Service or Tenure Awards

Adult Religious Service Award	There are several adult religious service emblems/awards offered through religious organizations and church bodies to adult volunteers of youth programs, including Cub Scouters, Boy/Varsity Scouters, and Venturing leaders. For this reason, and because those awards are NOT awarded by the BSA, religious service awards medals and emblems are not displayed here; a future page will illustrate those awards.	Description: Deep purple square knot on grey (silver) background with silver Mylar border. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters This square knot is worn by those whom have received a religious emblem or award as an adult member of the BSA or some other organization (Girl Scouting, YMCA, Salvation Army, etc.). The awards are NOT BSA awards; they are awards presented by a church body for education, service and devotion to faith. Only ONE adult award square knot is worn, no matter how many times the holder earns a second or subsequent religious award as an adult member. Since many faiths offer several awards for various levels of service, it is recommended that those whom choose to show multiple faiths or awards may place the small tie-tac or other small emblem of the award to the knot emblem.
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award	Distinguished Eagle Scout Award Scan provided by Terry Grove	Description: Square knot is red, white and blue intertwined rope, with blue tips worn toward wearer's right and with the addition of the gold Eagle Scout device in the center of the knot emblem. Worn by: Male Scouters Nominative This square knot/device combination is worn by those Eagle Scouts honored by the BSA with the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, a special gold Eagle suspended from a red, white and blue neck ribbon. First awarded in 1969, the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award recognizes Eagle Scouts whom have attained a high level of recognition or personal achievement in their chosen career field or employment over a 25-year or longer period of time. The Award SHOULD NOT be presented during a BSA event (unless the person being honored is a BSA professional or employee) but rather during a event of the employer or national organization of the Eagle Scouts's career or work field (for instance, during the Association of the United States Army's annual conference in the case of Army military personnel being honored with the Award; or part of a corporate national meeting or conference in the case of most businesses or firms.)
Silver World Award	Silver World Award	Description: Blue globe with three stars on red and white striped background with dark green border. Emblem is worn with two stars to wearer's right. Colors correspond to red, white striped ribbon on medal. Worn by: Individuals whom have been presented this award by the Chief Scout Executive, National President, International Commissioner BSA, or other designated person acting on their behalf. Nominative The Silver World Award was originially designed for presentation to adults for distinguished service to youth on a national or international scale, and whom are not registered members of the BSA. The Chief Scout Executive, National President and the BSA's International Commissioner had the group authority to authorize the award to anyone that they chose. This created several situations whereby the Silver World Award was indeed awarded to BSA Scouters. The awards were suspended between 1994 and 2000 by action of the National Executive Board until narrower requirements for the awarding of the medal is made which will be released in 2006.  It is estimated that of the 57 or so Scouters whom were presented the award for international service to the BSA's Scouting programs, that more than half were presented to Scouters belonging to the former Direct Service Council, the Canal Zone Council, or to a stateside local Council.  Very Rare.
Silver Buffalo Award	Silver Buffalo Award	Description:  Square knot consisting of red and white ropes, with red rope worn toward wearer's right. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters. Nominative The Silver Buffalo Award is awarded upon action of the National Execuitve Board of the Boy Scouts of America to volunteers Scouters and other individuals for service to youth on a national basis or over a significant period of national service to a youth agency or in actions affecting youth.  The Silver Buffalo Award is the traditional award presented to the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America sometime during his term of office.   Very Rare.
old Silver Antelope Silver Antelope Award	Silver Antelope Award	Description: Knot is composed of orange and white ropes, with orange rope worn toward wearer's right.   Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Silver Antelope Award is presented upon action of the Regional Executive Board of one of the BSA's four Regions for service to youth within the Region or for longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter residing within that Region.  Rare.
old Silver Beaver Silver Beaver Award	Silver Beaver Award Silver Fawn Award	Description: Knot is composed of light blue and white ropes, with the blue rope worn toward wearer's right. Difference between old and new knot is only background in which worn on field uniform. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Silver Beaver Award is presented upon action of a Council Executive Board of one of the BSA's  267 local Councils or the Direct Service for service to youth within a local Council or for longtime service to youth by a registered Scouter with service within several local Councils over an extended period of time.  Normallly, the Silver Beaver is awarded for service to Scouting for at least ten years or longer. A previous award called the Silver Fawn Award, was presented to female Cub Scouters and other female BSA members for a brief period of time. This award was discontinued in 1974 and those Silver Fawn holders were given the option to convert their Silver Fawn Award to the Silver Beaver Award. Many did not convert their award. The square knot insignia for both Silver Beaver and Fawn is the same as shown to the far left.  Career (professional and professional-technical) members of the Boy Scouts of America may receive the Silver Beaver Award upon concurrance of the Council Scout Executive and the Deputy Chief Scout Executive, BSA, for their roles as volunteer Scouters only. They may not be recommended for this award based upon any aspect of their professional service to youth or the local Council.
