{"id":837,"date":"2010-06-06T12:53:44","date_gmt":"2010-06-06T16:53:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/?p=837"},"modified":"2011-11-13T13:00:09","modified_gmt":"2011-11-13T18:00:09","slug":"issue-218-june-6-2010","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/2010\/06\/issue-218-june-6-2010\/","title":{"rendered":"Issue 218 – June 6, 2010"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

<\/strong>In that question <\/span><\/strong>about patrol food-shopping<\/span><\/strong>, you recommended that a designated <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong> or two<\/span><\/strong> do<\/span><\/strong>es<\/span><\/strong> the shopping, <\/span><\/strong>then <\/span><\/strong>brings the bill back to the patrol<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>for a<\/span><\/strong>n equal-share reimbursement.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>Another way is to estimate the total bill<\/span><\/strong> in advance<\/span><\/strong>, build in a \u201csafety amount,\u201d and <\/span><\/strong>divide th<\/span><\/strong>is among the patrol members, <\/span><\/strong>and then the Scouts do the actual food-<\/span><\/strong>buying. This way, the shopper Scouts <\/span><\/strong>aren\u2019t out any money up front<\/span><\/strong>. This should work <\/span><\/strong>just as well<\/span><\/strong>, and\u2014this way\u2014all the Scouts are<\/span><\/strong> committed and ha<\/span><\/strong>ve some<\/span><\/strong> skin in the game<\/span><\/strong>, up front! <\/span><\/strong>If there’s a surplus, then <\/span><\/strong>the Scouts all <\/span><\/strong>get some <\/span><\/strong>money back<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>or the grubmasters <\/span><\/strong>can <\/span><\/strong>snag an extra item or two for a surprise treat) and i<\/span><\/strong>f there’s a deficit, then the grubmasters just have to chip in a <\/span><\/strong>little bit at the store<\/span><\/strong> to make up the difference<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> and then <\/span><\/strong>they <\/span><\/strong>get that money back from the other Scouts.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/strong>If <\/span><\/strong>it\u2019s a fairly new <\/span><\/strong>patrol, it may take a few campouts <\/span><\/strong>for them to <\/span><\/strong>get th<\/span><\/strong>eir <\/span><\/strong>estimate<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong>close to the actual, so maybe a \u201cpatrol pricing <\/span><\/strong>expedition\u201d <\/span><\/strong>might be a good <\/span><\/strong>idea\u2014they each <\/span><\/strong>spread out<\/span><\/strong> in the <\/span><\/strong>grocery store to check out prices<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span><\/strong>calculating servings<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> and figuring out the best deals (<\/span><\/strong>D<\/span><\/strong>o we want the 8-count bag of bagels, or the 12-count? Which size pouch of instant mashed potatoes is a better deal? And so on<\/span><\/strong>). The patrol could <\/span><\/strong>even build <\/span><\/strong>a price list for standard items, <\/span><\/strong>so that <\/span><\/strong>future e<\/span><\/strong>stimates are <\/span><\/strong>a piece of cake<\/span><\/strong> (NPI)<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>Dan Shortridge, Campmaster, Del-Mar-Va Council)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yup, that’s a terrific way to do it<\/span>\u2014I like it even better than my own suggestion, because of the \u201ccommitment\u201d idea!\u2014so <\/span> thanks for taking the time to write!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

F<\/span><\/strong>or the Scoutmaster conference for <\/span><\/strong>rank advancement<\/span><\/strong>, if the <\/span><\/strong>S<\/span><\/strong>coutmaster can<\/span><\/strong>\u2019t be present<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> can an <\/span><\/strong>ASM fill in and do this<\/span><\/strong>? Can<\/span><\/strong> this be a regular assignment that a S<\/span><\/strong>coutmaster <\/span><\/strong>gives to and ASM on a more-or-less \u201cpermanent\u201d basis?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We have 64 <\/span><\/strong>Scouts in the troop and <\/span><\/strong>we\u2019re<\/span><\/strong> very back<\/span><\/strong>–<\/span><\/strong>logged with rank advancement.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> The S<\/span><\/strong>coutmaster can<\/span><\/strong>\u2019t always be at troop mee<\/span><\/strong>tings <\/span><\/strong>because of his work schedule, <\/span><\/strong>so we<\/span><\/strong>\u2019re trying to figure out our options so the Scouts can advance in a timely manner<\/span><\/strong> (some have waited <\/span><\/strong>a month<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong>. (Name & Council Withheld)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If a Scoutmaster is <\/span>temporarily<\/span><\/em> unable to complete his responsibilities with regard to conferences with Scouts ready to advance in rank, yes, by all means appoint a temporary substitute (an ASM is an excellent <\/span>temporary<\/span><\/em> substitute). Scouts should<\/span>n\u2019t <\/span> have to wait and wait for this, and should<\/span>n\u2019t <\/span> be held back from advancing because of an adult scheduling problem. This definitely needs a short-term fix<\/span>. However, if the Scoutmaster\u2019s personal schedule is going to be an ongoing problem in this area, then a permanent solution is needed\u2014perhaps as easy as the Scoutmaster and an ASM who <\/span>is<\/span><\/em> available switching badges.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

