptive behaviors.<\/p>\n

For a situation such as you’ve described, the BSA is clear on the course of action to take. Refer to the SCOUTMASTER HANDBOOK, page 129 (this is a partial quote; the complete one is in the book): “A boy who continually disrupts meetings or whose actions endanger himself or others…should be sent home,” and “Discipline problems that might lead to a boy’s permanent removal from the troop should be handled by the Scoutmaster and the troop committee and should always involve the boy’s parents or guardian.”<\/p>\n

In short, when one or more boys habitually and belligerently harasses others and correspondingly refuses to cooperate with his Patrol Leader and other youth and adult leaders, for the safety of other Scouts in the troop they must be removed. This can be for a temporary period of time, with the understanding that each is welcome back into the troop when he is able to demonstrate that he can keep his emotions within due bounds. If, upon their eventual return, it is clear that they have corrected their attitudes and behaviors, they\u2019re welcome to continue in the Scouting program. If either remains unable to do this, then he must be removed permanently, so as to protect the other Scouts of the troop from verbal abuse and physical harm.
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Can a Life Scout start his Eagle project before he has the other requirements (including merit badges) completed? (Paul Peery)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Great question\u2014thanks for asking! A Life Scout can begin earnest work toward his project the very morning after his Life board of review! (There’s a general misconception “out there” that all merit badges, etc., have to be completed first, and that’s just what it is: a misconception!) Further, while as a Star or even First Class Scout he can certainly start thinking about what he might want to do, including having conversations with potential beneficiaries and reading the project workbook and instructions…but actual “roll up your sleeves” or “sharpen your pencil” (or polish your PC keyboard) doesn’t begin till he’s Life.<\/p>\n

Happy Scouting!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Andy<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Have a question? Facing a dilemma? Wondering where to find a BSA policy or guideline? Write to askandybsa@yahoo.com. Please include your name and council. (If you\u2019d prefer to be anonymous, if published, let me know and that\u2019s what we\u2019ll do.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

[No. 433 \u2013 2\/17\/2015 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2015]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

________________________________________ In my January 13th column (No. 431), in response to a reader\u2019s comment about \u201clard-butt Eagle Scouts,\u201d I responded, \u201cYup, pull-ups are still required for Personal Fitness merit badge.” I was right and wrong at the same time. Our USSSP resident expert on advancement requirements, Paul Wolf, mentioned to me that \u201cactually, that is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-23"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1800"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1816,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800\/revisions\/1816"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}