Hey Andy,
About a year ago, I wrote to you about a pack that didn’t follow BSA
rules in many areas, and your advice was "Get out…transfer now!" At the
time, I convinced myself that, if I stayed, I could effect some change
and get them to follow BSA guidelines on how a unit’s supposed to be
run.
Wow! How wrong I was! Every time I spoke up and pointed out how the
pack was not following BSA procedures, I was scowled at by the Cubmaster
and Committee Chair both. After a year of frustrations and getting
nowhere, we and ten other families transferred out to another pack.
What an amazing change! Our new pack immediately welcomed us in! We’re
all happier, our families are more involved, and we've helped create a
fantastic program—the way a pack’s supposed to work!
So here’s my recommendation to your readers: Don't be afraid to
transfer! Find a good pack or troop and move on. Don't waste your time
trying to change others, because life and your son's time in Scouting is
too short to waste on rogues! (Name & Council Withheld)
Thanks for writing again. I'm delighted that your story has a happy
ending! Best wishes to you, your family, and your son—
Hi Andy,
Our pack went to Cub
Scout family camp this past weekend and our bully leader pinned two Cub
Scout from another pack to the ground during a game involving whacking
each other with flour-filled stockings. He kept saying, "You better
watch who you hit—I’m a lot bigger than you!" Then, the next morning,
when all the Cubs were understandably still tired from the night before,
he gave his nine year-old son one of those five-hour energy drinks.
There were other incidents, to the point where I want to see if the
committee would approve splitting off into another den, without him as
the leader. Any thoughts? (Name & Council Withheld)
Starting a new den gets
your son and his friends temporarily out of harm’s way, but only
temporarily, and leaves other boys subject to child abuse. Yes, child
abuse. Any adult who pins boys down is committing child abuse and needs
to be immediately reported to your Scout Executive to determine if and
what further action will be necessary. Make no mistake: This must be
done or not only the pack's leaders but the sponsor as well will be open
to legal action if not police action.
Dear Andy,
My son will be attending National Scout Jamboree soon, and I’ve got to
get his patches sewn on his Jamboree troop shirt. My son was lucky
enough to have attended the 2007 World Jamboree and, according to BSA
policy, can wear both the National Jamboree patch above the right pocket
and the World Jamboree Patch on the right pocket; however I can't figure
out which World Jamboree patch he should use. He has both the round BSA
contingent patch and the diamond-shaped participant patch (this is the
patch that he currently wears above his right pocket as instructed by
his World Jamboree Scoutmaster). I had assumed that it was this
participant patch that I would move to the right pocket area, placing
the 2010 National Scout Jamboree patch above the right pocket, but I
can't find out for sure. There is one other Scout in his Jamboree patrol
who also attended the World Jamboree, and his mother thinks that the BSA
contingent patch goes on the right pocket and then the 2010 National
Jamboree patch goes above it. Can you help me out here? I’ve asked those
in our council who I thought might know, but we've not had any luck
finding the answer. Or is this considered one of those cases where it's
OK to wear both, but not actually considered cool, so I should just only
put on the National Jamboree patch. I don't want to do it one way and
then have someone tell him it's wrong. (Gayle Timaeus, East Texas Area
Council)
The BSA's Insignia Guide will tell you that the current National
Scout Jamboree badge is worn above the right pocket and that the
official participant's badge for the most recent World Jamboree may be
worn on the right pocket itself. The BSA's contingent patch is just
that—It's a contingent patch and not a Jamboree patch.
Dear Andy,
I’m a fairly new Unit
Commissioner. In visiting with one of the troops I serve, I’ve noticed a
consistent problem with their courts of honor… they take forever! In
addition to all the speechifying by various adult leaders (Scouts are
“used” only as the master of ceremonies—which means usually 90% simply
announcing who the next speaker will be—and to talk for a couple of
minutes about a few hikes or camp-outs the troop’s been on), the major
part of the “ceremonies” is passing out bags or envelopes filled with
rank badges, merit badges, totin’ chips, and so forth, to the various
Scouts who have earned them since the last court. One-by-one, they come
up when their name is called and their advancements read off, collect
their bags, shake hands with the Scoutmaster, and go sit down again.
Isn’t there some better way of doing this, or am I worrying about
nothing? (Name & Council Withheld)
No, you’re not “worrying
about nothing.” What you’ve described sounds pretty stultifying, for
the Scouts and the parent audience as well. There are definitely more
exciting and interesting ways of managing a court of honor.
Let’s begin here: No
Scout should actually be receiving any badges at all at a court of
honor! That’s right: None. That’s because all BSA literature on the
subject informs us that badges of rank, and merit badges, are to be
presented to the Scout who’s earned them at the very next troop meeting
after his board of review or after he’s turned in his counselor-signed
merit badge application (aka “blue card”). We don’t wait for courts of
honor to present badges; we present them as rapidly as we can submit the
advancement report and get the Scout his badge(s). So, if this alone
were corrected, this troop’s courts of honor would not only speed up,
but they’d actually have room to have all Scouts earning a specific rank
come to the front of the room for public recognition, a short “good
work-keep going!” pep-talk, and audience applause! Same with merit
badges!
The second thing to
consider is a completely Scout-run court of honor, with the only time an
adult speaks is when the Scoutmaster delivers his “minute” (which should
last just about 60 seconds!) at the close. Or, a variation on this is
to have the brief “pep-talks” delivered by specific adult volunteers,
like the Committee Chair, Advancement Coordinator, head of the chartered
organization, and so forth. This, also, will not only speed things up
but will make the Scouts the center of attention, which is what a court
of honor’s supposed to be doing.
Now for a troop
sufficiently entrenched in its historical way of doing things, change
won’t come easily. And we know we can’t “lecture” at ‘em or—worse—wag
our fingers at ‘em, so what to do… How about informally visiting some
other troops’ courts of honor, till you find one that’s pretty close to
the model you’d like these folks to aspire to, and then, next time
around, invite whoever puts this troop’s courts of honor together to
come with you to visit that other troop. Then, sit back and see if a
light bulb goes on over his or her head!
Hi Andy,
These questions are
about the Order of the Arrow camping requirements for Scout and
Scouters. The long-term is understood; the questions are about the
rest. Some say that camping trips countonly ifthey’re with a Scout’s
own troop, while others say that they can be any Scouting-related trips,
regardless. For instance, what if a Scout went camping with other
troops, or volunteered at council camps for special events or training
weekends and such? Some even say that family camping counts. This
confusion has led to someScout being “de-nominated” for troop OA
elections. Any advice? (Bob & Theresa Sehlmeyer)
First, let's look at the exact language of the OA's camping eligibility
requirement: "3. In the past two years, have completed fifteen (15) days
and nights of camping under the auspices of the Boy Scout of America.
The fifteen days and nights of camping must include one long-term camp
of six days and five nights, and the balance of the camping must be
short-term (1, 2, or 3 night) camps."
So, what does this tell us...? First, it tells us that family camping
doesn't count because it’s not "under the auspices of the BSA.” But it
also tells us that any camping "under the auspices of the BSA"
absolutely does count, whether with one's own troop, with another troop,
at one's council summer camp or another council's summer camp, a
Camporee or Jamboree, or a special event held by a district or council
(e.g., overnight Klondike Derby, etc.).
So, if everyone just reads and then sticks with the exact language of
any requirement and doesn't attempt to put any sort of special spin or
further qualification on it, and doesn’t try to operate from a
decades-old memory, all's well that ends well.
Thank you for verifying what I've been trying to communicate. I will
bring this back to the committee table again, and then to the district,
to make sure Scout and Scouters aren’t incorrectly disqualified from
next year’s OA elections. Greatly appreciated!
