Want to add my “Ask Andy” column to your council’s website?  Easy!  Just check with your scout executive and webmaster first, then have one or the other of them send me an email requesting the full column twice a month, as I complete them, and giving me the name and email address to send them to, and you’re in business!

“Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But absolute power ROCKS!  Read on...

Dear Andy,

First, let me say your column is great--tremendously informative and educational. I hope you can help me—I've got two issues that I need advice on. First, contrary to your comments in Issue 19 (Mid-November ‘03) my council has put quotas or limits on the number of Merit Badges a Counselor can cover to a maximum of six badges per Counselor, and they’ve set a limit of three on the number of MBs a Scout can earn with any one Counselor.   These change took effect last November.  Last May, I was approved for 17 Merit Badges by this same Advancement Committee.   Now,  due to this change in policy,  I’m being told I have to cut down to six.  When the changes went into effect, I expected they’d simply “grandfather” the existing Counselors,  but the Advancement Committee doesn’t want to do that; instead, they want everyone to cut back immediately.  There are many Counselors in my District with well over six—some have 15-20 MBs. So, my first problem is where do I turn to address the issue that the council advancement committee is setting a policy that supercedes BSA national policy?  I've written to my District Executive and to our Commissioners and I've received no response, and I’m getting the impression that they believe the council is allowed to do this (then again, who will stop them?).  Second, my own District Advancement Committee is implementing this limit on Merit Badges in a “staged” approach instead of across-the-board: They’re restricting only some of the MB Counselors this year, and then plan to cut back the others next  year, and they’re starting with the Counselors that aren’t Scoutmasters or Assistant Scoutmasters. To me, this is clearly discrimination and favoritism.  If they’re going to implement an arbitrary limit, at least it should be done to everyone; not just one group (non-SM/ASM), or at least grandfather existing Counselors and implement this on just new Counselors.  I don't want to bad-mouth my District, my Council, or the BSA.  But I’m shocked at the attitudes I am seeing demonstrated from my Council and the Advancement Committee.  I want to formally protest or complain, in the most respectful manner.   To whom can I turn?  What’s the appropriate chain to follow? I just don't believe what these people are doing is right.   I’ve heard their argument for the limit on the Counselors (see * below),  and I don't agree with that way of thinking, but mostly I don't agree with it because it’s specifically contrary to BSA National policy!  (Please don’t publish my name, town, or council name!)

* Our Council Advancement Committee has two primary reasons for limiting the number of Merit Badges per Counselor to six.  First, they believe that they’re seeing Eagle applications for Scouts that have only ever worked with one or two Merit Badge Counselors outside of summer camp, so they believe that the Scouts aren't getting enough exposure to working with adults who aren’t familiar to them (this is also their rationale for limiting the number of badges any Scout can earn with one Counselor to three).  The second reason I heard, (and they really believe this!), is that "Six is about the most number of subjects that anyone can really be an expert in."

You’ve got a whole bunch of issues here, like...

·        Can/should MB Counselors be limited to a set number of MBs?

·        Can a person reasonably be an expert—by vocation or avocation—in a large number of subject areas?

·        What qualifies a MB Counselor for any particular MB subject?

·        What can be done to get past wrong-headed thinking by both a council’s advancement committee and the MB Counselors it approves?

Let’s start out by taking another look at the fundamentals: Why are there Merit Badges in the first place?  You’ll find the answer throughout BSA literature, going back to 1910. The two purposes of the Merit Badge program are (1) so that a Scout learns how to contact and then work with an adult whom he doesn’t know (teaches a particular set of interpersonal skills) and (2) so that a Scout can broaden his understanding of a variety of subjects, which in turn might lead to a vocation or life-long avocation.  In that order, that’s it.  Pretty simple, Huh!

So, the BSA policy of no limit on the number of MBs one Counselor may handle is a sound one.  Someone a lot wiser than you or me figured out a long time ago that specifying any limiting number would be arbitrary.  But, “no limit” doesn’t mean the same thing as “unlimited” (just like “not guilty doesn’t mean the same as “innocent”!)  That’s because it’s the job of a Council’s Advancement Committee to approve all Counselors for the MBs they apply for.  So, it’s the approval process that determines the limit, rather than some number plucked out of the air.

