"F" is for Friends Committee on Scouting . . .

"And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi,

Let me now go to the field,

and glean ears of corn after him

In whose sight I shall find grace.

And she said unto her, Go, my daughter."

Ruth 2:2  KJV
 

"F" is for 'Friends Committee on Scouting.' Of course it is, and what else would I blog about for 'F'? Consider this a Friendly public service announcement, an introduction of sorts and/or some global publicity if you will.

 

On April 13, 2007 I attended the 'First Annual International Quaker Scout/Guide Gathering' at the Western Yearly Meeting facilities in Plainfield, Indiana, USA. I was asked that Friday afternoon (yes, Friday the 13th!) if I would like to join Friends Committee on Scouting. That was something that I hadn't thought about, didn't know was possible . . . something I would have to really think about. I was asked again Saturday morning and yet again Sunday morning before I finally said "Yes." Less than three years later during the 2010 Annual Meeting, on March 20th, I was nominated and approved to serve as the Clerk for FCS.



FCS patch
with 25th
Anniversary
ring patch

So, it's natural for me to talk or write about Friends Committee on Scouting and I've been thinking about blogging about who we are and what we do since I first set-up my blog back in early May of last year but I just hadn't quite figured out how to do it or found the time . . . until this Quaker Alphabet blogging came along!

 

To quote from our website: "Friends Committee on Scouting serves to encourage and promote the faith, history, and testimonies of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) through religious education programs for Quaker Scouts/Guides and other similar youth organizations." We do this through the various curriculum's we have developed over the last 25 years:

• In the United States we offer 'That of God' (grades 2-5) and 'Spirit of Truth' (grades 6-12 + Venture Scouts) to our Young Friends enrolled in Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts of America and Camp Fire, Inc. These curriculum's were introduced in March 1989.
• In Canada we offer Quaker curriculum through their 'Religion in Life' program, which has four levels for our Young Friends and a fifth level for Adult Friends. This curriculum was introduced in the early 1990's.
• And we went global with 'Quaker Faith Journey' for all of our Young Friends in Scouting and Guiding programs outside of the United States and Canada, which also has four levels for our Young Friends. This was introduced in July 2012.

We are currently working on creating a listing of resources and helps for our Young Friends in the United Kingdom who are working on their 'My Faith' and 'Discovering Faith' badges offered through the Scout Association and Girl Guides respectively. Any Friends in the UK that would like to give us a hand with this project, please contact me, we would love to have your assistance with this, and you don't have to be involved in Scouting or Guiding to help. Thanks.



Friends
Emblem

Adult Friends who are registered volunteers in any of the Scouting or Guiding programs worldwide are eligible for the 'Friends Emblem' recognition, which is awarded through a nomination process. One can not nominate themselves or be nominated by a spouse or family member for the award. The 'Friends Emblem' is awarded to adult Friends who 'make outstanding contributions to the spiritual and social development of our Young Friends through Quaker programs and through one or more of the Scouting or Guiding programs and through their active involvement in the life of the Religious Society of Friends  through their local Meeting, Yearly Meeting or other Friends organization.' Individuals, local Friends Meetings/Friends Churches, or Scouters/Guiders are encouraged to nominate worthy Friends for this award. While the 'Friends Emblem' recognition was originally part of the US materials, the committee has released this recognition to be awarded worldwide. The Friends Emblem Review Committee reads through all nominations and gives their approval or disapproval on them.

That of God



Spirit of
Truth

The US awards are medals - youth awards are pins and the adult recognition is on a ribbon worn around the neck. They incorporate the eight-pointed star, known as the Quaker Star. The red and black Quaker star dates back to work performed by English Friends during the Franco-Prussian War of 1872, and has long been associated with Quaker relief service worldwide. A scriptural quotation, central to Quaker beliefs, "A light that shines in the dark" encircles the Quaker Star. The scripture comes from John 1:5a and refers to the light of God, which shines in all humanity. The US awards/recognitions are available through the P.R.A.Y. website (www.praypub.org). The adult recognition also comes with a very nice certificate.

