Terms and Style Items - "B"

Baden-Powell, Robert Stephenson Smyth
Founder of the worldwide Scouting movement. Born February 22, 1857, in London. Made a baron in 1929. He is referred to as Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell, Chief Scout of the World. Died January 8, 1941. Abbreviate to B-P (without periods).

Baden-Powell World Fellowship
This program of the World Scout Foundation recognizes individuals for their financial support of world Scouting. See "World Scout Foundation."

badge
Usually lowercase when referred to badges that Scouts can earn: "Webelos activity badge," "Wolf badge," "Boy Scout badge," "merit badge"; however, "Wood Badge."

Baha'i, Baha'is, Bahaism
This faith began in Persia in the 1840s; the principal prophet is Baha'u'llah.

Baha'i Committee on Scouting
This advisory committee promotes and guides cooperative efforts between the Baha'i faith and the Boy Scouts of America.

Baloo
(Pronounced Bah-LOO.) The friendly bear in Kipling's Jungle Book taught Mowgli the ways of the jungle. Parents and adult guides act as Baloo for Cub Scouts on the Bear trail in the same way they took the part of Akela for Cub Scouts on the Wolf trail.

Band-Aid
A trademark for a type of adhesive bandage. Use the generic term "adhesive bandage." See "trademarks."

Baptist churches
Do not apply the term "church" to any Baptist unit except the local church. There are more than 20 Baptist bodies in the United States, the largest being the Southern Baptist Convention.

B.C.
Use small capitals. The abbreviated B.C. for "before Christ" is placed after the figure for the year: 100 B.C.

Be Prepared
The Scout motto. The initials of the motto are the initials of Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting.

Bear
The rank designed for a Cub Scout in the third grade (or 9 years old). Combinations: "Bear achievements," "Bear badge," "Bear Cub Scout," "Bear electives," "Bear trail."

Benchmark
One of several critical planning issues defined by the National Council for local council long-range strategic plans. Note the capitalization. The Benchmarks are found in the publication Local Council Strategic Planning—Benchmarks for Success. Also see "critical issues," "Strategic Plan, National."

biannual, biennial
Biannual means twice a year and is a synonym for the word "semiannual." "Biennial" means every two years.

big idea
Obsolete as of June 2001. Formerly: Tiger Cub activities were grouped into themes, called "big ideas," in the Tiger Cubs BSA Family Activity Book. Capitalize when referring to a specific big idea: "Big Idea 17."

Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

bimonthly
Means every other month. "Semimonthly" means twice a month.

biweekly
Means every other week. "Semiweekly" means twice a week.

blue and gold banquet
A birthday dinner for Scouting held by Cub Scout packs in February to celebrate the founding of the Boy Scouts of America in 1910 and of Cub Scouting in 1930. May be called "blue and gold dinner." Capitalize only when part of a full title: "Pack 214 Blue and Gold Banquet."

board
This may refer to an executive board and is written without capitalization in general reference. It may refer to a board of review only on second reference.

board of regents
Recipients of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award are invited to join the Board of Regents of the National Eagle Scout Association. The chairman of the NESA Board of Regents is elected by those who have accepted membership. Capitalize only when reference is clearly to the NESA Board of Regents.

board of review
A review held to determine if a Boy Scout has satisfactorily completed rank requirements. A review may be held also to encourage Boy Scouts who are not advancing. For the first five ranks, the board of review is conducted by the troop committee. For the Eagle Scout rank, the council decides whether the unit committee or the district or council committee responsible for advancement conducts the board of review. At least one district or council advancement representative shall be a member of the unit board of review.

Boardsailing BSA
This award was developed to introduce Scouts to basic boardsailing skills, equipment, and safety precautions; to encourage the development of skills that promote fitness and safe aquatic recreation; and to lay a skill and knowledge foundation for those who will later participate in more advanced and demanding activities on the water.

boats
See "ships and spacecraft."

boatswain
(Pronounced BO sun.) The elected youth leader of a Sea Scout ship. The office is comparable to president of a Venturing crew.

boatswain's mate
The Sea Scouting equivalent of vice president in a Venturing crew. See "mate."

Bobcat
The first rank earned by every boy in Cub Scouting.

book titles
See "composition titles."

booth show
Booth displays by Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers are put on simultaneously while the audience walks around to observe them. This indoor or outdoor event may include stage shows for individual unit demonstrations. See also "arena show."

boy-fact survey
A survey used to find who potential youth members are and where they live.

Boy Scout
A registered youth member of a Boy Scout troop or one registered as a Lone Boy Scout. On second reference or in informal usage, "Scout" is synonymous with "Boy Scout." The Boy Scout badge signifies fulfillment of the joining requirements; it does not represent a rank. See "Boy Scouting."

Boy Scout Division
The arm of the National Council Program Group that develops and administers Boy Scouting and Varsity Scouting. See "division."