Dear Andy,
My son is currently a
Boy Scout in his first year. I was a Scout when I was younger. I've
approached my son’s Scoutmaster and asked him if he’d be willing to
accept me as an Assistant Scoutmaster. He agreed. I've taken the
online courses and I’m now waiting for additional training dates to come
up through the council. My question is, when would it be appropriate to
wear the uniform and when do I put on the Assistant Scoutmaster patch?
I've been to different functions with the troop already but not in
uniform yet because I’m not sure if I need to complete allthe training
first. I’d be grateful for any assistance. (Jason, Susquehanna Council,
PA)
If you're duly registered and on the troop roster, it's time to wear the
complete official uniform. As for the ASM badge, the best way for this
to happen is for the Scoutmaster to present it to you, in a brief moment
at the front-end of a troop meeting. Talk to your Scoutmaster about
doing this. If he's reluctant, then don't hesitate to get the badge at
your local Scout shop and sew it on. Best wishes and thanks for
stepping up!
Dear Andy,
The Cubmaster of a
neighboring pack asked me and my pack for help with household items for
a local family in hardship. We agreed, and our pack gave the requested
items. But then we found out that that other Cubmaster had given the
items to a different family, instead. “A Scout is trustworthy,” and I’m
having a problem with this. Am I wrong?
No, you're not wrong in your beliefs, but you might wish to reach out
and, instead of relying on hearsay, personally ask your counterpart what
happened, and what lay behind the decision. Then, once you have it from
the source, you can let it go; especially knowing at if not the original
family, a family in need was nevertheless helped.
Dear Andy,
I’m hearing from others (but can’t find anything in writing) of "new"
tour permit requirements, one even saying if your unit travels as few as
five miles, you need a tour permit. Any insights on this? (Phil Malone)
Best to check with your council's health and safety committee or risk
management, committee... Personally, I've filed tour permits for over
twenty years whenever our pack or troop, as the case may be, went
anywhere other than to our usual meeting place, whether five miles or
five blocks, and the councils never once came back and said "don't file
for that." That said, TPs aren’t unreasonable bits of paperwork and,
like the "other" TP, covers your butt!
Hello Andy,
First, thank you for
being such a fine resource for us Scout Leaders. I must admit that I’ve
wanted to send in a question for some time but, having read your back
issues, most everything’s been covered.
I’m an Eagle Scout
and now an Assistant Den Leader for my son’s Webelos Den. During this
adventure, my own mother has been a wonderful resource for sewing on
uniform patches, making a den flag, cooking for projects and B&G
Banquets, and a whole bunch of other stuff. My question is, would it be
appropriate to make my mom our den’s “Honorary Den Mother”? I know that
moniker is no longer in regular use, but for someone like my mom, it
would have a very special meaning. I can get authentic Den Mother
patches and badges from online sources for her to display, and she could
wear them to special occasions. I know the term “Den Mother” is no
longer in official use, but feel this would be a terrific way to honor
someone in Scouting for all she’s done. Do you have any thoughts on
this? (Bradley Bullock, Longhorn Council, TX)
Wow, congratulations! And how special that your own Mom is helping
out! You bet I'd make her an "Honorary Den Mother"—patch and all!
Yeah, I know it's not strictly "legal," but there are times when someone
like your Mom, who's definitely "gone above and beyond," deserves
something very special, and your idea's really dynamite!
Dear Andy,
I’ve just been asked
to be Unit Commissioner for a unit in my area. My biggest issue right
now is getting them ready for rechartering. They’ve been four to five
months late for the past three years. How do I convince them to
recharter on time? (JacksonGray, UC, Cornhusker Council, NE)
First, team up with your District Executive, so that the two of you can
help this unit get up to speed. Typically, a good "persuader" is that,
unless the charter and all registrations are current, should there be
any sort of accident or incident, there's no BSA insurance to back
anyone up, and everyone including the sponsor is potentially liable for
any damage or injury. If you get no action from the volunteers in the
unit, go straight to the sponsor, and let them be the "bad cop"—not you.
