Scouting News

You can now order your Scouting items online at the new and improved Scout Stuff web site! Order uniforms, literature, gifts, etc. online at the BSA's new e-commerce equipped web site! Click the logo above to go there now!

The BSA is entering a unique marketing collaboration that establishes General Motors' Chevrolet Division as the national sponsor of Cub Scouting for 2005 through 2007. As part of this sponsorship, NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon will serve as the honorary chairman of our Cub Scout fall recruitment campaign.

	Jeff Gordon will appear in a TV public service announcement, and we may use his image in a variety of marketing materials, including posters, fliers, and print ads. Look for the PSA in your Council early this summer.
	GM will issue a letter to all Chevrolet dealership general managers announcing its sponsorship of Cub Scouting, promoting the long-term benefits of this relationship, and urging the dealers to participate with local Councils in events (such as holding a pinewood derby at the dealership).
	GM will make best efforts to schedule appearances by local executives and/or dealers at local Council board meetings, roundup meetings, and other activities or events.
	The Chevrolet Division will run a minimum of one advertising spread annually in Boys' Life and Scouting magazines to promote its association with the BSA. GM will tag select print ads with "Happy 75th birthday, Cub Scouts" and "Chevrolet is a proud sponsor of Cub Scouting." They will encourage dealers to do the same locally.
	GM engineers will build the world's largest pinewood derby car. The car will be on display at locations such as the BSA's National Annual Meeting, Disney's Epcot Center (GM space), the National Scout Jamboree, and select Chevrolet dealerships, and will ultimately find a permanent home in the National Scouting Museum.

The BSA Ready & Prepared Award was developed to encourage and reward Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturing crews that incorporate safe practices while enjoying challenging activities. The award acknowledges the common sense and judgment, founded on knowledge and training, used to incorporate risk management into a unit's decision-making process. It recognizes that the more responsibility individual members take for their personal health and safety, the more everyone contributes to a successful activity. Earning the award helps units focus on areas in which emphasizing risk management can help reduce fatalities and serious injury, such as

There are two award levels: Gold and Silver

To earn the Gold Award, a Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout Team, or Venturing Crew must complete 10 mandatory requirements and three elective requirements. Youth and adult members of a unit earning the Gold Award are entitled to wear the gold-bordered BSA Ready & Prepared Award patch and the unit is entitled to display the gold BSA Ready & Prepared ribbon.

To earn the Silver Award, a Boy Scout Troop, Varsity Scout Team, or Venturing Crew must complete 10 mandatory requirements and six elective requirements. Youth and adult members of a unit earning the Silver Award are entitled to wear the silver-bordered BSA Ready & Prepared Award patch, and the unit is entitled to display the silver BSA Ready & Prepared Award ribbon. Units earning the Silver Award also will be acknowledged in Boys' Life magazine. Apply for this award at the time of rechartering. See the forms page for the an application.

The new William D. Boyce New-Unit Award recognizes volunteers who organize one or more new traditional units. Celebrating Boyce's organizing spirit, the award consists of a silver square knot on a background of yellow, green, and red—representing the traditional Scouting programs' colors.

With the approval of the district committee chair, serve as the organizer and complete the successful organization of one new traditional unit.

Organize the unit by following all procedures as published in the New Unit Organization Process, No. 34196, ensuring that new unit leadership is trained, program is organized and begun, the new unit committee is functioning, a unit commissioner is assigned, all paperwork is processed, and the unit charter is presented to the chartered organization.

Only one volunteer can be recognized as the organizer for each new unit.

Three program devices can be earned and worn on the new-unit organizer knot for each additional new traditional unit organized. Each program device represents the type of unit organized. Multiple program devices from the same program may be earned and worn.

The new-unit organization award recognizes volunteers for organizing traditional units after March 1, 2005.