ExperiencedUniforms

Hello all: I apologize for the slightly off-topic posting. I operate a scouting uniform bank. I was looking through the box of uniforms this weekend, and ran across a custom-made shirt. This is official BSA issue, from one of the contract tailors they use. The shirt is an adult small, short sleeve with velcro up both of the sides and along the arms. I imagine it was tailored for a person who has limited dexterity to close buttons. If anyone has a Scout that would benefit from this uniform, please contact me and I'll get it out to them. I do ask for a small donation to cover my cost

Hello Scoutnut: Thank you for your reply. JoAnne did at one time carry GSUSA material for uniform projects, but they seem to have discontinued the line. Brownies wear brown colored vests, and Girl Scouts wear green color vests. Red is more for Cub and Boy Scouts. If you find a source for brown or green material in GSUSA colors, please let me know. Thank you. Keep on Scoutin' Ora

Hello all: A leader contacted me asking if I have any vests. I suggested she try making some out of the material found at sewing stores. She says that Joanne here in Albany, OR no longer sells the material or patterns. Does anyone on this list have any vests, material, patterns &/or resources they could share? Thank you! Keep on Scoutin' Ora

Hello all: Thank you for your input. I am a Unit Commissioner, and I attended a Troop Committee meeting for the troop I serve last evening. One of the discussions related to the fact that the boys would not have an opportunity to have their books signed, as neither the Scoutmaster (SM) or Assistant Scoutmaster (SA) would be able to attend the campout. I asked if this was a troop policy, or Council thing, as I had never heard of it in the past 20-so years of Scouting. The Committee Chair (CC) said that it is BSA national policy, and was backed up by the SM. CC said that the boys may teach

Hello all: Who signs off on the line when a Scout passes a skill test? In the handbook, it says that the Scoutmaster or someone designated by the Scoutmaster may sign. Can the Scoutmaster designate an older Scout (Patrol Leader, Junior Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop Guide), or does it have to be an adult? Does anyone have a reference in writing? Keep on Scoutin' Ora

Greetings TP: Have you tried http://www.powderhorn-bsa.org/ or writing to Signe at Hikin_Grammy@cox.net? To check the obvious, have you called your local catalog outlet, or the national catalog at 1-800-323-0732? Keep on Venturin' ora

Hello all: I'm looking for a contact in a Crew or Ship in or near Sibley (near Kansas City), Missouri. Anyone on this list know of any? Thank you! Keep on Venturin' ora

Hello LauraT7: These are some great sites that have other ideas for patrol patches: http://www.gilwell.com/patrolPatch/ Note the "Custom Design" and "Homemade" patches. A great one is the racoon patrol turned upside down, then stitches looking like tire tracks across the animal. These are called the "Roadkill" patrol. This is a good reference for Austrailian Patrol patches: http://members.iinet.net.au/~oneilg/scouts/patrol.html . My favorite is the Wombat patrol. Note that the Austrailian patches are woven, not embroidered, and are slightly smaller than USA patrol patches.

Hello all: Nice thread. Green on green or tone on tone is what it's called. I think it's KEWL. I also like the running lights on the squids. I don't know about white loops. There's two kinds of dirt in the world; light dirt that gets on dark clothing, and dark dirt that gets on light clothing. White shoulder loops would get dirty quick. I know of some Venturers who resent the buttons on the shoulders of the shirt as they dig into your shoulders while wearing a backpack. But, there are those who say; who would wear a uniform shirt while backpacking? Add a metal pin to the shoulder, an

Hello lamulapescadora: Have you found your uniforms yet? I suggest you start with your local Council and District. Call the Council and ask if they have a uniform bank. Take a look at http://www.geocities.com/o_sheffler/experien3.html#finding for additional suggestions. If you don't get anywhere, send me a note (click on "send private message), and I'll see what I can do to help. Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hello Bob: Thank you for the correction. The catalog says that the vest is "not for use with badges of rank or office." I was looking for an alternative so the boys would have a place to display old awards. I was never aware that you could not display old rank awards on the vest. I guess the boys can sew them on a blanket. Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hello rluz: I believe that LDS units do not use the new oval patch, so the WEBELOS Award diamond should be still available from national supply. If not, send me a private message, and I'll see if I can round some up for you. I would strongly suggest to you and your den that you make a bigger deal out of the new oval badge, especially if your boys are wearing the khaki-tan uniform. Convince them that the new badge is an honor, and that they are closer to Boy Scouting than Cub Scouting now. Tell them that the Cub Scouts don't get to wear oval rank badges, and that they should set the

I am looking for information on the uniform exchange in Oregon state that was open one day a month or something. Does anyone have any information about this exchange? I cannot locate the page any longer, and can't find it in my bookmarks. Any help is appreciated.

