FScouter

Excuse me Mr. Persnickety. Youre the one making the claim that BSA has a guideline that says no uniform is required. That erroneous claim is totally off base and anyone pushing that point of view is not supporting the aims and methods of Scouting. Ed, theres no need requirement to follow the Scout Oath, or use the patrol method, or have outdoor activities, or compete rank requirements either. Theres no requirement to be a Boy Scout either. So whats your point?

Maybe at a meeting the boy could ask to speak to the Scoutmaster. Pull up a couple of chairs and have a nice chat with the Scoutmaster. Part of the conversation would include "Gee Mr. Scoutmaster, what other specific things do I need to do before I'm qualified to sit for my Eagle Board of Review", and "Gee Mr. Scoutmaster, would you please let me know how I'm not good enough to sit for a Eagle Board of Review", and "has my leadership been deficient, or did I earn the wrong merit badges?" Put the old guy on the hot seat.

Gee, thanks a bunch mr. fog for clearing up that confusion. Somehow I got the mistaken impression that wearing the Boy Scout uniform was somehow related in some way to the Boy Scout program. I guess that method number 8 of the 8 methods of Scouting (THE UNIFORM) doesn't have anything to do with wearing a uniform after all. Thanks for all you do for the Scouting movement, and in educating Scouters everywhere that the Boy Scout uniform is not part of the Boy Scout program. Now excuse me and I'll run right out and get the purple plaid pants you recommended.

From my personal life experiences in and out of Scouting I've learned that in every group of people there are a few individuals that are hard to work with. Moving from one group to another group eliminates the problems with the old group. In the new group, you now have the opportunity of working with a few different individuals that are difficult to work with. I guess life is like that.

For real news without the fluff and shock value, try the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour, or National Public Radio, or the Nighly Business Report.

Maybe they don't feel compelled to buy the pants because they heard some numbskull say there is no "guideline" to wear the uniform.

Mr. FOG and Mr. Ed, the both of you are full of prunes! It is absurd to assert that there is no BSA guideline to wearing the uniform. Method number 8 of the 8 BSA methods of Scouting is THE UNIFORM. I cannot comprehend how two persons that purport to be adult leaders in this movement can publicly dismiss one of the eight methods of Scouting by saying something as inane as there is no guideline to wear the uniform! "Wearing the uniform helps boys develop a sense of belonging to their patrol and troop. It reinforces the fact that all members of the BSA are equal to one another. People seeing a boy in a Scout uniform expect someone of good character who is prepared to the best of his ability to help those around him."

Thanks Herms. Please excuse the skepticism. If the award is discussed in an official BSA publication, or on a BSA web page (as you cited), it is certainly official. Too many times we hear about medals, awards, patches, and pins that someone claims are "authorized" to be worn on the uniform, but in fact have no authorization from BSA. The NRA shooting marksmanship medals are a good example. As discussed in the Insignia Guide, "military" awards are not for the Scout uniform, but based on the discussion in your sources, I'd call this award more a chartered organization award than a military award. Wear it with pride!

We did a carwash to earn money to help pay for uniform parts.

I'm always dismayed when, at the first hint of trouble, adults want to pick up the marbles and move.

Your Scoutmaster painted a rosy picture for your chartered organization, when the truth was otherwise. And now the CO is somewhat skeptical that the situation is really as bad as it is. It never hurts to be a member of your chartered organization and to maintain some kind of relationship with them. Two or more pictures give a better view than one.

Where can I find some information about that medal?

There is no guideline that says the uniform is not required.

The chartered organization might be looking at this situation differently if they had been kept appraised of the doings of the troop over the past 18 months.

The unhappy individuals are free to seek out some community group willing to charter a new troop. They can proceed to recruit boys, adult leaders, procure equipment, etc. They basically need to start from the ground up. Starting a new unit IS A LOT OF WORK. And because people are different everywhere, there will be people in the new unit that will have differing opinions. I'd submit that in many cases, it might be a whole lot easier to mend the fences in the existing unit.

The chartered organization agrees to conduct the Scouting program according to the policies and guidelines of BSA. Requiring a uniform is certainly not in conflict with any part of BSA policies and guidelines, and certainly doesn't add to the the requirements. However, a CO requirement for purple plaid pants is unquestionably outside the BSA program.

There may be some local council variation in the tour permit approval process. A permit completed on-line and e-mailed may be acceptable one place, or an original completed in black in may be required elsewhere. In our council the woman behind the desk squeals like a stuck pig if you fail to submit the permit less than 3 working days before your event. It takes her that long to complete her approval process. The neighboring council approves them on the spot in two minutes or less. The hard and fast rules are found in the Guide to Safe Scouting, and printed on the tour permit itself. Those rules are universal throughout the country.

We have some Scoutmasters in our district that have met and overcome the challenge of the uniform "problem". Their boys own and wear all the parts. Some other Scoutmasters aren't up to the task. Their boys wear various uniform parts as the mood strikes. Some of those Scoutmasters have created uniform "rules" such that their boys are easily in "compliance".

Thanks be to goodness we don't have to worry about drugs or gangs anymore!

This subject was argued, er, discussed about a month ago. www.scouter.com/forums/viewThread.asp?threadID=58032

It is always interesting to me when a person or group makes a decision, and then looks for reasons to support the decision; reasons that have nothing do to with arriving at the decision. They're too spineless to openly state the real reason for their decision, which appears to be they either don't like women, or they don't like this particular woman. Why not just tell her "we don't like you and don't want you on campouts."

Ted Kennedy lamented recently that the United States is the most hated nation on earth. How did we get to a point where people in other countries hate Americans? What is it about our country that makes other hate us? This isn't a new phenomenon. Remember the cry "Yankee Go Home"? What are we doing wrong?

Intentionally producing or enhancing noises related to personal bodily functions in the presence of others is rude and inconsiderate. Its a reflection of one's character. Personally, I don't care to hear anyone cut loose a big one in any situation.

If you don't file your return, the government e-mail regulation authority will send a lien notice to the location of your computer. Your boss might find out why your work habits have been slipping lately. This is for real. It's an obscure part of the latest tax code revision that mandates marriage license renewal.

It shouldn't be so bad. The first 25 e-mails per month are exempt. The annoying part will be filing the quarterly information return.