Asociación de Scouts de Cuba
Encyclopedia
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
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. Cuba is now one of only five of the world's independent countries that do not have Scouting.
, Jules Loustalot and others wrote up the statutes and began Scout activities. The first troops of Boy Scout
s in Cuba met under the sponsorship of the American Legion
, the Mother's Club del Vedado and the electric generating plant of the Compañía Cubana de Electricidad. Angel Loustalot, the son of Jules Loustalot, was commissioner for other pioneers of the Scout Movement, Enrique Quintana, Dr. Moisés Boudé, Domingo Romeo Jaime and Oscar Poey Bonachea. In the following years more local groups emerged, but they were not coordinated through a national association until 1927 when the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba was founded. The Scouts of Cuba was declared an official institution by presidential decree no. 871 of June 22, 1927. In the same year the association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. During its first years, Cuban Scouting followed the model of the Boy Scouts of America
, using the uniform
, Boy Scout Handbook
and many of their practices.
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.
Dr. Rogelio Pina Estrada
was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
from 1949 until 1951.
Salvador Fernández Beltrán
D.J.C. of Matanzas
was among the first in the Americas to receive Wood Badge
training, at Gilwell Park
, England
. He was the first to receive honorary appointment as Deputy Camp Chief of Gilwell
. With this influence, the Scouts of Cuba began to use short trousers like those worn by the English
. Fernandez Beltrán was known for his work within the Scouts of Cuba, as well as assisting in the creation of the InterAmerican Scout Office, the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, founded and maintained with headquarters in Havana from 1946 to 1960. At the beginning of the 1960s Fernandez Beltrán was appointed to the office of Deputy Secretary of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in Geneva, Switzerland. He retired to Venezuela where he died in 1987.
In 1954, for the 40th anniversary of their foundation, the Scouts of Cuba celebrated with the Third National Jamboree
Tercer Campamento Nacional de Patrullas in Wajay, Havana Province, attended by more than 1000 Scouts, including several neighboring countries. For this celebration, the Ministry of Communications
issued Scout postage stamps
.
In 1956, under the leadership of Serafín García Menocal
, President of the Consejo Nacional Scouts de Cuba (National Council), the Scouts of Cuba bought the national training grounds Campo Escuela Nacional Mayabeque at Mayabeque
, along the river of the same name, near Catalina de Güines in Havana Province within 50 km of the capital. The National Camp School was dedicated to the training of Scouters and for Scout camping. The Field School was abandoned in 1961, and at the moment is under the water of Mampostón reservoir.
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. The last National Chief Scout
s were Virgilio Morales Díaz and Doctor José Borrel Tudurí, along with Doctor Celina Cardoso, President and Secretary of the National Council. Kenneth Symington
of Cañal
was the last National Executive Commissioner.
Communist leaders replaced the association with the José Martí Pioneer Organization
.
does not presently exist per agreement with WOSM in hopes of Scouting's eventual return, however Cuban-American Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America
are instrumental in annual Lincoln
-Martí
celebrations in Miami, Florida
.
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
organization of Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
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
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
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. Cuba is now one of only five of the world's independent countries that do not have Scouting.
History
In 1914, the first Scout groups in Cuba were founded, and Carlos Alzugarai, Miguel Ángel QuevedoMiguel Ángel Quevedo
For the architect, please see Miguel Ángel de QuevedoMiguel Ángel Quevedo was the publisher and editor of Bohemia Magazine, the most popular news-weekly of its day in Cuba and Latin America, known for its political journalism and editorial writing...
, Jules Loustalot and others wrote up the statutes and began Scout activities. The first troops of Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s in Cuba met under the sponsorship of the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
, the Mother's Club del Vedado and the electric generating plant of the Compañía Cubana de Electricidad. Angel Loustalot, the son of Jules Loustalot, was commissioner for other pioneers of the Scout Movement, Enrique Quintana, Dr. Moisés Boudé, Domingo Romeo Jaime and Oscar Poey Bonachea. In the following years more local groups emerged, but they were not coordinated through a national association until 1927 when the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba was founded. The Scouts of Cuba was declared an official institution by presidential decree no. 871 of June 22, 1927. In the same year the association became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. During its first years, Cuban Scouting followed the model of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, using the uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
, Boy Scout Handbook
Boy Scout Handbook
The Boy Scout Handbook is the official handbook of the Boy Scouts of America. It is a descendant of Baden-Powell's original handbook, Scouting for Boys, which has been the basis for Scout handbooks in many countries, with some variations to the text of the book depending on each country's codes and...
and many of their practices.
