1. First Day Covers Honoring Boy Scouts of America

2. A Little History
Robert S. S. Baden-Powell, famous GB military officer, founded the Scout organization in GB
BSA was founded based on the Boy Scouts organization in GB
William Boyce was the driving force for establishing BSA, combining existing Boy Organizations patterned after Baden- Powell

3. BSA Comes to the USA
The story about Boyce and the “unknown scout” who helped him in London – mostly a fable
The existing organizations were led by Ernest Thompson Seton and Daniel Carter Beard
Both of these combined to give BSA a start

4. BSA in the USA BSA was chartered by Congress on February 8, 1910
The BSA corporate organization exists to support the volunteer organization
Troops are chartered as an outreach of schools, churches, civic groups
The success of BSA depends on the volunteers

5. BSA in the USA
Purpose of Scouting: Character Development; Mental, Moral and Physical Fitness; Participating Citizenship
8 Methods of Scouting: Outdoor program, Advancement, Patrol Organization, Adult leadership, Merit Badges…
Emphasis on adult leader training to insure that leaders understand the purpose of Scouting

6. USA Scouting Today
About 6% of boys who enter scouting earn the rank of Eagle (up from a decade ago)
Famous Eagles: Gerald Ford, Neil Armstrong (Apollo 11), Charles Duke (Apollo 16)
Gerald Ford, the “Boy Scout President”
Whole nuther topic – Girl Scouts covers, Jamboree (convention) covers

7. Stamps Honoring BSA
#995 – 1950 (2nd USA Jamboree)

8. Stamps Honoring BSA
#1145 – 1960 (50th anniversary)

9. Stamps Honoring BSA
#UXC67 – 1967 (12th World Jamboree)

10. Stamps Honoring BSA
#2161 – 1985 (75th anniversary, part of Int’l Youth Year)

11. Stamps Honoring BSA
#3183j – 1998 (Celebrate Century 1910)

12. Stamps Honoring BSA
#4472 – 2010 (100th anniversary, 18th USA Jamboree)

13. Scout Ideals Motto: Be Prepared Slogan: Do a good turn daily
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.
Scout Law
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent.