SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY

Duty to God Promotion Patch

P.R.A.Y.

www.praypub.org

I have attended the Religious conferences at the Philmont Training Center twice.  Mark Hazlewood, the Director of P.R.A.Y., led one conference and helped at the other.  It was great being with so many Scouters who wanted to help Scouts fulfill their Duty to God and strengthen their faiths.  Mark and the organization at P.R.A.Y. have done a great job setting up this promotion effort.  Their website and the DVD have everything – scripts, slideshows, FAQs, and other stuff.  Lets get out there and make a difference.  CD

“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. The purpose of this “Duty to God Promotion Patch” is to encourage youth and adults to learn about and promote the religious emblems programs.

Requirements –

Youth and adults must:

1.       Attend or coordinate a presentation or information seminar on religious emblems (sample resources and suggestions are available at www.praypub.org ).

2.       Make a commitment to fulfill their “Duty to God.”

Here are some examples:

ü  Adults can commit to having 50% of families participate in the religious emblems programs, nominating a worthy adult to be recognized with an adult religious award, serving as counselor in their local congregation, etc.

ü  Youth can commit to earning the religious emblem of their faith at an appropriate time, making a presentation on religious emblems to another unit, helping younger Scouts earn their religious emblem, etc.

The Patch

ü  The Duty to God Promotion Patch is a four-segment puzzle patch.

ü  Only one segment will be offered in any given year.

ü  Participants are encouraged to earn all four segments over a four-year span.

ü  Visit www.praypub.org to find out which patch is currently available.

ü  Patches may be pre-ordered for distribution at the presentation/ information seminar.

The DVD

The Duty to God Promotion DVD contains the resources to make a presentation on the religious emblems programs. These resources include the video “Promoting Duty to God (Religious Emblems),” Duty to God brochure/chart listing all religious emblems (No. 05-879), scripts (for presentations to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Venturers), and Parent Handout.

Making a Presentation

ü  Find scripts, videos, handouts, and other resources at www.praypub.org

ü   Invite parents

ü  Provide information on emblems of ALL faiths

ü  Encourage Scouts to make a commitment to earn their religious emblem

ü  Present the Duty to God Promotion Patch to participants

Call and talk to the "Religious Emblems People" today!

1-800-933-7729 or visit them at www.praypub.org

Knot of the Month

Doctorate of Commissioner Science Award

www.usscouts.org

http://scoutleaderawards.com/awards

This square knot is presented to recognize completion of a standardized program leading to the completion of a thesis or project and the award of the Doctorate of Commissioner Science from a College of Commissioner Science.

Justification

The commissioner is the mainstay for Scouting program administration. It is commissioner service that ensures that units are healthy, productive, and assist in the growth of the program.

The College of Commissioner Science program is designed to have a commissioner learn, through a series of training classes, followed by work experiences to ensure a quality program throughout Scouting. This training will take a number of years to complete. The commissioner finalizes his/her training with an approved thesis or project for the benefit of the Scouting program. This assists both new commissioners as they learn, and seasoned commissioners as they train others.

A well-trained commissioner staff better serves the Scouting program.

The College of Commissioner Science program is a guideline for councils to adapt as they determine will fit their needs.

Having a knot award for the program requires that the commissioner complete, as a minimum, a training program standardized for all BSA programs.

Objectives

ü  To further involve commissioners in providing support to units in their delivery of a quality program experience for all youth in Scouting.

ü  To provide councils an opportunity to recognize commissioners for their tenured service, their involvement in learning more about delivery of quality Scouting, and their involvement in support of others.

Requirements:

Tenure

Serve as a commissioner for a minimum of 5 years. Their service can be in one or more commissioner roles or positions of service.

Training

A.      Bachelor of Commissioner Science Degree (BCS)

o         Prerequisites

1.       Maintain registration in any capacity as a Commissioner during the entire training program listed below.

2.       Complete Commissioner orientation (Commissioner Fieldbook)

3.       Complete commissioner basic training.

o         Course Requirements

Complete a minimum of seven (7) courses of instruction, at least five (5) of the courses at the Bachelor’s program level as listed in the Continuing Education for Commissioners manual.

o         Performance

1.       Approval of Council or assigned Assistant Council Commissioner

2.       Approval of Scout Executive or Advisor to Commissioner Service

B.      Master of Commissioner Science Degree (MCS)

o         Prerequisites

1.       Completion of bachelor’s degree.

2.       Earned Arrowhead Honor.

3.       Current registration as a commissioner.

o         Course Requirements

Complete a minimum of seven (7) additional courses of instruction (total of 14), at least seven (7) of the courses at the Master’s program level as listed in the Continuing Education for Commissioners manual.

o         Performance

1.       Approval of Council or assigned Assistant Council Commissioner

2.       Approval of Scout Executive or Advisor to Commissioner Service

C.      Doctor of Commissioner Science Degree (DCS)

o         Prerequisites

1.       Completion of master’s degree.

2.       Have been awarded the Commissioner’s Key.

3.       Current registration as a commissioner.

o         Course Requirements

Complete a minimum of ten (10) additional courses of instruction not used to qualify for other college awards (total of 24), at least five (5) of the courses at the doctor’s program level as listed in the Continuing Education for Commissioners manual.

o         Thesis or Project

Completion of a thesis or project on any topic of value to Scouting in the local council.  The topic and final paper or project must be approved by the council commissioner, or assigned assistant council commissioner, or the dean of the doctorate program and the staff advisor for commissioner service.

o         Performance

1.       Serve on the College of Commissioner Science faculty (instructor or support staff) or work with training support for commissioners for at least one year.

2.       Recruit at least three new commissioners at any level.

3.       Approval of Council or assigned Assistant Council Commissioner

4.       Approval of Scout Executive or Advisor to Commissioner Service

Grandfather or Sunset Clause:

Anyone who earned their doctorate based on the qualifications listed above will not have to repeat what they have already completed, even if it was prior to 10 years ago.  Just check with your local council on the procedure to follow.