Religious Emblem Program by Ella Ozier NOTE: In the gathering area for the meeting set up the P.R.A.Y. video so that participants can watch the 7 minute video. Also prepare a display for participants. This might include some previous scouts’ projects they created for the religious emblem program, the council’s emblem display, and some of the program booklets. Welcome your group: “Welcome to our presentation on religious emblems. Today I will share with you as adult BSA leaders, the background of the Religious Emblem Program and how you can support it in your unit.

The Next 15 Minutes… Learn about the Religious Emblem Program Learn how you can easily implement it Call in the support Review agenda Icebreaker questions: How many of you have earned the religious emblem? How many of you have had at least one scout earn the religious emblem of his faith in the last year? Who has a Religious Coordinator? Chaplain? Chaplain’s Aide? NOTE: Track how many people raise their hand. (tie this to recruiting on a later slide.)

Duty to God “On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” Ask Scouts to stand: “Will all Scouts please stand and join in the Scout Oath? On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. Continue by saying, “Duty to God is related to the 12th point of the Scout Law: ‘A Scout is reverent toward God.’ How can you show your reverence to God? Allow Scouts to volunteer answers. Then explain: One way that Boy Scouts can show their reverence to God is to earn the religious emblem of their faith and to wear the emblem on their uniform. The video clip you saw in the entryway talked about the importance of the religious emblems. This could be used with your unit.

Duty to God “Duty to God” is at the heart of the Scouting movement. Religious emblems reinforce this spiritual component and promote many of the values found in the Scouting program. Note that the PAC created the Duty to God program for summer camp. The national program is based on what PAC created—another example of the great resources in PAC. Patch Availability August 2012-July 2013: Mountain August 2013-July 2014: Fish August 2014-July 2015: Eagle (Repeating three year cycle)

What is the Religious Emblem Program?

Religious Emblem Program Provides an opportunity for the scout to: Learn more about his faith. Practice “…duty to God” and being reverent. Encourages diversity and acceptance of religious beliefs. When the scout completes the program, he earns the religious knot which can be worn over the left pocket of his uniform. Devices are used if he completes the program at more than one level of scouting. There is also an adult religious knot (silver with a purple knot). If you have earned this knot, be sure to let the scouts know what it is and share about your experience.

Sponsors provide faith-based curriculum Most other major religions’ awards LDS Duty to God Award Sponsors provide faith-based curriculum Catholic Awards The Religious Emblem program is faith-based and there are three main sponsors—the Catholic and LDS have their own programs and PRAY offers curriculum for most other major religions.

Why Are We Doing This? CRRC Mission:  To Promote Duty and Reverence to God Within Scouting Promote religious emblem program Encourage each unit to have a Chaplain Aide and provide Chaplain Aide training opportunities Foster cooperation among faiths Strengthen ties with current religious-based partners In cooperation with the council's Membership Committee, support growth of new units in religious organizations Assist in finding clergy for services at Council-wide events Provide advisory support and oversight to the "Duty to God" program at Camp Long Lake The CRRC has 7 goals that they want to accomplish as a way to fulfill their mission. Their first goal is: Promote religious emblem program If you read the other goals you will soon realize that many of the others will “fall” into place if we are successful with the religious emblem program.

You might think that nothing is that simple in scouting---what is the catch? This is truly one of those deals where you, as the scout leader, will have minimal work to do. Let’s discover how that can be. Easy as 1—2—3

Chaplain’s Aide training session offered in March and November Step 1: Recruit Each unit should have a Unit Religious Coordinator (UREC volunteers 3-10 hours per year) with key responsibility to advocate for the religious emblem program. Each Boy Scout unit should also have a Chaplain and Chaplain’s Aide Earlier I asked how many of you have a UREC--?? Said you do. I also asked how many of you have a Chaplain or Aide---?? Said you do. Why is a UREC or C or CA important? Because they responsible for sharing the message about the religious emblem program—for making the connections between scout/parent and religious leader—they are your right-hand person for the religious emblem program. There are descriptions of these roles as well as training available. In fact, PAC’s Chaplain’s Aide training program is recognized nationwide as one of the best—others want it too but your Chaplain’s Aide can attend. The next training session is scheduled for Nov. 8. Also on PAC’s website is the Chaplain’s Aide Guide. For those unit leaders who do not have a UREC, C or CA, I have a handout with the descriptions/level of commitment that you can use in recruiting. Now please raise your right hand….I, NAME, promise I will do my best and work with my Committee Chair to recruit a UREC, and if I am responsible for a troop a C and CA by Dec. 5th. If I need assistance, I will call the CRRC to ensure I can complete my Duty to God. Eligible for Duty to God patch--- Chaplain’s Aide training session offered in March and November

Step 2: Market the Program Coordinate a time for your Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator (Cub Scouts) or Chaplain’s Aide (Boy Scouts) or other volunteer to present the Religious Emblem Program to your unit every year Any meeting when many parents attend e.g. Recognition night or Court of Honor Special parent/scout meeting prior to the pack meeting or troop meeting On the P.R.A.Y website they have presentations (with all the notes) and videos to market the program---even based on the specific religious and age group. We saw a video clip prior to the meeting tonight but there are many other resources including PowerPoint presentations for all levels of scouting with appropriate scripts.

Step 3: Recognize the Scout The scout should be recognized within his religious institution, but be sure to also recognize him at a unit meeting—perhaps his religious leader would participate. Please provide your District Religious Emblem Coordinator or the CRRC with religious emblems earned. The scout will be listed on the PAC website and we can track religious emblem achievement. How many of you know a scout would appreciates being recognized for a job well done? This program provides another opportunity for you to do that---and the significance of this program is that the scout will wear a knot on his uniform for the rest of his scouting career. For me the scout law ends with REVERENT for a reason---it’s like an exclamation mark about how a scout lives. Try saying the scout law next time with that thought in mind and see if you feel a difference.

Pass the Baton to the Religious Leader BSA approves this program but it is NOT a scouting program. You should encourage the scout and his parents to work with his religious leader. All three sponsors—P.R.A.Y., LDS and Catholic faiths—have structured curriculums. P.R.A.Y. has an age-appropriate curriculum with Student, Counselor, and Mentor handbooks with great activities that religious leaders can use—it is easy for them to implement too.

Call in the Support

Combined Religious Relations Committee Council-level resource available for your unit or religious leaders to help implement the religious emblem program. They are the BEST---be sure to connect with this very helpful group of people: Jack Pollock-Chair CRRC Denise DeDominces- Northern Lights REC Jim Buskel- Onatah REC Elaine Garvey- River Trails REC Sue Schultz -Scout Professional at Susan.schultz@scouting.org

Volunteers from Your Unit Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator Chaplain Chaplain’s Aide

The Scout’s Religious Leader Please contact the CRRC at susan.schultz@scouting.org for assistance if: The scout’s religious leader is not aware of the religious emblem program. If you know a religious leader who is willing to serve as a counselor for scouts outside his/her institution.

Amazing Resources Combined Religious Relations Committee P.R.A.Y. (http://www.praypub.org) provides presentations, videos, and other materials for most major religions The Catholic programs are administered by the Milwaukee Archdiocese for PAC units. The LDS’ Duty to God program is administered by the Bishop of the Scout’s Ward.

So What Do You Need To Do? Recruit—Market—Recognize Recruit: By December 5th recruit a Unit Religious Emblem Coordinator, Chaplain, or Chaplain’s Aide Market: Confirm a date for your volunteer to present the religious emblem program Recognize: Be prepared…to recognize the scouts who earn the religious emblem.

Thank You! Ella Ozier ellao@wi.rr.com