Uniform Police Part XVII...

[purcelce]

I found this on the net, a really good look at Uniforming in the BSA. No need to get into heated debate, read it and remember the moral of the story.....

 

Long time Scouter Bob Geier pokes a little fun at our approach to uniforming.

 

"OK, I have a confession to make. I used to belong to the Uniform Police.

Yes, it's true. I rose quickly through the organization. First I worked

part-time answering the phone at the "Uniform Snitch Hotline", and then

assisting

at Uniform Inspections, and then I became a full-fledged Uniform Inspector.

Then FINALLY I got the big one, a promotion to become an undercover Insignia

Placement Enforcement Officer, top grade. Oh baby, I had finally arrived!

 

Wow! You should have seen me walking around so proudly with my clipboard of

Uniform Inspection Sheets and a quick draw holster holding my micrometer. I

loved yelling at newbie Cub Scouts and their clueless parents. And those

little rug rats, I loved screaming, "Your Iron-On is peeling TIGER BOY!" They

cry

so easily. I loved to find merit badges upside down, or rank advancements

sewn on the wrong pocket. I showed no mercy to people wearing more than one

Quality Unit patch. But the best was interrupting Eagle Courts of Honor,

screaming wildly as I ran onstage if the mother pinned her son's Eagle medal on

incorrectly. Ooooh, I lived for that one!

 

But, as in all perfect stories, one fateful day I went too far. It was

nighttime and I was at a council dinner looking to make a big score. That's

when I

saw him, an elderly man, Silver Beaver, 4-beader no less. Decked out in his

finest set of Class A's, chest covered in knots, a real trophy bust. I

thought nailing him would make my career! I quickly got in position and made my

 

move. He didn't know what hit him. I slammed that old Woodbadger against the

wall, getting right in his face I screamed, "I WANT TO SEE A SHINE ON THAT

BEAVER, MISTER!"

 

That's when it all came crashing down. I thought they'd just suspend me,

maybe punish me, like a transfer down south of the Red River. But they kicked

me

out completely. I was a Uniform Police washout! It was so humiliating! I

was required to enroll in one of those 12-step programs. It was during one of

those meetings that I finally saw the light. We were all in our "friendship

circle" quietly chanting our mantra, "Uniforming is a Method, not a Goal", when

suddenly it hit me! Uniforming is one of the Eight Methods of Scouting; not

one of its Three Goals!!! I fell to the floor. Bright light invaded the

room. I had the sensation of floating in mid-air. Time seemed to stand still.

 

That's when I heard this deep powerful booming voice coming from nowhere and

everywhere all at the same time, "UNIFORMING IS A METHOD, NOT A GOAL!" My life

was forever changed after that incredible awe-inspiring experience.

 

So now, years later, as a Scoutmaster and a reformed Uniformaholic, I can

quietly and calmly share with you these simple but treasured thoughts. We have

eight methods in Scouting, but we have to understand and accept that not every

boy will become an Eagle, not every Scout will climb a mountain at Philmont,

and the uniform isn't about how much of it you wear, but the reasons for which

you wear it. Methods are ways of accomplishing Scouting; they are not an end

in themselves.

 

Our Uniform should be about a bridge bringing people together, a reminder of

the ideals we hold and a commitment to an Oath and set of Laws we share, a

pride in what we are a part of, and an outward symbol of good to the community.

 

For many people that uniform stands for hope, as they see a group of boys,

tomorrow's leaders, learning about doing good works as they gather food for the

hungry or care for the environment. Our uniform has come to stand for an

organization that throughout its inception has helped over 100 million boys grow

 

while doing their best. A uniform can accomplish all of those things even if

the patches aren't placed perfectly or the pants don't match.

 

Some people see the Uniform as a goal. They want their troop to look sharp.

Getting everyone in complete uniform becomes the goal they seek. Suddenly

what they're wearing becomes more important than why they're wearing it.

Fostering citizenship, developing character, and promoting fitness are the three

 

goals of the Scouting program. The uniform, in whole or part, is an outward

symbol we use as one of the methods for getting us there. I have a hard time

understanding why so many people just don't seem to get that."

 

Cooper Wright

Associate Advisor, Crew 1519

Alexandria, VA

 

[OldGreyEagle]

Personally I don't beleive the writer of the story was ever a card carying member of the uniform police as no self respecting "undercover Insignia Placement Enforcement Officer" would ever refer to any uniform as a "set of Class A's"

[Eamonn]

OGE,

Maybe it's a code name?

Like the cops on TV.

"I'm booking you on a section 706B"

Eamonn.

(I'm still working on the Venturing Crew and Crews thing??)

[Trevorum]

Ahhh, I can hear the UP now, grousing off-stage, "If you're going to use the uniform as a method, why not use it correctly!"

[Cheerful Eagle]

ROFLMAO

 

I'm taking this one to my next Position Specific -- Cub Scout Leader -- training class!(This message has been edited by Cheerful Eagle)

[funscout]

Pureice,

 

Amen to your post! When some of my cubs rush to a den meeting still wearing their soccer/baseball outfit, I'm thrilled that they made it at all. In my older son's troop there are always boys showing up in the Fall in football pants since they would rather show up on time, than stop to change into their uniform. As it is, they have to eat in the car in order to make it to the meeting on time.

[Lisabob]

Funscout, I'm so glad to hear (read?) you say that! Can you believe, we actually had an ASM give a new boy a REALLY hard time the other night because he showed up in his soccer shorts instead of full uniform. He and his mom were coming straight from a game on the far side of town. We're a uniformed troop and it is true that some of the new cross-over scouts are struggling to adjust to this fact but c'mon...

 

Lisa'bob

[evmori]

What a hoot! Thanks for posting that purcelce!

[jr56]

Great post, thanks for sharing.