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NOTE: Our Local Council has contated me and categorically DENEYS this policy!!!
I contacted Mike Walton and he once again confirmed the accuracy of this information.
Local (National supply) stores may not honor this policy!
I know "Made in the USA" used to stand for something... Over the winter, I had to look at
every single pair of pants to find a pair with no major defects! (No, I was NOT looking at irregulars, but I thought I was!)
Either way, the message from Mike below never stated that this would work locally!
Uniform Worn Out or Can't Find that RIGHT size?
Below is a message borrowed from: http://www.mninter.net/~blkeagle/smallbig.htm
Troop 374 members... If you choose to take advantage of this:
Please check our uniform bank first
to make sure that we do not have a uniform in worse shape than yours!
Several
Scouts, their parents, and lots of Scouters have asked me the following
series of questions that I've answered many times over via Scouting
discussion lists or personally:
I read or heard someplace that the BSA will exchange worn uniforms
for new ones if you wrote them and provided the worn ones. Is that an
"urban legend" or is that true? Who at National do I need to write to and
what are the "exceptions" or "buts" to the exchange? I have heard that the
BSA will make a uniform for a guy/gal like me, large (or small), with
(certain dimensions and measurements). Is that true or did I misread
something...I want to wear the uniform but I also want to be comfortable,
and every time I go to the Scout office, they have the same uniforms which
start in small and end in 2X. I don't want to be laughed at either, so if
this is a "patch up job", I'm not interested. The uniform may be important
to people like you, but if I can't get into it and wear it conformably, I
don't need it and any ridicule that would come with it!
The Boy Scouts of America's Supply Division, since its inception,
operated under a policy whereby they "guaranteed their uniforms for the
life of the owner." This policy later expanded to anything they sold or
has the BSA's official seal attached to it.
Basically, they allow you to exchange worn uniform parts (shirts,
pants, belts only) for newer versions with them. In order for you to do
this, you must wash and clean the uniform item, and send it to the BSA's
Supply Division at the National Office explaining what is wrong with the
item. If your item is old and the Supply Division no longer carries that
item, they will inform you and bill you or you can provide them credit
card information in which they can receive payment. But in most cases,
they are happy to provide you with a larger, wider, or smaller (!) uniform
item, charging you only for the cost of postage and shipping the item.
There IS a limit as to how many times you can do this; the
Supply Division is NOT in the business of losing money but they
will support you and other Scouters and Scouts. You MUST include a
letter with the item providing your full name, mailing address, unit
number and city/state, and Council name or number. Without that
information, they will NOT exchange your items.
Last year (1998) the BSA instituted a new service whereby they will
'custom fit' your uniform for you if you provide them with a series of
measurements (you can have your spouse or family members to measure you or
you can go to any tailor shop and allow them to measure you). The uniforms
are the same quality as the regular ones, except you pay a 20 percent
increase to account for the special tailoring. This service was previously
only provided to professional executives; it is now available to everyone
in the program. This is NOT a "patch-up job"...your uniform is
complete, looks and wears the same, and IS the same uniform that all other
volunteers and professionals wear. So whether your waist size is 60 or 22;
your chest size is 63 or 17; or you need a 50 or 25 inch belt - you CAN
get it from the BSA and you DO NOT NEED to "go out and make your own Scout
uniform" to be in uniform! They will also make special shirts with the cut
so that large-breasted women can wear the uniform comfortably without fear
that "because I'm so big, everything will stick out!" You can go to the BSA's
official website and download the special form to complete, return to
them and wait by your mailbox for your custom uniform!
The aim of the Supply Division is to have EVERY REGISTERED SCOUT,
VENTURER, AND SCOUTER wearing the complete, current uniform, with all
of the badges and insignia they are entitled to. They are determined to do
this even if this means that they suffer a small price in the way of
exchanging uniforms for newer ones. You can send your items to the
Director, Supply Division, S 111, National Office, Boy Scouts of America,
1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, Texas USA 75015-2079.
Back to Troop 374
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