bfletcher

We did have a closet for our pack. I found myself picking up uniforms, scarfs, slides etc. It was a great way to get all our scouts in uniform. We also got members to donate their used uniforms when they out grew them or crossed over to boy scouts. We also allowed trade in for uniforms if you needed a larger size. Brenda

I am new to this site. As a former Den Mother,Cubmaster, and member of our Troop Committee I only wish I had known about this resource in the past. My son, now 20 has been diagnosed with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder which is in the autism spectrum. He had always trouble "fitting in", especially socially. I became invovled deeply with scouts because I wanted my son him to experience what my 3 brother had (1 Eagle, 2 Life). My husband and I thought this would help him achieve social skills by being around other boys. During his cub scouts years, I was able to monitor the other boys and the teasing. Brandon was able to get his arrow of light and recieved all the activity pins possible as a Webelos. When it came time to cross over into a troop, we met several troops that did not want him to belong in their troop. When we finally found a troop willing to take him, my husband and I eagerly volunteered to help in anyway possible. I became part of the troop committee and my husband an assistant scoutmaster. About six months later, we were called into a "special meeting" and we were asked not to bring Brandon to meetings anymore. Because parents had been complaining about him. Apparently, many of the youth in Brandon's patrol were "uncomfortable" being around him and if Brandon didn't leave the other members of the patrol were going to quit. So the needs of the many outweighed the needs of the few or something to that sort. They suggested that my husband place Brandon in "Lone Scouts" and the Council office had approved this. I was shocked that this was happening. I had always believed that scouts taught acceptance and Brandon could teach them so much. He, too, was the first to learn the requirements to recieve advancement, but had trouble getting along boys with his patrol. He was very rigid when it came to following rules and often would "tattle" on the other boys for any slightest of rule in fractions (i.e. throwing knives in trees, food in tents, etc.) I believe this one reason the boys wanted him gone. When I talked to our district rep about the troop wanted to remove him, he was SHOCKED and immediately called the council office. He called me back and confirmed that the council had talked to the scoutmaster and indeed, suggested lone scouts for our sons. We were so disappointed, but the DE told me there was little he could do. We decided to put Brandon in the Lone Scouts Program, but we so disappointed, because we orginally put our son in scouts to help him develop the social skills he needed. He did eventually acheive the rank of Life, (by age 14 I might add.) But my husband found the paperwork cumbersome and felt that because he could take "Brandon camping" anytime to give up on Lone Scouts. Brandon was not getting the scout experience we wanted him to be around other boys his age, Lone Scouts he was just around our family. I just wanted to let you know, how happy I was to see this postings and there were scoutmasters trying to find ways to let this boy find his way in the scouting program. Parenting these children are difficult and often parents endure a lifetime of other's misunderstandings about the challenges these children face. I only wish some of you had been around for me son, so that he would have had a positive scouting experience. It restores my faith a little more in the scouting program. Kudos to all of you!! God bless you for your efforts.