<\/strong>Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

While <\/span><\/strong>our troop <\/span><\/strong>want<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong> to make sure we qualify<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>for a Quality Unit<\/span><\/strong> Award p<\/span><\/strong>atch each year<\/span><\/strong>, there<\/span><\/strong> are <\/span><\/strong>some <\/span><\/strong>years in which <\/span><\/strong>we miss earning it.<\/span><\/strong>If our <\/span><\/strong>troop <\/span><\/strong>last earned a <\/span><\/strong>QUA in, let\u2019s say, <\/span><\/strong>2008,<\/span><\/strong> can we <\/span><\/strong>continue to we<\/span><\/strong>ar that patch<\/span><\/strong> until we earn a current one, or should we be taking the 2008 patch off?<\/span><\/strong>Is the<\/span><\/strong>re<\/span><\/strong> a BSA <\/span><\/strong>uniform policy <\/span><\/strong>on <\/span><\/strong>this<\/span><\/strong>? (Steven Arnold<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span><\/strong>ASM<\/span><\/strong>, Western<\/span><\/strong>Los Angeles<\/span><\/strong>County<\/span><\/strong> Council, CA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

BSA policy states that <\/span>you can wear the latest <\/span>QUA the unit has<\/span> earned<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

In the <\/span><\/strong>\u201cThree T<\/span><\/strong>ubs<\/span><\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/strong>dishwashing regimen, the first tub is hot soapy water, the next is warm rinse water<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> and the last is warm water w<\/span><\/strong>ith a <\/span><\/strong>bit of bleach to sanitize, right?<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>Or is the rinse water last? (Scott Wolf<\/span><\/strong>, ASM, <\/span><\/strong>Sam Houston Area Council<\/span><\/strong>, TX)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Check out page 307 of the new <\/span>Boy Scout Handbook<\/span><\/em>…<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

Who in our <\/span><\/strong>troop can teach BSA Safety Afloat <\/span><\/strong>and <\/span><\/strong>BSA Safe Swim Defense to the <\/span><\/strong>Scouts and adult volunteers<\/span><\/strong> in our <\/span><\/strong>troop? (Darryl, ASM, <\/span><\/strong>Mississippi<\/span><\/strong>Valley Council<\/span><\/strong>, IA)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Most councils have training committees that keep a list of folks qualified to teach these two courses.<\/span> Reach out and ask.<\/span> If you come up dry,<\/span>not to worry… Both can be done online at <\/span> http:\/\/olc.<\/span>Scout<\/span>ing.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