Hi Andy,
My son and I just got into Scouting this last year and have had a
blast. I was asked and quickly said yes to be the Tiger Den Leader, and
I continued on and am now the Den Leader for his Wolf den. As the year
progressed, my son and I just got more and more enthusiastic about
Scouting.Our Cubmaster noticed this and has asked me to take over for
him when his son crosses over next year. Is this OK? Can I continue to
be my son's Den Leader and be the pack's Cubmaster at the same time?
What suggestions might you have for my situation? I’d love to do both,
and it would be a very difficult choice between the two. (Josh
Henderson, DL, Sam Houston Area Council, TX)
Page 2 of the BSA Adult Volunteer Application specifies that a person
may hold only one position in a Scouting unit, the sole exception to
this being that a Committee Chair (code CC) may also hold the position
of Chartered Organization Representative (code CR). There are no other
exceptions. Which one of the two positions you decide on is, of course,
up to you; however, I'm going to step into the breech and suggest you
consider, first, the position that keeps you closer to your own son and
his friends.
Hi, Andy,
A Scout in our troop going up for Star rank is an Assistant Patrol
Leader. Does this position count for a leadership role in the troop? The
Boy Scouts count it as a leadership role, as they have a patch and a
position that called Assistant Patrol Leader. Any advice on this matter
would be much appreciated. Thanks. (Frank Graffam, ASM, Aloha Council,
HI)
You and the Scout already know, from having read the requirement in the
Boy Scout Handbook and the 2010 Boy Scout Requirements
publication, that the Assistant Patrol Leader position doesn’t qualify
for Star rank req. 5, Life rank req. 5, or Eagle rank req. 4.
Consequently, my advice is to respect the precise language of these
requirements.
Dear Andy,
The fundraising
underpinning for my son’s Eagle project yielded more money than he
actually needed in the end. The leaders of the troop learned how much
money he’d actually raised, and now they want him to use a portion of
the excess funds (it’s a number in the hundreds) to support another
Scout's Eagle project, and, on top of this, the Scoutmaster wants other
project money to be used to buy a troop trailer. What should happen
here? (Name & Council Withheld)
Let's get your son off the hook here... Per BSA policy, he’s simply not
permitted to give any excess funds raised (after all expenses,
obviously) to anyone but the original contributors. In other words, he
is obligated to return any unused funds to the donors, in proportion to
their original donations. The BSA firmly states (refer to the project
workbook) that he’s not permitted to give that money to anyone other
than the original donors.
Dear Andy,
Can a Boy Scout wear
the Arrow of Light square knot, plus his Arrow of Light badge below the
left pocket? (Mike Bowman—the other one)
Nope. A Boy Scout wears the badge itself, and the inside front cover of
his handbook tells him where it goes.
Dear Andy,
We have a Cub Scout who’s also a member of our church. He and his
parents have asked me about a merit badge that has an emblem for the
Church of Christ, which I imagine is earned by doing service for the
church. So, if there's any information that you can give me as to what
he needs to do to earn the badge, and how and where to get it, we’ll get
him started on his service here. (Rev. Allen Tolliver, Shiprock, NM)
What a wonderful question—and opportunity! Just for brief
clarification, this isn't a "merit badge"—It’s a religious award program
separate from, but recognized by the BSA. For detailed information on
how a Cub Scout may earn the religious award for his faith and
denomination, based on his level in the Scouting program, go to either
praypub.org
and do a "search by faith" or go directly to
goodservant.org.
