Moderators: Site Admin, Moderators
Buffalo Bill wrote:Lemme see now just why did I take such a hiatus from this forum? Oh yeah, now I remember.
SCOTUS confirmed BSA's right to determine its own membership standards. BSA grants charters to a multitude of organizations with differing membership standards. Those organizations retain those charters as long as they follow certain guidelines as dictated by BSA. Last time I looked uniforming was still one of the methods of Boy Scouting, although, granted, not in Venturing or LFL.
Our unit uses uniforming as one of those recognized methods, and will continue to due so do so until directed not to. "If it is not written down it is not an official rule" Since the BSA has not stated that we may not use this method to reach the stated aims, we will continue to enjoy this option.
We have stated that, within our unit, a boy is expected to wear the nationally recognized Boy Scout uniform. Yes, we still exercise the option to permit some variation based on need, or our permitted interpretation of how to employ the uniform method. If a boy chooses not to follow what we have determined to be our membership standard, he may continue to advance, just not in our unit.
Just as previously pointed out, proper uniform involves loyalty and obedience for the Scout Spirit requirement as far as we are concerned. Should a Scout be signed off on his Scout Spirit and subsequently show for his BoR out of uniform, that casts a shadow on his demonstration of the first point of the Scout Law.
The right of an individual unit to determine its membership could be illustrated thusly: An LDS Troop allows a non-LDS boy into its ranks. The LDS Troop's policy is to not camp out on Saturday night due to the religious convictions of its majority LDS Scouts. Our non-LDS Scout sees nothing wrong with camping out on Saturday night and insists his leaders provide him with the two deep adult leadership and that his patrol mates remain camping with him. I don't believe that it is written in BSA policy that we must provide for this Scout's desires. If he cannot comply with the restrictions of the Troop, he may seek membership elsewhere. Stating that we must change our standards for an individual unwilling to comply would be tantamount to telling the LDS Troop they must camp on Saturday night to placate the one individual's desires.
Since we enjoy the right to establish certain standards within the movement, and those standards are understood, requesting compliance with those standards is not an unlawful order. Of course, other units may have opposing viewpoints on the matter, and they have that right.
This curmudgeon will continue to exercise his right to use one of the stated methods, in fact I'll try to follow the other seven as best I can. I may not do a terrific job, but I can strive to improve.
cballman wrote:well lets pose another question then. How can a scout show scout spirt if he hasent been in or tried to get a uniform? then lets ask the same question about sports does the coach let a kid play without a uniform? then it seems to me that we as PARENTS not leaders or coachs need to see what is more important to our kids. Do the same parents or kids complain when the kid dont play a sports game because not in uniform? these are something to think about. In our troop we have uniforms or will find someone who has one that dont fi anymore donate to a child that is in need. but then again why does the scout shops sell uniforms if they are not required? see I can ask questions and not get personal but unless you are guilty of doing these things for others. then you might get you toes stepped on. I have been guilty of many wrongs that I found out from this forum and have been working with our leaders to right the wrongs.
Buffalo Bill wrote:I also note that there sure are a lot of Scouts in uniform in Scouting and Boy's Life magazines.
Return to Uniforming and Scouting Supplies
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests