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Re: National Summertime Pack Award pin wear
Karl Ward (krward@EARTHLINK.NET)
Sun, 22 Nov 1998 08:33:51 -0600
I always enjoy reading Mike Walton's posts. And this one was no exception.
I do, however, have a few comments/questions regarding the info presented.
Mike wrote:
> You're right that there's a disconnect here between what
>Scouters have been told in the field and what the Insignia
>Guide states.
Not just what they're told, but what is PRINTED in the Cub Scout Leader
Book. I have found that most Cub Scout leaders do not have, indeed, have
not seen the Insignia Guide but 90% of them own a copy of the Leader Book.
For example, you wrote
>And that's what is SUPPOSED to happen with regard to them, David.
>All five, in a row on the right pocket flap of the Cub Scout shirt.
>I can't find anything here except articles from _Scouting_ which
>stress that the pins are supposed to be worn there. And the
>Insignia Guide is silent (as it should be, I guess) on wearing more
>than one.
The Leader Book is anything but silent on this. Page 16-6 states in regard
to this pin: "Can be earned more than once, but only one can be worn at a
time. Worn centered on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. (Not
for adults.)"
More importantly, however, is the reference to FIVE pins. I am puzzled.
Boys are earning this pin BEFORE they join Cub Scouting? Obviously, many
packs are being "flexible" with the policies/guidelines and signing up
Tigers in or just after Kindergarten. It has always been frustrating to
me, as a trainer, trying to explain such flexibilities to new leaders when I
tell them that the Leader Book is the definitive policy book BUT many packs
don't follow it.
The Leader Book clearly states:
Page 3-2: "The Tiger Cub den is made up of five to eight boys who are in
the first grade or are age 7."
Page 6-7: "1. Age. A boy must be in the first grade (or be 7, 8, 9, or 10
years old).
Page 6-12: "Because Tiger Cubs BSA is a school-year program, it is
important that boys and their parents be enrolled in Tiger Cubs as early as
possible in the school year."
Page 7-13: "Tiger Cubs BSA follows a school-year cycle. Boys and their
adult partners join the program at the beginning of the first-grade school
year and remain in Tiger Cubs BSA until the completion of the first grade."
Now, I realize that the Tiger Cub program is in the midst of being
revamped....again. I also realize that flexibility is key to the success of
the program and that Councils use this flexibility to meet the needs of the
boys in their area. But does the Leader Book reflect policy or just list
guidelines? I have been asked by several leaders if insurance would be
valid for a Kindergarten boy "registered" as a Tiger. What if this child
were injured at a Pack outing? I was unable to answer either of these and
my DE and SE were no help.
OK, stepping off my soapbox, now. ;-)
Mike also wrote in regards to wearing a temporary insignia AND the PTR patch
or Compass Badge:
>I wish that I could provide a documented answer, but I can't. This
>is something that the Uniform and Insignia Committee is going to
>have to explain in the NEXT edition of the Insignia Guide (which is
>currently being worked on!)
Again, the Leader Book documents this on page 16-5. "Only one temporary
patch in addition to the immediate recognition or compass emblem may be worn
at a time."
Yours in Scouting,
Karl Ward
A tired old Buffalo, working his ticket
SR-CS-12
krward@earthlink.net
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