Scouts in ads

We've recently seen a number of postings here regarding the use of scout
uniforms and insignia in advertisements, including how the "scouts" (really
actors or models in most cases, I would imagine) are portrayed. A number of
scouters seem a bit perturbed to see scout uniforms used commercially.

While I understand and support the need for BSA and GSUSA to control use of
the images enough to prevent abuse, I am personally pleased to see scouts
and scouting portrayed more in commercial advertising. One of the major
battles we seem to face over and over again is that our image to the
"outside" world is often a poor one. Recruiting new boys, girls, and adults
into scouting is seriously hindered by the misperception that we are
"different" or "elite", not to mention "nerds" and "geeks" (yes, there was
quite an extensive thread on this a year or two ago on ScoutsL). Scouts are
not viewed as "normal" by their peers, so we all stand to benefit when they
are portrayed doing "normal" things: not just activities like hiking or
rock-climbing, but everyday things like shopping or just standing around on
the front lawn eating a donut. Advertising reaches millions of people at no
cost to the organization (it's free "product placement"), and in fact has
the potential to pull money in. The more that people see scouting as an
everyday, normal activity, the more youth we will be able to serve. It
would not be that difficult for the national offices of BSA and GSUSA to use
moderate permission and licensing policies to promote the use of scouts in
advertising while being sure the image is not abused - businesses do it all
the time.

Ed Thompson
Troop 6 / Pack 6
Winona Minnesota

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