Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

Boy Scout News Bulletin

Second Quarter 2006

Welcome to P.R.A.Y.’s Boy Scout News Bulletin. This Bulletin is how we share information about the religious emblems programs and ways to strengthen relationships with the religious community.

P.R.A.Y. HONORED AS “VENDOR OF THE YEAR”

BSA National Supply Group recognized 8 organizations on May 19, 2006 as “Vendors of the Year.” P.R.A.Y. was pleased to be one of them. CEO Mark Hazlewood represented P.R.A.Y. at the recognition dinner in Charlotte, NC and was presented with a special award to honor P.R.A.Y.’s longstanding relationship with Supply Group. Although a very small vendor in comparison with other BSA customers, P.R.A.Y. was recognized for its contributions in other ways and for providing a product that reinforces BSA values and builds Duty to God into the Scouting program. Mark Hazlewood had this to say in response to the award: “Being selected as a Vendor of the Year is a great honor for P.R.A.Y. I want to thank Supply Group not only for the award, but also for the tour of your facilities and for sharing your vision of the future. I now have a much bigger (and clearer!) picture of Supply Group.”

LOCAL COUNCILS ORDER NEW FLYER FROM P.R.A.Y.

A full-color brochure featuring the Duty to God Puzzle Patch is now available to local Boy Scout councils at no charge from PRAY. The flyer details the requirements, encourages adults to make presentations on the religious emblems programs, and includes information on purchasing patches. This flyer can also serve as an attractive poster. Councils are encouraged to include these flyers in packets going out to each unit. In addition, councils may request flyers for adult training events, religious relationships committees, resource centers, etc. The Duty to God puzzle patch is an interfaith recognition designed to promote the religious emblems programs. Click here to view the new flyer.

SUMMER CAMP DUTY TO GOD PROGRAM

Many councils are in the process of implementing Summer Camp Duty to God programs. The concept is simple: require Scouts to attend religious services, do daily devotions, lead grace, and learn about the religious emblems. A chaplain's aide signature is required to purchase a patch from the trading post. P.R.A.Y. has an interfaith devotions booklet for Boy Scouts and also for Cub Scouts that may be helpful in such a program. These booklets are available at http://www.praypub.org/partnerships/interfaith_devotions_desc.htm. Here’s what one person had to say about the interfaith devotions:

I am an Asst. Scoutmaster in Austin Texas. My son is an Eagle Scout, and is using his many years as Chaplain Aide to train one in the new troop we recently transferred to during a campout this weekend. I was looking for fresh material for my son to do an interfaith worship, and your samplings are PERFECT lead ins to set the respectful tone the campout attendees need to have. Thanks for what you do!

Please note - These interfaith devotions are not required. They are optional resources. If your camp provides chaplains for specific faiths, your chaplains will provide devotions specific to your faith.

BSA SHOWS 2.5% INCREASE IN GOD AND COUNTRY USAGE

The first quarter of 2006 showed a 2.5% increase in the number of BSA youth members who earned a Protestant God and Country award. This increase is in contrast to the slow decline of the past few years.

FIRST QUARTER FOUR-STAR RECIPIENTS

The following individuals were recognized in the first quarter of 2006 for completing all four levels of the God and Country series. Four-Star recipients receive a certificate and letter from CEO Mark Hazlewood congratulating them on their accomplishments.

Baltimore Area (Baltimore, MD) – Brent Galloway, Cliff Galloway

Bay Area (Galveston, TX) – Tyler Smith

Bucks County (Doylestown, PA) – Richard Kriebel

California Inland Empire (Redlands, CA) – Bradley Carpenter

Cascade Pacific (Portland, OR) – Thomas Disher, Tim Hill

Cherokee Area (Chattanooga, TN) – Ryan Faulkner

Chief Seattle (Seattle, WA) – William Zahrinov

Cornhusker (Walton, NE) – Matthew Goff

Del-Mar-Va (Wilmington, DE) – Chris Johnson, Phillip Shores, Brent Weichsel

East Carolina (Kinston, NC) – Alex Washburn, Nicholas Washburn

Evangeline Area (Lafayette, LA) – Robert Hess

Gamehaven (Rochester, MN) – Thomas Erickson, Andrew Hagen, Ian Wichmann

Gulf Coast (Pensacola, FL) – Jeremy Suelflow, Joshua Suelflow, Kyle Finelli

Heart of America (Kansas City, MO) – Mark Dehning, Elijah Coomes, Matthew Jarboe, Brett Main

Longhorn (Hurst, TX) – Andrew Christ

Middle Tennessee (Nashville, TN) – Adam Morrison, Robert Kirby

National Capital Area (Bethesda, MD) – Ricky Castles, Christopher Smith

Northern Star (St. Paul, MN) – Daniel Fett

Occoneechee (Raleigh, NC) – Kyle Thompson

Old North State (Greensboro, NC) – Charles Carroll

Sam Houston Area (Houston, TX) – Joseph Martin, Brian Hollingsworth, Cameron Beckett, Enrique Garcia, Austin Taylor

South Florida (Miami Lakes, FL) – Bobby Bernis

Theodore Roosevelt (Massapequa, NY) – Robert Loud

Verdugo Hills (Glendale, CA) – Kevin Markonich, Timothy Markonich, Luke Webster

RELIGIOUS EMBLEMS UPDATES

· The Association of Baptists for Scouting has a new web address www.baptistscouters.org. The web site is in the early stages of construction and your input is welcome.

· The National Jewish Committee on Scouting has announced that the Shofar Adult Recognition will include a lapel pin. Effective June 15, 2006, all Shofar nominations will cost $36. The Shofar award package will include the adult medallion with ribbon, full-color certificate, and lapel pin. Click here for the revised Shofar nomination form http://www.scouting.org/relationships/15-102/index.html

· The National Association of United Methodist Scouters web address is www.naums.org

· The Moravian church has an address correction: Board of Christian Education, Attn: Beth, 500 South Church Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101. The phone number is the same 336-722-8126.

· The National Lutheran Association on Scouting has made its worship booklet “Scouts Worship” available on line at http://www.nlas.org/Worship.htm

WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING

· Longhorn Council in Fort Worth, Texas is approaching congregations that offer summer sessions for kids such as Vacation Bible Schools or other similar events. The council offers to provide a service and to help in some way in exchange for the opportunity to recruit and supplement their School Night for Scouting.

· Cornhusker Council will offer its Third Annual Catholic Scout Camp-o-ree / Retreat and its first Annual Protestant Retreat this summer. Participants will complete many requirements that can be applied to their religious emblems. They will also receive the first segment of the Duty to God puzzle patch.

· The Boy Scout Lutheran Committee on Scouting in St. Louis recognized God and Country recipients and presented the Duty to God Promotion Patch to them.

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