Dear Andy,

I’ve had to resign as Scoutmaster, because I just could take this sort of stuff anymore.  There are people spreading rumors about one of our more active adult Troop members, saying she took money from a Cub Pack (that whole thing was cleared up a year ago!). There’s someone working behind the scenes to get our sponsor to have me removed.  Our CC still hasn’t filed an adult application—it’s been a year!  Our Advancement Chair’s son has started work on his Eagle project without getting my signature.  I’ve been doing our rechartering for the past three years because no one else will.  The person who’s been working behind my back to get rid of me recently became a member of the OA, and had nothing to do with our Troop—to my knowledge, his application never came to me, and I have no idea who signed it.  Our District Executive told me that the people who are spreading the rumors will be asked to leave the committee, but they were supposed to have been asked a year ago and still nothing’s happened!  I’ve asked the Scouts and their parents to use a form I developed to keep track of service hours, and the four “problem” committee member/parents simply refuse.  I have no idea how to get these people to work with us or to follow the program. As a small family owner, I’m now concerned about what rumors these people are spreading in the community about me!

I’ve stepped down as Scoutmaster.  I don’t trust these other people not to do whatever they could to get rid of me, and so I guess that’s why I am so depressed, disgusted, and disappointed. I am not “Super Scoutmaster,” but I think I did a good job, using what we learned in Wood Badge. I think I’ve made the Troop stronger and better organized, but I really can’t explain how much we did, how much we enjoyed it, and to have to get out of Scouting because I fear for my business and reputation. These people want their sons to be Eagle Scouts, and they will do whatever, and as little as possible, to meet the requirements—that’s my gut feeling.

I think Scouting is important, for a lot of reasons. I threw all my resources at the disposal of this Troop, and it’s just so hard to feel like I did something wrong. I’ve asked and asked, what have I done wrong? and no one will answer.  Yet, I was one of two people this year to get the Scouter of the Year Award in our District.  I hope I earned it. (Name Withheld)

I'm sorry you're relinquishing the Scoutmaster position in your Troop. It's obvious that you've done good things.  It's also obvious, however, that your disillusionment has diminished the good feelings you should be having about a job well done.  Nonetheless, you may find yourself in a Scouting position again, at some time in the future.  So, in order to help you avoid and/or diffuse the possibility of these types of things cropping up in the future, I'm going to describe on a case-by-case basis EXACTLY what you, as the Scoutmaster, might have done:

- Couple spreading rumors: Nothing.

- Guy trying to get the CO to remove you: Nothing.

- CC who hasn't filed an adult application: Nothing.

- "Renegade" Eagle projects and dubious advancement chair: You are one of the signatories on the Eagle project application.  Your signature must go onto the project workbook before the project is begun. Don't sign, if you have a problem, and continue to not sign until the project is OK as far as you're concerned.  Period. 

- Annual rechartering: Nothing—This isn’t the SM’s job.

- Parents who are "just there for their sons": Get over it. Of course that's why they're involved!  Weren't you, for your son?  Of course you were, and that's a good thing!

- New adult OA member:  This sounds really screwy.  The only time an adult can be nominated is at the time of the annual Troop OA election, over which the SM presides, and the SM's signature is required on the adult nomination form.   Call the lodge officers, if you want to find out what happened, and who signed what.

- Slow-moving DE: Nothing.

- Non-used service hour form: This is simple—If this is what you'll accept, and nothing else, simply stick to your guns.  Period.

- The four "rumor-spreaders": Nothing.

- Scouts who do "as little as possible" in meeting requirements: It's impossible to "do as little as possible."  The requirements are the requirements, no more and no less.  There's no "above and beyond" and no one can or should expect this.

- Getting no answer to your repeated question, "What have I done wrong?": STOP ASKING.  This is the reverse of "begging for the compliment" and just as ineffectual.  Besides, only you really know whether you've done the job you set out to do or not, and if you do believe that, then you don't need anyone else to tell you so.

- You "hope" you earned the "Scouter of the Year" recognition.  I don't get it, my Scouting friend—You beg for the compliment, but then when you get it, you start to question it.  One of my favorite questions to ask an Eagle Scout candidate at his board of review is this: "Do you believe you should be an Eagle Scout?"  And if the candidate doesn't instantly and enthusiastically answer "YES!" I have to wonder what the heck is going on in his head!

Now, let's answer one more question: Why have I said "Nothing" so many times?  Simple.  The SM's job is program/program delivery-related.  It is not administrative, nor one of coordination of adults, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the "politics" of the parents, except as these politics might impact negatively on the Troop's youth and the Scouting program you're delivering.  So, it seems like you were focusing on, or at least giving a lot of attention to toe wrong stuff.  Stick to the RIGHT STUFF—The SCOUTS THEMSELVES.  And, as far as rumors and rumormongers go, who you are and what you do speaks more loudly than any mere words of theirs, however malicious.