\n

Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Am I missing something here?<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> For t<\/span><\/strong>his summer, we have Scouts signed up to begin and complete Snow Sports <\/span><\/strong>merit badge at a <\/span><\/strong>BSA summer <\/span><\/strong>camp in Oklahoma<\/span><\/strong>\u2014where there\u2019s no snow (and hardly a hill)\u2014The camp\u2019s set up so that the <\/span><\/strong>skiing\u2019s done on a <\/span><\/strong>rug<\/span><\/em>! <\/span><\/strong>For <\/span><\/strong>this<\/span><\/strong> merit badge, a <\/span><\/strong>S<\/span><\/strong>cout can complete either <\/span><\/strong>d<\/span><\/strong>ownhill, <\/span><\/strong>c<\/span><\/strong>ross<\/span><\/strong>-country, or <\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong>now<\/span><\/strong>-boarding. <\/span><\/strong>Am I missing something that the Snow Sports<\/span><\/strong> merit badge can be completed without snow, or is the merit badge <\/span><\/strong>pamphlet <\/span><\/strong>so defective that<\/span><\/strong> snow isn\u2019t required. To<\/span><\/strong> quote from the <\/span><\/strong>pamphlet: \u201c<\/span><\/strong>On a gentle slope, demonstrate some of the beginning maneuvers learned in skiing. Include the straight run, gliding wedge, wedge stop, sidestep, and herringbone maneuvers<\/span><\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<\/span><\/strong>On slightly steeper terrain, show linked wedge turns,\u201d \u201c<\/span><\/strong>On a moderate slope, demonstrate five to 10 <\/span><\/strong>Christies,\u201d \u201c<\/span><\/strong>Make a controlled run down an intermediate slope and demonstrate the following:<\/span><\/strong> short-, medium-, and long-radius parallel turns<\/span><\/strong>, a<\/span><\/strong> sideslip and safety (hockey) stop to each side,\u201d \u201cTraverse across a slope<\/span><\/strong>,\u201d (and) \u201cD<\/span><\/strong>emonstrate the ability to ski in varied conditions, including changes in pitch, <\/span>snow conditions<\/span><\/em><\/strong>, and moguls. Maintain your balance and ability to turn.<\/span><\/strong>\u201d I\u2019ve italicized <\/span><\/strong>snow conditions<\/span><\/em><\/strong> because it\u2019s <\/span><\/strong>the only place in the requirements that actually addresses snow. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Does this mean that, for example, requirement<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong> 5 and 6 in the S<\/span><\/strong>wimming merit badge<\/span><\/strong> (\u201c<\/span><\/strong>Swim continuously for 150 yards using the following strokes in good form and in a strong manner: front crawl or trudgen for 25 yards, back crawl for 25 yards, sidestroke for 25 yards, breaststroke for 25 yards, and elementary backstroke for 50 yards<\/span><\/strong>,\u201d \u201c<\/span><\/strong>Float <\/span><\/strong>face up<\/span><\/strong> in a resting position for at least one minute,\u201d \u201cDemonstrate survival flo<\/span><\/strong>ating for at least five minutes,\u201d \u201cWhile wearing a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD), demonstrate the <\/span><\/strong>\u2018help\u2019 and huddle positions<\/span><\/strong>\u2026\u201d) don\u2019t<\/span><\/strong> need to be done in <\/span><\/strong>water<\/span><\/em><\/strong>, since it does<\/span><\/strong>n\u2019<\/span><\/strong>t specifically state that the requirements need to be in the water (other requirements in the <\/span><\/strong>pamphlet<\/span><\/strong> state water, etc.).<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> Maybe the <\/span><\/strong>S<\/span><\/strong>cout could make a swimming “motion” while walking along a sidewalk for 150 yards, or something like that, and “float” on a nice, soft, grassy meadow.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>(<\/span><\/strong>Bob Hendrick<\/span><\/strong>, Circle <\/span><\/strong>Ten Council<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span><\/strong>TX<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, you did get me to go from just plain puzzled to a mild chuckle or two… No, I don’t think the pamphlets or requirements are at fault or lacking anything… They are, after all, called SNOW Sports and SWIMMING, respectively, <\/span>so I really don\u2019t <\/span>think it’s possible to complete a merit badge that has “snow” in its name sans snow anymore than I think “swimming” can be done on dry land… But that<\/span>\u2019s jus’ l’il ole me!<\/span>Maybe someone else, in their infinite wisdom, can develop a way to do woodcarving using Jell-O or metalworking using Play<\/span>-Doh, or (remember this one?) rabbit<\/span>–<\/span>raising using emus or<\/span>b<\/span>eavers<\/span>, or how about <\/span>snails<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