Religion in
Life patch

In Canada, the Scouts, Guides and adults wear a patch on their uniform, which is available from the Scouting and Guiding Shops. The border color on the patch indicates at which age level the Scout/Guide/adult earn the award.

 

For our global curriculum we went with a certificate that can be downloaded from our website once the Scout/Guide has completed the curriculum.

 

All of our curriculum's, certificates and the ‘Friends Emblem’ nomination packet are available as FREE downloads from our website http://quakerscouting.org.

As with any organization, we are always looking for new members to join our committee. Membership in Friends Committee on Scouting is open to any registered Quaker Scouter or Guider, worldwide. Annual dues are $15/US - and members receive a FCS patch, label pin and membership card. Members are entitled to join us for our Annual Business Meeting, held in the Spring each year, either in person or via Skype. A membership application is available on our website.


Quaker Faith Journey
artwork

Friends Committee on Scouting is an affiliate of Friends World Committee for Consultation, Section of the Americas, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Want more information? Please visit our website: http://quakerscouting.org, check out &/or join us on Facebook – just search for Friends Committee on Scouting or email the Clerk – clerk@quakerscouting.org.

 

So, now I've done it, I've published a blog about Friends Committee on Scouting,  the nuts & bolts of it that is . . . I could have also told you about all the amazing Scouting & Guiding Friends that I have had the honor of meeting over the last seven years, but this post would never get published if I tried to do that . . . so, I'll just tell you that they are amazing Scouters, Guiders and F/friends and I am so totally blessed to know each and everyone of them, even if it's only their name, address, phone number and email address! I wouldn't trade any of them . . . we're family! I love them all! HUGS Friends!

 

Happy Scouting & Guiding Friends!

 

 

OK, a couple of 'F' recipes, I'm trying to stay with the right letter of the alphabet here, so an odd assortment maybe or maybe not . . .

 

These recipes are a couple more of my favorites from my childhood, ones my mom use to make every year, but ONLY once a year, sigh! The first is Filled Noodles, for Maundy Thursday (Easter) and the second, Filled Ice Box Cookies (Christmas). Oh my, I just realized what I did here . . . there's a bit of a theme going on. I hope you enjoy these as much as I have over the years!

Filled Noodles - Maundy Thursday

DOUGH:

4 eggs (large)
2 cups flour (all-purpose)
1 teaspoon salt
little water

 

FILLING:

¾ pound hamburger, raw (ground chuck - beef)

onion, chopped

parsley, chopped

salt, to taste

pepper, to taste

1 egg (large)

Mix noodle dough – roll into a circle – don’t dry. Fill with meat mixture above. Fold over (almost like jelly roll) separate into sections with hands (sealing ends). Cook like noodles, either in water or broth (3 bouillon + 3 cups water) for about 20 minutes. May be served with broth (beef). 

 

Filled Ice Box Cookies

(makes 82 cookies)

DOUGH:

1 cup sugar (white granulated)

4 cups flour (all-purpose)

1 cup dark brown sugar

½ teaspoon salt

1 cup margarine

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 eggs (large)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

FILLING:

2 cups (1 box) raisins, ground

1/3 cup sugar (white granulated)

½ cup water

Preheat oven to 350˚F. Un-greased cookie sheets.

Cook ground raisins, sugar, and water, until clear - that is that the liquid is clear, will be tinted a bit amber colored.  Cool.

Mix together and divide dough in half.  Roll dough thin (between two sheets of wax paper) - spread filling and roll jelly roll style in wax paper.  Place in refrigerator a few hours before baking (Mom always put these in the freezer to make easier to cut).  Slice thin - less than 1/4" thick.

Bake for 8 minutes - watch, you don't want them to get too brown. Will be quite soft when they come out of the oven, so allow them to sit a minute or two on the cookie sheet before removing them to a wire rack or bread board to cool.

Can be stacked on top of each other in an airtight container to store, or place a sheet of wax paper between the layers.

These freeze well, and are yummy straight from the freezer or warm from the oven!