Re: BSA 's copyright problem (chartering G/S troop as Explorer
Amick Robert (amick@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU)
Sat, 16 Nov 1996 23:03:18 -0700
I would encourage your Girl Scout Troop to consider concurrent chartering
as an Explorer Post even if not all of the youth members are 14 yet.
This will give the older members a link with BSA and the younger members
participate as "guests" until they become 14. This way you can
participate in events such as National Exploring Conference (set for the
vicinity of Washington, D.C. in 1998); Staff opportunities at the National
Scout Jamboree for youth members 16-20; World Scout Jamboree Regional
Explorer Post contingent in 1998-99 in
Chile and many other local and regional Exploring and BSA activities.
It is very easy to charter the unit as an Explorer Post, since you already
have most of the necessary leaders and committee members in place for your
Girl Scout unit; or you can also register in an existing post. We just
invited two Girl Scout Troops and some members of a Boy Scout troop to
join our High Adventure Post and be concurrently registered as Explorers,
and they are now on a winter camping/mountaineering trip with the Post at
St. Mary's glacier as this is written.
You would also be entitled to wear the Forest Green Explorer Uniform
shirts and/or to choose an informal "polo" shirt with a logo embroidered
or screened on the shirt as many posts do.
Explorers can also earn the new Explorer "G.O.L.D." award which is the
Exploring equivalent to the BSA Eagle. There is a red,white, and blue
square knot which can be worn on the uniform to denote those who have
earned the award. Our post has earned six of them to date.
As far as the patrol medallions
are concerned, I would agree with the other post which suggested that you
could use them since they do not bear the "official" BSA logo; but if you
were an Explorer Post, there would clearly be no possibility of conflict.
Explorers also have specialty emblems that members can wear for such areas
as "high adventure/outdoor; technology; medical/health careers;
fire/emergency services; law enforcement, law; aviation and many others."
Best wishes..
Bob Amick, Explorer Advisor, High Adventure Explorer Post 72, Boulder, CO
and Exploring Training Chair, Longs Peak Council
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