Should a Scoutmaster sign both areas of a merit badge blue card before the <\/span><\/strong>Scout starts a merit badge?<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> And, a<\/span><\/strong>fter the merit badge is completed, does the <\/span><\/strong>Scout bring the blue card to the Advancement Chair or to the Scoutmaster? (Danielle Goins)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Scout first comes to the Scoutmaster to tell him that he wants to start merit badge such-and-such, the Scoutmaster gives him an application (aka “blue card”) and signs the front of it. Then, after the Scout<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s complete<\/span>d the requirements and the Merit Badge Counselor has signed the two segments that he gives to the Scout (the MBC keeps the third segment), the Scout returns to the Scoutmaster, who then signs the inside of the front segment.<\/span> This signifies that the Scoutmaster<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s received the card back and will have the merit badge listed as completed in the Scout’s advancement records<\/span> (the recording\u2019s usually done by t<\/span>he advancement coordinator<\/span>)<\/span>.<\/span> The next steps are, of course, to file the advancement report with the council service center, obtain the merit badge card and the badge itself, and then to present it to the Scout as the earliest available troop meeting.<\/span>
\n This procedure is described in various BSA publications<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I w<\/span><\/strong>as just awarded my Unit Commissioner<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>s Key, and I also have my Scoutmaster<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>s Key. Both are the green-and-<\/span><\/strong>white square knot<\/span><\/strong>. Is it<\/span><\/strong> proper to have two devices on one square knot, or <\/span><\/strong>is it <\/span><\/strong>two <\/span><\/strong>identical <\/span><\/strong>square knots <\/span><\/strong>with a<\/span><\/strong> different device on each<\/span><\/strong>? (Ri<\/span><\/strong>chard Barden<\/span><\/strong>, CR, <\/span><\/strong>Glaciers Edge Council<\/span><\/strong>, WI)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The BSA says t<\/span>wo devices, one square knot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My son, and I with him, crossed-over from Webelos and joined a recently formed \u201csister troop\u201d (instead of a larger, more established troop \u201cdown the street\u201d)<\/span><\/strong>at the end of February<\/span><\/strong>. This troop held no meetings for over a month. Then, when they did, they had<\/span><\/strong> absolutely no preplanning <\/span><\/strong>or organized activities. I <\/span><\/strong>suggest<\/span><\/strong>ed that we have the PLC start using <\/span><\/strong>the T<\/span><\/strong>roop Meeting Plan <\/span><\/strong>but this was<\/span><\/strong> shrugged off as being unnecessary<\/span><\/strong>, since there\u2019s <\/span><\/strong>only <\/span><\/strong>one<\/span><\/strong> patrol made up of the existing Scouts in the troop<\/span><\/strong>, and <\/span><\/strong>the S<\/span><\/strong>coutmaster<\/span><\/strong> believes they we should hold off on putting the new Scouts <\/span><\/strong>into their own patrol. <\/span><\/strong>Before these new Scouts joined, the only troop \u201cleaders\u201d were the Scoutmaster and his son, the a<\/span><\/strong>ppoint<\/span><\/strong>ed<\/span><\/strong>Senior Patrol Leader<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span><\/strong>Then, all the <\/span><\/strong>Scouts were <\/span><\/strong>assigned a position<\/span><\/strong>, but when <\/span><\/strong>some <\/span><\/strong>of the new <\/span><\/strong>Scouts asked <\/span><\/strong>for positions, too, they were told they could have \u201cco-\u201c <\/span><\/strong>position<\/span><\/strong>s, t<\/span><\/strong>he rationale <\/span><\/strong>being that since <\/span><\/strong>they\u2019re <\/span><\/strong>new they couldn’t vote for <\/span><\/strong>their leaders because they hadn\u2019t \u201cbonded\u201d yet.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> The <\/span><\/strong>troop<\/span><\/strong> has no long<\/span><\/strong>-term schedule of <\/span><\/strong>activities, and the excuse is that \u201cwe\u2019ll just try to squeeze things in when we can.\u201d<\/span><\/strong>Camping, when it happens is done in the Scoutmaster\u2019s back yard. When I and other parents have offered to help, we\u2019re put off\u2014The guy who\u2019s Scoutmaster<\/span><\/strong> has his <\/span><\/strong>own <\/span><\/strong>way of doing <\/span><\/strong>things and will play the \u201cwe\u2019re boy-led\u201d card whenever anyone asks why something\u2019s done or not done the way it is, or why the troop isn\u2019t following what the <\/span><\/strong>Boy Scout Handbook<\/span><\/em><\/strong> has promised our sons.<\/span><\/strong>A couple of us have <\/span><\/strong>taken the <\/span><\/strong>Troop Leader Training and <\/span><\/strong>have a pretty good idea of how things <\/span><\/strong>are supposed to be done and this sure isn\u2019t it! None of the<\/span><\/strong> Webelos who joined some three months ago has received<\/span><\/strong>his <\/span><\/strong>Scout badge<\/span><\/strong> yet <\/span><\/strong>because the <\/span><\/strong>Scoutmaster has<\/span><\/strong>n\u2019<\/span><\/strong>t had a conference with them<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span><\/strong>Most <\/span><\/strong>of the Scouts are now <\/span><\/strong>close to <\/span><\/strong>finishing <\/span><\/strong>Tenderfoot, so I guess they\u2019ll get both at the same time. On top of <\/span><\/strong>everything else, troop <\/span><\/strong>meetings are <\/span><\/strong>at 4 PM in the afternoon, so it\u2019s just about impossible for most parents to even attend<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

