{"id":814,"date":"2010-02-20T12:22:46","date_gmt":"2010-02-20T17:22:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=814"},"modified":"2011-11-13T12:24:26","modified_gmt":"2011-11-13T17:24:26","slug":"issue-208-february-20-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2010\/02\/issue-208-february-20-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 208 – February 20, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\u201cwww.scoutstuff.org\u201d news: Thirteen new and exciting Cub Scout Academics & Sports Program Belt Loops have arrived! These new Belt Loops focus on change and innovation, and feature topics that today’s Cub Scouts will enjoy exploring, including Skateboarding<\/a>, Video Games<\/a>, and Photography<\/a> to mention a few. Read about the newest additions in the latest Academics & Sports Program Guide<\/a><\/em>, at your local Scout Shop or at www.scoutstuff.org.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

I really enjoy your columns and appreciate your straightforward answers. <\/strong><\/p>\n

I was recently given the honor to serve as our troop\u2019s Committee Chair and didn\u2019t have to look far before I uncovered some serious problems. The Scoutmaster has been giving \u201cpartial credit\u201d to Scouts in their leadership positions. I had a hard talk with him, and he told me that he does this because the Scouts didn\u2019t do their jobs or had bad behavior. I told him that he can\u2019t refuse to give full-tenure credit, per BSA policy, and that he was arbitrarily punishing Scouts for his own lack of performance. His response was that counsels each Scout in a leadership position at the end of their tenure and at that time tells them how much credit they\u2019ve earned, and why it\u2019s not \u201cfull\u201d credit, and went on to say that the Scouts should have known they weren\u2019t getting full-tenure credit, because he \u201chad to talk to them\u201d several times during their tenure. In response to this approach to leadership development, I removed the Scoutmaster from his responsibilities with the troop. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, do I have the authority to restore the Scouts’ leadership tenure credit due them, to get back in line with BSA policy?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Related to this, this Scoutmaster granted some of the Scouts between four and six weeks of leadership \u201ccredit\u201d for having planned a Court of Honor (categorized as a \u201cspecial leadership project to benefit the troop,\u201d by the Scoutmaster, for the Scouts\u2019 rank advancement). Is planning a Court of Honor really a \u201cspecial project\u201d? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Another one\u2026 The Scoutmaster Handbook<\/em> says that the Scoutmaster can put qualifications on youth leadership positions. What sorts of qualifications? Age? Rank? Behavior? Attendance? Is this for all positions, or just elected positions? <\/strong><\/p>\n

And another\u2026 Can a Scoutmaster give a special project to, let\u2019s say, a Librarian, Scribe, or Quartermaster, as part of their leadership responsibilities? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding the Order of the Arrow, can a Scoutmaster remove a Scout from the eligibility list for the annual troop OA election? If so, shouldn\u2019t he talk to the Scout prior to election, so the Scout isn\u2019t surprised that his name has been removed from the ballot?<\/strong><\/p>\n

As Committee Chair, what is my involvement with the Scoutmaster and his running the program side of the troop (other than removing him if he refuses to follow BSA policy)? I want to make sure the program is delivered the way it\u2019s written. I\u2019ve already had a couple of talks with our new Scoutmaster, and told him that \u201cTrue North\u201d (to borrow your phrase) is the only direction this troop will aim at, from now on, and our two Assistant Scoutmasters also completely agree with this!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sorry for so many questions, but I simply uncovered a whole bunch of serious problems! I believe our troop can be successful, if it\u2019s run the way the program\u2019s written, and I want what\u2019s best for our Scouts. (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s quite a list! Let’s see what we can do here…<\/p>\n

Leadership “partial credit” is silliness… Either a Scout holds a leadership position or he doesn’t. When he does, he serves until the next troop election, which is typically annually or semiannually.<\/p>\n

It’s literally impossible for a Scoutmaster to claim that a Scout in a leadership position “didn’t do his job,” because the Scoutmaster’s primary responsibility is to coach and train the youth leaders to run their troop, so if the Scouts are accused of having “failed,” it’s actually the Scoutmaster who has failed in his responsibilities to the youth leaders of the troop, and shame on him!<\/p>\n

