{"id":2637,"date":"2020-06-23T14:10:28","date_gmt":"2020-06-23T18:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=2637"},"modified":"2020-06-23T14:10:30","modified_gmt":"2020-06-23T18:10:30","slug":"issue-645-june-23-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2020\/06\/issue-645-june-23-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 645 \u2013 June 23, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

Last week, while your answer to John Walker about current camping protocols was correct, it was incomplete. The BSA has guidelines that have been specifically put out on how to count \u201cvirtual camping\u201d toward advancement, and also for Order of the Arrow camping requirements. As always, it\u2019s great to get your columns\u2014Thanks! (Carl Whitaker, UC, Heart of Virginia Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s always great to hear from you, and even better when I learn I didn’t mess up (too badly)! I mostly try to stick to the question asked, and spend as little time as possible blathering about larger implications, but your information is definitely important in this case, so thanks for taking the time to write!
\n==========
\nDear Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been teaching knot-tying (and untying!), lashings, etc. for a ton of years and that question a few weeks back about what\u2019s the \u201cstrongest\u201d knot is really sort of trick question. If we assume that \u201cstrongest\u201d means the knot that would weaken the rope the least, it\u2019s still a toughie. I\u2019m tempted to fall back on the safety of the knot, rated by its likelihood of being tied incorrectly.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The bowline is out both because it isn’t really for joining ropes and it\u2019s also easy to tie incorrectly. (The bowline has been known to come untied even when used by highly experienced climbers.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

So if I\u2019m going to be more concerned about the knot holding than the rope breaking, I\u2019m opting for a re-threaded figure eight with stoppers. Second place for me would be to skip the stoppers, and third place goes to the double fisherman’s knot.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But if I\u2019m more concerned about the rope not breaking at the knot, then I\u2019d go with a simple overhand, because it involves the least change in rope direction and thus likely the least wearing knot. (Kirk Wood)<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s a lot to think about\u2026 Thanks for tasking the time to figure it through and then write!
\n==========
\nHi Andy,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Here in the midst of Covid-19 shut-downs, sheltering, and distancing, the BSA has offered both Scouts and Scouters ways to manage advancement and keep it moving forward safely. Our own and other neighboring troops in our district are managing pretty well. Our Scouts continue to advance in rank and earn merit badges, but once they\u2019re Life rank, they\u2019re very likely to hit a stone wall.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The \u201cstone wall\u201d is the district advancement committee member who has the assignment of reviewing service projects for Eagle Scout rank.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This guy is a long-time Scouter and I\u2019ll mention right now that he\u2019s retired and he has a home computer, internet access, and an email account. Here\u2019s why those last four items are important\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

For Eagle project proposals, to begin with, this guy refuses to accept anything emailed to him and\u2014now in this Covid situation\u2014he refuses to meet in-person.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For proposals, he insists that Scouts mail him a paper document, which he will then review, add his commentary, and mail back to the Scout. This can take at least several weeks; meanwhile, the Scout is simply stuck cooling his heels. If a Scout were to phone him to find out when he might get around to that Scout\u2019s proposal, he rudely admonishes the Scout for \u201cannoying\u201d him by calling (\u201cI\u2019m a busy man, and you\u2019re interrupting me,\u201d is a frequent chastisement, so our Scouts tell me).<\/strong><\/p>\n

On top of all this, this guy refuses to meet face-to-face with any Scout\u2014even when the Scout asserts that he\u2019ll be wearing a face mask. And he won\u2019t \u201cmeet virtually\u201d either, even though Zoom, Skype, and so on are easily available.<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of our Scouts\u2014let\u2019s call him \u201cScotty\u201d\u2014has followed this guy\u2019s \u201crules\u201d to the letter. After waiting well over a month, he finally received his project proposal back. It wasn\u2019t approved (even though, of course, all other signatures\u2014mine, our committee chair, and the beneficiary\u2014were already in place).<\/strong><\/p>\n

