Welcome to rec.scouting.usa, the boy and girl
scouts, cub scouts, explorers, venturers, scout leaders
and all people interested in  scouting, venturing,
exploring, sea scouting and guiding,
within the United States of America.

The rec.scouting.usa newsgroup provides a forum for the
discussion of program, membership, finance, and unit support topics
related to the scouting programs in the United States, and in areas
where the USA's scouting programs are carried out around the world.
Such topics include but are not restricted to discussion of the GSUSA
Gold Award, WEBELOS BSA Cub Scout program, the BSA Eagle Scout rank,
general US outdoor and community activity ideas, memorabilia trading
and explanation, and other topics.

This group discusses issues relevant to the program, unit support,
finance, membership development and the administration of scout units.
It allows for the solicitation of advice and information from other
netters on what to do in certain situations, and generally seek and
provide support, general information and encouragement regarding
scouting.

This newsgroup is NOT the place for discussions on scouting ISSUES, for
instance, issues related to girls in the boy scout program, whether or
not Assembly of God churches should abandon the Boy Scouts of America's
programs in favor of the Royal Rangers, or open homosexual members as
members or leaders in BSA programs. Those discussions will take place
on rec.scouting.issues, and those posting to this newsgroup will be
followed or redirected to rec.scouting.issues.

Please see FAQ #1 for our charter and important information
about all the rec.scouting.* groups.

This document introduces new readers to the preferred Etiquette for
rec.scouting.usa and to the compilation of files of Frequently Asked
Questions (FAQ).

If you have a useful item that hasn't been included in this FAQ, please
do all of us the favor. Write it up and post it on rec.scouting.usa.
Drop me a copy too to make sure that I include it in this file.

As the FAQ files are updated regularly, make sure that you have the
latest copy in your hands. The release date of this FAQ is indicated in
the line starting with "Last-Modified:" at the top of this file. Files
older than three months should be considered as outdated.

This file or parts of it may be freely used, printed and re-distributed
as long as you enclose this paragraph and keep the references to the
respective contributors and to the maintainer (listed below) intact.

-- Bill Nelson  <nelsonb@aztec.asu.edu>