My son and his friends wanted to join the other troop\u2014which is truly Scout-run and has a full calendar of activities\u2014but I pushed them to join this troop instead, promising that I\u2019d w<\/span><\/strong>ork to help this <\/span><\/strong>troop grow and make sure they had the opportunity to reach First Class by the end of next year.<\/span><\/strong> Instead, they\u2019re <\/span><\/strong>locked in<\/span><\/strong>to a<\/span><\/strong>troop<\/span><\/strong> with no direction,<\/span><\/strong> no <\/span><\/strong>organization<\/span><\/strong>, and no excitement, that\u2019s barely meeting twice in a month. I feel I\u2019ve really let my son and his friends down. What do I do now? I made the commitment<\/span><\/strong> and took the<\/span><\/strong> train<\/span><\/strong>ing, <\/span><\/strong>but it<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s all for nothing<\/span><\/strong>\u2014I can\u2019t <\/span><\/strong>be part of the meetings, there<\/span><\/strong> are<\/span><\/strong> no committee meetings, and <\/span><\/strong>whatever<\/span><\/strong> chance I do get to voice a<\/span><\/strong>n<\/span><\/strong> opinion or provide input is ignored or just laughed off. Do I just hang around to go to the council camps and summer camp since we need <\/span><\/strong>two-deep lead<\/span><\/strong>ership and I<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>m the only other parent besides the <\/span><\/strong>Scoutmaster<\/span><\/strong>who\u2019s trained<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> or should we find a <\/span><\/strong>troop<\/span><\/strong> that <\/span><\/strong>\u201cgets it<\/span><\/strong>\u201d<\/span><\/strong>? I want to be part of developing our current troop<\/span><\/strong>, but it<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>s been a few months and the changes I thought that the newly crossed<\/span><\/strong>-over Scouts and Scouters could help facilitate aren\u2019t welcome.<\/span><\/strong> (Name Withheld, <\/span><\/strong>Des<\/span><\/strong>Plaines<\/span><\/strong>Valley<\/span><\/strong> Council<\/span><\/strong>, IL)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

T<\/span>he <\/span> first cold fact to face is this: This isn’t a troop; it’s a single patrol being run by the world’s oldest patrol leader. This is no place for your son and his friends, or <\/span>any<\/span><\/em> boy to be.<\/span> Your efforts to turn this troop around are honorable, but <\/span>have already proved and will continue to <\/span>prove futile.<\/span> It’s like the old story about “How many psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?” and the answer is: “One, <\/span> but<\/span><\/em> the light bulb has to want to change.”<\/span> Get out of that adult-led gang that calls itself a “troop.” Get out <\/span>now<\/span><\/em>.<\/span> It won’t improve by itself and doesn’t want help. This is a waste of your time and<\/span>\u2014<\/span>more importantly<\/span>\u2014<\/span>it’s<\/span> a waste of your son’s and his friends’ time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now this next may sound like a whack upside the head, and it probably is: Next time, <\/span>listen to your son<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

So w<\/span>hat about your promise to your son and his friends? Simple… You tell ’em that you gave it 100% effort but people can’t be “made” to change, so you fulfilled your promise and now it’s time to move on, because these people refuse to be saved.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the good news: <\/span>No one<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s “locked in” to this <\/span> (or any) <\/span>troop.<\/span> For a one-dollar transfer fee apiece, you’re all out of there in a heartbeat.<\/span> Stop shoveling water upstream with a pitchfork and transfer over to a troop that’s getting it right.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLook for a troop\u201d? You gotta be joking! Your son and his friends already found it. <\/span> Don’t waste another moment<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

How do <\/span><\/strong>Venturing Scouts do a <\/span><\/strong>h<\/span><\/strong>and <\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong>alute<\/span><\/strong> or the Venturing s<\/span><\/strong>ign<\/span><\/strong>? <\/span><\/strong>(<\/span><\/strong>Rich<\/span><\/strong> Kemp)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Both: Full hand (no fingers folded) with thumb at side of index finger<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

That taken care of, let\u2019s fix the nomenclature: Members of a Venturing crew are called Venturers; members of a troop\u2019s venture patrol are called Boy Scouts. There are no \u201cVenturing Scouts\u201d or even \u201cVenture Scouts.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

