"On My Honor, I Will Try to Serve God and My Country 
and to Live by the Girl Scout Law!"

Financial contributions and memberships to AAMES enable us to adequately fund our academic scholarship fund and to provide financial support to youth unable to afford the cost of quality camping and scouting experiences. Lifetime member status is granted with donations in the amount of $500 or more. Donations of any amount are welcome. Any donation made in excess of the annual membership fee of $35 is 100% tax-deductible. 

We salute all of our patrons with fervent "Scouts Honor!"

"On Our Honor, We Will Do Our Best To Serve God And Our Country. . . ."
 

AAMES continues in its efforts to reach across the connectional A.M.E. Church. To enhance our ability to do this, AAMES needs District representatives in all Episcopal districts of the A.M.E. Church. Please contact the connectional officers or the Christian Education Department with recommendations.
  

Cora Lee-Palmer
A.M.E. Connectional Girl Scout Director

AS THE CONNECTIONAL DIRECTOR OF GIRL SCOUTING, I PRAY THAT MY SERVICE WILL BE FOUND WORTHY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD, AND ACCEPTABLE AND OF GREAT BENEFIT TO THOSE OF WHOM I'VE BEEN APPOINTED TO SERVE. SCOUTING PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO GUIDE OUR YOUTH IN THE "LIFE APPLICATION" OF GOD'S WORD TO THEIR DAILY EXPERIENCES. I LOOK AHEAD WITH EAGERNESS AND DEDICATION TO ADVANCE THE AAMES MISSION FOR THE BENEFIT OF OUR YOUTH MINISTRIES. MUCH HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED -- BUT THERE IS MUCH MORE YET TO DO. TO GOD, BE THE GLORY!

THE SCOUTING PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED ME MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN SKILLS AND TAKE PART IN EXCITING AND WHOLESOME ADVENTURES. IT IS MY PRAYER THAT THE AAMES MINISTRY BASED IN AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL PRINCIPALS AND VALUES, ALONG WITH SKILLS THE SCOUTING PROGRAM PROVIDES WILL INSPIRE GROWTH IN CHRIST, CREED AND CULTURE IN THE ATTITUDES OF OUR SCOUTS. I ACCEPT THIS CHALLENGE TO WORK WITH ALL THAT ARE WILLING TO SERVE AND TO SEE THIS MINISTRY BECOME A SUCCESS FOR OUR YOUTH AND OUR CHURCH.

Membership and Donors Form (Adobe Acrobat file)

Annual Membership Fee: $35.00

Make Checks Payable to: AAMES

Mail Checks to:

Christian Education Department 
500 8th Ave. South 
Nashville, TN 37203-4181

Or register online at: http://www.ameced.com/

Members and Donors Receive:

	Spiritual and networking support for your scouting ministry
	Membership patch
	Training support and motivation
	Journal of Christian Education
	Notice of meetings, camping events, training sessions
	Directory of AAMES members

African Methodist Episcopal Church
BISHOP'S AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
For AME Pastors, Adults, Youth, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts USA and Other Ministry Supports

General Information and Award History:
 
The Bishop's Award of Excellence recognizes individual Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, AME Pastors, Youth, and Adults for significant accomplishments and/or contributions for the benefit of ministries in the AME Church.
 
Nominees for this award should have clearly demonstrated exceptional leadership and patronage that highlights their willingness and duty to serve God in any capacity that constitutes a ministry. A nominee must have rendered noteworthy service to any ministry sanctioned by the A.M.E. Church. The nature and value of noteworthy service may consist of a single plan or a set of decisions that contributed vitally to the lives of a large number of persons or it may have been given to a small group over an extended period of time. Criteria specific to youth, scouts, and adults are identified under the following section heading "Additional Selection Criteria."
 
The Bishop's Award was originally created to recognize excellent service in scouting by the Association of African Methodist Episcopal Scouts (AAMES) with the permission of A.M.E. Bishops of the Church. Since its inception it has been realized that far more individuals in the A.M.E. Church were contributing exceptional service in other ministries for which they too deserve this highest honor for service in the A.M.E. Church. The Department of Christian Education has appointed AAMES as the official administrator responsible for overseeing this award program.
 
Link for information on the Bishops Award of Excellence, this award now can be given for service to any ministry, not just scouting. http://www.ameced.com/index2.html

Requirements

	Nominees must be an active member of the A.M.E. church for at least one year in good standing, and if an adult, current with her or his conference claims.
	Must be nominated by an adult member of the church.
	Nominees can only earn the Bishop's Award once, for each particular type of service rendered.

Process

	Completed nomination applications shall be sent to the A.M.E. Christian Education Department - Attn. AAMES, 500 Eighth Avenue South, Nashville, Tennessee 37203-4181.
	To be considered for the current conference year, all nominations must be received by March 1st.

Award Insignia
 
A certificate ($20) suitable for framing, pin ($8), and/or an award patch ($6, scouts only) is provided to individuals earning this award. The nominating A.M.E. church of which the awardee is a member shall respectfully pay the cost of the award pennants upon the approval of the award review panel.

Additional Selection Criteria

	Youth   Must 1) exhibit outstanding service in the church, and 2) be performing at a high level academically, or 3) actively providing community service. Consideration will be given to the nominee's length of service.
	Scouts   In lieu of the above-- must have fulfilled requirements to earn Girl Scout Gold Award or Boy Scouts Eagle Award.
	Adults   Must have contributed significantly to a Ministry in the A.M.E. Church. Consideration will be given to the nominee's length of service.

This information herein is intended to provide a snapshot of the basic guidelines and criteria required for the Bishops Award of Excellence. For more information please contact the Christian Education Office.

Link for information on the Bishops Award of Excellence: http://www.ameced.com/index2.html

This award now can be given for service to any ministry, not just scouting.
 

GSUSA Gold Award
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest recognition that a Senior Girl Scout may earn. This prestigious award is described as being "what you really want to be remembered for" in Girl Scouting and it cements the foundation for a lifetime of active citizenship. Gold Award recipients represent an Elite Group, of two percent (2%) Senior Girl Scouts.
 
Silver Beaver Award
The Silver Beaver Award is the highest honor presented to volunteer Scouters by a local council. Recipients are nominated by peers for their exceptional service to young people. The Silver Beaver Award is conferred by the National Court of Honor of the Boy Scouts of America upon nomination by the Silver Beaver Committee for distinguished service to youth. The award is made for noteworthy service of exceptional character to registered Scouters within the territory under the jurisdiction of the local council.
 
District Award of Merit
The District Award of Merit is the highest honor presented to volunteer scouters by the local district. Recipients are nominated by peers for their exceptional service to young people.
 
Eagle Scout Award
Four out of 100 boys will reach the rank of Eagle Scout. At least one later will say that he valued his Eagle above his college degree. The award is a performance-based achievement the standards of which have been well-maintained over the years
Eagle Bronze Palms Award