I love readers with sharp eyes! Read on\u2026<\/p>\n
Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I need to help you out a little with some information you gave a Cub Scouter in your November column. Charles asked you about the timing of when a Cub Scout begins to work on his next rank. You indicated that this occurs in September when he begins the new program year. Actually, it’s in May\/June, when he completes his school grade. I refer you to the BSA document, “The Cub Scout Cycle” (No.13-027A). This document is included in every year’s edition of Program Helps<\/span>, and in the Cub Scout Leader Book<\/span>. So, a Tiger finishing first grade begins working on Wolf requirements in June of that year, and has the whole summer to be a Wolf Cub Scout. You\u2019ll find that BSA Cub Camps treat boys who have completed a grade as advancing to the next level for purposes of grouping, etc. You\u2019ll also find that, for purposes of record- keeping, ScoutNet advances a Cub to the next level on June 1 of every year. And just to add insult to injury \ud83d\ude09 , I’m afraid you’ve really dated yourself by referring to the Bobcat “pin”\u2014The Bobcat award changed from being a pin to a cloth badge in 1972. That\u2019s more than 30 years ago! Hope this helps you (and Charles). Thanks for your column. I make a point of reading it regularly and I\u2019ve learned a lot from you. (Jamie Dunn, Pack Trainer, Viking Council, MN)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I love your column and read it every month. Usually I’d say you\u2019re right on the money. Just a couple of clarification points about your response this time regarding Cub rank advancements\u2026<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n About those belt loops and pins, you said, “Of course, they can work on Sports or Academics belt loops at any time (the requirements change by age-group, you’ll notice), and these can be fun Den activities.” Please note the requirements for the loops and pins do not<\/span> change by age group; they\u2019re the same for every rank. Of course, Webelos Scouts may fulfill those requirements in more sophisticated ways than Tiger Cub-aged boys, but the requirements themselves don\u2019t change.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n You mention that Cubs graduate to the next rank upon completing the appropriate school year and that they may then begin work on the next rank come September. I’d agree with the first part (they have to finish the school year before starting the next rank) but I’ve seen a different interpretation of the second part (waiting until September). In my area, most Packs allow the boys to begin working on the next rank immediately on the end of the current school year. They count summer activities like day camp or resident camp toward the “new” rank. The way I read the handbooks, I don’t see any problem with this\u2014would you agree? Keep up the good work, Andy, I’m looking forward to the next column already. (Lisa L., Great Sauk Trail Council)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Both Jamie and Lisa are absolutely right! The Cub Scouting ranks effectively change with the end of the current school year’s grade, and work toward the next rank can begin then. However, some Packs (not theirs, and this is good news!) go “dark” in the summer and so September is often the actual start toward the next rank. Also, some Packs do still use the Bobcat pins (No.00041), even though they\u2019re technically for parents to wear, as an \u201cimmediate recognition\u201d item that can be pinned on at the Pack ceremony (the cloth badges get sewn on later), and so that’s the word I used (Yup, I did date myself. When I earned my Bobcat pin, Cub Scouting was only a few decades old; not 75!) As for belt loop requirements, yes, these can be completed \u201cin more sophisticated ways\u201d as the boy ages, and I like how Lisa put it\u2014Better than the way I did!<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong> I’ve been reading your column for two years and enjoy it immensely. You’re doing a great job of expanding the knowledge that all of us Scouters can use. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! Now, here\u2019s my question: An Assistant Scoutmaster from a nearby troop contacted me this week with a concern about too much parent involvement in their program. They have several Scouts in the Troop with learning issues, and they believe the parents are doing more of the work on merit badges and rank advancements than the Scouts. Worse, this kind of parent \u201cinvolvement\u201d is starting to spill over to other parents whose sons don\u2019t<\/span> have learning challenges! The Troop Committee would like to address the issue, and is looking for some advice before proceeding. Whaddya think, Andy? (Kortney Jendro, DC, Crow River District, Viking Council, Minneapolis, MN)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n The BSA, of course, provides for the development of alternative rank requirements in the event that a Scout has a \u201cpermanent physical or mental disability,\u201d and this can certainly include learning disabilities if confirmed by a physician. A Troop\u2019s leaders and parents may refer to the book, BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENTS<\/span> (any edition) for a further description of the process to be followed in this situation.<\/p>\n However, nowhere does the BSA state, suggest, or imply that a parent may take an active, hands-on role in completing a Scout\u2019s rank or merit badge requirements for<\/em> him. This would be tantamount to undermining the purpose, methods, and aims of the Scouting advancement program.