Re: Youth Leadership in America (serious and kinda long)
settummanque, or blackeagle (blkeagle@DYNASTY.NET)
Sat, 23 Aug 1997 19:56:27 -0500
Hi Jason!
You wrote:
>I sent a letter to the council scout exec on the Youth Leadership in
>America award square knot you are developing/have developed.
*I personally* am not developing the square knot; I'm on a volunteer
committee which is advocating the issuance of the square knot and as
part of that effort, we have developed a square knot design which we hope to
get approved this coming program year.
>He denied my request to be allowed to wear it, saying he did not have the
>authority to authorize this knot.
Actually, what I'm sure that he did, was to deny authorizing the knot, since
in your Council, as you've written.....
>I am preparing a response. First, our OA lodge already wears something
>similar to what some Mic-O-Say people wear, which is specific to our
>lodge, and obviously was approved by the scout exec. So, evidently he
>DOES have the authority to do it, since it has already been done.
The Council Scout Executive has, by the authority of the National Executive
Board of the BSA, the *written authority* to "adopt special badges and
insignia as awards for particular purposes in harmony with national policies
and to permit their use upon the official uniform in accordance with the
Rules and Regulations of the Corporation (the "Corporation" being the Boy
Scouts of America), but such awards must be approved as to purpose and
design by the Corporation in advance."
(This is Article X, Section 4, Clause 11 from the BSA's Rules and
Regulations. In 1988, a letter was sent from the BSA's Program Group to
each Scout Executive delegating authority for issuance of special Council
insignia, because the quantity of requests for approvals of JSPs, CSPs,
Council program patches and awards and devices got so large that there was a
backlog of getting them approved in time to getting them developed, made and
available to "the field". As far as I'm aware, Jason, that delegation has
NOT been taken back and local Councils have as you've wrote here:
>I also know that other awards are given in some districts, in this and in
>other councils, which are worn on the uniform. Most of the ones with
>which I am familiar are given for a "lower" degree of award, generally at
>the district level, for service not quite recommending the District Award
>of Merit.
Those examples, along with the *specific clause* from the same "sheet of
music" as all other local Councils, should do it for him. I think that he
was trying to hope that you've taken the "lame excuse" (and it IS pretty
lame, especially in your Council *heheheeee*!) and move onward.
Here's what I suggest:
First, photocopy a current version of the BSA Insignia Guide, not the entire
thing, but the first three pages, so that you can see the copyright date (on
the backside of the cover) as well as "special local badges and insignia" on
page 2.
Second, write a paragraph or two on SPECIFIC EXAMPLES of local Council
insignia used just as the paragraph states, in concert with national
programming. Can't think of any?? Your Council's JSP, for starters. The
special Lodge flaps that your Council provides. Your Council's special
Roundup patches. Special Council awards which are recognized by plaque or
certificate.
Third, round up those Scouts and Scouters that would be eligible to wear a
special "insignia device" for the Youth Leadership in America Award and
encourage them to "make themselves known". A simple petittion will do.
Finally, let him know that if the national award isn't approved, that any
local device used would be "routed through him" for his approval to avoid
any "walking around" his authority as the Council's BSA representative.
If he still says "Nah, won't do it", then that's the final word. He and
only he has the final "say so" as far as implementation and interpretation
of BSA policy in his Council. It's sad, but it's also so very true.
The national effort toward the YLA square knot is going well, and we can use
your personal letters to the National Uniform and Insignia Committee at the
BSA National Office. If you do choose to write a personal letter, please
let them know when you've received the award, how much it would mean to you
to wear a emblem representing this special honor, and write especially if
you were chosen from your Council to go onward to the Area, Regional or
National level competitions. Part of our "presentation" will be the adding
of either a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or Explorer device to the knot emblem
for those Scouts/Scouters that competed at the level above the local Council
level.
Hope that this furthers your help in getting the appropriate recognition
that you and so many other former Troop, Team and Post/Ship leaders deserve.
The knot is a worthwhile venture but it's not the end-to-all; you can still
wear, as I do presently, the top bar of the medal.
Settummanque!
(c) 1997 Mike Walton ("no such thing as strong coffee,...") (502) 827-9201
(settummanque, the blackeagle) http://dynasty.net/users/blkeagle
241 Fairview Dr., Henderson, KY 42420-4339 blkeagle@dynasty.net
kyblkeagle@aol.com or waltonm@hq.21taacom.army.mil
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