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

We have a question about Camping merit badge.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>The book says<\/span><\/strong>, \u201c\u2026<\/span><\/strong>You may use a week of long-term camp toward this requirement\u2026”<\/span><\/strong>but our troop seems to think that a Scout <\/span><\/strong>must<\/span><\/span><\/strong>go to summer camp.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>(I think they say you<\/span><\/strong>can use <\/span><\/strong>five days of summer camp.<\/span><\/strong>) <\/span><\/strong>So is it mandatory that a Scout<\/span><\/strong>goes<\/span><\/strong> on a week<\/span><\/strong>–<\/span><\/strong>long camp<\/span><\/strong>–<\/span><\/strong>out, or not?<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>Marc<\/span><\/strong> in <\/span><\/strong>Oklahoma<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Yes, to accomplish 20 days and nights of Scout camping for this merit badge<\/span>, a week (that’s up to seven days and <\/span> seven nights) of long-term (meaning Scout summer camp) may be used. <\/span> But this is <\/span>absolutely not<\/span> mandatory, according to <\/span>the language of <\/span> that requirement.<\/span> If, for instance, a Scout has camped all 20 days and nights in a tent he pitched or under the stars, <\/span>while on Scouting campouts, he’s met this requirement 100%.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve <\/span><\/strong>been serving as <\/span><\/strong>one of our council\u2019s area-serving Assistant Council Commissioner<\/span><\/strong>s, and I\u2019ve<\/span><\/strong> been <\/span><\/strong>recently <\/span><\/strong>asked to <\/span><\/strong>become the <\/span><\/strong>Assistant Council Commissioner for Roundtable<\/span><\/strong>s. There seems<\/span><\/strong> to <\/span><\/strong>be<\/span><\/strong> a difference of opinion <\/span><\/strong>between me and <\/span><\/strong>our Council Commissioner.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> Our Council commissioner insists that basic <\/span><\/strong>t<\/span><\/strong>raining for Roundtable <\/span><\/strong>C<\/span><\/strong>ommissioners begins with regular Commissioner <\/span><\/strong>b<\/span><\/strong>asic <\/span><\/strong>t<\/span><\/strong>raining and that Roundtable <\/span><\/strong>t<\/span><\/strong>raining is added on as supplemental.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> I\u2019ve been working with Roundtable Comm<\/span><\/strong>i<\/span><\/strong>ssioners <\/span><\/strong>off and on <\/span><\/strong>for 15 years<\/span><\/strong> and in this time I\u2019ve <\/span><\/strong>never considered regular Commissioner <\/span><\/strong>b<\/span><\/strong>asic <\/span><\/strong>t<\/span><\/strong>raining to be a <\/span><\/strong>\u201cprerequisite\u201d for Roundtable <\/span><\/strong>leader <\/span><\/strong>training. As a matter of fact, the syllabus for CSRT t<\/span><\/strong>raining specifically s<\/span><\/strong>tates: <\/span><\/strong>“Cub Scout Roundtable Commissioner <\/span><\/strong>& Staff <\/span><\/strong>Basic<\/span><\/strong> Training<\/span><\/strong>.\u201d Can you direct me to a resource that describes what<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>s considered basic training for a Cub Scout or Boy Scout <\/span><\/strong>Roundtable Commissioner<\/span><\/strong> and<\/span><\/strong>\/or <\/span><\/strong>staff?<\/span><\/strong> (Name & Council Withheld)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Opinions about “sticks-in-the-mud” aside, I think your best resource here is going to be your own council’s training chair or, failing that, call the national office and ask for the training department<\/span>\u2014<\/span>they may be able to point you toward a syllabus.<\/span> However, because I don’t believe you’re going to “convince” anyone of your right-ness, even if you <\/span>convinced<\/span> Moses to show up with a<\/span> fresh <\/span> set of tablets<\/span>. This appears to be more a battle of wills than rules.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

Could you please tell me how the Wolf Cub <\/span><\/strong>e<\/span><\/strong>lective <\/span><\/strong>A<\/span><\/strong>rrow<\/span><\/strong> Point<\/span><\/strong>s get placed on the Cub Scout shirt?<\/span><\/strong> I\u2019m aware that they get placed below the left pocket, with gold Arrow Point<\/span><\/strong>s on top, but how many silver <\/span><\/strong>Arrow Points, <\/span><\/strong>in how many rows<\/span><\/strong>, are correct?<\/span><\/strong>Our son has <\/span><\/strong>two gold <\/span><\/strong>and seven<\/span><\/strong> silver <\/span><\/strong>A<\/span><\/strong>rrow<\/span><\/strong> Point<\/span><\/strong>s and I\u2019m wondering if I have them placed correctly.<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>Heidi Trottier<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The first Arrow Point a Cub Scout earns for the Wolf rank or the Bear rank <\/span> is gold; after the first gold Arrow Point for each one of these ranks, all others are silver.<\/span> The Arrow <\/span>P<\/span>oints point downward.<\/span> The first or gold Arrow Point is placed below the bottom seam of the left pocket, under the bottom point of the Wolf badge or the Bear badge. Silver Arrow Points are lined in side-by-side pairs below the single gold Arrow Point for each rank.<\/span> For a picture better than all of these words, refer to the inside back cover of your son’s Cub Scout book.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

