{"id":1859,"date":"2015-07-08T21:35:10","date_gmt":"2015-07-09T01:35:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=1859"},"modified":"2015-07-08T21:35:10","modified_gmt":"2015-07-09T01:35:10","slug":"issue-446-july-8-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2015\/07\/issue-446-july-8-2015\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 446 \u2013 July 8, 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

________________________________________
\nFast upon us is the Scout summer camp season. I\u2019m already contemplating August-September and the phone calls that will begin then. You see, I\u2019m a Merit Badge Counselor for five in the aquatic group. \u201cIt rained the day of my final swim test, and they canceled it.\u201d \u201cI flipped my canoe when I wasn\u2019t supposed to, and was \u201cdocked\u201d for the remainder of the week.\u201d \u201cI \u2018failed\u2019 the \u2018break-the-hold\u2019 requirement for Lifesaving and was flunked with no chance to try it again.\u201d \u201cIt was the Counselor\u2019s day off and he didn\u2019t hold a final class.\u201d \u201cThe staff high-tailed it out of camp on the last day and, in the confusion, didn\u2019t give me my signed blue card.\u201d \u201cAll the rowboats were being used and I couldn\u2019t get a boat to demonstrate I knew my strokes.\u201d \u201cMy buddy and I put out sailboat \u2018pointy side down\u201d one too many times and we were kicked out of the class.\u201d And so the calls come in, year after year.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m happy to help these Scouts, and by the time they and I are done, everything they needed to finish up the badges we\u2019ll have accomplished\u2014we just work together till they succeed!<\/strong><\/p>\n

But what a pity these camps and\u2014more important\u2014their staffs can\u2019t find ways to fix or avert these simple, largely predictable, contingencies (and simultaneously get rid of those baloney-stuffed reasons for thinning the herd as the week progresses!).<\/strong><\/p>\n

So Scoutmasters, while you certainly deserve a few hours of playing hearts, pinochle, or cribbage, and enjoying \u201ccracker-barrel\u201d conversations, make time to bird-dog your Scouts. Check on their progress during their week at camp. And be sure to get to know the staffs at the various venues your Scouts will be devoting their time to. The object is for your Scouts to return home with completed merit badge blue cards that Scout summer camps are perfect for. Take it from a guy who\u2019s been doing this for well over two decades: There are simply far too many \u201cpartials\u201d showing up back home in that annual August-September \u201cwindow.\u201d<\/strong>
\n________________________________________
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I read a column of yours a while back about Eagle courts of honor. Our troop definitely expects the parents to plan the Eagle court of honor (we did have one integrated into a troop court of honor this past year), but having them as a part of our regular courts of honor would likely boost attendance. But here\u2019s a wrinkle. If you\u2019re an Eagle Scout when you receive confirmation from the BSA National Office, why do so many of the scripts I find online call the new Eagle Scout a “candidate” until the part in the ceremony where he receives the Eagle Scout Badge? (Rick Hautekeete, ASM, Cimarron Council, OK)<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have a truly Scout-run troop, would you consider leaving it to the Scouts themselves to plan and run courts of honor? Let’s face it, we all\u2014youth or adult, in any volunteer organization\u2014are more likely to show up when we’ve made a personal investment in the success of the event, if for no other reason than “pride of ownership.”<\/p>\n

Actually, you’re an Eagle Scout the moment your board of review is concluded; the BSA National Office essentially confirms that all the paperwork is complete and correct. And, if you think about it, you were really never a “candidate”\u2014you were a Life Scout. (Heck, we don’t call, for instance, Second Class Scouts “First Class candidates,” so why all of a sudden do Life Scouts become “candidates” instead of just what they are: Life Scouts.)<\/p>\n

