Adult Uniform Rant and Request

In 2008, GSUSA rebranded themselves (AGAIN) and one of the (never-ending) changes was the Adult Uniform. 

This is the FULL extent of guidance given to Adult Volunteers: 

As you can see above, even their own propaganda doesn't have it pictured correctly. The woman above doesn't even have on the scarf OR pins!!!  That website does have 3 scarves that I haven't seen for sale this year though, so that's pretty exciting. Those scarves have been out for a while. 

Even before this change, many leaders didn't wear the previous adult uniforms because of cost or just lack of interest.


When I was a leader in 2003-2005, my "uniform" was a GS T-shirt or GS Polo shirt. I don't remember what the Official Uniform was back then, but I think it was something from Land's End. For one ceremony I wore a black business suit, but only because the meeting was right after a job interview. I felt awesome that day, setting a good example of looking professional and dressing up for an appropriate occasion.

I know many leaders don't even attempt to wear the "official" adult uniform and opt for a GS T-shirt instead. Many don't even wear pins.  I totally agree that painting and hiking and baking do not require a suit and heels, but if we are ToGetHerThere, we need to be setting an example. 

 For those of you who DO wear a version of the adult uniform,  could you share a picture?  My uniform needs improvement, somewhere between "ready to be CEO of a Bank" and "about to wash my dog." 

 I am the only one I've ever seen in real life and it's even hard to find a leader in uniform on the internet much, except for Anna Maria.   

Sometimes I feel like I've dressed up as an elusive unicorn or something else that you never see. So far I've worn my scarf with a navy blue dress (no picture) and pins and the Official Cardigan set which is in reality cost prohibitive for the average American, but I got during the Summer Blow Out event for less than $5 each. 

 and now my standard thing is a navy blue wal-mart blouse with the scarf , pins, NICE jeans and NICE belt, because IMO, "business attire" is open to interpretation, and if Teachers can wear jeans as their work attire, so can I, because my "business" is most comparable to Teachers.  Plus, I'm in the mid-west, and jeans are business attire here!  Here I am in my Unicorn suit. The necklace is the 100th Anniversary reproduction of  the necklace given to the First Lady of the US who is Honorary National President of the GSUSA.

In this picture I'm wearing a Boy Scout Woodbadge-Style leather Turk's Head knot called a Woggle. I tied it myself. I do own the official Silver slide now, but leaders need to know that that $14 doesn't have to be spent. You can just tie a knot in the scarf itself or make a Woggle. I'm working on some prettier, more feminine woggles to share soon. Before I made this woggle, I tied the scarf with a black hair rubberband and clipped on a pretty green earring. Better than nothing!! Maybe my next post should be about alternatives to expensive Scarf Slides.

Please send me pictures of you in your adult uniform with permission to share here on my blog. I would LOVE for this blog to come up as a source of pictures when Google Images is searched for "Girl Scout adult Uniform", instead of the smutty halloween costumes that pop up now.

The email address for sending pictures is ScoutDork@gmail.com

The Maiden Post

I'm pretty opinionated and a wee bit frustrated with Girl Scouts USA right now. I'm short on time, so this blog won't be too busy, except when I'm wanting info or wanting to share info or really frustrated.  I may use it to rant, or brag, hopefully mostly to share great ideas. 

My background: Two years as a Tagalong, 13 years as a Girl Scout (but "only" earned my Silver award), 2 years as a Brownie/Junior Community Troop leader before I had my own kids, and now in my first year of leading my own daughter's Daisy troop. I'm also a School Organizer for our Service Unit and trying to resist taking on a Community Troop to get people off the Waiting List. I have been a member of 5 councils, Girl Scouts of the Pacific (now of Hawaii), Carolina Low Country Girl Scouts (now GS of Eastern SC), GS Council of the Nation's Capitol, Girl Scouts Colonial Coast, and now Girl Scouts - Texas Oklahoma Plains.  

We live on the border of GS-TOP and GS North East Texas, so we participate in a lot of GSNETX events.

I also have a Cub Scout so might occasionally spout off about the wonders of their awesome program.

Thank you for following my blog. You never know what will be the topic I choose to cover!!