Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts Part 8

Official (to Captain): "I congratulate you, Captain ----, Troop ----, and the members of the Council, on these First Cla.s.s Scouts, and I trust that the Town of ---- will have every reason to be proud of them and to feel that it can depend upon them as especially good citizens and loyal Americans."

_Captain acknowledges this in suitable manner and dismisses First Cla.s.s Scouts to Troop position._

(_Here the Official may address the audience at discretion._)

4. Conferring Merit Badges

The Troop being a.s.sembled in any desired formation, the Captain calls forward those who have pa.s.sed the test and presents them to the presiding Official. (Note--The Merit Badges may be conferred by a member or members of the Council, if desired.)

Captain: "Members of the Girl Scout Council of ----, these Scouts have pa.s.sed the various tests for their Merit Badges, and I recommend them to you for decoration accordingly."

Official: "Scouts (_reading the list_), you have fairly won the right to wear these badges we are about to present to you, and we are glad to do so. We take this opportunity of reminding you, however, that all good Scouts understand that they are far from having completely mastered the subjects represented by these badges. The symbols which you wear on your sleeve mean that you have an intelligent interest in the subjects you have chosen, understand the principles of them, and can give reasonable, practical proof of this. Do you realize that the Girl Scout Organization credits you with a good foundation and trusts to you to continue to build upon it intelligently?"

Scouts (_together_): "Yes."

Official (_pinning on badges and speaking to each girl separately_): "We congratulate you on your perseverance and wish you all success in your work."

(_Note--When more than one badge is to be presented to a Scout, they may be attached, for the ceremony, to a piece of ribbon and put on with one motion._)

_Captain dismisses Scouts to Troop position._

(_Here the official may address the audience at discretion._)

_This ceremony being distinctly less formal and intimate than the regular cla.s.s awards, Scout songs and cheers are in order._

5. Golden Eaglet Ceremony

The Troop being a.s.sembled in any desired formation, the Captain presents the Golden Eaglet to the Official who is to make the award.

Captain: "Commissioner ----, Scout ----, of Troop ----, of ----, has not only pa.s.sed the twenty-one Merit Badge Tests required for the honor of the Golden Eaglet, but is, in the judgment of her Troop, fully worthy of it. We therefore recommend her to you for the decoration."

Official: "What badges does Scout ---- offer?"

_Captain reads the list Badges earned by the Candidate._

Official: "Troop ----, do you agree that Scout ---- has fairly won this decoration and that you are willing to have her represent you to your National Organization as your Golden Eaglet?"

Troop (_together_): "Yes."

Official: "Members of the Council, do you agree that Scout ---- has fairly won this decoration and that you are willing to have her represent you to your community as your Golden Eaglet?"

Council (_rising if seated_): "Yes."

Official: "Scout ----, you have won the highest honor in the gift of the Girl Scouts."

"If the Scout life meant nothing more to you than a reasonable understanding of certain subjects, there would now be nothing more for the Girl Scouts to teach you; but I am sure that your training has not failed in this respect, and that you understand now, even better than the average Girl Scout, that your great principles of duty to G.o.d and Country, helpfulness to others, and obedience to the Scout Laws, are lessons that no Scout can fully learn as long as she lives. Do you agree to this?"

Golden Eaglet: "I agree to it thoroughly."

Official (_pinning on badge_): "I have the honor of naming you a Golden Eaglet, and in the name of the Girl Scouts I congratulate you heartily on your fine achievement."

_Scout salutes or shakes the hand of the Official, as desired, and returns to her troop position._

_(Here the Official may address the audience at discretion)._

The accompanying diagram of suggested relative positions in Scout ceremonies lends itself equally to a small room, theatre, hall or open field. Whether the Scouts form a troop or even one patrol; whether they make use of strict military formation or informal grouping; whether the visiting Scout dignitaries are many or limited to one member of the local Council, the Scout bodies face each other, and the guest or guests of honor, equally with the general audience, can observe the Troop and the candidates easily from the side.

All Troops who are familiar with military drill can take their usual positions in their usual manner and observe all details of color guard, salutes, etc., to any desired extent. Troops and Captains not familiar with such procedure, by accustoming themselves to this general grouping, will always be able to present a dignified appearance.

Note: These suggestions for the various ceremonials a.s.sume that the regular opening of the Scout meetings has already taken place; therefore nothing is given but the actual matter of the presentations, etc. In the case of the Tenderfoot, Second Cla.s.s and First Cla.s.s awards, the ceremonies const.i.tute the special business of the meeting, and opening and closing should proceed as usual. They are distinctly Scout business and are not, in general, offered to the public.

The awarding of Merit Badges might with advantage be connected with any local civic ceremony where interest in young people may be created; and in the case of the Golden Eaglet award it is distinctly desirable thus to connect it. Any visiting dignitary, national or state, may with propriety be asked to officiate; and where different organizations are taking their various parts in a public function, it will not always be possible to claim the time nor the s.p.a.ce for the regular Scout opening ceremonies, nor would this necessarily be advisable. It is, therefore, well to be provided with a form like the preceding, where a small delegation from the Troop, the Captain and a Councillor could, if necessary, represent the essential units of the organization among a number of other societies; and the words of the ceremony would explain the occasion sufficiently without much concerted action, and may be inserted at the proper place, preceded and followed by any Troop or local customs preferred.

[Ill.u.s.tration:

Guests of honor

Scout Troop Candidates All local and visiting with with Scout personnel, Captain and Lieutenant Official Council, Commissioners, etc.

General Audience

PLAN OF a.s.sEMBLY FOR GIRL SCOUT CEREMONIES]

6. How to Conduct a Scout Meeting

1. One long whistle blast: Silence, listen for orders.

2. Three short whistle blasts: "Fall In," or "a.s.semble," three paces in front of Captain, Squad formation.

5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 * * * * * * * *

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 * Captain Lieutenant *

3. "Right Dress," "Front."

4. Inspection. Captain inspects for posture, and for personal appearance which should be neat and clean in every particular, and uniform, which should be correct as to style, length, placing of insignia, etc. All necessary corrections should be made in a low tone of voice to the individual Scout.

5. "Color Bearer, Forward--Center" "March." The Color Bearer, appointed to carry flag, upon receiving order to "March", takes one step backward, executes "Right Face," marches out of rank, executes "Left Face," marches to point on line with flag, executes "Right Face," marches to within two steps of flag and comes to "Halt." She salutes flag, takes staff in both hands, wheels right, and marches to position three paces in front of, and facing troop. The captain and Lieutenant have moved to position at right angles to, and at right of troop. If a color Guard is used instead of Color Bearer, two Scouts act as guards, their position being on either side of bearer. They leave ranks together, form in line at right of troop, march shoulder to shoulder and always wheel to the right, the Color Bearer being the pivot and giving all orders to Guard. After Bearer has taken flag and turns, the Guards salute, take one step forward, about-face, and all march to position in front of troop. The Color Guard never takes part in the repeating of the Promise, Laws, Pledge of Allegiance or singing of Star Spangled Banner.

6. "Scouts, the flag of your country, Pledge Allegiance." The Pledge of Allegiance should be followed by one verse of the Star Spangled Banner.

7. "The Scout Promise," "Salute."

8. "The Scout Laws, Repeat."