Utah National Parks Letter to all scouters concerning

Uniforming

Last month, my council mailed a letter to all scouters concerning many
matters including Uniforming. I wish to share a paragraph with you
because I was excited to see my council take a stand in uniforming as a
method of Scouting.
Note: The majority of our charters are sponsored by the L.D.S. church.

----Quote from the letter
Utah National Parks Council
Uniforming / A Method Scouting for Advancement

Uniforming is one of the six scouting methods. Although no uniform is
required for joining, the L.D.S. Church handbook, Boy Scout handbook,
and the Scoutmaster handbook all emphasize "wearing a complete
uniform to all Scouting events". The uniform is constantly being
refererred to as a way a boy openly shows his commitment to the
"Ideals" of Scouting. The uniforming method of Scouting displays a boy's
Scouting Spirit and character.

A Scout should be recommended to a board of review only after he has
shown that he is willing to wear and does wear his uniform.

"Any young man (ages 11-18) who is mentally and physically capable of
working to purchase (e.g. mowing lawns, baby sitting, etc.) his own
complete uniform, and chooses not to do so, (especially when paretns,
relatives, friends, scoutleaders, troop committee's and uniform banks are
unable to help him) should not be recommended for a board of review
and rank advancement.

Any young man who is a scout (ages 11-18) and still eligible for Scout
advancement, who has a uniform and chooses not to wear it or any
acceptable parts of it because they feel embarrassed to wear it at
scouting activities, should not be recommended for a board of review
and rand advancement."
(U.N.P.C. Boy Scouting Committee)

---end of quote

I have struggled with the acceptance of a shirt and neckerchief as a
complete uniform in L.D.S. church. When I was a scout in a L.D.S. troop
in California, a full uniform was expected and as I grew, I purchased a
bigger uniform. There was no excuse and advancements where not
given unless you were in full uniform.

Here is Utah, I have been very discouraged by the charter organizations
lack of enthusiam for a full uniform. The problem comes because the
majority of Units here don't require it and its a hard sell to the committee to
be the exception to the standard.

I wish it was manditory, no questions asked. I fork out big bucks for
sports associations required uniforms for my 4 children and I expect it.
Why should we not expect it too?

Blayden M. Thompson
Troop 24, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Email: Blayden@Novell.com

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