Programs of Religious Activities with Youth

Boy Scout News Bulletin

Fourth Quarter 2005

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. Board Passes “Katrina” Policy

The P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors at their September meeting expressed concern for Scouts whose lives were disrupted by Hurricane Katrina. The Board voted unanimously to implement the honor system among Scouts whose work on the God and Country program was lost due to Hurricane Katrina and to grant them the right to wear the medal. Scouts who have lost all paperwork should go to the P.R.A.Y. web site to submit a request for a special application/order form. The P.R.A.Y. office will then email the special application/order form to be submitted in order to receive the awards. Those Scouts will be registered as God and Country recipients.

Plan Now to Recognize Adult Leaders on Scout Sunday/Sabbath

Scout Sunday / Sabbath in February is the perfect time to honor the adult leaders who are also active in their faith communities. Now is the time to start the process. The adult recognitions are not work/study programs like the youth awards; they are by nomination only. The adult recognitions are awards given jointly by the BSA council and the local congregation (signatures and/or letters of support must be secured from both organizations). What better way to honor your adult leaders and to encourage them in their service than to present them with an award on behalf of both the local council and congregation. Visit the P.R.A.Y. web site for additional information and/or the nomination forms.

Scouting Associations

· PCS Association – “Pentecostal Churches in Scouting” is a new association to promote the Scouting program in Pentecostal churches. Visit their web site at www.pcsbsa.com or email them at pcsbsa@aol.com. Members will receive a membership certificate, PCS patch, and quarterly newsletter.

· ABS – The Association of Baptists for Scouting is in the midst of rebuilding and anticipates steady progress.

· ISNA – The Islamic Society of North America has signed a Memorandum of Mutual Support with the Boy Scouts of America to work in cooperation with one another in order to help boys grow in character, citizenship responsibility, and with the personal fitness necessary to achieve their greatest potential.

· NLAS –The National Lutheran Association on Scouting has made their worship booklet Scouts Worship available on line at http://nlas.org/Worship.htm.

More Resources for Duty to God Promotion Patch

The P.R.A.Y. web site features two new resources to help promote the Duty to God Promotion Patch:

· Full color 6x9 “postcard” – This file prints on a regular sheet of paper and features the complete patch and highlights the first segment

· 16x20 inch full-color poster – Print this file at a copy center like Kinko’s for an attractive sign to promote your presentation

· Please Note: The Duty to God Promotional Resource DVD contains an error on the titling of the 50-Minute presentation. It should be used for Pow Wow or University of Scouting Trainings rather than Round Table Trainings.

Duty to God and Wood Badge Ticket [Received via email on 10-12-05]

The Duty to God Promotional materials and program could not have been more timely! As a youth in Scouting, the why and how for earning Religious Emblems was a complete mystery. Even though I am an Eagle Scout, there seemed to be something missing from my Scouting experience. Now, as an adult Scouter, I realize that the missing element was the chance to explore my faith through the Religious Emblem Program. Consequently, during my recent Wood Badge experience I made Religious Emblem Program awareness one of my ticket goals. The recent roll-out of your promotional materials fits perfectly with this effort! As a religious emblem mentor and counselor within my congregation, I highly endorse the program. I have seen first hand how it brings children and families closer to God and to each other. A sincere thanks for all your organization is doing! The materials will be most useful during the Troop Duty to God promotion planned for December! I endorse all aspiring Wood Badge participants to consider including a Duty to God goal for their ticket.

2006 Religious Emblems Course at Philmont

The new “Religious Emblems Course” will again be offered by the Relationships Division at the Philmont Training Center, July 16-22, 2006. This course will focus on how religious emblems can be used for both program enhancement AND membership growth. Representatives from P.R.A.Y.’s Target Councils will attend.

Please note: Individuals may enroll in this course. You do NOT have to belong to one of the P.R.A.Y. Target Councils to participate in this course. This has caused some confusion and we want to make it very clear that enrollment in this Philmont Course is open to everybody, not just Target Council participants.

To view a sample syllabus, visit http://www.praypub.org/ptc_syllabus.htm To view the family programs available at the Philmont Training Center, visit http://www.scouting.org/philmont/ptc/families/index.html

Council Scout Executive Supports Religious Emblems Course

Ed Harvey, Scout Executive of Cherokee Area Council in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, attended the first Religious Emblems course at the Philmont Training Center in August 2005. Upon the request of P.R.A.Y. CEO Mark Hazlewood, Ed Harvey wrote a letter endorsing this course. In his letter Harvey says, “I would highly recommend this course for Unit Service Executives and volunteers wanting information on growing their service areas. This course was time well spent and with the setting of Philmont for a backdrop, participants left motivated and committed to use the knowledge and P.R.A.Y. support materials to expand the Scouting program.” Click here to read his entire letter.

Donors Support Duty to God Promotion Project

A big Thank You! to the following donors who have supported P.R.A.Y.’s Duty to God Promotion Project

· E.A.Dion – The Dion Manufacturing Company has served as P.R.A.Y.’s medal supplier for over 25 years. www.eadion.com

· The Miller Group – The Miller Group is a full service information technology firm that currently hosts P.R.A.Y. web site. www.themillergroup.com

· Ford Griggs – A member of Religious Emblems Subcommittee of the BSA National Religious Relationships Committee.

For information on how to support P.R.A.Y.’s new Duty to God emphasis, please click here.

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