“Counseling” at the end of a Scout’s leadership tenure is an exercise in dumb. It serves no constructive purpose. The counseling happens during the Scout’s tenure.<\/p>\n

Yes, as Committee Chair, you can restore sanity to this troop, and one way to begin this process is to immediately give every Scout who held a leadership position\u2014elected or appointed\u2014full credit for his tenure in the position. Enough with this “partial” nonsense.<\/p>\n

For the ranks of Star and Life, a “Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop” can be used to fulfill the leadership requirement no. 5 (same number for both ranks). To help make this “partial” nonsense go away, I’d give full req. 5 credit to any Scout who planned and had a major speaking role for a troop court of honor.<\/p>\n

The Scoutmaster does not<\/em> have the authority to put qualifications on youth leadership positions (see page 13 of the Scoutmaster Handbook<\/em>). This is the responsibility of “the troop” and, as we know, “the troop” is THE SCOUTS; not the Scoutmaster. Therefore, if the Patrol Leaders Council believes that, for example, the Senior Patrol Leader should be at least Star rank and at least 13 years old, then that’s what it’ll be! The Scoutmaster can guide this decision, but he doesn’t make it; the youth leaders of the troop make it.<\/p>\n

Appointed <\/em>youth leadership positions are just as important as elected <\/em>ones (we know which is which, yes?), so that no “special projects” for Librarians, Scribes, Quartermasters, etc. are needed\u2014these Scouts simply need to carry out the responsibilities of their positions.<\/p>\n

In addition to the stated qualifications needed to be able to stand for election into the Order of the Arrow (broadly, First Class or higher rank, and 15 days and nights of Scout camping in the past two years) by his fellow Scouts, it’s expected that all eligible Scouts are approved by their Scoutmaster. While approval might possibly be withheld, I’ve never, ever seen this happen, in nearly 40 years of Scouting (and, yes, I’m a member of the Order of the Arrow, having been elected by my fellow Scouts when I was a boy, and I\u2019ve been a member of four different OA lodges).<\/p>\n

For how best to divide responsibilities between the committee and Committee Chair, and the Scoutmaster and his assistants, you all would serve yourselves and the young men you’re there to serve by all signing up for training and then going together, as a team!<\/p>\n

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

What do you do when a Cub Scout has more belt loops than waist? (MaryGrace Gagliardi)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hmm… Time for some double-Slurpies? Bandoliers, maybe? Probably not. I think the only way to go here is for the Cubs to pick the ones they want to wear and leave the others home in their memorabilia boxes. Of course, I’m assuming that they’ve already earned more Arrow Points than belt loops, because the belt loop program is supplemental, and not the main thrust of Cub Scout advancement.<\/p>\n

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

After inspecting our meeting room using the BSA standard form, who gets it and what do we do with it?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, our troop committee\u2019s secretary takes notes of meetings and retains them, but what other documents should a unit be retaining, and for how long? I\u2019m thinking of things like copies of our charters, old tour permits, prior inspection reports, bank account documents, old advancement reports, and so on. (Bill Casler, Great Alaska Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n

After you’ve inspected the meeting room\/location, share your observations with your chartered organization and then file to form in your unit records.<\/p>\n

I’d be tempted to hold on to all charter certificates and advancement records; the rest depends on the extent of the files and the storage space available. Use a “reasonable man” approach and you’re unlikely to go wrong.<\/p>\n

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

According to the various sources, the new positions, Leave No Trace Trainer and Webmaster, qualify for rank advancement. My Life rank son\u2014a total computer nut\u2014has eagerly asked for and has been appointed Webmaster, but when reviewing the new handbook, it\u2019s not listed as an Eagle-qualifying leadership position. Please tell me this is a misprint! (Joe Ceci, Milwaukee County Council, WI)<\/strong><\/p>\n