Dear Andy,
A troop in our area
that meets at a LDS (“Mormon”) church has an age restriction, we’re
told: A Scout can’t go on a campout until he’s 12 years old. This means
that some Scouts will miss out on going to summer camp for up to two
years as Boy Scouts. Is this accurate? (Name & Council Withheld)
The best way to get the answer to your questions is to call and schedule
an in-person meeting with the LDS Ward Bishop, or—if you want to go up
the chain a bit—the Stake President. Either of these good people can
describe to you exactly how the LDS church handles its Boy Scout youth
program (which is their right to do, by the way, per the
BSA-to-Chartered Organization agreement). Once you know how it works,
you can develop a troop outing and camping program taking into account
any LDS members and the practices they will be expected to follow.
Dear Andy,
How would you handle
a Cub Scout den that only comes to pack meetings maybe twice a year,
just to pick up all of their patches, pins, and belt loops, but is
otherwise conspicuously absent from pack meetings and events? Aside from
a pack participation requirement, how do we stop certain dens from using
the pack as nothing more than a “bling” source? (Name Withheld, Central
Florida Council)
The fact that this is happening points up two possible weaknesses in the
Cub Scouting program your pack and its dens are delivering...
In the first place, at every pack meeting, every den is supposed to have
a specific role in the program that puts them center-stage (refer to the
Program Helps booklets describing how to carry out the monthly
themes), and this will be especially true in the new Cub Scout program
that will begin in September. So, when you have every den involved in
its own unique segment of the pack meeting, with all of the Cubs in the
spotlight (and parents looking on), this may correct itself naturally.
Second, advancement isn't by lock-step. As each Cub advances in rank or
earns Arrow Points or Activity Badges, and such, these are to be
presented at the soonest available pack meeting and not held back for
some special event (e.g., B&G Banquet, etc.). When this is done, all
dens will want to be present, so that their Cubs can receive their
newest badges, pins, belt loops, and so on. So, when your pack's
leaders understand how this works, and follow it by turning in
advancement records each and every month, they've just provided their
own incentives to showing up.
Couple these two key elements together and you'll have all dens there,
at every monthly pack meeting! If this isn't happening still, then the
wayward Den Leader(s) will need to be replaced with folks who get what's
supposed to be going on!
Dear Andy,
What’s the BSA’s
position on Scoutmasters conferencing their own sons or nephews?
(Kenneth Fox, Greater Cleveland Council, OH)
If the BSA were opposed to the idea of Scoutmasters conferencing
with their own sons, you'd find a policy statement; the fact that there
isn't any tells you the answer: The BSA has no position one way or the
other on this topic, meaning that it's the Scoutmaster's sole decision.
So, if he's comfortable with doing this, then he should proceed; if he's
not, then actually that may be even more reason to proceed! Since the
purpose of the Scoutmaster's conference is to review with the Scout how
well the troop is doing in meeting the Scout’s needs and to help the
Scout get ready for his board of review—in other words, it's not
possible to "fail" a Scoutmaster's conference—who better to confer with
as a young man is getting ready to advance than his own father. So, to
anyone who would be so ill-advised as to use the expression "conflict of
interest" in such a context I’d ask: Just what is the nature of the
purported "conflict"? Remember this: We are all here to help our
sons through the Scouting program; we're not here to be their
watchdogs.
Dear Andy,
Our troop has had a
climbing program for a few years now. We are fortunate to have three
climbing instructors in our troop. As Scoutmaster, I believe that all
participants should have a current medical form and that they be
registered, which includes adults whose sons are Scouts in the troop.
What’s the BSA’s position on this? Is there a publication I can find
the answer in? (Pat Lewis, Patriots’ Path Council, NJ)
Your two primary resources will be the Guide to Safe Scouting,
and the Climb on Safely training course.
Dear Andy,
I once heard that the
Eagle Scout rank is the only civilian award that’s authorized for wear
on a military uniform. Do you have an answer on this? (Trey Blum,
former USMC & BSA, Santa Rosa, CA)
Yeah, for years I’ve heard the same thing; but I'm told that what really
happens is that Eagle Scouts who identify themselves as such, and have
the paperwork to support it, are immediately upped one pay grade.
