VentureScoutNY

Proud Eagle-"You may wear the Lodge flap with the official Scout uniform. This applies to all of the various "field" type uniforms. You may also wear the Univeral Arrow Ribon with the official uniform at the times of your choosing." Let me just make sure I understand, So your saying than, that this is true for Venturers?

What does a Malta Scout Uniform look like? Material etc..

I have never heard of a Boy Scout Troop that did not require a Uniform... We had a Uniform Exchange that if you needed anything like pants or shirts you could get them for FREE. Our Troops rule was a scout had to be in his uniform at meetings, if not go home and get it. None of the families had any kind of money situation that stopped them from buying a Uniform. Plus back to the exchange if they did not want to buy one, they could get one for free. I have never heard of a Boy Scout, or a Boy Scout Troop that did not use a uniform.

This is for all of you Professional Scouters out there who are also fathers. Maybe this is a dumb question, but: While in your career in Scouting, do you have time to also be involved on the volunteer level, as Scoutmasters or Assistant Scoutmasters. Do you have the time to still camp with your kids on the weekend's as leaders and not professionals per say?

Before I entered my troop I heard stories of what happend to scouts that did not show up in FULL Uniform. He had a pocket full of quarters. And if you did not show up in FULL uniform( not including socks and shoes ) he would take a quarter, flip it on his thumb, put it on the table where you were sitting, and you would than know you had to go out in the hallway where the pay phone was and call home to have your mom pick you up and bring you home, OR bring you what you were missing. I loved the fear. It was never done to embarrass anyone, never with any malicious intent. Just done to enforce a rule. It worked well.

I agree with Beaver, the program is how it is. The people in it need to accpet it. I would tell the same thing to my scouts when they showed up without full uniform " do you wear jeans when you go to play baseball? ". FOG says "Maybe what BSA really needs to to get away from the designer uniform and go back to a practical uniform that can be worn outdoors and with the application of soap and an iron looks good for ceremonies." That's exactly what we need. Something Practical and something that can be consistant. We need to be easily identified as a group. So many times I see kids around town that are scouts doing scout activities wearing jeans and jerseys and no one would knows who they are. From the BSA website "The uniform makes the Boy Scout troop visible as a force for good and creates a positive youth image in the community. " Thats why we do what we do, and the rules are what they are.

I see. Heres another question. I have also seen not only the sash worn but also the lodge flap worn on the Venturing Uniform. Is that also a no no? How about the red and white small ribbon with the arrow on the bottom of it, that is worn on the breast pocket button. Can that be worn with the Venturing Uniform? So basically as a Venturer you cannot show any OA insignia on your Uniform unless at an OA event. Correct? "See, just because a whole bunch of people do something and it becomes accepted practice does not make it right and the rules wrong, it just means a whole bunch of people dont follow the rules" Very true OGE. I'd like to know what is right and wrong so I can set a good example.

"OA sash is not appropriate for any other function, unless it is an approved OA activity. Troop/Crew activities, Eagle Courts of Honor do not count." Are you sure? I have seen it worn by Venturers at this events. I have also see pictures of old Exploreres with their OA sashes on at events other than OA. If I am in my Venturing Uniform at a Crew/Troop or Eagle COH I should be able to wear the OA sash. I am a member of the BSA as a Venturer, and the OA is linked to the BSA. Now im confused..any official stance on this?

I would love to visit the new museum, but my girlfriend seems to want to spend a vacation on a tropical island instead! So we went to the Bahamas for spring break, and of course in the taxi I asked if they had Boy Scouts in the Bahamas( i knew they did I just wanted to hear it again) I guess Scouting isn't all too popular there, church groups are the norm for boys in the bahamas. I'll have to persuade her for texas next break! Whats a scout to do!? But back to the subject I have heard good things about the museum, and hope to one day visit. What was lacking in scout history and gear?

Yes, OA activities but also Crew/Troop ceremonies/Eagle COH's.

Hm..just a quick question... I am a Venturer, 19 and also apart of the OA. Can I wear my OA sash with my Venturing Uniform? I have been wearing it, and have seen others wear it,no ones ever told me I could or couldn't come to think of it. I am pretty sure I can but from what I have been reading in these posts I'm a little confused...Maybe its just too late at night and too much school work...