<\/p>\n That said, I\u2019m truly wondering about the veracity of the tale you were told. Let\u2019s first let\u2019s review the four steps to advancement: The Scout learns<\/span>, a Scout is tested<\/span>, the Scout is reviewed<\/span>, the Scout is recognized<\/span>. The Scout learns often by being coached, taught, or mentored by another. This can be a member of his Patrol or other Scout in the Troop, his Scoutmaster or an ASM, a Troop Committee member with knowledge of the skill, or even a parent. Yes, a parent, and there\u2019s absolutely nothing wrong with a parent teaching a Scout son how to do something. However, when it comes to the second step\u2014the Scout is tested\u2014one would rightly assume that this is done by a member of the Troop (adult or youth) and so at this point there\u2019s no way a parent can \u201cdo\u201d a requirement for a Scout. Same with merit badges\u2026It would be the very unusual merit badge counselor who would accept the work of someone other than the Scout himself!<\/p>\n Now, on the outside chance that a parent is actually signing off on requirements in the Scout\u2019s HANDBOOK<\/span>, it simply needs to be pointed out to the Scout and his parent that the initial blocks on pages 438 through 449 specifically stipulate a leader\u2019s<\/span> initials; not a parent\u2019s.<\/p>\n Taking it one step further, if some parent-dominated requirement should somehow slip through the cracks, even in the HANDBOOK<\/span>, this is what the Scoutmaster\u2019s Conference and the Board of Review are for. These are the places when untoward requirement completions can be identified and rectified, and these should be used this way in the face of the problem described. Just remember that a Scout never \u201cfails\u201d a conference or review; instead, the meeting is simply tabled until proper completion of all requirements has occurred.<\/p>\n So here\u2019s my final thought: If there really is a problem, are we dealing with a \u201cparent problem\u201d here, or are we really dealing with a Troop that doesn\u2019t know or carry out the four steps of advancement?<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I’ve been searching to find out how to go about getting a checking account for our district\u2019s training committee (or any committee) and want to know what the regulations would be for that. Any help would be great. (Gwen Fontenot, District Activities Chair, Tunica District, Istrouma Council, Baton Rouge, LA)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This question\u2019s a good one, and it\u2019s best directed to your own District Executive, who will in turn consult with your council\u2019s chief financial officer. In most councils, their accounting system can accommodate what you need. They\u2019ll create a chart of accounts number for your committee. Then, all checks written to the committee will have that number on the check\u2019s \u201cmemo\u201d line, even though the payee might be \u201cXXX Council-BSA.\u201d This gets the incoming funds in the right bucket. Then, when a payment needs to be made, you simply ask the person who cuts checks to do so. This is the cleanest way to do this, and avoids any possibility of rumors about \u201csecret district funds.\u201d<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019ve been a Unit Commissioner and ADC for a number of years. Of late, I\u2019m running dry with motivating folks to join the Commissioner ranks. In fact, my District is having this problem overall. In the recruiting effort, I’ve heard probably every excuse that can be made as to why folks can\u2019t commit. It appears that formerly active volunteers at the unit level just don\u2019t want to get involved anymore. To be an effective Commissioner, one must have a passion for Scouting, and these kinds of folks are rare to find right now. What are your secrets, or those you hear from, on how to attract new blood into the Commissioner corps? This is an issue I\u2019m seeing as a harder and harder one to conquer as time rolls on, and your advice would be most welcome. Cheers, P. F.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cJust like children often have godparents, folks who are there for them in difficult situations or just to let them know that somebody really cares about them, Scouting units need godparents, too. You\u2019ve been involved with this unit for quite some time, and know the volunteers there pretty well. Heck, you\u2019re all \u2018Scouting friends\u2019! I\u2019d like you to think about the idea of you being their godparent, even though you don\u2019t have a son in the unit anymore, folks there respect you, and you could do them a really important service as their godparent. Can we talk some more about this idea, let\u2019s say, next week?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cHowja like to be a COMMISSIONER!\u201d<\/em> Doesn\u2019t work. In-your-face, hard-sell, arm-twisting, \u201ctime for payback,\u201d and stuff like that has never worked. Turns \u2018em off and scares \u2018em away, in fact!<\/p>\n District-level volunteers all<\/em> have some Scouting experience. A passion<\/em> for Scouting<\/em>? Maybe a few, but don\u2019t hold your breath. Ahhh, but a passion for helping<\/em>\u2014That\u2019s a different story! They all have some amount of motivation to help others, or they\u2019d never have signed on at the unit level in the first place. The key is to give these good folks a way to redirect their energies and efforts, and the District is the place!<\/p>\n Your present Commissioner staff needs to work closely with your District Chair and Vice-Chair for Nominations, because not everyone\u2019s cut out for unit service and some may find a good fit for themselves chairing or being a member of a district\u2019s committee, such as camping or activities or training or revenue development. But you can always start with unit service as the door-opener, and just keep the conversation going if that\u2019s not a good fit.<\/p>\n \u201cBeing this unit\u2019s godfather gives you great schedule flexibility. You visit with them twice a month\u2014one unit meeting and one committee meeting\u2014but you don\u2019t necessarily stay for the entire meeting. And you also come to a district service team meeting and your district\u2019s roundtable once a month. That\u2019s it. No weekends, no meetings longer than 90 minutes, and no meetings in the summer. If your schedule means you have to miss a meeting or two, no harm-no foul. This is the most schedule- and family-friendly job in Scouting. And, there\u2019s a good training program that goes along with it, to take the mystery out of it. If you like what I\u2019m saying, our service team is meeting next XXX night, so how about coming along and meeting some of the other folks who are enjoying this? By the way, do you have a uniform\u2026?