Here’s how the approval process works: A potential MB Counselor submits an application, and—if successful—receives approval to counsel Scouts on a particular subject because he or she has demonstrated, via the application process, that they have significant experience, skill, and knowledge—either because of their vocation or their avocation—in the subject at hand.   This is the determining factor for approval, and nothing else.  In fact, anyone who wants to counsel on a particular subject shouldn’t be counting any prior counseling on that subject as “experience,” because this is “teaching experience” and not subject experience.  So, in your case, if you’re truly an expert in 17 different subjects, by vocation or avocation, then approval for you to counsel on those 17 subjects should not be unreasonably withheld.  But, if you can’t clearly demonstrate your personal depth of experience, skills and knowledge in all 17 subject areas, by virtue of your vocation or avocation, then a Council Advancement Committee can legitimately approve some but not all of the MBs you’ve applied for, and withhold approval of those where your experience appears superficial or otherwise unacceptable.  This is how limits occur—based on a potential Counselor’s particular personal qualifications; definitely not on some arbitrary number.

So, here’s a question: Are you, personally, truly an expert in 17 different subjects?  I’ve just gone through the entire list of Merit Badges, and here’s what I’m seeing:

·        You might be able to counsel as many as 15 different subjects IF you happened to be a professional peace officer and a volunteer firefighter whose hobbies were triathlon competitions and numismatics.

·        You might be able to counsel as many as 15 other MBs IF you happened to be a doctor who had started and now managed a multi-office practice and who also happened to be an “Outward Bound” leader in your spare time.

·        You might be able to counsel as many as 14 different MBs IF you happened to be a rocket scientist who was also an expert in white water and competitive shooting sports.

·        In short, I haven’t figured out any combination of vocation and avocation that gets someone to be an expert in 17 distinct subjects! (And “staying two pages ahead of the Scouts” doesn’t count!) 

As far as your Council’s Advancement Committee wanting to “limit the number of MBs a Scout obtains with the same Counselor,” the goal is worthy but the method stinks!  This is like trying to fix a leaking faucet with a lawnmower!  The problem isn’t the number of MBs one Counselor counsels.  It’s lack of “education” among Scoutmasters!  The BOY SCOUT HANDBOOK (p.187) says that the Scout gets the name of a qualified Counselor from his Scoutmaster.  So, if SMs understood the simple idea of varying the Counselors to whom he sends his Scouts, this problem instantly disappears! 

And, on that idea your District’s Advancement Committee has of not setting a limit for Scoutmasters or ASMs, that’s ridiculous!  In fact, it’s backwards! It defeats the very first of the MB program’s two essential aims.  The cold fact is this: There’s absolutely no reason whatsoever why a SM/ASM should be a Counselor for ANY Merit Badge!  Now someone will argue that “A SM has to be a Counselor for (let’s say) Camping MB, so that his Scouts can get signed off for their Troop camping trips.”  Wrong!  With the sole exceptions of requirements 8(c), 9(a), and 9(b), all of which can be managed by a confirmatory letter signed by the SM or ASM and presented to the MB Counselor by the Scout, there’s no requirement for this MB demanding that the Counselor and the Scout earning it actually be in an outdoor or camping environment.  All other 20 requirements begin with a word like “explain,” “show,” “prepare,” “demonstrate,” “discuss,” “make,” “describe,” or “learn.”

Finally, what can you, personally, do about all this.  Well, did you see the Mel Gibson movie, “Braveheart”—where he plays the role of William Wallace, who fought for Scottish independence against the British king?  Did Wallace fight single-handedly?  Of course not!  He raised an army–a “rabble in arms” it was, but effective nonetheless.

Sure, you could write a letter to your Council’s Executive Board or President or Scout Executive; but the only sound you’ll be hearing is yourself, soloing.  I can pretty much guarantee you that your reward will be frustration; not progress.  So, raise an army.  Get hold of your District’s and/or your Council’s Merit Badge Counselor list, and put together your own list of men and women who counsel more than six MBs.  Alert them to the problem, present your position (borrow from this letter, or circulate it in its entirety, if you like), and see who’s willing to stand up for what you all have come to believe—that MB Counselors should be approved (or not) based on their actual qualifications and not based on some arbitrary number.  Start a petition, or all of you go to a Council Advancement Committee meeting—the dates and locations are published, and these meetings cannot be “closed”—and state your case in person.  (Don’t “ask”—just show up in great numbers!)  Force of numbers will speak for itself and, properly handled, no blood will be shed.  Like a football team with a strong defensive line, the way to victory to overwhelm the opposition—in this case, your job is to sack the quarterback!

Hi again, Andy,

Thanks for your help and advice.  I agree that 17 is a high number to be considered an expert in. On my original application, I only listed about 6-10,  but I attached a letter saying that I was willing to do others, and described my background and qualifications for each of the additional ones.  I only indicated a willingness to volunteer,  and the prior Advancement Committee must have felt this was satisfactory.  I don't consider myself an expert in all 17 areas, but since they fall into about four general categories, I have quite a bit of experience in those categories.  I don't object to dropping MBs I’m not an expert in, but I object to an arbitrary limit—a complete disregard for National policy.  I doubt I could rally any support, since a large majority of the Counselors with over ten MBs are ASMs, and they’re not getting restricted (yet).  I'll do what I can, but all it's getting me is frustrated and a reputation as a troublemaker--all this because I was willing dedicate my time, effort, and service as a volunteer (I believe in that "help other people at all times" stuff).  I fully expect that they’ll disallow me from being a MB Counselor for any badges,  and take me off the list.  Clearly, I have no recourse, and that just isn't right.   Again, Thank you.  (Name withheld)

Before you give up the ship, consider these thoughts...

It only took one little kid to shout, "The Emperor has no clothes!"  Sure, he could be called a "troublemaker"—people who see the truth behind a situation and stand up for it are very often called "troublemakers" because they truly do cause trouble—they make people THINK.  So, you might want to take "troublemaker" as the compliment I'm sure it will be intended to be when used to describe you!

Don't be tempted to do a "poor little me" routine.  Instead, do the math—If you find just two others who agree with you, and they each find two, and those each find two, in just four iterations you'll have 31 people who are willing to stand up!  That's more than enough to go to an Advancement Committee meeting and "sack the quarterback"!

Meanwhile, pick MBs that you consider yourself truly an expert in, and fill out a new application for each one of them.  This CANNOT be "disapproved" without extremely solid "evidence" of some sort, and you can go for the jugular if it's weak or inaccurate or biased or preemptory.

Remember that SMs and ASMs are the LAST people on the planet who should be MBCs at all!

If you do nothing in the knowledge of a wrong being done, are you less "guilty" than the wrongdoers?  Think it over.

Dear Andy,

First, enjoy your column very much.  Great, practical, sensible advice for all Scouters! Here’s my question:  Our Chartered Partner recently stated "In order to have a responsible leadership position within the Troop, you must have a son registered in the Troop."  The end result was that three of our longest serving committee members (two had sons that became Eagle Scouts in the Troop) weren’t allowed to re-register as committee members.  Combined, they had over 30 years of Scouting experience.  Ever heard of such a policy? (David Hudson, Unit Commissioner, Ojibwa District, Clinton Valley Council)

Yup, I've seen stupid and self-defeating "policies" like this before!  When I've been confronted with this kind of nonsense, my response has been something like this: "OK, you're the Troop's sponsor, and one of your responsibilities is to provide adult leadership for the Scouting unit you sponsor.  So, go do it, because it's your job; not the Troop’s, the District’s or the Council’s."  Then, when they start squawking, I'll suggest that the Troop would be happy to find leadership, the minute the sponsor makes their arbitrary "policy" go away.  As a new Unit Commissioner, you're gonna need this kind of ammunition some day, so pack this away in your memory banks!

But, in the meanwhile, here's a mission you can set yourself on... You now know of three experienced “former” Scouters who are committed to the Scouting movement but don’t have Scouting “jobs” at the moment.  So, go after them, and recruit them to join your District's Commissioner service team!  It's a great job, as you know, you can pretty much "make your own hours," and you can really help several units instead of just one!

Hello Andy,

I'm the advancement coordinator for Troop 24, in Weare, NH, Daniel Webster Council. We have several boys working on their Eagle projects, and they’re asking for charitable donations from some local businesses. In order to do this, the businesses are asking for a letter stating the BSA is a nonprofit organization. Where can I get a copy of a letter stating this? Paul K. Carignan

Good news!  Your local Council’s service center can give you a "To whom it may concern"-type letter that states that the BSA is a non-profit charitable organization.  The Scouts can also carry a letter from a CPA that an adult in the Troop might know (you may even have a Troop parent who's a CPA!) that can state the same thing.  Third, the Scouts can suggest to these businesses that, if they ask their own CPA, they will confirm that the BSA is indeed a charitable organization.  (Frankly, it seems a little weird to me that business owners are asking for this—Is this the first time in 94 years that they've ever been asked to donate to the Boy Scouts?)

