Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition

Purpose: to promote Catholic Membership and

• Recognize the Charter Organization,
   
• motivate and improve the effectiveness of the individual unit and its adult leadership and
   
• to provide each youth with a top-quality program which encompasses the religious, vocational, and educational aspects of Scouting under Catholic auspices.

Recognitions include:

• A multi-colored certificate bearing the coat of arms of Pope Paul VI and the signature of the Bishop (for the Chartered Organization)
   
• A multi-colored embroidered patch bearing the coat of arms of Pope Paul VI with year segments (for each registered member, youth and adult)
   
• A papal colored ribbon bearing the coat of arms of Pope Paul VI for the unit's standard (for the unit)
  

Each unit of a chartered organization may earn this recognition on its own merit for a particular calendar year and may re-earn it for succeeding years providing the yearly requirements are met. This recognition can be obtained once each year. Each January, eligible units should submit their certification as required.

Requirements (briefly) include:

• Unit must be chartered to a Catholic parish, school, Knights of Columbus council, etc.
• Unit leader who completed leader basic training (including Youth Protection)
• A trained Religion Emblems counselor
• Two-deep leadership
• One leader who completed "Scouter Development"
• A unit service project
• Spiritual growth including a religious emblems program
• Unit participation in a religious activity
• A Vocational awareness program
• One person serving with the local Catholic Committee on Scouting
• A plan to increase unit membership
  

Golden Bow Achievement

The National Catholic Committee on Scouting (NCCS) is in the midst of a National Catholic Membership Initiative which is a joint emphasis of the NCCS and the Boy Scouts of America. This program has four major goals:

• Organize more units in Catholic parishes and schools
• A significant growth in Catholic youth Scout membership
• A strong emphasis on role model adult leadership
• A quality Scout program for all Catholic youth

A set of Golden Bow recognitions is available for units and leadership working to meet these goals and increse the availability of Scouting to Catholic youth:

• A Golden Bow certificate can be presented at the discretion of (Arch)diocesan committees to adult leaders and committee members who have made a commitment to the Membership Initiative.
   
• A Golden Bow Achievement patch can be presented by unit leaders to Scouts who recruit a new member to their unit.
   
• A unit Membership Initiative Streamer can be presented by (Arch)diocesan committees to units increasing their membership by more than 10% (or a minimum or three new members).