In my Troop when I was the SPL, I always told my scouts that they represented an organization. And we found a way to make it cool to wear the uniform correctly and to look sharp. Some of us older guys at the time would also tell stories of how some of the girls around town liked a "guy in uniform" Needless to say all of a sudden shirts were tucked in and hats were worn correctly!

Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't there a provision in the charter from congress in the early 1900's that stated we could not use military or imitate military uniforms?

Ok, this is my take on popcorn and I don't know much about it, so if and when anyone disagrees with me or wants to enlighten me on the greatness of popcorn sales please feel free. From my experience, selling un-popped popcorn is a very lame money maker. I do not know exactly how much popcorn sales produce for councils, if its a great fundraiser or not, I'm just speaking from my little knowledge of popcorn sales in my Troop. I remember being given a sample can to take around town to sell to people and my family. When I asked my Aunt if she wanted to buy popcorn she said of course. When the time came when I delievered it to her, she was a little surprised. She was not expecting un-popped pop corn. The can went in her basement never to be popped. Another one of my aunts just gave me the money and said she didn't want any popcorn but heres the donation anyway. In fact I wouldn't want to buy un-popped pop corn either come to think of it. I'm sure some people, maybe some of you love to cook pop corn and enjoy it very much. That's great for you. But what about the majority of people, what do they like? Our troop sold the popcorn, and didn't make much at all. Hardly any of the boys wanted to do it and it was not a positive experience. The ones that did got there little prize worth mybe $5, rolled there eyes and sat down. But for the majority of the population in my opinion, they want some good stuff if they are buying it. 1 word... Chocolate! My Scoutmaster once bought boxes and boxes from Mars chocolate and said we will sell them to the commuters coming home from NYC to Long Island, off of the Long Island Rail Road. Around 5 o'clock a few of us set up a table with a poster "Help us Pay for Camp". We sold m&m's kit kats etc... Well they sold like hot cakes. One of the leaders had to run home and get more boxes. We met great people and they shared stories when there were in Scouts etc... I believe that selling chocolate is the way to go. Each scout can carry his own case and not have to deal with order forms and deliveries. It's on the spot money. You learn just as many people skills as if you were selling the popcorn, in my opinion more. Where did all of this Popcorn stuff start? From the post this was spun from, the Girl Scouts sold $400 million in Cookies last year. No way can popcorn come close...does it? I'd take a box of Thin mints way before a can of un-popped popcorn. Thoughts.. VentureScoutNY

I am not too familiar with the Girl Scout Program. But like most people I love Girl Scout Cookies. I was reading in the Providence Journal Sunday edition 3/14/04 that last year the Girl Scouts made $400 Million dollars through Cookies sales. Maybe its just me, although I doubt it, but thats some serious money. Lets break that down, 1 million is 100, 100 thousands... cough cough... AMAZING. Talk about a great fundraiser! In fact, I will be spinning off a thread in Fundraising after this to discuss popcorn.. What does the organization do with all this money?? Again, I am not too familiar with the Program but I don't think they have as many camps and programs to pay for like the BSA has. And the amount of Girl Scout camps must be few and far between since I have only heard of one that all the girls go to in my area. And the girls I know only go camping a few times a year. So basically, I'm just curious where does all that money go? Is their organization that big and profitable? I don't know. Enlighten me. VentureScoutNY

All I can say is very well said! I agree totally, the values of Scouting are timeless.

I believe Scouting is a youth movement, but it cannot be run by the youth. It has programs in it. It is a movement organized by a organization. Boys ages 11-18 do run the movement by being apart of it. If they were not in it, we would have no movement. The adults structure it, organize it and pave the way for the next generation to continue it. The boys can not do the adults job, in todays world there is no room for boys to control it. That's like asking can boys run our government? Or can they run GM, or Microsoft? No. In Scouting the adults ( most of them former scouts themselves ) know and understand how the movement should be run. That's why they do what they do. I agree in what Wheeler says: "Let's not forget the principle, "YOU ARE WHAT YOU FOLLOW". If boys did all the leading, then the boys remain boys. But if the Scoutmaster was there, then the boys become men. You are what you follow!!!!! Scoutmasters burn the trail. Boys follow and become their Scoutmaster. IT IS SIMPLE LOGIC!!!!" VentureScoutNY

That's a fine hobby! If the hat is as stiff as you say I believe it is a new one. I would maybe consider buying the rain cover from the scout catolog. You can also scotchguard it. The cover can be kept on the inside of the hat in nice weather and you can take it out if the coulds come out. VentureScoutNY

HaHa! Grat hat I love all 4 of mine! (im a collector). Is yours a new one or an old one? What year about was it made? If you know it will help when protecting it from the weather. The older hats are different from todays hats when it comes to tolerance to weather. Goodluck! VentureScoutNY

if you scroll down a little bit and read some of the posts from the topic" how to wear the campaigh hat" many people have posted great ideas there. VentureScoutNY

Well , Bob, maybe you have me there. I do agree with you. But in some cases thats not the way it is, unfortunatly. I do not think scouts go that deep into thinking about the issue, but maybe they do, I don't know. Rules are rules though and do see the reasoning in everyine following them whatever age, to set the right example for everyone.

"Do you think it can be confusing to tell scouts they can't break rules but some adults can "earn" the right to do so?" Yes it can be confusing, but if you explain to them that the old guys do what they do because thats just the way it is, they will understand. I am not in any position to tell someone older, wiser, more experience than me that he is doing something wrong. He has Earned the right to wear it the way he wants whethere or not it is common among the rest of the scouts. Again, he is not doing anything radical here..its just above the collar, no bombs being thrown. If setting the wrong example is wearing the neckerchief above the collar, and it was explained to them I'm sure they would change their minds and wear them the way everyone else is. It's not really a big deal to me. When I said uniformity is important i meant it loosley. We arent nazi youth or anything, a pocket unbuttoned will not get you shot. I was more saying that we should strive to have uniformity. When it comes to wearing the neckerchief, if the leaders wear them all above the collar, they should ALL do it. Similarly the scouts should do what they decide. I hope that clears it up.

Bob: "If uniformity is so important, why do some adult leaders in the troop not follow the rule and help support the decision. And, if they can be different are the scouts allowed to ignore things and be given a pass as well? " Yes they should also follow that rule. But they are the leaders and some of them, being war veterans, or retired police officers, have earned the right to wear the neckerchief any way they want. We set these rules down for scouts and scouters as guidlelines to wear the uniform correctly. Just because a leader wears his neckerchief the way he did when he was a youth, does not mean he is not setting a good example. He's not wearing ripped jeans and a shirt thats not tucked in. When it coems to the scouts, they wear them under the collar not only because it is the rule, but because all of them are doing it. Over the collar may seem uncool to them since just the leaders wera it that way. Whatever floats your boat as long as you are not straying too far from what is expected...A scout in a red jacket with patches all over it although may be not legal according to the proper wear of the red jacket still look better than the scouts that wear jean jackets.

1. Yes 2. Custom neckerchief 3. We wear it under the shirt Collar, a few of the old rocking chair patrol (adults) wear them over their collar. 4. Our Neckerchief is blue with an Indian Head on it, with a camp fire in the back round with smoke. Do not know how or when it was adopted for the troop. 5. The neckerchief is required at all events when the Uniform is being worn. 6. All the Troop members wear it. Uniformity when wearing the Neckerchief is important. Everyone in the Troop should wear them the same way. But what is nice to see, is a variation in Neckerchief Slides. We motivate scouts to create their own so that it can be something that is unique to them and they can be proud of. VentureScoutNY

1. Yes 2. Custom neckerchief 3. We wear it under the shirt Collar, a few of the old rocking chair patrol (adults) wear them over their collar. 4. Our Neckerchief is blue with an Indian Head on it, with a camp fire in the back round with smoke. Do not know how or when it was adopted for the troop. 5. The neckerchief is required at all events when the Uniform is being worn. 6. All the Troop members wear it. Uniformity when wearing the Neckerchief is important. Everyone in the Troop should wear them the same way. But what is nice to see, is a variation in Neckerchief Slides. We motivate scouts to create their own so that it can be something that is unique to them and they can be proud of. VentureScoutNY