PART
II
GENERAL
ORGANISATION
LEGAL
STATUS
Royal
Charter
22.
"The Boy Scouts Association" was incorporated by Royal Charter
in January, 1912, and is recognised by law as an educational charity.
His
Majesty, the King is Patron of the Association.
Protection
of Names and Badges
23.
By the Chartered Associations (Protection of Names and Uniforms) Act,
1926, and the Chartered Association (Boy Scouts Association) Protection Order,
1927; the name of the Association and certain titles and badges are given legal
protection, and any unauthorised person making use of them becomes liable to
prosecution.
MEMBERSHIP
British
Subjects
24.
The organisation is open to British subjects (including the nationals of
Protected and
Mandated
Territories
and of Independent States in
India
) of every class and denomination.
Foreign
Subjects
25.
(i.)
Foreign subjects can be admitted as honorary members, but only after
special permission of I.H.Q. has been obtained in each case.
(ii.) The issue of any warrant or
badge of rank to a foreign subject thus admitted also requires the special
sanction of I.H.Q.
Classes
of Members
26.
The following are considered members of the Movement so long as they are
properly serving in the ranks or positions enumerated:--
(1.)
Scouts who are members of a registered Group or are themselves registered
as Lone Scouts, Lone Rovers, or Deep Sea Scouts.
(2.) Persons registered
as Old Scouts by the Old Scout Branch of a Group or L.A.Scouters.
(3.) Persons holding
Non-executive or Honorary rank, as in Rules 155-163, 165 and 166.
(4.)
Members of L.As. and
County
Scout
Council Members of the Council of the Boy Scouts Association.
Determination
27.
In addition to other methods subsequently provided in the
P.O.R., the membership of any person may be determined by resolution of
the Committee of the Council. The
Committee shall not be under any obligation to state its reasons for such
action.
EXTERNAL
RELATIONS
Departments
of State
28.
The Association is not subsidized by the Government; nor is it controlled
by any Department of State.
It
has no connection in any way with the armed forces of the country.
Kindred
and Other Societies
29.
The Association desires friendly relations with other national
organisations of a non-political character having similar aims.
In the case of Churches and certain organisations special rules apply
with regard to the registration of Groups, as set out in rule 179.
Girl
Guides
30.
The constitution, organisation and finance of the Girl Guides are
entirely separate from those of the Boy Scouts Association.
31.
Whilst cooperation between the two Associations is to be encouraged
generally, and in particular as in Rules 109 (4) and 136 (4), it is most
undesirable that Guides and Scouts should be trained together, and D.Cs. must
see that this rule is strictly enforced.
32.
The provisions of Rule 31 do not prevent: --
(1.)
Joint training of Cubs and Brownies in schools or in other
exceptional cases authorised by the D. C. and the Guide Commissioner.
In such cases, however, the Brownie Pack requires a separate registration
which is dealt with by the Girl Guides Association.
Such Cubs and Brownies must not parade together in public.
(2.)
Cooperation between Rovers and Rangers carried out as a means of
training.
Foreign
Scout Associations
33.
(1.)
The Boy Scouts Association in common with all the recognised Scout
Associations of other countries is registered with the Boy Scouts International
Bureau, which is responsible for the recognition and registration of National
Scout Associations throughout the world and for the organisation of
international events.
(2.)
The International Bureau is controlled by an International Committee
elected biennially by the International Conference and is administered by a
Director appointed by the International Committee.
GENERAL
SCHEME
United Kingdom
and
Eire
34.
The general scheme of organisation in the
United Kingdom
and
Eire
is set out in the accompanying chart which shows the system of
decentralization.
35.
National Councils have been established in
Scotland
,
Wales
, and
Eire
and in respect of these countries are to be taken as appearing in the chart
between I.H.Q. and the C.C.
Empire
Overseas
36.
Branches of the Association are established in the various Dominions,
Colonies, etc., and in the local Chief Scouts and Chief Commissioners, to whom
certain duties are delegated, are appointed.
I.H.Q. must be informed of any changes of Secretaries overseas.
Branch
Headquarters are to be taken as appearing in the chart after I.H.Q.
37. A
Headquarters Commissioner for Overseas Scouts is responsible for the
administration of a special department of I.H.Q. and will supply, if desired, a
model form of constitution for and Overseas Branch and information on the
practice prevailing in other Dominions, Colonies, etc.
Foreign
Countries
38.
The International Commissioner at I.H.Q. is responsible for relations
with Scout Associations in foreign countries and for British Groups formed in
foreign countries.
39.
Groups of British Scouts may be formed in foreign countries subject to
the consent of the National Scout Headquarters of the country concerned.
Regulations governing the formation and control of such Groups have been
drawn up by the International Commissioner, who will send full instructions.
Generally speaking, such Groups should be confined to British subjects,
but exceptions are permitted in special circumstances, as laid down in Rule 25.
Local
Variations
40.
Variations of P.O.R. rendered necessary by local conditions outside the
United Kingdom
and
Eire
may be sanctioned by I.H.Q.
IMPERIAL
HEADQUARTERS
I.H.Q.
Council
41.
Under the Royal Charter, the Association is governed by a Council not
exceeding 70 members.
Committee
of the Council
42.
The Committee of the Council consists, under the Royal Charter, of the
Chief Scout, the Chief Commissioner, the Deputy Chief Commissioner, and the
Treasurer, together with fourteen other members, elected by the Council and of
whom one-third retire annually.
43.
C.Cs. and Commissioners representing Overseas Dominions have the right of
attending meetings of the Committee and putting forward matters for discussion,
without vote, on giving a fortnight's notice to the Secretary.
Chief
Scout
44.
The Chief Scout, Lord Baden-Powell, is Chairman of both the Council and
the Committee.
Chief
Scout's and I.H.Q. Commissioners
45.
The Chief Scout can only attend large rallies and address public meetings
at his own discretion and on special occasions, but a staff of Chief Scout's
Commissioners has been appointed to assist him in these duties, and visits from
them and from I.H.Q. Commissioners will be arranged on application from C.Cs.
requiring their assistance. The
special services of the I.H.Q. Travelling Commissioners are available on
application by C.Cs.
Departments
46.
The various departments of I.H.Q. and their heads are set out in the
Annual Register.
Ranks
47.
Members of the Council, heads and assistant heads of departments, and the
holders of certain appointments at I.H.Q., rank as Commissioners.
CORRESPONDENCE
Limitation
48.
It is the desire of I.H.Q. that correspondence shall be reduced as much
as possible.
I.H.Q.
49.
All communications sent to I.H.Q. are to be addressed to the Secretary.
Channel
of Communication
50.
All correspondence will normally follow the lines indicated by the
organisation chart, except where otherwise directed or in special cases or
matters of extreme urgency.
L.A.
Secretaries
51. L.A.
Secretaries will, however, correspond directly with I.H.Q. for badges and forms,
and unless otherwise arranged by the County, for the registration of Groups and
the issue of warrants for District and Group Scouters.
Royalty
and Departments of State
52.
Correspondence relating to Scout matters must not be addressed to any
Royal Personage, to any Department of State, or to any Embassy or Legation at
home or abroad, except through I.H.Q.
Press
53. No member of
the Association may express opinions in the public press on any matter of Scout
policy or principle without the previous approval of I.H.Q.
CENSUS
Date
54.
An annual census is taken from the Annual Registration returns as on 30th
September.
Forms
and Instructions
55.
The necessary forms and instructions are issued to all proper authorities
without application.