OK: It’s a misprint.<\/p>\n

Seriously, it really is a misprint, and it’ll be corrected in the next printing. If you check the newest Eagle Scout Rank Application, there it is! Breathe easy!<\/p>\n

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

Many of the Scouts, and their parents, too, in my troop aren\u2019t reading or using their handbooks or other available BSA literature, and then they\u2019re claiming, \u201cI didn\u2019t know,\u201d when they mess up things like advancement requirements and so on. I\u2019m considering writing our own \u201cTroop Guidebook,\u201d to eliminate this ongoing problem. Any thoughts? (Gregg Krissinger, SM, Greater Pittsburgh Council, PA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, I do have a thought… Instead of putting the time and energy into writing some sort of supplemental guidebook (with no assurance that it’ll get any more attention than the BSA books and literature already available), how about going through the Boy Scout Handbook <\/em>and making a list of specific pages, chapters, and paragraphs that each parent (and son) is to read? This is (a) a lot less work, (b) avoids mis-stating something, (c) gets the message “from the horse’s mouth” through, and (d) maybe encourages parents and Scouts alike to actually read the book some more!<\/p>\n

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

My Boy Scout son, working on Citizenship in the Community merit badge, asked me if he could donate his time to the Girl Scouts (my daughter\u2014his sister\u2014is a Brownie). My first response was, \u201cAsk your Merit Badge Counselor.\u201d But, knowing that this is this particular Counselor\u2019s first go-round with this merit badge, I\u2019m guessing that she may ask my opinion. The requirement states: \u201cChoose a charitable organization outside of Scouting that interests you and brings people in your community together to work for the good of your community.\u201d The issue, of course, hinges on the use of the word, \u201cScouting\u201d. I\u2019m thinking that the BSA was referring to itself, but I\u2019m not 100% positive of that. What are your thoughts on whether the BSA is including the Girl Scouts in that requirement? (Lincoln Dickerson, Greater Cleveland Council, OH)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Interesting situation… I’d rely on the Merit Badge Counselor’s decision, of course, but I can tell you that this is walking a pretty fine line. Although the BSA and the GSUSA are two separate organizations, there’s no question but that they’re both under the overall “Scouting” umbrella. Moreover, if you consider what this merit badge focuses on\u2014the local community\u2014a reading of req. 7 urges the identification of a local charitable organization (e.g., food bank, Rotary Club, Lion’s Club, Community Chest, PTA or educational foundation, etc., etc.) and then finding out what a young person<\/em> can do to help… It doesn\u2019t suggest another youth-oriented organization (e.g., Girl Scouts, PAL, Indian Guides\/Princesses, etc.). Consequently, my own personal leaning would be more toward something different from what this young man’s already familiar with and away from a largely parallel organization. But that’s my own opinion and is certainly not any sort of “final decree.” In light of his sister’s Brownie involvement, helping the Girl Scouts would probably be a slam-dunk, but we need to ask ourselves: Would operating within an area of familiarity actually “stretch” this young man’s awareness of service beyond the Scouting milieu? (Thanks for posing a very interesting and thought-provoking scenario.)<\/p>\n

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

Our troop has a question about special needs Scouts. We have a young man, with ADHD, who\u2019ll be 18 in two months. He earned his Star rank about five months ago. Since then, he hasn’t done very much with merit badges or other rank-related requirements. We\u2019ve advised him constantly on what he needs to do to advance, and he\u2019s able to complete merit badges without any help. But time is his enemy, especially because he\u2019s planning on getting an extension to work his way to earn Eagle rank. Another parent in the troop has helped his mom fill out the paperwork for him to get an extension, and had it signed by someone in our council, but now we need help on what to do when he\u2019s 18 years old. How do we proceed? What do we do about, for instance, campouts? We know what to do in regular circumstances, but need to know what to do now that he\u2019s applied for an extension to be a \u201cScout with special needs\u201d (no special physical accommodations needed, just a Scout with ADHD, and some social\/emotional issues). Thanks. (Jackie Dannemiller Cascade Pacific Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Two thoughts here…<\/p>\n