Dear Andy,

About ten years ago, I joined my District’s Advancement Committee, and started attending Eagle Boards of Review as the representative for the Council. When I first joined up, my advancement chair told me that, if I was the only one from the committee at the BOR,  I should serve as Chairman and sign the Eagle rank application as such.  He said not to worry about the “Rep. from Council” signature line, because it wasn't as important as the Chairman.  So that’s what I did, most every time, for some ten years.  Then, just the other day, I was at an Eagle BOR and when it came time to sign the application, one of the members of the Troop Committee reached in front of me, grabbed the application and started signing it as the Chairman of the BOR.  When I told him that I’m the one who signs as Chairman, he told me that I was there as the representative from the Council, and that he was Chairman of the BOR.  Rather than get into an argument, that wouldn’t have been resolved that evening, I let the situation drop and just signed as the “rep.”  But then I talked to another member of the District Advancement Committee, and he said that the same thing had happened to him at that same Troop!  So, my question is this: Is there any policy on who chairs an Eagle BOR and who signs what? Thanks! (B.C.)  

Per BSA Advancement Committee Policies & Procedures (see book by same name), a Council has the option of conducting Eagle BORs in one of two ways—either at a Council-level BOR or at a Troop-level with a Council representative present.  In either case, there’s a preliminary meeting of the members of the BOR, where an orientation for the BOR members is carried out.  In that orientation, the roles to be played by the BOR members are delineated. This is where the chair is named, the Council's representative is identified, and so on.  From your description, it seems as if this pre-BOR meeting and orientation didn't happen. Had it happened, there would have been no confusion at the conclusion as to who signs where.  So, the best and most diplomatic solution to your situation, in the future, might be to make sure this pre-BOR meeting happens, so that everyone's on the same page. As for who signs where, unless someone at the Troop level (like the advancement chair or the committee chair) is specifically designated by the District Advancement Committee to act as the representative of the District and Council, it would be inappropriate for them to sign in that space.  Of course, this should be noticed by a sharp-eyed Scout Executive, who is, after all, the very final signer of the Eagle rank application. These policies and procedures have been in place for many a year, designed to prevent exactly the kind of confusion you've experienced; however, it takes a knowledgeable group of BOR members to carry them out.  If you are attending a BOR as the Council's representative, then it just might fall to you to conduct the orientation, if no one else shows the intent to do so.

Dear Andy,

As a youth, I participated in several flag retirement ceremonies and now, as a Scouter, I’ve helped conduct a few also. What I’m looking for is some source of other Flag retirement ceremonies. I’ve referenced several BSA publications and even checked the US Code of Flag Etiquette, but I’m unable to find anything other than the general guidance to “retire the Flag in a respectful private ceremony.” We have over the past several years been retiring Flags at our Spring and Fall family camping events. In an attempt to keep this fresh to the boys who have been in Scouting for a while, I eagerly look for any assistance in finding some new ways to conduct the ceremony. Any guidance in this matter would be appreciated. (G.S., Eagle Scout & CM, Tidewater Council, Portsmouth, VA)

The United States Code, Title 36, Chapter 10, Section 176(k) simply states: "The Flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Notice that "private" isn't part of the code, and that the "dignified" part is left up to us.  Now, you could search the Web for someone else's ceremony, or you could get creative and develop your own, or—here's a concept!—you could charge the Scouts with creating an appropriate ceremony, and then offer ever-so-gentle guidance.  Of the three options, I really like the third one!  Isn't that the one that fits best what we're in Scouting for?

Dear Andy,

As Assistant Council Commissioner, I'm frequently asked by our Unit Commissioners to address the following question: "I’m often faced with convincing unit-level Scouters who have extensive Boy Scout histories (“I earned Eagle as a youth,” for instance) who won’t take basic training, and use their prior Scouting experience as the reason for refusing...How do I succeed in countering these postures and get them to complete CLST or TLST and become even more successful in their delivery of the BSA program to the youth members and their units?"  (Jim Costello, ACC, Great Sauk Trail Council, Ann Arbor, MI)

 

Ahhh, Yes. Dontcha just love those guys who tell you how they have twenty years experience, but you quickly realize they have ONE year of experience, repeated nineteen more times!  Then there's the other danger:  Send a turkey to training and what do you get?  A trained turkey! As a Unit Commissioner faced with exactly the kind of problem children you're facing, I realized that I had to be devious. So, here are a few "guerilla tactics" that have worked for me...

·        Shanghai 'em. Invite 'em to training, in a STAFF capacity (stroke 'em: "You have experience in XXX and we'd like you to teach that at our next course...") and then tip the other staffers off to getting him to sit in on the sessions he really needs.

·        Sabotage 'em.  Tell the unit's committee, "Gee, I'd really like for you folks to get the National Quality Unit award this year, and there's just one thing keeping you from receiving it... Your leader needs to go to the XXX training course.  If you can convince him to go, I'll make sure you get your flag ribbon and QU patches for everyone!"

