• Electronic Registration Capabilities - P.R.A.Y. now has a downloadable program to register and order awards for Protestant God and Country recipients. Orders submitted by noon CST are processed and shipped the same day.
• The P.R.A.Y. website has a new section in Spanish. The online ordering page includes Dios y Yo and Dios y la Familia.
• The National BSA Religious Emblems Report for 2007 has been updated online. This report provides the number of emblems earned by religion and Scouting rank.
• The National BSA Membership Report for 2007 has also been updated online. This report lists the number of Scouts and units by national chartered organizations.

PRESENTATIONS BY PRAY

• February 11-12, 2008 - National BSA Meetings, Irving, TX
  CEO Mark Hazlewood represented P.R.A.Y. at the Religious Relationships Meeting.
  
• March 5-6, 2008 - Denomination Agency Conference
  The P.R.A.Y. Board of Directors hosted a conference in St. Louis to bring together denomination members and national youth agency representatives to strengthen collaborations between them. The following organizations participated in the conference: American Heritage Girls, African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Boy Scouts of America, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Original Free Will Baptist Churches, and the United Methodist Church.

WHAT OTHERS HAVE DONE

• Duty to God Encampment - For over 20 years the Atlanta Area Council of Atlanta, Georgia has held a Duty To God Encampment in the Fall for Scouts of all denominations. Last October over 500 Scouts, leaders and family members attended and received training in how their particular faith religious programs work and how they can get started on their religious emblems for their faith.  There was also a “Faith and Beliefs” area with interactive booths for Hindu, Jewish, Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Sikh religions. In addition to their religious training the scouts also had the opportunity for age-appropriate orienteering activities. Scouts who completed the orienteering events and also visited at least 3 booths in the “Faith and Beliefs” area earned a Participant’s Pin (a small gold arrow) to put on the DTGE2007 Patch (pictured at right). This was to reinforce the lesson that Seeking God’s Path (the theme for the encampment) is a conscious decision that requires continuing focus. Saturday twilight worship opportunities included Havdallah, Protestant Vespers, and a Roman Catholic Mass.
  
  
• Greater Boston Scout Shabbat - Temple Emeth in Brookline, MA hosted a special Jewish Scout Shabbat on Saturday, February 9, 2008. This was the first Greater-Boston area Scout Shabbat held in over 20 years. Scouts from Knox Trail Council, Boston Minuteman Council, Old Colony Council, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, and Israeli Scouts participated in the event. Scouts young and old played active roles throughout the service by leading special prayers, opening and closing the ark, carrying the Torah, etc. A special aspect of the Scout Shabbat was the presentation of Jewish Scouting awards for Brownies, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Boy Scouts. In addition to the youth awards, five adults were recognized with the Shofar Award. A special Court of Honor was established at the end of the Service. All of the Eagle Scouts in the Congregation were asked to officiate as the badges were awarded.
  
  
• The United Methodist Virginia Annual Conference held a Bishop's Dinner with the Commonwealth Girl Scout Council and the Heart of Virginia BSA Council. About 80 churches were in attendance. Larry Coppock, Director of the Office of Civic Youth and Scouting Ministries for the United Methodist Church helped to interpret the national youth agency programs as opportunities for youth ministry. The Bishop's Dinner is an effective tool to introduce Scouting to United Methodist congregations. Click here for a resource on planning a Bishop's Dinner. http://www.naums.org/INFO/GCUMM.HTM#Bishop
  
  

UPDATE ON UNIT AWARDS
The 2007 4^th Quarter Bulletin included a list of unit awards. Here are some awards that were omitted from that list:

• The Catholic Committee on Scouting has two national unit awards:  The Quality Catholic Unit Award, aka the Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition (this is an award that can be earned annually by any Catholic-chartered unit that meets both Scouting and religious promotion standards much like the BSA quality unit award); The Gold Medallion is a recognition of the best pack, troop and crew/ship in each of the 15 Catholic regions of the USA (the Quality Catholic Unit Award is basically a pre-requisite). Requirements can be found at www.nccs-bsa.org.
  
  
  For the latest news and updates from the National Catholic Committee on Scouting go here: