Ask Andy

“Ask Andy” is an on line column by a commissioner who answers Scouting questions with a good deal of humor and common sense. Andy gets it.

Commissioners deal with some hairy situations; Andy’s advice indicates he has seen it all.

There are a not so surprising number of questions that amount to ‘how many square knots can dance on the head of a pin’ (I am constantly amazed people have time to worry about the alchemy of proper patch placement) but there is much that will help any Scouter. Andy doesn’t pull punches either; Answering a Commissioner who described his duties as a patch inspector: As a Commissioner, the only thing worse than being known as “the council cop” is making a reputation for yourself as “the patch police”! Why?

Because it’s petty. So, here’s my recommendation: CUT IT OUT!

Answering someone who had taken on too much in Scouting and wondered how to get his family back on track: Buddy, your family’s not off the track—you are!

Personally, I’m really not thrilled with the“hats.jpgled-high” approach to volunteering in Scouting. Fact is, I think it’s a great killer—of people and units, too.

Answering concerns over Troop rules about active participation: It’s dangerous, usually pretty darned illegal, and ultimately frustratingly fruitless for a Troop to try to create rules for the “be active…” rank requirement. More often than not, they have to bypass the rules they’ve made again and again because each situation is going to be unique.