Boy Scout Leader Wood Badge
See "Wood Badge."

Boy Scout Leader's Training Award
A training recognition for adults in Boy Scouting. See "Scoutmaster's Key."

Boy Scout Relations Committee of the General Church of the New Jerusalem
This advisory committee promotes and guides cooperative efforts between the General Church of the New Jerusalem and the Boy Scouts of America.

Boy Scouting
That part of the program of the Boy Scouts of America for boys and young men not yet 18 years old, and who are at least 11, or have completed the fifth grade and are at least 10 years old, or who have earned the Arrow of Light Award in Cub Scouting and are at least 10 years old. Boy Scouts advance through Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, and Life ranks to Eagle Scout. The emphasis is on outdoor activity, learning skills, developing leadership ability, and service. The unit is a Boy Scout troop. See "Scouting program."

Boy Scouts of America
The legal name of the organization is singular. Example: "In 2010 the Boy Scouts of America will celebrate its 100th anniversary." The abbreviation is BSA (without periods) and is used with the article ("the BSA") when used as a noun. See "National Council" and "national office."

Boys' Life
The magazine for all boys published by the Boy Scouts of America. The title should be typeset in italics and underlined when typed. Note the placement of the apostrophe (not Boy's).

brand names
When they are used, capitalize them. "Brand name" is a nonlegal term for "service mark" or "trademark." Brand names normally should be used only if they are essential; otherwise, use generic terms. See "trademarks." The Web site of the International Trademark Association, www.inta.org, has a list of brand names and their accepted generic terms.

bridge of honor
An award presentation ceremony in Sea Scouting.

Bronze Award
Five Bronze awards are available to Venturers. Each Bronze Award relates to one of the five Venturing special-interest clusters: sports, arts and hobbies, youth ministries, outdoors, and Sea Scouting. Venturers may earn all five awards. Achievement of at least one Bronze Award is a requirement for the Gold Award.

Bronze Palm
See "Eagle Palms."

Bronze Wolf Award
The only award of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, this is presented by the World Scout Committee for outstanding service to Scouting.

Brotherhood membership
The second and final induction phase of membership in the Order of the Arrow. Capitalize Brotherhood only when referring to membership or to the ceremony. Do not capitalize when referring to friendship.

BSA Aquatics Instructor
A five-year training designation awarded to an adult who satisfactorily completes the Aquatics section at a BSA National Camping School.

BSA Bike Safe
A standard set of bicycling principles.

BSA Family Award
The BSA Family Award is earned by a Cub Scout and his family when they complete five of eight requirements that are outlined in the BSA Family Book.

BSA family camping
An outdoor camping experience, other than resident camping, that involves elements of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, or Venturing in overnight settings with two or more family members, including at least one BSA member of the family.

BSA Family program
The BSA Family program, as outlined in the BSA Family Book, helps strengthen families of Cub Scouts and encourages family involvement in Scouting. The program includes a weekly "family talk" that provides family members an opportunity to learn and practice relationship skills as well as suggested family activities that fulfill requirements for registered BSA families to earn the BSA Family Award.

BSA Intranet
A private and secure computer network designed to connect all local council and business units of the BSA using technology similar to that of the Internet.

BSA Lifeguard
A three-year training designation awarded to Boy Scouts, Venturers, and adults who meet prescribed requirements in aquatics skills, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, first aid, and emergency action. See "BSA Aquatics Instructor."

BSA Lifeguard Counselor
The certification for adults who train BSA Aquatics Instructors.

BSA local council
Not "BSA council" or "local BSA council."

BSA Mission Statement
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law.

BSA Vision Statement
The Boy Scouts of America is the nation's foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

In the future Scouting will continue to:

• Offer young people responsible fun and adventure
• Instill in young people lifetime values and develop in them ethical character as expressed in the Scout Oath and Law
• Train young people in citizenship, service, and leadership
• Serve America's communities and families with its quality values-based program

Buddhist Churches of America
The Buddhist Churches of America administers the religious emblems program for all Buddhist denominations in America. It is composed of temples of the Jodo Shinshu sect of Japanese Buddhism.

Buddhist Committee on Scouting
This advisory committee promotes and guides cooperative efforts between the Buddhist Churches of America and the Boy Scouts of America.

buddy system
One part of the Safe Swim Defense plan. Swimmers of like ability are paired, check in and out of the water together, and stay within 10 feet of each other during the swim. The buddy system is also used in other aquatics, hiking, and camping activities for safety reasons and in working with a merit badge counselor.

budget plan
A method used by a unit to develop thrift habits. A yearly budget is established and weekly dues are agreed upon.

bugler
An appointed youth position in a Sea Scout ship or a Boy Scout troop.

Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America
The document that defines all legal aspects of the operation of the Boy Scouts of America corporation. Contained in the Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of Americ