So to your question. I believe the reason is as simple as this: Originally faulty thinking perpetuated because\u2014unlike you\u2014nobody ever stepped back and asked, “Why?” Instead, folks seem to believe that the Scout isn’t an Eagle till that medal’s pinned on. (I cringe every time I see a Scout, at a court of honor, photographed wearing his Eagle medal over his Life badge! For goodness sakes, give that Scout his oval embroidered cloth Eagle Scout badge as fast as you’re able, and let him know he can and should sew it on immediately!)
\n==========
\nHello Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m an 18 year old Eagle Scout, now registered as College Scouter Reserve. As a younger Scouter, I\u2019m wondering if tank tops are allowed for adults. I\u2019ve gotten some grief about this, as tank tops not being appropriate. By no means are my tank tops inappropriate; they\u2019re normal tanks you’d buy from any normal store. Do any actual written rules forbid these? And, if so, what other clothing is prohibited for an adult Scouter? (Name Withheld, Baltimore Area Council, MD)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The simple answer is, of course, if you’re at a Scouting event, wear your uniform. As for “tank tops,” these are men’s garments that look a lot like the old (like, my father’s and grandfather’s) undershirts men used to wear all the time (but under their regular shirts), except these days they’re a little more loose-fitting and worn typically when exercising, competing in certain sports, weight-lifting, at the beach, and other similar activities. Are you talking about wearing a tank top somewhere else? Like as a substitute for a shirt (tee, V-neck tee, polo or golf shirt, or other collared) at an event where a shirt would normally be worn? I\u2019m not sure I fully understand your problem. If you\u2019re hiking and the weather\u2019s hot; no prob. But if you\u2019re at an event that\u2019s in the \u201csmart casual\u201d or even just casual category, you\u2019re probably making a mistake\u2026which you can figure out pretty quickly: If you\u2019re the only guy in the room wearing a tank top, you got it wrong, so go out to your car and put on the shirt you brought with you as \u201cinsurance.\u201d
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a new Scoutmaster and having been out of Scouting for several years, I\u2019m wondering\u2026do you have a suggestions or advice on electronic devices\u2014specifically cellphones\u2014on camp-outs? (Darrell Lamme)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for asking about suggestions and not “rules”!<\/p>\n

It used to be radios, then hand-held video games, then the Walkman, and those were sorta manageable. But cellphones? Especially smartphones? These aren’t gonna go away, unless parents spring for the new Apple Watch (which is likely to happen when Gen2 drops the price and adds even more features!). Anyway, they’re here to stay, just like Scout knives and such. So maybe we should embrace them. How? Ask your PLC to come up with ways to use cellphones as tools (instead of as\u2014or at least perceived by us old guys as\u2014distractions). Build adventures and games around them. Use their features when camping and hiking (like, they have a compass app, map apps, and lots more!). In short, don’t “fight” them, or you’ll lose; instead, consider the STEM concept and build their use into Scouts’ activities instead of trying to find ways to exclude them or get Scouts to leave \u2018em home (they won\u2019t, and, if they do, their parents are gonna scream \u201cunsafe!\u201d).
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been looking over the new Boy Scout requirement changes coming into effect January 2016. I noticed note that a Tenderfoot requirement updates 6a with a new exercise\u2014the \u201cmodified stretch and sit\u201d\u2014with a note to record the number done in 60 seconds. I\u2019m not familiar with a \u201cstretch and sit\u201d that\u2019s performed in such a way that you count the number, and I\u2019m not able to find an actual description of this exercise. Can you describe it, or point me to a place where I can learn about the how you count the movements? (I\u2019m used to measuring the distance of a stretch and sit; not the number of repetitions. Enlightenment, please! (Stan Stolpe)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Good news: The BSA Advancement Team has heard from enough folks about this one that they’re already working on it! Give ’em a chance to develop clearer language and I’m sure it’ll turn out okay!
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

You’ve mentioned regularly (and correctly, I\u2019m convinced) that Scouts should arrange for their parents to drive their patrols to hiking trailheads or campsites, rather than having committee members or some such do it. Can you point to anything in Scouting literature that says as much, specifically? I think that\u2019s the right approach, but not everyone may appreciate the wisdom of your advice. Thanks much. (Will Rodger)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wow! Wouldn’t it be great if there were a BSA “rule” for everything! That way, nobody would have to think through what makes sense\u2014they’d just have to do what the “rule book” says! Of course, I’m being more than a little sardonic here. And of course there’s no such rule.<\/p>\n

Instead, we have a little something called “The Patrol Method.” The Patrol Method is all about a patrol working together for themselves. Patrols can plan their own hike and campouts, if they like, and of course they go on troop hikes and campouts with the other patrols in the troop. And the Scouts in these patrols advance in rank when they fulfill certain requirements for ranks and merit badges, like planning meals for the patrol, and cooking for the patrol, and, of course, giving leadership to the patrol! In other words, it’s all about THE PATROL. The “troop” is simply the “umbrella” under which its patrols operate\u2014the patrol is, in fact, the core unit of Boy Scouting. There are patrol flags, and patrol yells, and patrol medallions on their right sleeves, and they elect their Patrol Leader, and the list goes on…<\/p>\n

So, if meals are planned by patrol, and cooking, cleaning, and other assignments are done by patrol, it’s a logical extension that transportation is arranged by patrol, too. Heck, why not? What parent wouldn’t want to make sure his or her son got to go on the trip by offering to help out with driving?<\/p>\n

This makes the most sense from another standpoint, too…This way, the parents get to know some of the Scouts in their own son’s patrol! (They\u2019re in the car, too!)<\/p>\n