First, we need to recognize that some 95 out of every 100 Scouts historically don’t make it all the way to Eagle, so that there’s absolutely no disgrace at all if this young man ends his Scouting years as a Star or perhaps Life Scout.<\/p>\n

That said, if this young man truly wishes to extend the effort needed to go all the way to Eagle, there is an alternate path available to him, so long as a licensed medical practitioner verifies in writing that this young man’s mental challenges are of a permanent nature (refer to the Boy Scout Requirements<\/em> book for the details of how this is handled). In addition to that letter, from a recognized medical authority, the Scout, his parents, and the troop committee will all work together, in concert with the district advancement committee, to develop a program that both fits his capabilities and yet is still challenging and interesting.<\/p>\n

I understand your concern about an 18 year old camping “as a Scout” with is troop, and I’m sure a conversation with your council’s health and safety committee will provide a way to manage this aspect.<\/p>\n

I absolutely admire this young man, and appreciate the effort you and others in the troop are extending in order for him to have that “mountaintop experience”!<\/p>\n

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

When it comes to signing off requirements, I\u2019m aware that leaders can sign off on Tenderfoot-through-First Class requirements. Can a PLC member sign off the Star, Life, or Eagle requirements of another Scout, so long as he\u2019s a higher rank than the Scout he\u2019s helping?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Also, in our troop, we have elections, but the new leaders don\u2019t take office until about a month later (this year our elections were held in December and the youth leaders took office on January 1st<\/sup>). Is that OK, or does it somehow conflict with BSA policy? (Matt Urbanek, National Capital Area Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s up to the Scoutmaster to decide who can sign off on what. Usually, Scoutmasters include their ASMs for most stuff except Scoutmaster’s conferences, which they’d obviously want to reserve for themselves, so they can stay in touch with how well the troop is doing (this comes from getting feedback from the Scouts he conferences with). Very often SPLs and PLs are okayed for approving Scouts\u2019 completions of Tenderfoot through First Class requirements, so long as they’re at least one rank higher than the Scout they\u2019re verifying, and what they do is inform the Scoutmaster that such-and-such a Scout has completed what requirement(s), so that the Scoutmaster can put his initials in the Scout’s handbook (it’s always easier to recognize your own initials, rather than trying to figure out who someone else’s are).<\/p>\n

Regarding elections, actually taking office at a meeting several weeks after the actual election is brilliant! This allows time for the Scoutmaster to actually meet with the new leaders in advance, to take them through TLT so that they know their responsibilities, and it also allows time to plan a formal leader induction ceremony, where the outgoing leaders “swear in” the incoming leaders!<\/p>\n

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

Love your columns! I\u2019ve volunteered to be a Unit Commissioner. (I\u2019m only 24; the next youngest UC is about 30, and after him it\u2019s a \u201c55+ club.\u201d) I\u2019ve been assigned to our District Commissioner’s old units: a crew, a troop, and a pack. Needless to say, I\u2019m a little nervous. Do you have any advice? I\u2019ve done FastStart training for UCs, and every other training available online, and I\u2019m going to buy the Commissioner Fieldbook for Unit Service<\/em> today. I\u2019m also going to go to next month\u2019s Commissioner Basic Training next month. What else should I focus on? (Matt Schmidt, UC, Chickasaw Council, TN)<\/strong><\/p>\n

First “rule” for Unit Commissioners: For the units you serve, you<\/em> are their best friend<\/em>. You’re there for them. You help them. You ask to be invited to meetings and you stay low-key and pretend to be wallpaper… You observe and make mental notes. You make very quiet suggestions, but rarely. You answer questions not be providing solutions but by asking, “Hmmm… What do you think would be the best way to solve that situation?” You remain “outside” unit “politics”–always neutral, yet always working for accord and helping everyone share the same vision of Scouting’s “True North.” You don’t have to have “all the answers” but you do promise to find the answers and get back to them, and then you make good on that promise. You’re consistent, and steadfast. You find ways to recognize their volunteers for their contributions (award of merit, quality unit award, and so on). You always smile<\/em>. You never<\/em> bad-mouth anyone, and you never, ever bad-mouth the district, the council, or the BSA (you gave up that dubious privilege when you signed on as a Commissioner).<\/p>\n

Rule 2: Stay in your own back yard.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Thank you for your guidance and continued service to Scouting.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our troop is having some issues\u2026 Our Scoutmaster is a good man and Scouter, but he\u2019s not very organized or authoritative. The problem lies with a couple of the ASMs. One ASM has been a catalyst and big helper with his time and resources, to help the troop grow over the last year, and we\u2019ll grow by another almost third with the new Webelos about to cross over. However, instead of training the Troop Guides for the new Scout patrols, he wants to take on this role himself, and doesn\u2019t want to recruit any new parents for new ASM positions. Our other ASM, who has been mostly uninvolved for the past year, now has assumed a self-appointed role of \u201ctroop boss,” and, among other things, he\u2019s much too rigid for any new Scouts to handle, and I\u2019m afraid that, because of this, we\u2019ll be losing some these new Scouts, either from the troop or completely out of Scouting. Before I try to \u201cteach pigs to fly\u201d (sorry for borrowing), I\u2019d appreciate any guidance for both of these ASMs. (Name & Council Withheld)<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s absolutely critical to the success of this (or any!) troop that all of the adult volunteers share the same vision and leave their egos and personal agendas at the door. There’s simply no place in Scouting for mavericks, troublemakers, folks who think they’re “masters-of-the-scouts,” or folks who want to reorganize a troop’s standard structure to fit their own personal goals. Despite any good intentions, which I’m sure must be present at some level, if somebody’s getting in the way of delivering the Boy Scout program the way it’s written to be delivered, then they need to either get trained and get on the right tracks, or they need to be removed.<\/p>\n

Because the BSA is a volunteer organization and not an employer of these folks, employment laws and labor laws don’t apply. All that needs to be said to the volunteer who proves incapable or steadfastly unwilling to get it right is, “Thanks for your services; they won’t be needed any further.” That’s it.<\/p>\n

This message is delivered by the Chartered Organization Representative together with the Committee Chair, and if we’re talking about ASMs, then with the Scoutmaster, too. After the message has been delivered, then one of these folks contacts the council’s registrar and asks that the person’s record be removed from the troop roster (this is done ASAP, of course).<\/p>\n

The next step is to replace these folks with people who have expressed interest in helping and are willing to attend training (training’s going to be mandatory very shortly, anyway, so this is not really an unreasonable request by the troop), put on a uniform (if a SM or an ASM), and start delivering the program as written.<\/p>\n

Think of it this way… Suppose your son’s school told you, his parent, that his teachers will be untrained and will be delivering subject matter any way they want to, regardless of curriculum standards or behavioral protocols. Would you stand for this? Probably not. So then, why would you accept this in a program that’s supposed to be educating your son in citizenship, self-worth, competence, and resourcefulness? Well of course you wouldn’t! And that’s what it’s about: Your son deserves the best according to established national standards and not what some rogues decide they want to do.<\/p>\n

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

The First Class requirement for swimming indicates that a Scout must pass the BSA swimming test. I\u2019ve looked for the requirements for this test and can\u2019t find anything that tells me exactly what they are. Can you help me? (Bob Lamparter, ASM, Suffolk County Council, LI, NY)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The requirements for the Second Class swim test and the First Class swim test are in the handbook and also in the Boy Scout Requirements<\/em> book.<\/p>\n

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

I have a question about headwear. My Cub Scouts are required to wear the BSA standard uniform rank-specific ball cap. I tell them it\u2019s part of their uniform and they should wear it both outdoors and indoors, but if they\u2019re in the sanctuary of a church, or in someone\u2019s home, they should show respect and remove their hats. (I follow the same rules and expect my Den Leaders to do so, also.) Recently, we had our Blue & Gold Banquet in the local high school cafeteria. One of my leaders remarked that we really shouldn\u2019t be wearing our hats indoors. I\u2019ve always explained it\u2019s not a hat or cap\u2014it\u2019s a \u201cuniform cover. But, I thought I\u2019d ask: What are the accepted norms for Scouts and Scouters regarding uniform headwear? (Bobby Taylor, CM, Bay Area Council, TX) <\/strong><\/p>\n

Cap, hat, headgear, headwear, cover, or whatever you want to call that thing-a-ma-bob on yer head, we take ’em off indoors, whether we’re Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, military, law enforcement, or Indian chiefs. The only time a Scout would wear a cap\/hat\/headgear indoors is if he’s a member of a special ceremonial team (e.g., a color guard) and even then the wearing of anything on the head (for the ceremony only) is optional, not mandatory.<\/p>\n

Go here\u2014www.bsa.scouting.org\/About\/AnnualReports\/02nation.aspx\u2014and<\/a> tell me how many thing-a-ma-bobs you see.<\/p>\n

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

What are the rules and\/or limitations on donations and fundraising for Eagle projects? Can the Scouts solicit donations? Can the Scouts sell, for instance, hoagies, or anything else, to defray project costs? And, if it\u2019s OK, where should the collected money be deposited? (Al Edelman, SM, Minsi Trails Council, PA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Good question. First, let’s recognize that not all Eagle candidates’ projects require supplies, and so none to very little money may actually be needed (a project doesn’t necessarily require constructing or painting anything, as the project workbook makes clear). Second, it’s not at all unusual for the recipient of the services of the Scout and his helpers to provide, at their expense, whatever supplies or equipment may be needed, again eliminating the need for money to do the project (except for perhaps food and drinks for the helpers, which would be a modest cost, at best). However, if supplies and equipment are not forthcoming from the recipient, then the next step for the Scout would be to solicit what he might need to do the project, and this can be in the form of direct requests from suppliers and retailers (e.g., lumber and hardware sellers), so, still, no actual money needed. However, if money is indeed needed, there are still options. The Scout, for instance, can spend his own money, if he wishes. Or, he can request funding from businesses supportive of Scouting in his town (local Rotary Clubs, the sponsor, local churches, etc.). Finally, he can do a fund-raising event of some sort, to raise what he needs, and this can be a car wash or something similar, or it can be selling something and retaining the excess revenues after expenses. Selling self-prepared food might be tricky, and it’s worth finding out if a health inspection is required by the town or county. The Scout can be creative, but the “reasonable man” approach should prevail.<\/p>\n

As far as where to deposit the funds raised (by whatever means), the best bet is the troop’s checking account, with the troop treasurer keeping track of the funds and their designation and ultimate destination. For this, the troop would use the 501(c)(3) designation of its sponsor or, in the absence of this, the designation (and number) of the local council (ask the council’s accounting department for this, on behalf of the Scout).<\/p>\n

Thanks! In the most current situation, the Scout is considering building dugouts for a local park that has a baseball field. He has a commitment for 50 percent of the costs involved coming from the benefitting organization, but my concern is that the un-funded balance is a significant sum of money and this Scout may come up short. I\u2019m watching and guiding him he gets closer to committing to this project, to be sure he\u2019s not bitten off more than he can chew, financially. (The work\u2019s do-able; it\u2019s the cost that\u2019s the problem.) (Al Edelman) <\/strong><\/p>\n

How about this: The Scout can determine from the recipient organization exactly how much funding they’ll provide, and then he builds his scope-of-work and plans around that dollar amount (and no more). Scouts aren’t expected to underwrite “capital improvement” projects\u2014we<\/em> are a “charitable organization,” for goodness sakes!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Our pack\u2019s deep into the Pinewood Derby season now and the Cubs are ready to race. Over the past several years, we\u2019ve tried to provide clearly defined rules for building the car and for running a fair race. Electronic score-keeping software and uniform track manufacturers have helped significantly increase the equality of the racing field.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, the sponsors of our district race this year have taken the liberty of writing their own rules, which will call for frequent rulings on determining whether or not a car is \u201clegal,\u201d either before or during the race. In these cases, the core of Scouting looses because the district rules are so loosely written.<\/strong><\/p>\n