District/Division Award of Merit	District Award of Merit plaque and certificate (Scan of plaque provided by Gary Burkhardt; certificate provided by Mike Walton)	Description: Knot is composed of a silver Mylar overhand knot on a deep blue background with a silver Mylar border. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The District/Division Award of Merit is awarded by a District or Venturing Division to registered Scouters for service to youth in the District or Division. Normally, the award is presented for service to youth in excess of five years.  Under special circumstances, a registered Scouter may receive a second District/Division Award of Merit for his or her service to youth in an reorganized District or Division or as part of another local Council (such circumstances are rare, but may be approved by a Council's Scout Executive). There are no provisions for the wearing of a device or emblem officially to denote the second or subsequent awards.  Unofficially, those Award holders that have received more than one may wear a small Universal device centered on the knot.  The BSA has no official records of any volunteer or professional receiving the Award of Merit in more than two separate Districts or Divisions and on the 2000 version of the national application form, discourages Districts from recommending individuals for a second or subsequent District Award of Merit.   Career (professional and professional-technical) members of the Boy Scouts of America may receive the District/Division Award of Merit upon concurrence of the Council Scout Executive and the Deputy Chief Scout Executive, BSA, for their roles as volunteer Scouters only. They may not be recommended for this award based upon any aspect of their professional service to youth or the District or Division.
Distinguished Commissioner Service Award	Distinguished Commisioner Service Award plaque	Description: Knot is composed of a silver (grey) knot on a deep red background with a silver border.  The colors are taken from the colors of the insignia of unit, district and council commissioners. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters The Distinguished Commissioner Service Award is presented to unit, Assistant District, District, Assistant Council, and Council Commissioners whom have served activily as a registered commissioner for at least five years, have completed the Commissioner training courses, received the Arrowhead Honor Award, and whose units/District/Council has achieved a level of quality through the BSA's Quality Unit/District/Council program.  The award consists of a plaque and boloties for informal wear. One knot emblem is worn regardless of the number of times a Commissioner has been honored with the Award and no devices are worn with the knot emblem.
Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award	OA Distinguished Service Award	Description: Knot is composed of a white knot on a red background.  The colors are taken from the colors of the ribbon of the award as well as the colors of the Order of the Arrow. Worn by: Male and Female Arrowmen Nominative The Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award is presented to Arrowmen that have given for a significant period of time service to the Order of Arrow or to Scouting at any level beyond the local Lodge (which is part of the local Council) level.  Most Arrowmen receiving this award were youth members serving as leaders at the Sectional, Regional or National level.  Most adult Arrowmen receiving this award have served as Arrowmen for an extended period of time, normally more than ten years.  The award consists of a silver arrowhead with an arrow through it, suspended from a white ribbon with small red arrows centered on the ribbon throughout, a certificate and knot.  Rare.
Spurgeon Award	Spurgeon Award Lapel Pin and Plaque	Description: Knot is composed of a gold (yellow) knot on a kelly green background with a gold (yellow) border. Colors were taken from the gold color of the lapel pin and the kelly green Explorer uniform. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Spurgeon Award is presented to adult Exploring leaders and to businesses and organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Exploring program.  Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot.  The award consists of a plaque, tie-tac (for individuals only) and knot emblem.
Whitney Young Jr. Service Award	Whitney Young Jr. Service Award lapel pin and plaque Plaque scan provided by Robert Rescott; lapel pin provided by Mike Walton	Description: Knot is composed of a black and white knot with a red border. The knot is worn with the black rope toward the wearer's right. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Young Award is presented to Scouters and to businesses and organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program presented in either rural or urban areas of the Council or nationally.  Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot.  The award consists of a plaque, tie-tac (for individuals only) and knot.  Very Rare.