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s it. You\u2019ve presented the opportunity (You can tell \u2018em the \u201ctitle\u201d later). If they don\u2019t bite, ask them what they do like doing in Scouting and ask: \u201cIf there were a volunteer job available that allowed you to do more of that, would you be interested?\u201d <\/em>The answer should be affirmative. So then you introduce them to the VC-Nominations! That\u2019s it. Job done. Move on.<\/p>\n Now before somebody starts shouting about how you can\u2019t be a Commissioner for the unit you came out of, because you\u2019re going to \u201cshow favoritism\u201d or some other nonsense like that, let me tell you right now that you absolutely want your Commissioners to be advocates of and champions for the units the directly serve, or else there\u2019s no point to the whole Commissioner concept. Period.<\/p>\n Finally, whether for Commissioner staff or the District Committee itself, stay away from anyone who currently<\/span> holds the position of Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, Den Leader (any level), Coach, Advisor, or Skipper.<\/p>\n Go it? Now go get \u2018em! Use a net filled with honey; not a barbed hook!<\/p>\n NetCommish Note:<\/strong> We have just the thing for you! Please have a look at http:\/\/www.netcommish.com\/m3.asp<\/a> where you’ll find a training segment on recruiting new commissioners. The steps we have outlined are based on experience across many Councils and work!<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Has a video been made for purchase of the 2005 National Jamboree? (Sandy Hill, Old North State Council, Summerfield, NC)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n When the Jamboree videos (maybe DVDs this year?) are ready, they’re usually advertised in SCOUTING<\/span><\/em> Magazine. Keep an eye out!<\/p>\n NetCommish Note:<\/strong> While you are waiting for the official videos to go on sale, there is a Jambo video clip available online at some of the Council Contingent websites. For example, at http:\/\/www.twinvalleybsa.org\/jamboree\/video\/video.htm<\/a> you’ll find a great five minute video that can be used to share the sizzle of a National Jamboree. You can also go to http:\/\/www.bsajamboree.org\/<\/a> and click on Multimedia to see official video highlights from the 2005 National Jamboree.<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n As a Roundtable Commissioner, I get asked same strange question, but there was one that I really didn’t know how to answer. We were talking about Cub Scouting\u2019s 75th Anniversary, and someone asked about the history behind the red vest that Cub Scouts wear. Can you help on this one? (T.J. Shuff, CSRTC, Goose Creek District, National Capital Area Council, VA)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n NetCommish Note:<\/strong> Very early in Scouting, Scouts started the custom of sewing patches onto their favorite camping blanket as a way of showing all the events that they had attended. In these days most Scouts rolled up a blanket as part of their camping kit and used it for sleeping or draped around their shoulders on a cool evening around the campfire. This was way before sleeping bags were widely used. Such a blanket might also hang a wall in a boy’s room and be a trophy blanket for friends to see. With the advent of sleeping bags this practice fell out of favor, though you’ll still find a Scout or Scouter here and there with a patch blanket. By the 1950’s and 1960’s Scouts started sewing patches on the traditional red jacket, but the jacket was expensive and not every Scout could obtain one. And boys soon grew out of them. Some Scouts in local areas experimented with a red vest of the same color. The idea spread and was especially attractive to younger Scouts in the Cub Scout Program. Eventually, BSA picked up on the idea and made it official for Scouting. Since the 1960’s the Red Vest have been a popular feature of Scouting.<\/p>\n Dear Andy,<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n I\u2019m a single dad looking to save money by sewing a red patch vest for my Webelos Scout son. Any idea where I can get a pattern? (Jackson Mason, Seattle, WA)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n A single Dad taking the time for Scouting with your son? My hat’s off to you! Those vests cost about $12, and that\u2019s probably a little pricey for a couple of pieces of felt, in my book, too. But…if other Webelos Scouts in your son’s Den are wearing them, then you’ll need to be sensitive to your son’s feelings (maybe more than your wallet). Start by borrowing another boy’s vest, and make the pattern directly from that. But don’t return the vest yet. Go to a fabric store and see if you can find exactly the same kind of material\u2014not only color, but weight and “hand-feel,” If you find it, buy what you need and you’re almost done. But, if you can’t find a perfect or near-perfect match, don’t buy the material; buy the BSA vest instead, even if it hurts the wallet a little bit. I’m saying this because boys of your son’s age are darned observant and pretty sensitive. “My Dad made it” may not be as important to your son as fitting in with the other Scouts in his Den. Take this into account as you investigate and make your decision.<\/p>\n NetCommish Note:<\/strong> Don’t forget to look on eBay for “experienced” patch vests in new condition. Right now there is a large youth patch vest with a current bid of $1.99 (11\/21\/2005-2333 EST). Red vests are frequently available with prices ranging from $2 to $10. <\/span><\/p>\n Keep on keepin’ on!<\/p>\nAndy<\/h3>\n