Transportation by patrol makes sense in several other ways as well. A parent who’s agreed to drive is less likely to ditch the assignment at the last minute if it means their own son might not get to go on the trip. And Scouts themselves are more likely to show up when it’s their own parents doing the driving.<\/p>\n

So let’s skip the “rule book” and use a Scoutmaster’s good sense: The more the Scouts do for themselves (rather than us parents doing for them) the better and stronger they’re going to grow up! “Troop parent-driver pools” are a lot like training wheels on bikes. Bikes with training wheels teach kids one thing and one thing only: How to ride a bike with training wheels.<\/p>\n

Andy, that makes sense, all right. But you know how people can be In our troop, this is about the only thing the Scouts don\u2019t plan and do for themselves. BTW, good point you make about trailers. Our troop\u2019s never had one, never wanted one, never will. And we\u2019re not a tiny troop. (Will)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here’s the deal: When patrols are as self-sufficient as possible, including asking Dad and Mom for drives to the trailhead, how can that parents say no? This pretty much assures the patrol has its act together and everybody’s going. This peripherally helps eliminate to problem of just two Scouts from a six-Scout patrol showing up, and then getting arbitrarily scrunched with another short-member patrol for “convenience”\u2014which is indeed convenient…for everybody but the Scouts themselves!<\/p>\n

It also starts defining them as a self-contained unit that can go anywhere! There’s psychological power in this, and that patrol succeeds best\u2014almost always!<\/p>\n

If you’ve taken Scoutmaster-specific training (under any name, including the old “Scoutmastership”\u2014and I’m really dating myself here!), think about it: How was transportation arranged? By patrol, of course! You think this is an “accident”? Nope, it’s a teaching method that does so by simply making it happen that way instead of “lecturing” ad nauseum!<\/p>\n

Don’t just “try” this; simply DO it and stick to your guns. You’ll be amazed and delighted at how much bonding takes place between the parents, too–and there’s your future troop committee and helper-outers! Everyone wins with this simple segue!
\n==========
\nHey Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a past \u201cAndy\u201d column about paintball and pointing firearms (or simulated firearms) at people being not allowed, you mentioned that shooting at living things isn\u2019t authorized. However, Venturing crews are allowed to hunt, which says that animals are fair game (pardon the word-play). Can you do a little digging to find the source of the ruling on not pointing weapons and whether it was meant to apply to just people or to animals as well? (We have lots of buzz going on here what with the update on water guns. Question there too, if we called them \u201cwater sprayers\u201d and they didn’t look like a firearm, would that make them \u201cokay\u201d?) Thanks for all you do for the Scouting movement. (Bob Wilcox)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The GTSS (Guide To Safe Scouting) covers this, in various sections, pretty darned well, and with clarity. First, let’s remind ourselves that Venturing is a program distinctly different from Cub\/Boy Scouting in any number of ways; however, it’s NOT different when it comes to what I’ll call the “human-to-human” factor. Bottom line: We don’t shoot at, strike, or otherwise use humans as targets of any kind in the overall Scouting programs. Note, for instance, that most martial arts involving striking with hands or feet are specifically excluded as activities endorsed by the BSA. Note, also, that with regard to Cub\/Boy Scouts, shooting arrows, BBs, or .22 cartridges at anything other than “circle” or “bullseye” targets is strictly prohibited (e.g., no “silhouettes” of even animals, much less people!)<\/p>\n

So, whether it\u2019s a paintball gun or even a water pistol, WE DON’T SHOOT AT ONE ANOTHER! And to think that we can dodge this with a “well it’s just a hose” loophole is just that: It’s a dodge, in the realm of “just because we found a ‘legal’ loophole doesn’t mean what we’re doing is ethical\u2014and isn’t Scouting all about ethics?<\/p>\n

The other dodge I’ve seen is to declare an activity that involves shooting at one another a “non-troop” activity (which we know is 100% BS).<\/p>\n

Here’s the deal: You know in your heart what’s right, so just do what you already know is the right thing. It doesn’t take a legal genius to know that shooting or even throwing stuff at another person is flat-out wrong (and baseballs, footballs, and basketballs are thrown TO another person, not AT another person\u2014just to plug that loophole while we\u2019re at it).<\/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. 446 \u2013 7\/8\/2015 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2015]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

________________________________________ Fast upon us is the Scout summer camp season. I\u2019m already contemplating August-September and the phone calls that will begin then. You see, I\u2019m a Merit Badge Counselor for five in the aquatic group. \u201cIt rained the day of my final swim test, and they canceled it.\u201d \u201cI flipped my canoe when I wasn\u2019t […]<\/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-1859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-23"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1859","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=1859"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1862,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1859\/revisions\/1862"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}