George Meany Award	George Meany Award Medallion Scan provided by John White	Description: Knot is composed of a bright blue knot on a red and white fully embrodered background. Worn by: Male and Female Union Scouters Nominative The Meany Labor Relationships Award is presented to Scouters and to union organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program at either the local Council or national levels..  Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot.  The award consists of a plaque, a medallion suspended from a red, white and blue ribbon (for individuals only) and knot.  Rare. Scouters receiving this award have the option of wearing EITHER the Meany Labor Relationships Award square knot emblem (recommended) OR the Community Service Award knot emblem (below) to represent the Meany Award -- NOT BOTH -- to denote the award of the Meany Labor Award.
Vale la Pena Hispanic Scouting Service Award	Award Medallion (when I receive a scan or photo image of the award, it will be posted here)	Description: Knot emblem is composed of green and gold ropes tied in a square knot on a red background and border. The colors gold and green represent the two primary programs of Scouting -- Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting -- and the red represents the Scouting "family". These are also colors important to the Hispanic community as well. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Vale la Pena Hispanic Scouting Service Award is presented to volunteer and professional Scouters and to organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Scouting program in supporting Hispanic Scouting efforts at either the local Council or national levels.  Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot.  The award consists of a certificate, a medallion suspended from a ribbon (for individuals only) and knot emblem (for individuals only).  Rare. Thanks to "Good ol' Beaver" (t33sm@aol.com) for the scan of the knot emblem.
Asian Scouting Service Award	Award Medallion (when I receive a scan or photo image of the award, it will be posted here)	Description: Knot emblem is composed of black and white ropes tied in a square knot on a royal purple background and border. The colors black and white refer to the "ying" and "yang" which according to several Asian country's lore, are the two sides of each of our souls. The knot symbolizes the importance of having both sides in balance, to which Scouting assists within the Asian communities. The royal purple color is seen as a color of royality according to many Asians and lends itself to the importance of this special service award. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters Nominative The Asian Scouting Service Award is presented to volunteer and professional Scouters and to organizations at both the national and local Council level for service and support given to the Asian Scouting program at either the local Council or national levels.  Only the awards presented to individuals wear the square knot.  The award consists of a certificate, a medallion suspended from a ribbon (for individuals only) and knot emblem (for individuals only).  Rare. Thanks to "Good ol' Beaver" (t33sm@aol.com) for the scan of the knot emblem.
Community Service Award	There are several adult community service emblems/awards offered through organizations and bodies primariliy to adult volunteers of youth programs, including Cub Scouters, Boy/Varsity Scouters, and Venturing leaders for service to youth over a prolonged period of time. The BSA's Relationships Division certifies the national, regional state, or local award and releases this square knot emblem for informal wear by adult Scouters. Youth members may not wear this knot emblem presently. As of May 1, 2007, there are eight awards which fall into this classification: The Marvin M. Lewis Award of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE), Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award, Veterans of Foreign Wars Scouter's Achievement Award, American Legion Scouting Square Knot Award, the Department of Defense/Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Herbert G. Horton Alpha Phi Omega Youth Service Award of the Alpha Phi Omega national service fraternity, and the United States Power Squadrons' (USPS) Finley Scout Service Award. Only adult members wear the square knot emblem; the BSA's Relationships Division has not still approved the wear of the knot insignia by youth members although several of these awards may be presented to a BSA Venturing youth member. The George Meany Award of the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is also part of this category, but retains the use of the original square knot designed for the Meany Award (see above). The emblems are restricted and only available through local Council request to the BSA's Relationship Division.	Description: gold square knot and border on deep purple background. Worn by: Male and Female Scouters This square knot is worn by those whom have received an award recognized by the BSA's Relationships Division while serving as an adult member of the BSA. The awards are NOT BSA awards; they are awards presented by a community service, fraternal, corporate or governmental organization for education, service and/or devotion to youth. Only ONE award square knot is worn, no matter how many times the holder receives a second or subsequent community service award as an adult member. No devices are worn with this knot emblem.The BSA presently only recognizes the The Marvin M. Lewis Award (the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks (BPOE)), Daniel Carter Beard Award (Masonic Order), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Scouter's Achievement Award, the American Legion Scouting Square Knot Award, the Department of Defense/Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal (MOVSM), the Herbert G. Horton Alpha Phi Omega (APO) Youth Service Award, and the United States Power Squadrons' (USPS) Finley Scout Service Award. The George Meany Award of the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is also part of this category, but retains the use of the original square knot designed for the Meany Award.