January-February 1999January-February 1999
Thanks for a great article in the October issue on the importance of the Scout uniform. On that subject, Scouters may benefit from an item that is not generally well known:
For big or tall Scouters who have a hard time being fitted "off the rack," uniforms can be ordered using the Supply Division's made-to-measure uniform order form (there is a minimum order of two top or two bottom garments, with both garments using the same measurements).
Contact Customer Service, National Distribution Center, (800) 323-0732, and ask for a made-to-measure order form. I can state from experience that Supply Division people do an outstanding job of checking back to make sure your measurement numbers will result in a good fit.
The process takes a little time, and there is a slight premium in the price, but the result is more than worth it.
Rick Glover
Cubmaster, Pack 457
Kirkwood, Mo.
You've done something good to Scouting magazine. The October issue contains more stuff to save or pass along to others than ever.
Walter M. Schwenger
Reading, Pa.
The October article about the folk dancing Baden family was wunderbar! My family - three Eagle Scouts, a Life Scout, and a Scout leader among us - has also been involved over the years with international, and especially German-themed, folk dancing ...
...folk dancing is the only activity I know of that has such a delightful combination of physical exercise, recreation, and arts and culture. Maybe someday there will be a merit badge?
David Odenwalder
Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 674
San Diego, Calif.
My husband read the November-December Scouting before I did, and he placed his copy on my desk open to the article "Professional Scouting: A Woman's World, Too" with the note "good article."
It is indeed a good article, [which] I am sharing with my daughter, who will appreciate the ideas and resonate to the author's experiencesI know the article will be deeply appreciated by other young women who read it.
Our thanks to district executive Kim Oesterling for taking the time to write and share both her own story and the stories of other women who have chosen to make Scouting their profession.
Victoria Kibler
Committee Member, Troop 402
Claremont, Calif.
The page "Let Boys' Life Be Your Program Helper" in every issue of Scouting magazine lists the Boys' Life feature "Webelos Woody" as useful for Webelos Scout program planning.
Where in Boys' Life is the article?
I am on the district roundtable staff and in charge of the Webelos Scout breakout session. We use both Boys' Life and Scouting magazine articles as program helps in our sessions.
Russell Turner Jr.
Douglasville, Ga.
The cartoon feature Webelos Woody, the Cub Scout Dink and Duff section, and the Tiger Cubs puzzle page are contained only in the Cub Scout edition of Boys' Life. Since 1995 the magazine has published two editions, with the Cub Scout edition focusing on the developmental reading needs of boys aged 6 to 11 - word games, cartoons, puzzles, sport profiles of young athletes, pack activities, and articles of general interest to younger readers. The Cub Scout edition, however, also includes most of the regular features found in BL's Boy Scout edition - action-packed articles and columns, Boy Scout adventures, and humor.
We just received September's issue of Scouting magazine and saw the article on [Scout Ryan Farrell and] Tourette syndrome. It was great to see an article explaining and discussing this disorder, because our son, Lance, also has Tourette syndrome.
Lance has been an active member of Troop 444 in Concord, Calif. Under the leadership of Scoutmaster Bill Spalding, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout in December 1997. It wasn't always an easy trail, and he has never been more proud of an accomplishment.
The support he received was recognized when more than 140 persons attended his Eagle court of honor. I am enclosing a picture of Lance to show other Scouts and Scouters that boys with special needs can succeed in the program. Scouting has been a very positive influence in Lance's life, and we are ever-grateful for all it has given him.
Linda DeVenney
Clayton, Calif.
I am the president of the Dallas-Fort Worth Tourette Syndrome Association (TSA) and also a den leader in Pack 1256 in the Circle Ten Council. I read with great interest the article in the September issue, [because] my son, who has Tourette syndrome, is a Webelos Scout.
His eyes were beaming when he read that a Scout with Tourette syndrome had made Eagle Scout. He had been seriously thinking of dropping out after finishing his second year of Webelos. Now, he has more optimism and is going to give a Boy Scout troop a try.
Vicki Hill Riedel
Plano, Tex.
Send questions or comments about Scouting magazine or Scouting in general to Scouting Magazine, 1325 W. Walnut Hill Ln., P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for length and clarity.
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