{"id":2578,"date":"2020-03-04T10:56:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-04T15:56:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=2578"},"modified":"2020-03-04T10:56:56","modified_gmt":"2020-03-04T15:56:56","slug":"issue-631-march-3-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2020\/03\/issue-631-march-3-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 631 \u2013 March 3, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

________________________________________
\nSeveral readers had good points to make about some of the issues that have recently come up. Here they are, and they\u2019re worth a read!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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

Great answer on that troop discipline issue! I’d add that there\u2019s no such thing as a “troop discipline committee” \u2013 that’s ultimately the job of the Scoutmaster. And we sure don’t need additional policies or rules, as you point out. The only “best practices” we need are the Scout Oath and Law. (Frank Maynard, UC, Mighty Ottawa District, GLFSC, \u201cI used to be a Bobwhite\u201d)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

About that soon-to-be Scout with food allergies, the parent’s should start by informing the troop\u2019s adult leaders, as a start. (There\u2019s even a software package where they can list the allergies all Scouts have, for all to see. Also, the Scout herself has some skin in this, too. She needs to speak up for herself. This is a \u201clife skill\u201d\u2014so she might as well learn it right now! Plus, since the patrols are supposed to be creating their own meal plans for campouts, this is where the Scout jumps in and participates (not mom and dad). (Lee Murray, Sierra Nevada District Committee, NV)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

I read your column regarding a Scout with a gluten allergy, but I thought your answer may have missed one important point. In addition to the Scout\u2019s parents being involved, the Scout herself needs to make sure her patrol knows of her allergies. While gluten allergies pretty much eliminates many things Scouts enjoy (bread, regular pasta, and so on), maybe this Scout can ask her patrol if a gluten free meal can be made\u2014or, better yet, show them how to do it! (Joe Sefcik, CT)<\/strong>
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a Unit Commissioner, I find all of your columns extremely insightful. They\u2019ve been helpful guides to me through the years. Going back a bit, your \u201cIssue 226\u201d in 2010 titled \u201cAndy\u2019s Laws\u201d happens to be one of my favorites. At one time or another within my Scouting journey, I\u2019ve discovered this exhaustive list of adages you complied to be very accurate. But one of them has always puzzled me: “When all else fails, RTBH.” Would you mind explaining this one in particular? (Troy Wingard, Tecumseh\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Back in 2010, I fairly regularly used the expression, “Read The Bloody Handbook!” which became \u201cRTBH.\u201d I’ve since changed that to “RTFM”\u2014as in \u201cRead The Friendly Manual\u201d Thanks for asking!
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

A question has recently come up in our pack about which adults should and shouldn\u2019t be wearing uniforms. There\u2019s one opinion that only the Cubmaster, Committee Chair, Den Leaders, and designated assistants should be uniformed. The other opinion is that all registered adults, regardless of position, are entitled to be uniformed and set an example. We\u2019ve had trouble finding hard documentation either way, so I\u2019m hoping you can help point at something definitive. Thanks! (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Happily, I can definitely help you, and the good news is that it\u2019s pretty simple. But first, I\u2019ll agree that it\u2019s not easy to find a statement in BSA literature about this. So what to do? Start by going to the BSA\u2019s GUIDE TO AWARDS AND INSIGNIA (yes, it\u2019s online\u2014you don\u2019t have to buy the book). Now look under the section on Cub Scouts. Scroll down and you\u2019ll find that there are badges for Pack Committee Chair, and Pack Committee members. We already know that Cubmasters, Assistant Cubmasters, Den Leaders and their assistants definitely want to be in uniform. Now we know that every adult volunteer registered with your pack is entitled to wear a uniform too, because if that weren\u2019t son, there wouldn\u2019t be a position badge to wear! So it’s only a question of whether they\u2019d like to, or not, and I certainly agree that this sets a fine example for your Cubs and their parents!
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

My son wants to earn the Scuba merit badge. My whole family dives, so I checked with my council. But they couldn\u2019t answer an important question. The requirements specify a \u201cBSA recognized agency\u201d but doesn\u2019t specify what agencies these are. My local dive shop does both PADI and NAUI, and this is where my son is getting certified to dive. But I\u2019d like to work a merit badge into the lessons as well. Can this be done? (Troy Madden, ASM, Mobile Area Council, AL)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Good news! The BSA\u2019s SCUBA policies can be found in the GUIDE TO SAFE SCOUTING and also in the BOY SCOUT REQUIREMENTS book. In the second book, I found this statement on page 287: “The counselor for Scuba BSA must hold an instructor rating and be in current teaching status with PADI, NAUI, SSI, or another member of the RSTC…” So, for the merit badge, without doing further research (I’ll leave this to you) it looks like an instructor from any of these organizations might be able to provide a letter or other document describing the requirements of this merit badge and, for each requirement, state that your son successfully completed what the requirement states. That said, it would be even better if the instructor was willing to register with your council as a merit badge counselor for Scuba. (It\u2019s just a bit of paperwork and there\u2019s no BSA membership fee for this, ever.)
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our troop here in Wasilla, Alaska is doing just great. In fact, I think we\u2019re now up two dozen more Scouts already this year. Here\u2019s a video we\u2019ve put together, just to give folks an idea of what Scouting in Alaska is like. I hope you enjoy it! (Bill Casler)<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/johndee.smugmug.com\/T300-MOVIE-SECOND-TO-NONE\/n-PQnt4K\/<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s one fabulous example of Scouting at its absolute best! Thanks! And, for my readers, go take a look and enjoy the ride!<\/p>\n

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

Andy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/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

Although these columns are copyrighted, any reader has my permission to quote or reproduce any columns or column parts so long as you attribute authorship: \u201cAsk Andy\u201d by Andy McCommish.<\/strong><\/p>\n

[No. 631 \u2013 3\/3\/2020 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2020]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

________________________________________ Several readers had good points to make about some of the issues that have recently come up. Here they are, and they\u2019re worth a read! Hi Andy, Great answer on that troop discipline issue! I’d add that there\u2019s no such thing as a “troop discipline committee” \u2013 that’s ultimately the job of the Scoutmaster. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578","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=2578"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2578\/revisions\/2581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}