How can the BSA National Council be persuaded to adopt \u201cuniversal\u201d rules and regulations, so that Pinewood Derby races can be uniform and standardized across all packs (and districts, too)? This race has been the highlight of probably every Cub Scout for nearly 60 years. As we celebrate 100 years of Scouting (and 80 of Cub Scouting), we marvel at both the differences and the similarities between Scouting of yesterday and today. From the inception, there has been a belief to make rank and class requirements published in handbooks so all Scouts everywhere will follow them. In fact, this is what makes Scouting so popular around the world\u2014every scout knows that he achieved his ranks by completing the same requirements as every other Scout did in his country. Competition in sports and academics in our society has taken on new meanings when stories abound of judges paid off, use of steroids among players, engines bored out, professional training, and so on. Competitive Scouting should be different than that of non-Scouters. We should enjoy fair and friendly competition, doing our best, to help other people and obey the laws of the pack. (Channing Hardy, South-Central Indiana)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, you and others can write to the national office, making a request for nationally uniform PD rules, and I wish you all the best in this endeavor. However, this won’t solve your district problem anytime soon. My recommendation is this: Get yourselves on the district pinewood derby committee and get things fixed, right there and then.<\/p>\n

\n

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

We\u2019ve got a Tiger Cub in our pack who has a mild case of Autism. Neat kid, doing OK, but his doctors have recommended that he have a \u201ctherapy dog\u201d to help him when he gets overly excited or stimulated. We’re going to use this as a teaching opportunity for the Cubs, which dovetails nicely with the Police Canine Officer who came to a recent pack meeting. We\u2019re going to give this boy\u2019s dog a special Cub Scout vest\u2014we\u2019re thinking about putting the unit numbers on the vest, and even an Assistant Den Leader badge. Then, when this Cub earns a rank, we\u2019re going to get his dog a rank badge, too, and sew it on his vest (after all, they\u2019re a team!). Plus, when he and his dog go on an outing or other pack activity, his dog\u2019s going to get patches for these, too (the dog\u2019s supposed to be with him 24\/7). Yes, I realize that the BSA probably doesn’t want us using patches this way, but I can’t think of a reason not to, as a way to help this boy. (Carl Sommer, CM, Occoneechee Council, NC)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wonderful! Consider a neckerchief (no slide\u2014just a simple, single overhand knot instead) for the pooch, too! Fabulous way to “main-stream” a special needs situation boy!<\/p>\n

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

You mentioned a while ago, in one of your columns, that only Arkansas was \u201cmissing\u201d as a state where your columns are read. Well, greetings from Arkansas! Just want you to know that you have at least one reader from the fine state of Arkansas. (Jeff McFarland, CM, Ouachita Area Council)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thanks! Your letter confirms all 50 states and 305 councils!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Happy Scouting!<\/p>\n
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Andy<\/h3>\n<\/form>\n\n\n\n
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Got a question? Have an idea? Send it to AskAndyBSA@yahoo.com<\/a>. (Please include your POSITION and COUNCIL NAME or TOWN & STATE)<\/p>\n

(February 20, 2010 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2010)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Letters to AskAndy may be published at the discretion of the columnist and the editor. If you prefer to have your name or affiliation withheld from publication, please advise in your letter..<\/p>\n

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****************************************************** \u201cwww.scoutstuff.org\u201d news: Thirteen new and exciting Cub Scout Academics & Sports Program Belt Loops have arrived! These new Belt Loops focus on change and innovation, and feature topics that today’s Cub Scouts will enjoy exploring, including Skateboarding, Video Games, and Photography to mention a few. Read about the newest additions in the latest Academics […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-814","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-6"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814","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=814"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":815,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/814\/revisions\/815"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=814"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=814"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=814"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}