P.R.A.Y. News Bulletin (BSA)
May 2004

Course on Religious Emblems announced for Philmont Training Center Aug 2005.

A new course was announced for Philmont Training Center entitled “Religious Emblems for Youth and Adults.” It will be held during the relationships week August 7-13, 2005. Council professionals and volunteers responsible for membership, as well as individuals interested in promoting Duty to God and the religious emblems programs of all faiths, should plan now to attend. The course will focus on Religious Emblems as a membership tool, looking at retention, increasing membership from current chartered partners and as a tool for reaching under served areas of your council. The other emphasis of the class will be on Religious emblems as programs that can reinforce BSA values in boys as well as on how and why to promote them. Here is a link to the tentative syllabus. http://www.praypub.org/ptc_rel_emblems.htm

The 2004 Duty to God brochures have been distributed to your council. This is the color brochure that pictures the religious emblems for all faiths and lists the contact information for each organization. Be sure that each of your unit leaders receives one and encourage them to make a presentation on Religious emblems using the Religious Emblems video and scripts available at http://www.praypub.org/popup_video.asp

God and Country usage totals online

God and Country usage reports are now online. The reports include the nation wide totals as well as the totals by individual councils and denomination.

http://www.praypub.org/New_God_Family/god__country_usage.htm

Catholic initiative materials

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting and the BSA launched a membership initiative in July 2002. The ultimate goal of the initiative is to bring a quality Scouting program to more Catholic youth than ever before. Emphasis is being placed on ensuring quality training and supporting existing units, securing more volunteer leaders, organizing more units, and recruiting youth membership. Promotional materials, including a Diocesan Leaders Guide and a CD-ROM (under development) with presentations and endorsements, are available to support the initiative.

The NCCS goal is to have 10,000 Catholic-chartered units by 2005. A training CD ROM is available from the Catholic Relationships office in the national office in Irving or the information is available on the National Catholic Committee on Scouting’s website. 

 http://www.nccs-bsa.org/mi/index.php

More User Friendly Adult Nomination forms are now available on line.

The adult recognitions are given to adults for outstanding service to young people through service to the church and a national youth agency.

The following nomination forms have been revised:

God and Service Protestant Award
Lutheran Lamb Award
Lutheran Servant of Youth Award
St. George Episcopal Award
Baptist Good Shepherd Award

Nominators are required to fill out the application form, document the minimum of five years of service, and secure the signatures of the nominee’s pastor and the Scout Executive of the local council. Copies of the new application forms are available at:

http://www.praypub.org/promotional_adultnomination.htm

Please share this News Bulletin with others

Please forward this email to other people in program, membership/marketing, newsletter/publications, council store, volunteers, etc. who may benefit from this information. Here is the link to sign up for our mailing list:

www.praypub.org/working/emailrequest.asp?Flag=1

A Note from P.R.A.Y.

P.R.A.Y. has hired a new staff person who has assumed responsibility for updating our web site and for sending out Email Bulletins. We apologize for our poor performance in the past, but are pleased to announce that you will receive regular communication from our office in the future!