(They're also often put in charge, but this is, of course, at the
officer's or NCO's discretion.)
Dear Andy,
I recently returned to Scouting after many yearsaway,to be the
newCubmaster for a local pack that was seriously suffering under weak
leadership. Fortunately, things are starting to come back together,
with almost all new leaders,and your columns have helped me guide some
of the new Den Leaders in the right direction. The online training
offered by the BSA has been helpful, but the new Den Leadersoften look
to me for answers to questions, especially since we’re also rebuilding
the pack committee and there isn't much experience there, either. My
challenge is that, aside from counseling one Scouton a merit badge
years ago, I haven't done anything in Scouting since I was I was an
Eagle Scout and Junior Assistant Scoutmaster over 17 years ago, and my
Cub Scout experience was so far back that I don't even want figure out
how long it's been!
My first question involves uniforms. I immediately wanted to set the
right example for the boys and other leaders, and I still fit in my old
Scout uniform, so I removed all the old emblems and added in the correct
square knots and other insignia. But when it came to headgear, I’m
stumped. I looked at the uniform inspection sheet and Cubmasters can
wear the Cub Scout leader’s hat, but neither of the two council Scout
shops in our area carries them—the only hats they carried were boys’
sizes.
Scoutstuff.org
shows only the hats that Cubs wear, and nothing specifically for
Cubmasters. Can Cubmasterswear the new centennial olive caps that Boy
scouts now wear? What about other traditional Scouting hats, such as
the campaign hat or classic garrison caps? I've tried looking online,
and there seem to be opinions all over the place.
My second question has to do with the Eagle Scout Mentor pin. This is a
really nifty addition to the Eagle Scout Award kit, but it wasn't
available when I earned Eagle. Would it be verboten to purchase one of
these pins and give it to my Eagle Mentor after all these years, to
honor him for helping me along the pathway to Eagle? (Jason Orton,
Sequoia Council, CA)
Uniform headgear: Many Scouters don't typically wear headgear. In the
first place, most meetings are indoors, so everyone uncovers anyway
(that's right, headgear off when indoors, always). But, for outdoor
meetings or events, a ball-cap style works just fine, and the BSA sells
a bunch of different types, so just pick one you think is cool and wear
it. (This isn't a "biggie.") (BTW, just about nobody wears "Smokey Bear"
hats or Garrison caps anymore.)
Eagle Mentor Pin: Yes, you can certainly buy one and present it to the
one person—not a family member—who helped you most along the trail to
Eagle. Frankly, that's a lovely idea!
Dear Andy,
Our troop's Life Scouts get very frustrated with the District Eagle
Advancement Committee, and even their parents have shared some strong
words. The problems include long response times with inconsistent
intervals or no responses at all, losing Scouts’ paperwork, incomplete
project reviews, and seemingly unending revision cycles (in one
instance, the review-revision process on one Eagle project had already
gone back-and-forth for three months when the Scout was told that he
should to add travel directions to the local hospital).
I know the district-level people, I personally like them and enjoy their
company, and I have respect for their many decades of service. In my
view, the problem is twofold. First, there’s a manpower shortage, and
that’s the easy fix. But the second is more difficult, because it’s a
historical philosophy having to do with the notion of "protecting the
Eagle brand" by exercising judicial- or Solomon-like judgment in “making
sure that all Scouts are good Eagle candidates.” My own viewpoint is
that we, as volunteer adult leaders, support the Scouts, that our
time and energy should be used to guide and help Scouts,
and that no energy should be spent trying to trip them up, slow them
down, or make sure they’re “worthy in our eyes.” Scouts earn the Eagle,
and all other ranks for that matter, by completing the requirements—When
they complete the requirements as written by the BSA, then they’ve
earned the rank, simple as that! Scouts should have a positive and
supportive experience at the district level, just as they do with their
troop—the district advancement committee needn’t and shouldn’t be a
hurdle to jump or a pound of flesh to deliver.