Can you clarify what<\/span><\/strong>\u2019s meant by<\/span><\/strong>,<\/span><\/strong> “While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of six months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility<\/span><\/strong>\u2026” I take this to mean that a <\/span><\/strong>L<\/span><\/strong>ife <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong>may<\/span><\/strong> serve for a period <\/span><\/strong>totaling<\/span><\/span><\/strong>six<\/span><\/strong> months<\/span><\/strong>\u2014that this can be, let\u2019s say, two months as a Patrol Leader and then four months as a <\/span><\/strong>Quartermaster<\/span><\/strong>. Or even three different positions that, when totaled, add up to six months since becoming a Life Scout.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong>However, s<\/span><\/strong>ome in our <\/span><\/strong>troop, who have been in <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong>ing a long time, <\/span><\/strong>are<\/span><\/strong> adamant that the <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong> must serve <\/span><\/strong>the full six <\/span><\/strong>months in <\/span><\/strong>a single <\/span><\/strong>position and that the time can<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>t be split<\/span><\/strong> between different<\/span><\/strong> positions<\/span><\/strong>, and\u2014more\u2014that these six months must be <\/span><\/strong>consecutive<\/span><\/span>. I can<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>t find anything official to explain this requirement<\/span><\/strong> in any more detail<\/span><\/strong>. <\/span><\/strong>Can you please help<\/span><\/strong>? I\u2019ve noticed that even the <\/span><\/strong>Eagle Scout rank<\/span><\/strong> application <\/span><\/strong>has multiple \u201cposition\u201d lines, but the others in my troop are intransigent about this. (Name & Council Withheld)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Let’s break this down.<\/span> First, we see that the <\/span>BSA states the <\/span> duration a<\/span>s six months, and that <\/span> the BSA <\/span>says nothing about whether these six months must be consecutive<\/span>, or not.<\/span> Second, we note that<\/span> the BSA states that<\/span>, in this <\/span>six month <\/span>time, one or more qualified positions may be held.<\/span> From this, <\/span>it is a short and simple step to <\/span> conclude that <\/span>the BSA is telling us that <\/span> a Life Scout may serve in one, or two, or more qualified positions, and that this can be in a single six-month period or on a series of shorter periods that, when added up, total six months.<\/span> Note, in particular, that no “interpretation” is necessary; merely a simple reading and comprehending of the words used in describing the requirement.<\/span> This is of course why the Eagle application has two lines and why, if more are needed, they can simply be added in.<\/span><\/p>\n

To take this to both extremes, a Life Scout can serve as, say, Senior Patrol Leader for six continuous months, OR he can serve as Senior Patrol Leader for two months, Scribe for three months, and troop OA Representative for one month, none of which need to be back-to-back with the others, and in both scenarios he will have met the requirement as stated<\/span> by the BSA<\/span>.<\/span> To put some sort of \u201cpersonal spin\u201d on this or any requirement is strictly taboo: N<\/span>o <\/span>council, district, <\/span> unit, or individual is permitted by the BSA to apply any further sort of stipulation to <\/span>any <\/span> stated requirement<\/span>so that it would be a violation of BSA national policy to insist on one way of meeting this requirement to the exclusion of equally acceptable alternatives.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

Our <\/span><\/strong>troop\u2019s c<\/span><\/strong>hartered <\/span><\/strong>organization is <\/span><\/strong>a s<\/span><\/strong>portsman’s <\/span><\/strong>club that\u2019s incorporated as a <\/span><\/strong>501<\/span><\/strong>(c)(7) no<\/span><\/strong>t-for-<\/span><\/strong>profit fraternal club.<\/span><\/strong> They\u2019ve been our troop\u2019s sponsor for 39 consecutive years.<\/span><\/strong><\/strong> One of our life <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong>s would like to give back to the<\/span><\/strong>m<\/span><\/strong> by doing his Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project for the club. There<\/span><\/strong>\u2019<\/span><\/strong>s<\/span><\/strong> a <\/span><\/strong>question<\/span><\/strong>, however, <\/span><\/strong>as to the eligibility of doing so<\/span><\/strong>, due to<\/span><\/strong> the <\/span><\/strong>club\u2019s i<\/span><\/strong>ncorporated status<\/span><\/strong>, although, apparently, an<\/span><\/strong>other project has been done there<\/span><\/strong> at some time in the past. Personally, <\/span><\/strong>I see no problem,<\/span><\/strong> but some others are nervous. What’s your take on this? (Rick Miller, SM, Great Sauk Trail Council, MI)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

There are many types of not-for-profit (501) organizations, and all are equally eligible to receive services by Boy Scouts…whether as Eagle projects or just general unit service projects!<\/span> Let that Scout know he can go for it!<\/span> If the district or council advancement committee has any questions, they can always ask the club to provide a W-9 form, which would clearly indicate its eligibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Dear A<\/span><\/strong>ndy,<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s the proper way for a patrol of <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong>s, none of whom <\/span><\/strong>is F<\/span><\/strong>irst <\/span><\/strong>C<\/span><\/strong>lass<\/span><\/strong> rank yet<\/span><\/strong>, to elect a patrol leader?<\/span><\/strong> My understanding is that a <\/span><\/strong>Scout<\/span><\/strong> must be <\/span><\/strong>F<\/span><\/strong>irst <\/span><\/strong>Class to be a patrol leader.<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>Rich Johnston<\/span><\/strong>, ASM, Pat<\/span><\/strong>riot\u2019s Path Council,<\/span><\/strong> NJ<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Neither rank nor age is in any way mandatory to be<\/span> elected<\/span> Patrol Leader, according to the BSA.<\/span> In fact, the BSA does<\/span>n\u2019<\/span>t impose any stipulations on any elected or appointed Boy Scout leadership position!<\/span>So, in the case of the patrol you asked about, they can certainly <\/span>have an election.<\/span> They\u2019ll elect their own Patrol Leader from amongst themselves, and then he, in turn, <\/span>will <\/span>select his Assistant Patrol Leader.<\/span>Simple as that!<\/span> (Whatever you do, don\u2019t \u201cassign\u201d a \u201ctemporary Patrol Leader\u201d from outside this patrol, or they\u2019ll never quite come together as a team!)<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

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

I\u2019ve been <\/span><\/strong>searching for sheet music (prefer piano but will take anything) for a song we call, <\/span><\/strong>“B<\/span><\/strong>-P Spirit<\/span><\/strong>.<\/span><\/strong>“<\/span><\/strong> I can find nothing <\/span><\/strong>in hundreds of search modes on I<\/span><\/strong>nternet. We need sheet music <\/span><\/strong>so we can <\/span><\/strong>teach our Cubs and Scouts how to <\/span><\/strong>sing and play this great song<\/span><\/strong>!<\/span><\/strong> I h<\/span><\/strong>ope you can help<\/span><\/strong>. (Neil Bailey<\/span><\/strong>, Former DC, <\/span><\/strong>Silver Jubilee District<\/span><\/strong>, <\/span><\/strong>Hong Kong Scout Association<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong>—<\/span><\/p>\n

Hmmm… Can you give me the first <\/span>couple of<\/span> lines of lyric for this song?<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

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

The words are:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I’ve got the B<\/span><\/strong>-P spirit right in my head, <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Right in my head, right in my head, <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

I’ve got the B<\/span><\/strong>-P spirit right in my head to stay.<\/span><\/strong>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mostly, this song is sung in overseas groups (Europe and <\/span><\/strong>Asia<\/span><\/strong>); American Scouts<\/span><\/strong> tend to sing particularly <\/span><\/strong>American songs.<\/span><\/strong> (<\/span><\/strong>Neil<\/span><\/strong>)<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The words you gave me are what I was hoping for… In the American BSA, we sing the same song this way, sung while standing. We call it \u201cSc<\/span>outing Spirit<\/span>\u201d sung (approximately) to the tune of <\/span> “Joy in My Heart”<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head, (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head, (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head, (point) <\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head, (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head to stay. (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

Deep in my heart (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

continue as in first verse<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

Down in my feet (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

continue as in first verse<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit,<\/span><\/p>\n

All over me (wave hands down from head to foot)<\/span><\/p>\n

continue as in first verse<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

Up in my head, (point) <\/span><\/p>\n

Deep in my heart, (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

Down in my feet, (point)<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve got that Scouting spirit, <\/span><\/p>\n

All over me, (wave hands…) <\/span><\/p>\n

All over me to stay. (wave hands)<\/span>
\nThe “Joy In My Heart” melody can be found at:<\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.sheetmusicplus.com\/look_inside\/7535590\/audio\/40466<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Use the first full verse, and then just repeat it! Now how’s that for a wonderful “Scouting connection”! Thanks for finding me and for writing<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Scouting!<\/p>\n

Andy<\/h3>\n

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

(June 6, 2010 \u2013 Copyright \u00a9 Andy McCommish 2010)<\/p>\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","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dear Andy, In that question about patrol food-shopping, you recommended that a designated Scout or two does the shopping, then brings the bill back to the patrolfor an equal-share reimbursement. Another way is to estimate the total bill in advance, build in a \u201csafety amount,\u201d and divide this among the patrol members, and then the […]<\/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-837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-6"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837","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=837"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":839,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/837\/revisions\/839"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/netcommissioner.com\/askandy\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}