Scout Spirit

[evmori]

Get well Hubert!

[Hubert]

Thanks everyone!

[wagionvigil]

Getter better quick

[lifescoutforlife]

Hope you recover fast.

[RMM]

Now, in the 1st post, what if the Scout doesn't connect the dots & believes he has met the Scout Spirit requirement? Does the SM sign off Scout Spirit?

No, the SM does not sign off. The conversation continues until the Scout has a understanding on why this is an issue. The SM needs to do this in a constructive manner so the scout has pride in what he has accomplished yet also is aware of areas he needs to work on.

[RMM]

If this was the first time this issue was raised with the scout in question, then shame on the troop leadership.

I agree does not speak highly for troop leadership, in this example, the theme is a repeating one.

[jr56]

Hubert, hope you have a quick recovery, good luck completing your Eagle.

[WeeWillie]

Ref my earlier post.

2 months active participation would be discussed at the ensuing SMC. It would probably include both monthly camping trips. If a Scout can't follow instructions he shouldn't hold a POR. PORs are not entitlements and reinforcing safety concerns overide advancement. It is a better option than suspending him for 2 months.

Uniforms
No boy should be denied the opportunity to be a Scout for financial reasons. If a family can not afford a Scout uniform there is always the troop/district used uniform locker, charter organization, Salvation Army.

[ASM-142]

You can not deny a scout advancement based on active participation to include attending camping trips.

If a scout is not fulfilling his obligations for a POR he can be removed. However, if he has already satisified the time requirements prior to his removal, then he has satisfied that requirement.

If a scout does not want to wear a hand-me-down uniform, or wear a purchased one (even if he can afford it), advancement can not be held against him. The BSA does not require uniforms.

[FrankJ]

If a scout does not want to wear a hand-me-down uniform, or wear a purchased one (even if he can afford it), advancement can not be held against him. The BSA does not require uniforms.

Unless you want to participate in a national jamboree. (Admittedly not advancement.)

[Hubert]

It may not be "required" but uniformity does look nice. When you are all dressed differently, the troop looks scattered, and un-organized. When you are properly dressed, at least with the shirt, you look sharp, and nice.

[jhawk]

I agree with Justin. I think the uniform should be required. At least the shirt, although I think the full uniform would be nice. The girl scouts are requiring girl scouts to have khaki pants and solid white shirts whenever they are representing GS or participating in an official function, along with the sash or vest for their level of scouting. Usually, the girl scouts are the laid back, whatever goes type in my experience. I don't see why the BSA doesn't require the uniform as well. They certainly don't make it common knowledge that you don't have to wear it, but I think it should be mandatory.
(And it should also be mandatory for you to feel better after your recent surgery, Justin! Hope you are.)

[wagionvigil]

According to the uniform guide. It is all or nothing as far as a uniform. It must be worn as a complete uniform. A shirt must be worn with the correct pants or shorts. You cnnot just wear the shirt. According to the rules that is.

[Hubert]

Thank you JHawk! All is well after it, I am sore, with three new scars, but all is well. I was back at school today, much to everyones surprise. Nobody thought I would come back so soon. But thanks for the support everyone!

[jhawk]

Has there been a recent poll on whether the uniform should be required? Might be interesting to see people's opinions....

[FrankJ]

Not a bed idea Jhawk. At least it will give it its own topic since it's a reoccurring theme.

[gwd-scouter]

OK, I'll go out on a limb here and say that the uniform should be required. After all, the BSA is a uniformed organization. If the uniform is not required, why bother having one at all?

I realize there are folks out there for whom the price of a full uniform would be costly and it certainly is when you buy all the parts at the same time. In our District, we have a Cub Scout Pack chartered a couple of years ago through our Council's Scoutreach program. Definately in a low income area of our District and the uniform shirts are provided by the Council for those Scouts. Just had a Troop chartered under the same circumstances.

Our troop has a uniform closet as do most others in our area. We ask all our Scouts to donate any uniform items they outgrow and then provide them to any family that cannot purchase the uniform themselves. So far, no one has taken up the offer of free uniform items from our closet.

I can only speak for our troop, but when a Scout joins he receives a Troop T shirt, neckerchief and hat. He and his parents are told that we expect (note the word expect, not require) all our Scouts to have a complete uniform.

For years our Troop was a shirt only uniformed troop including the adult leaders, and that was even sporadic. Pretty sloppy to see a guy show up in his nice Scout shirt and running shorts. Yes, I know, sometimes a guy is just coming to a Scout meeting after having sports practice.

I would rather see a Scout in full uniform or not at all.

PLC and I had a meeting a couple of years ago and decided where we wanted our troop to go and how we wanted to be seen. PLC decided that we would be a full uniform troop and guys would wear their uniform for SM Conferences, BORs, Courts of Honor and at summer camp for those times necessary. The rest of the time, say for meetings, service work, traveling, and such, the Scouts wear their "Class B" - Troop T shirt and hat (if they like to wear hats) and any old pants they like.

The result is that over the past two years our Troop has become fully uniformed for those events in which the uniform is expected.

Our boys actually seem to take pride in that.

Now, I'm sure someone here will ask "what do you as SM say to a Scout that shows up for a SM conference and he's not in uniform"? Well, I will certainly have the SM conference (while wearing my uniform, of course) and ask why he's not in uniform. I will also ask if he remembers the PLC's plan about the appropriate occasions to wear the uniform.

This scenario hasn't happened yet since the PLC put these recommendations in place, but I'm sure it will eventually.

So, I don't know what I'd do in a situation where a Scout shows of for a SM conference without uniform. I figure I would probably not want to send a message to the other Scouts that I don't care about what the PLC decided and that other Scouts are following, and ask the Scout to return the next week to finish the SM Conference and have his BOR.

Hubert - glad your doing OK after your surgery.

[gwd-scouter]

With due respect to Evmori and his constant posts that a uniform is not required to be a Boy Scout: OK I'll agree that there is no BSA literature that states a uniform is required.

So, for all of those trying to get their troops properly uniformed as one of the methods of Boy Scouting and read posts about how a uniform is not, in fact, required, when and who decides which of the other methods is not required?

[evmori]

With due respect to Evmori and his constant posts that a uniform is not required to be a Boy Scout: OK I'll agree that there is no BSA literature that states a uniform is required.

So, for all of those trying to get their troops properly uniformed as one of the methods of Boy Scouting and read posts about how a uniform is not, in fact, required, when and who decides which of the other methods is not required?

I do like the uniform (posted that many times. too) and I think it should be required. So should training for adult leaders.

Are using all methods required? I don't think so.

[Hubert]

I agree with Evmori on this. I think a uniform shirt at the minimum. I understand that Wagonvigil said all or none, but for looks, a shirt is better than none. I think if that the shirt is worn, things look better, more proper.