A Scout's Duty to God and Country
Michael F. Bowman (mfbowman@CAP.GWU.EDU)
Sun, 3 Jul 1994 00:49:05 -0400
Early in 1991 I landed the job of preparing a Cub Scout Pow Wow session on
religious emblem programs. I quickly found out that to really know much
about the many programs (more than the names of the awards and national
contact points), a leader would have to be prepared to spend months making
contacts and writing for information. Although we put on a good session,
much information was missing.
Another dedicated Scouter, Jim Bryant, and I began an 18 month search for
literature and found more than we expected. By the time we were preparing
for last year's Pow Wow, our handout had grown to book length. We've
taken the plunge and have given Dave Worley, Religious Relationships,
National Council, a manuscript of a book entitled "A Scout's Duty to God
and Country" running at just over 160 pages.
The book provides general information on the relationships between BSA and
religions and BSA policies; sample ceremonies for presentations, universal
or non-denominational prayers, graces, songs, etc.; descriptions and
general outlines of both youth and adult religious emblem programs;
listings of related Scouting associations (e.g. National Association of
Lutheran Scouters, National Association of Presbyterian Scouters, National
Association of United Methodist Scouters, etc.); citizenship building
ideas; program helps; flag ettiquette; and more. (I'll probably add a
sample flag retirement ceremony or two in our final revision)
About 600 copies of the manuscript are now in circulation with good
responses. Budgets being what they are, we're not going to be able to
send many more out until we finish our final revision before giving the
copyrights to BSA (this is strictly not for profit).
Hopefully, BSA will adopt the book or a version of it. Your help is
needed in two ways:
1. We are always interested in new information, suggestions of things
that unit leaders need, sample non-denominational services, etc. If you
have anything that you wish to share, we'd appreciate it. True, we may
already have the item or something similar, but a lot of nugets are still
lurking out there. Hard copies can be sent to me at 5832 Valley View
Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22310 (currently my access link to Internet
only supports E-mail and a cranky version of Kermit that sometimes takes
longer than daily time limits permit).
2. If you think that such a book would be useful to leaders, please feel
free to drop a line to Dave Worley, Relationships Division, National
Council, BSA, P.O. Box 152079, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, Texas
75015-2079 (1-214-589-2110/Fax at 1-214-580-2502).
Maybe at some future point, if BSA doesn't object, we can get a copy or an
abbreviated version into the SCOUTS-L archives. Right now that amounts to
about 3.5 mb (graphics do eat up space).
Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Michael F. Bowman, a/k/a Professor Beaver
DDC-EXP, GW, NCAC, Eagle, OA-VH, WB
mfbowman@CAPGWU.EDU
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
