Re: Woodbagde uniforming?
Branden Morris (morris@NET1PLUS.COM)
Tue, 25 Aug 1998 11:25:59 -0400
>Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 11:51:44 -0400
>From: Robert Caron <robert.caron@UMB.EDU>
>Subject: Re: Woodbagde uniforming?
>
>I was at that meeting to which Branden Morris refers. It was the pre-course
>meeting for Wood Badge NE-I-193 being held at Camp Resolute in Bolton, MA.
I didn't know you were taking this course too, Bob. We should try to meet
at the weekend. I always enjoy meeting those who I read from on the 'net.
>I don't have a problem with the requirement for Scout trousers instead of
>shorts. If you are taking Wood Badge (or looking at it another way -- if you
>have been accepted into a Wood Badge course), I think it means you are a
>serious Scout leader, not a casual parent volunteer.
Considering that I'm not a parent, I must be a serious Scout leader :)
>Accordingly, you should much more seriously take the Uniforming Method of
>Scouting as a part of the program.
Believe you me, I do. I would venture a guess that, not including staff,
probably less than 50% of the participants were in a full uniform (at my
table, there were three of us out of 8 in full uniform). I was one of them
who was in a full BSA uniform -- short sleve shirt, shorts, knee socks,
belt, neckerchief. I tend to wear a full BSA uniform to just about any
Scouting event, unless other dress is specified. it's one of the easiest
and most powerful ways that we set the example for our youth (and other
adults). I'm certainly not arguing that full Scout uniform shouldn't be a
part of the training course.
>I would hope you already have a complete
>Scout uniform wardrobe, i.e., both long and short pants and shirt.
So a Scouter, in order to meet your definition of a "serious" Scouter,
needs to have a complete Scout uniform wardrobe? Does that include campaign
hat, field hat, baseball cap, both kinds of shirts, both kinds of belts,
both kinds of shorts, both kinds of socks, the red wool jac-shirt, the red
poplin jacket, the dress uniform of grey slacks, white shirt, striped tie,
and navy blazer with pocket emblem, et cetera et cetera?
I guess I'm not a serious Scouter, then. I've tried different uniform
options over my years in Scouting, but have settled on the ones that suit
the roles I do. For me, it's shorts, socks, and short-sleeved shirts. They
work for the SMF courses I staff in March and October, and the JLT course I
staff in August. They work for the OA weekends in May, June, and September.
I can use them when I staff camp school in the spring, or volunteer at
summer camp. They've been appropriate for my trips to Jamborees and NOACs
and Seabase and Philmont. They work at all kinds of meeting year-round
(though it can be a bit brisk getting from the car to the building in
winter, but I have a long trenchcoat). Wearing shorts and knee socks -- an
approved BSA uniform accepted without the blink of an eye anywhere else in
the Scouting world -- is serious enough uniforming for me. When I own
plenty of suitable official uniform "bottoms," I am a little confused that
I'm being asked to spend a bit of money and time (hemming) on clothing
articles that I won't likely wear again.
>The
>emphasis was more on being in a complete Scout uniform than harping on long
>pants only.
Actually, I was the one who asked our ASPL, who was making the uniform
presentation, that, if they were specifying long pants as uniform, if
shorts were prohibited. He said "Yes." I further asked if this could be
discussed with the troop leaders or the PLC, and he said "No." So it beyond
simply asking everyone to be in complete uniform; they harped on long
pants. That was evident throughout the rest of the meeting as others
continually raised the point.
>This group of Scouters will act as a Troop -- "you will be Boy Scouts" during
>the course as it was said. The course director, "Scoutmaster" and "SPL" are
>only doing what we do (or should do) in our own Troops. We routinely tell our
>Scouts what to wear when, and what the options are.
Ah yes, and maybe it's different in your troop, but in my home unit and the
units I commission for, they're told to be in complete BSA uniform. On any
given night, you'll see long and short sleeve shirts and lond and short
pants. And in my troop, if they were going to specify a uniform option, it
would be decided on by the PLC, and not the troop adult leaders.
You're correct -- I'll end up getting the pants one way or another, and not
making a big deal of it when the course starts. I plan on enjoying the
course and being a very active participant. I, and others, are simply
having a philosophical difference with the course director and staff, and
hope it ends there. By my interpretation, I can pick out a few of the
leadership competencies that we'll be learning that the staff isn't
following, and am upset at this lack of example. I sincerely hope it's an
isolated incident.
YiS,
Branden Morris
Who'll use to be a something, and a good ole something too, in about a month.
(But who already is and will continue to be a serious, comitted Scouter.)
--
Branden Morris
mailto:morris@net1plus.com
http://www.net1plus.com/users/morris/branden.html
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