Greetings all: I am assembling a network of uniform banks that would be willing to mail uniforms to Scouts & Scouters who request them. If you have a uniform bank for your unit, district, or council, I invite you to join the network. Having more resources will enable more boys to have the opportunity to attain a uniform. Our goal is to have every Scout in uniform. Being an affiliate member will also give you access to bulk quantities of uniforms, insignia, and accessories, as well as expertise and support. One of the affiliate members has access to dry cleaning solutions, and has mode

Greetings South Pole Scout: I run an online uniform bank, and am slowly assembling a network of other online uniform banks. If you are looking for low-cost unused and used uniforms, insignia &/or equipment, take a look at http://www.geocities.com/o_sheffler/experien.html You can also find some links to uniform exchanges right here on the Scouter bulletin board at http://www.scouter.com/compass/Scouting_Organizations/Boy_Scouts_of_America/Uniforms/ Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hi David: The patch you seek is a field design...it is not recognized or stocked by national supply. If you know of a person in your circle of freinds who has an embroidery machine, they can sew "Emeritus" on a current SM patch. You should do what you can to recognize your outgoing SM. Try looking on ebay for the mylar SM badge. These were issued in the late ninteen seventies to "Trained" Scoutmasters. They sell for around 5 bucks usually. There is no official swearing in ceremony of the SM, but it would be nice to have a change of office ceremony at a court of honor. You can

Hi Scoutldr: I think what acco40 is objecting to is the spelling. Also, the book of Mormon is the document, not the focus of the faith. It would be similar to referring to Christians as "New Testements," Jewish people as "Torahs," or followers of Islam as "Quarans." I guess it probobly wouldn't offend a Christian, rather a compliment to be addressed in this manner, I suppose, but i think it is the spelling that acco40 is referencing. I would hope that Yarrow started this thread as a genuine quest to learn more about the approach that the LDS church has with Scouts, and n

Hi cubmastercash: I don't have one either, but they have come up for auction on ebay (http://www.ebay.com) and Oaktree (http://www.oaktreeauction.com). good luck. Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hi PAscoutmom: Perhaps the boys that are vegetarian can bring menu suggestions that the other boys will enjoy. I know that it is not a favorite to get boys to eat salads, but this is a healthier alternative. Worried about protein? More people in the world get protein from lentils like garbonzo beans (AKA chick-peas) than meat. Lentils cook fairly quickly, and they don't produce the gas that is associated with other beans. To reduce the gas produced, eliminate the meat portion from the food. You can also soak beans overnight to help eliminate the gas. pour off the soak water, and co

Hi Yarrow: I'm not LDS. Our Commissioner team had a nice presentation by an LDS Scouter about how they use the BSA program. I'm not an expert, but here is the information I remember. I am sure that there are others that have a better understanding. They use the same books, camps, training materials, etc. They also suplement with materials provided by the LDS Scouting community. They do not add or subtract from the requrements for the badges. The boys do the same requrements as all Scouts. Most LDS units are small, maybe as few as 10 boys from cubs through Boy Scouts. They consis

Hi scoutldr: My guess the reason you've never encountered a Unit Commissioner is that you are a very good leader, and your units have never been in need. Sadly, there just aren't enough commissioners for every unit. If you aren't joking about not knowing what a commissioner is, reply to this post, or send me a private note, and I'll provide what information I have. Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hi All: Mr. Lambert was awarded the Eagle Rank distinction. Whether he earned it or not is mute now. Once bestowed, it cannot be rescinded. He is now, and will always hold the distinction of Eagle Scout. A handful of Eagles have retuned their medallions to national accompanied by letters of protest, but I have never seen any documentation from the National Council revoking the award. If anyone has verifiable evidence, can they post such proof here, please? Keep on Scoutin' ora

Hi ctablock: You are correct in your first statement. You may design anything you want, but it is not part of the official BSA uniform. You may have the boys put the patches on a vest, sash, windbreaker, blanket, umbrella, stuffed animal, family car, or whatever. What you can't do, is require all the boys to get the 'vest' (or any uniform item, for that matter). You can make them available, but you can't require them to wear them. The only 'legal' (sic) or approved display is to put a temporary patch on the left front shirt pocket under the "Boy Scouts of America" strip.

Hi KoreaScouter: I am sure you are aware that you have an option to file an extension on behalf of your Eagle candidate, if the boy's original unit/district is slow to respond to your request for his records. I believe you have to show that the circumstances are beyond the candidate's control. On a side note, just for my curiosity, what are the projects your Eagle Scout candidates perform in your community overseas? I started Scouting on Okinawa, and I don't remember any of the boys in my troop achieving the Eagle Scout distinction, so I don't know what type of projects they would d

Hi insanescouter: I would encourage you to become a Unit Commissioner. As a UC, I learned more hints and techniques from visiting units than I did from attending any training. The Commissioner team is there to help the unit bring the program to the youth. The sad thing is that 90% of units don't know what a Commissioner is or does for their unit. They most often see them at recharter time, if at all. The reason is that there are so few Commissioners. Read the book, attend training, and go meet your units. If you are lucky, you can get assigned to a strong unit, and learn from them.