Asociación de Scouts de Cuba

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Membership badge of the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba

The Asociación de Scouts de Cuba (ASC, Scout Association of Cuba) was the national Scouting organization of Cuba from 1927 to 1961. Scouting in Cuba started in 1914, in 1927 the ASC was founded and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) the same year and was suspended from WOSM membership in 1961. At the end of the 1950s, the boys-only association had about 6,500 members.^[1]

1 History
2 Current status
3 Program
4 International Scouting units in Cuba
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

[edit] History

In 1914, the first Scout groups in Cuba were founded. In the following years more local groups emmerged, but they were not connected through a national association until 1927 when the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba was founded. In the same year the association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. During its first years, Cuban Scouting followed mainly the model of the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1941, the ASC held its first national Jamboree in Havana. The second followed in 1948 in Cayo Conuco, Caibarién and the third in 1954 in Wajay celebrating the 40th anniversary of Scouting in Cuba. Cuba's national training grounds at Mayabeque were bought in 1956.

Dr. Rogelio Pina E. was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1949 until 1951. Havana was also the headquarters of the InterAmerican Region, the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, founded and maintained from 1946 to 1960.

Scouting existed in Cuba itself until the 1960s, when Cuban Scouting ceased operations after the Cuban revolution of 1959. Cuban Scouts rendered service during those times, directing traffic, collecting rations, helping in hospitals and establishing first aid stations. In 1961, the World Scout Conference terminated the WOSM membership claiming that the ASC had ceased to exist.

Communist leaders replaced the association with the José Martí Pioneer Organization.

historic membership badge of the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba

[edit] Current status

Cuba is now one of only six of the world's independent countries that do not have Scouting. Cuba is also a former member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, with the Asociación de Guías de Cuba last mentioned in 1969.

Cuban Scouting in exile exists to this day in Miami, Florida as part of the Boy Scouts of America, where Cuban-American Scouts are instrumental in annual Lincoln-Martí celebrations.

[edit] Program

[edit] Sections

The Association was divided in three sections:

Cub Scouts - ages 7 to 11
Scouts - ages 12 to 15
Rovers - ages 16 to 20

[edit] Motto, Oath and Law

[edit] Scout Motto

Siempre Listo (Always Prepared)

This section needs translation into English.

[edit] Scout Oath

Por mi honor prometo, hacer cuanto de mi dependa por, cumplir todos mis deberes para con Dios y para con mi Patria, y obedecer siempre la Ley Scout. Ser util a mis semejantes en todo tiempo. Mantenerme siempre: fisicamente fuerte, moralmente recto y mentalmente dispusto.

[edit] Scout Law

El Scout es hondrado y su palabra merece absoluta confianza.
El Scout es leal a su Patria, o a sus padres, a sus jefes y a sus subordinados
El Scout es util a sus semejantes
El Scout es amigo de todos sus semejantes y considera a los demas Scouts como hermanos suyos
El Scout es cortes y caballeroso
El Scout admira a Dios en la Naturaleza y protege a los animales y las plantas
El Scout es obediente
El Scout es jovial, sonrie y canta en sus dificultades
El Scout es economico, trabajador y perseverante
El Scout es puro en sus pensamientos, palabras y obras

[edit] Uniform

Cuban Scouts wore an olive-khaki uniform with a broad-brimmed hat, and a blue neckerchief with a white star on a red triangle, following the design of their national flag.

[edit] International Scouting units in Cuba

In addition, as on many military bases, there are American Boy Scouts in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, serving in Cub Scout Pack 3401 and Boy Scout Troop 435, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of America, which supports units of U.S. citizens around the world.