gearshocker

I've always been torn both ways on the uniform issue. When I first started in my troop as a Scout, we only wore "Class B's" t-shirts to regular meetings, but then we wore "Class A's" for Courts of Honor, Summer Camp Campfires, Flag Ceremonies everyo morning and night, and the one definite time was during the OA Callout/Family Night at Summer Camp. The main time that we realy cared and we had our uniforms laundered in town for was the OA Callout. When I was about 15, new leadership took over and we started wearing "A" uniforms to all troop meetings, coming and going from any camping trip, and all of the same Summer Camp times as above. Initially, I didn't like hte change-over, because I thought it was unnecessary to wear "A's" except in the case of formal ceremony, and I still sort of stick by this. For myself, I sort of feel that I felt more respect for things when I had to dress up in an "A". It's like going to a wedding or funeral as a kid, when you dress up, you know this is serious and you had better take as so, or the skies will open up and you'll be struck by lightning. In reality, as an ASM now, you probably should know who your troop leadership, both youth and adult, is, without having to look at their shirt. The job, to be effictively executed, really requires you to get to know your Scouts well, or they will not respect you in reality, in the sense that they will not come to you for advice on how to run things and solve problems, then the troop will suffer in membership attendance and rank advancement. It drives me soo insane to see adults who use the whole, "let them fail, and then they'll learn." This may work a few times, but in the long run is dettrimental to the boys and the troop as a whole. So, enough of that rant. Back to uniforms. With our changeover, it was forceful and sudden. Some Scouts dropped and others were bitter. The best way in my opinion about this old established policy would be to present the benefits of uniforming, which I'll get to in a few thousand lines or so, and have them vote. If the boys can be sold to it, then do it if the majority wants it. If not, then try again maybe a year later after more selling of the idea. Remember, that the troop is for the boys and they should be comfortable with how their organization is run, the Scouting Movement is about democracy and the American Way afterall. So, my like of uniforms. In terms of the "B" uniform, I like the sense of identity it gives you with a smaller group, like a patrol, or in my case, Camp Staff. A shirt that says "Staff" gives you some pride in your job. It helps you unite with your brothers, just as a patrol must have brotherhood to really function propperly. Just like with the OA, many Brothers united and identified under one Lodge Flap available to all members and one main symbol(The arrow on the sash), most of the time when done propperly in my opinion. I severely disagree with those lodges that have different flaps for different membership levels in the OA. The argument comes up then that the Scout Uniform unites all Scouts in the brotherhood of Scouthing in general. So, my final verdict out of all of my rambling and tangents. Uniforms for foraml events (OA Ceremonies, Campfire Programs at Summer Camp, Flag Raising and Lowering (Huge pet peve of mine, in my mind I think, "You best show respect for your country that is the United States of America when you are a Boy Scout of AMERICA."), Courts of Honor, and anywhere where a formal setting is present for ceremony or like a formal dinner or use discretion). Troop meetings, though, im my mind are not really mecessary places to wear an "A". It can be done, though. I do believe in a "B" uniform at troop meetings, though. There should be some preperation to get ready for the meeting to get the mindset fo Scout Business flowing through everyone's mind, which can be done by putting on some sort of Scout Uniform. The Scouts shouldn't just walk in in street clothes they wore to school or something. Some preperation for meetings is necessary for all Scouts and Scouters. So, if you want "A" uniforms, maybe wear yours for a while and get the other adults to do so, too, so you can talk it up to the Scouts in a month or so, but then I would suggest putting it in their hands. Don't be the dictator, but the guide who lurks in the shadows and pushes your boys back onto path whenever they are about to fall into the ditch that is on both sides of the road that is their path of learning and good memories (fun) in Scouting. Although, you could start with patrol t-shirts, which do promote brotherhood, especially among new Scouts and older, more experienced Scouts. Push slowly and earn and keep their respect and your life in Scouting is easy going and fulfilling, push hard, and you push the respect your Scouts have for you right off a cliff. My last statement is, remember, it is the Boy's Organization, Scouting and the Troop exists for them, and they need to lead and do what makes them comfortable, and ultimately keeps them arounds and involved both, and hopefully advancing; It's not about the end path necessarily, but the journey that gets you there; the Eagle rank is not really the important thing, but what the Scout learned along the way is what really matters in the big picture of things. The Electrified Gear

Something neat we have done the last two years at summer camp is a first-year icecream social. Basically, we get all of the first-year campers together and explain to them what the OA is about and what our purpose for existence is. Also, we explain what the different sashes represent in terms of honor level and tell them about the lodge flap. We point out the different projects we have done for the camp, too. This is all done before our call-out. It kind of gives the first-years a heads up about what will happen later in the camping week. It also instills in them more respect for the call-out ceremony. The whole when your day may come to be called out, you would want people to be respectful to you, so you should show respect for the ceremony of those to be called out this week. It has seemed to work quite well. Oh, yeah, then after us OA guys give our talk and answer any questions we're "allowed to answer", we give all of the first-years icecream. They enjoy it, we enjoy talking up the OA, and everyone is happy and sugar-buzzed.