I can find substantiation of this viewpoint in BSA publications,
including Advancement Committee Policies and Procedures, the
Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, the Boy Scout
Handbook and the Scoutmaster Handbook, but how do I make a
difference for the Eagle candidates of tomorrow and beyond, when there’s
a tight-knit committee of folks who take a polarized point of view?
(Name & Council Withheld)
First, let’s get this said: You've got it exactly right!
We're all here to help Scouts advance; not to lob grenades in their
pathways! And we know that some folks get it right, and others don't
(for reasons we may never know or begin to understand). So, what to
do...
Well, one approach is to get yourself recruited to join the district
advancement committee. "Sell" this on the basis of your availability
for boards of review, understanding of the significance of the Eagle
Scout rank, being a team player, already knowing these guys…whatever
will work to make it happen. Then, once "inside," keep your mouth shut
as much as possible and your ears and eyes wide open. Learn who leads
by authority and who leads by influence. Learn their backgrounds and
listen carefully to their war stories. Only when you've figured them
all out will you know where and how to begin. Maybe it's with the guy
who almost believes as you do but is reluctant to speak up: Make
yourself his ally, so that you’re now a team of two. Maybe it's with
the biggest curmudgeon, to find out what's behind all his bluster, so
that you can eventually de-fuse it without turning him against you.
Once you’re on the
committee, offer to tackle a problem area (even if the others don’t see
it as a problem. For instance, be the lead guy in reviewing project
proposals and develop a system of responding to all submissions within a
short, specific, and consistent time-line. Or, head up the board of
review process, making sure it’s in place, philosophically, to support
the Eagle candidates and moves away from being an inquisition. You get
the idea…
You see, your eventual
goal here is to become the District Advancement Committee Chair, because
this is the seat of all authority and—more importantly—influence. It’s
where you can effect the greatest change, not only by insisting on
change but also by bringing others onto the committee who, like you, get
what advancement's really all about.
This won't happen overnight, of course, but if you've got the stamina,
smarts, diplomacy, and patience, you can ultimately affect the positive
outcomes for young men for generations to come! Think it over…
Dear Andy,
Last year, a group of
us started a new Cub Scout pack, formed from the ground up, with the
blood, sweat and tears (not too many tears!) of our neighborhood's
parents. We're rockin’ along and things have been going swell. The
other day my wife (who is our Committee Chair) was at the Scout shop and
saw the new Founder's Bar and she bought a batch of them for all the
original people who started our pack. However, our Council Executive
now tells us that our pack number was used long ago by another pack in
this area that ultimately folded—the pack dissolved so long ago that
there’s not even a record of it on the council's books, but word has it
that it did exist at one time (some of the old-timers in our
neighborhood remember it, but no one who was involved in it is still
around). So, here’s the question: Are we considered a "new pack,"
entitled to wear the Founder's Bar, or does the fact that this pack
number existed at some time in the past preclude us from wearing it?
(David Scott, DL, Atlanta Area Council, GA)
First, go here to see the exact requirements for wearing the Founder’s
Bar:
http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/522-011.pdf
My own opinion—which, along with a buck or two will get you a cuppa
coffee somewhere—is that in light of the distance in years (and memory)
between that defunct pack and yours, you can be considered a new pack
and legitimately qualify to wear the Founder’s Bar, especially since
you’ve indeed founded a new unit and haven’t revitalized an "old" unit
(that few can remember ever having existed in the first place).
Besides, it's only the arbitrary assignment of a number by the council
that’s made this an issue at all, so if this issue is a road-block, then
simply ask for a "virgin" number and convert to that, thereby making you
a truly new unit! Check again with your Scout Executive—I have to
believe you’ll get a green light!
Happy Scouting!
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(July 14, 2010 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2010) |
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