There are no problems with Scotty\u2019s concept, work-steps, anticipated end-result, or anything else\u2026except: This guy won\u2019t approve it until Scotty rewrites it so that it includes explanations of how \u201csocial distancing,\u201d \u201cmaximum group size,\u201d and all other Covid-dictated requirements will be carried out for each and every step of his project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So not only must Scotty rewrite his proposal but he also must obtain all three preliminary signature approvals a second time, and then mail it to this guy and wait for several or more weeks till he gets around to it again.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We talked about this among ourselves\u2014troop committee and I\u2014and we reached out to the beneficiary, our sponsor\u2019s pastor. We all feel strongly that this rewrite isn\u2019t necessary because the proposal describes the work to be done and by whom, and there\u2019s nothing that says that a Scout must include how his helpers will do it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For instance, the proposal says that three walls will be painted by the helpers. To us, this seems sufficient. But this DAC guy wants Scotty to include how the paint will be distributed safely, the distance between all painters, facemasks including who will provide them and when they will be worn, transportation safety, and so on, for all steps and tasks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On top of this, the DAC guy wants Scotty to mail him both the original and the revised proposals, so that he can compare and contrast them to assure that all needed revisions have been made.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our position is that adaptations required by social distancing would make far better sense (to say nothing of efficiency) as part of the post-project report, where the Scout can describe how he modified his plan to fit changing circumstances. Moreover, we feel this up-front demand is effectively \u201cadding to requirements\u201d\u2014a huge BSA prohibition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019ve thought of approaching this guy ourselves, but our Scouts tell us that this guy regularly gives off the vibe of being really teed off that he has to \u201cmake accommodations\u201d for our current Covid circumstances, and makes it plain that it\u2019s the Scouts\u2019 job to make up for this problem, so that he\u2019s \u201cless annoyed.\u201d This makes us hesitant to proceed along this path, because it might create a nasty backwash against other Scouts seeking service project approval.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If you have any thoughts on where to go with this, we\u2019d appreciate any and all ideas. (Concerned Scoutmaster & Committee\u2014Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks for writing to me. Yup, definitely a mess. Here\u2019s a way to fix it\u2026<\/p>\n

In the official Eagle Scout Service Project Proposa<\/strong><\/em>l portion of the ESSP Workbook-2020 (BSA File No. 512-927), there\u2019s a section labeled \u201cSafety Issues.\u201d<\/em> It says, \u201cDescribe the hazards and safety concerns you and your helpers should be aware of.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

This means that Scotty absolutely does not<\/em> need to re-write all of the steps he’s listed. Instead, he simply uses this section to describe the Covid-19 concerns that he and his helpers need to be aware of while carrying out the project. While this is all that\u2019s necessary\u2014regardless of what the DAC gentleman has requested\u2014Scotty might want to mention that the \u201c6 Foot Rule\u201d and the use of facemasks and sanitizing gel will be followed by himself and all helpers.<\/p>\n

Scotty should honor the request for mailing both copies, but I strongly recommend that you and your Committee Chair also send both, along with the note requesting changes, to the chair of your district advancement committee. And I\u2019m urging you both to give that chair the background, so that it\u2019s clear that a signature is needed and now is better than sometime in the unknown future.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s also a second step your troop can employ that will help Scouts like Scotty cut through the nonsense and knock down that road block\u2026<\/p>\n

There are two adult volunteers every troop should have: Eagle Mentor<\/strong><\/em> and Eagle Coach<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Your troop\u2019s Eagle Mentor<\/em> is appointed by your committee to be a guide, coach, and advocate for all Scouts\u2014from the day they earn Life rank through to the eve of their Eagle court of honor. Interestingly, the Eagle Mentor<\/em> needn\u2019t be a registered BSA member or even a troop parent, although it\u2019s sure not a bad idea to ask him or her to register as a committee member\u2014this could come in handy. (Note: The BSA \u201cEagle Scout Mentor\u201d pin isn\u2019t restricted to only those appointed to this position.)<\/p>\n

Your Eagle Coach<\/em> is also an appointee, with a more specific responsibility. Your Eagle Coac<\/em>h will support and advocate for Life Scouts through\u2014specifically\u2014the Eagle Scout Service Project process. The Eagle Coach<\/em> is a special registered BSA membership position for your troop (but this doesn\u2019t have to be a \u201cuniformed\u201d position).<\/p>\n

Both of these positions will collaborate with each other in getting to know and build some bridges with the Scouters on the district advancement committee, and concurrently keep a watchful eye on and become an advocate for every Scout in your troop going for Eagle.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll stop here, but if you want more information on how each of these positions can mentor Scouts and also guard them against abusive treatment from martinets, just let me know.<\/p>\n

Please stay safe, stay healthy, and stay positive!<\/strong><\/em><\/span>
\nHappy Scouting!<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h4>\n

Andy<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/h3>\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><\/em><\/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><\/em><\/p>\n

[No. 645 \u2013 6\/23\/2020 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2020]<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

________________________________________ Hi Andy, Last week, while your answer to John Walker about current camping protocols was correct, it was incomplete. The BSA has guidelines that have been specifically put out on how to count \u201cvirtual camping\u201d toward advancement, and also for Order of the Arrow camping requirements. As always, it\u2019s great to get your columns\u2014Thanks! […]<\/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-2637","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637","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=2637"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2641,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637\/revisions\/2641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2637"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2637"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2637"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}