·        Challenge 'em.  Spot something that's been changed in the past 20 years.  Tell 'em, "Hey, didn't you know that XXX has gone the way of the dinosaurs?  You DON'T?  Well, maybe if you took some training, you'd be a little more up-to-date."

·        Tease 'em.  Bring a Scouter's Key (or Training Award or WDL award, etc.) square knot badge to a meeting with 'em.  Show it, and tell 'em, "You know, I've checked, and you've done everything you need to receive this EXCEPT go to training.  Sign up, and this is YOURS!"

Remember this: These people aren't refusing to go because they truly believe they know everything and they're doing everything right.  They're blowin' smoke in yer ear!  They're refusing to go because, in their heart of hearts, they darned well know they're messin' up, and they don't want to be confronted with how crumby a job they're really doing!  So, if you try to fight fire with fire, you'll lose.  You have to fight fire with WATER!

Thanks, Andy,

Good suggestions.  I'm going to use them in my presentation at our Council Commissioner's Conference this next weekend.  I’ll credit you as the source of these ideas, along with your email address and website. (Jim Costello) 

Dear Andy,

What do you know about “commissioning” Commissioners?  National talked about it, but I haven't seen anything out on it, and no one in my Council knows what it is or how it’s done.  If you have something on it, please send it my way. (Rick Golsan, Boy Scout Roundtable Commissioner Wagonwheel District, Great Salt Lake Council)

"Commissioning" Commissioners isn't mysterious... It's a brief ceremony that takes place at the Council's or at each District's annual meeting. As you’ll remember, Commissioners aren't elected; they're appointed. Simplified, DCs are appointed by their DE and District Chair, and RTCs, ADCs and UCs are appointed by the DC.  So, we want to "commission" them—that is, install them in their office.  This can be done by the DC, for his staff, or, if it includes the DC (or DCs) as well, it can be done by the District Chair or the Council Commissioner (or an ACC), or by the Council President.  Notice that it’s NOT done by a paid staffer (e.g., DE, DD, SE).  Presenting a certificate is always appreciated.  And here's a simple "Commissioner's Oath" that all being commissioned can repeat after the person leading the ceremony:

 
"Raise your right hands in the Scout Sign and repeat after me...

• On my Honor...
  
• I will do my best...
  
• To fulfill my responsibilities...
  
• To my District and my Units...
  
• To help the units and leaders in my care at all times...
  
• To keep their membership strong...
  
• Character-building alert...
  
• And program straight."
  

Dear Andy,
Here's another one for you. What does it mean to be vested and how is it done? (Rick Golsan)

A "vesting" or "investiture" is to ceremonially confer authority, office, and symbols, upon someone.  The only ceremony of this type I ever had was as a Tenderfoot—remember the old "Tenderfoot Investiture Ceremony"?  But, a vesting or investiture ceremony is certainly appropriate for Commissioners... with the caution that, as we think about it, Commissioners really have no "authority" (although some misguided ones think they do!). To “vest” Commissioners with their badges of office, certificates, and then they take their Oath, would certainly be impressive, and I'd encourage you to pursue this line of thinking... so long as we remember always that Commissioners are Scouting’s ambassadors and ultimate diplomats (not to be confused with "politicians") and though they "talk softly" they never “carry a big stick" (see my comments about "iron fists" in Ask Andy-February 2003).

Dear Andy,

Do you know if there’s a special way or guideline for presenting the Venturing Ranger Award, I’ve asked everyone that works in the Council office and they have no idea, mainly because I am the first person in the Council to receive this award.  My Advisors and I have been surfing the Net to see if anyone’s come across this problem. We’ve checked the national site and various council sites from across the country, but we’re turning up nothing. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! (Dan O'Leary, Venturer, Crew 911, Boston Minuteman Council, Arlington, MA)

Congratulations, Dan!  The Ranger Award is one of the most rigorous in Scouting, and you can be immensely proud of what you've accomplished. As for ceremonies, I haven't seen a "recipe" and I've done some searching, too!  But, usually inside everything that looks like a problem you'll find an OPPORTUNITY.  The opportunity you have, my young Scouting friend, is to work with your Crew Advisor and devise not only a ceremony that you, personally, will enjoy, but which can also serve as a model for others who will follow you— Not only in your own Crew but across your Council!  Treat it as a personal project and I'm sure you'll be rewarded with something that is not only memorable for you, but will take on a "life" of its own!  Go for it!!!

Happy Scouting!!

Andy

Got a question? Send it to me at AskAndyBSA@yahoo.com -be sure to let me know your Scouting position, town, state, and council!

(May 2004 – Copyright © 2004 Andy McCommish)