In 1941, the ASC held its first national Jamboree
Jamboree (Scouting)
In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom...
in Havana
Havana
Havana is the capital city, province, major port, and leading commercial centre of Cuba. The city proper has a population of 2.1 million inhabitants, and it spans a total of — making it the largest city in the Caribbean region, and the most populous...
. The second followed in 1948 in Cayo Conuco
Cayo Conuco
Cayo Conuco may refer to:*Pinar_del_Río#Cayo_Conuco, a municipality in Pinar del Rio, Cuba*Caibarién#Cayo_Conuco, a small island located seven kilometres from Caibarién, Cuba...
, Caibarién
Caibarién
Caibarién is a municipality city in the Villa Clara province of Cuba.Caibarien is known as "La Villa Blanca" for its sands and beaches. They are famous for their "Parrandas" along with Remedios and Camajuani.-History:The town was founded on October 26, 1832 from a map designed by Estratón Bauza...
and the third in 1954 in Wajay
Wajay
Wajay may refer to:*Boyeros#Wajay - a suburb of Boyeros, Cuba*Matanzas#Wajay - a municipality in Matanzas province, Cuba...
celebrating the 40th anniversary of Scouting in Cuba.
Dr. Rogelio Pina Estrada
Rogelio Pina Estrada
Dr. Rogelio Pina Estrada is a former Cuban attorney who was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement from 1949 until 1951....
was a member of the World Scout Committee of the World Organization of the Scout Movement
World Organization of the Scout Movement
The World Organization of the Scout Movement is the Non-governmental international organization which governs most national Scout Organizations, with 31 million members. WOSM was established in 1920, and has its headquarters at Geneva, Switzerland...
from 1949 until 1951.
Salvador Fernández Beltrán
Salvador Fernández Beltrán
Salvador Fernández Beltrán D.J.C. was among the first in the Americas to receive Wood Badge training, at Gilwell Park, England. He was the first to receive honorary appointment as Deputy Camp Chief of Gilwell...
D.J.C. of Matanzas
Matanzas
Matanzas is the capital of the Cuban province of Matanzas. It is famed for its poets, culture, and Afro-Cuban folklore.It is located on the northern shore of the island of Cuba, on the Bay of Matanzas , east of the capital Havana and west of the resort town of Varadero.Matanzas is called the...
was among the first in the Americas to receive Wood Badge
Wood Badge
Wood Badge is a Scouting leadership program and the related award for adult leaders in the programs of Scout associations throughout the world. Wood Badge courses aim to make Scouters better leaders by teaching advanced leadership skills, and by creating a bond and commitment to the Scout movement...
training, at Gilwell Park
Gilwell Park
Gilwell Park is a camp site and activity centre for Scouting groups, as well as a training and conference centre for Scout Leaders. The 44 hectare site is in Sewardstonebury, Epping Forest, close to Chingford, London....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He was the first to receive honorary appointment as Deputy Camp Chief of Gilwell
Gilwell
Gilwell may refer to:*Gilwell Park, a Scouting centre near London*Gilwell Ada's Hoeve, Scouting campsite in the Netherlands*Gilwell Campsite, Scouting campsite in Hong Kong*Gilwell Park , Scouting campsite near Victoria, Australia...
. With this influence, the Scouts of Cuba began to use short trousers like those worn by the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Fernandez Beltrán was known for his work within the Scouts of Cuba, as well as assisting in the creation of the InterAmerican Scout Office, the divisional office of the World Scout Bureau of the World Organization of the Scout Movement, founded and maintained with headquarters in Havana from 1946 to 1960. At the beginning of the 1960s Fernandez Beltrán was appointed to the office of Deputy Secretary of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in Geneva, Switzerland. He retired to Venezuela where he died in 1987.
In 1954, for the 40th anniversary of their foundation, the Scouts of Cuba celebrated with the Third National Jamboree
Jamboree (Scouting)
In Scouting, a jamboree is a large gathering of Scouts who rally at a national or international level.The 1st World Scout Jamboree was held in 1920, and was hosted by the United Kingdom...
Tercer Campamento Nacional de Patrullas in Wajay, Havana Province, attended by more than 1000 Scouts, including several neighboring countries. For this celebration, the Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Communications
Ministry of Communications may refer to:* Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications * Ministry of Communications of Morocco...
issued Scout postage stamps
Sossi
Sossi can refer to:* SOSSI - the Scouts on Stamps Society International* Richard A. Sossi, Maryland politicianIn addition, the term in a lower-case form also has ties to Italian socialism...
.
In 1956, under the leadership of Serafín García Menocal
Serafín García Menocal
Serafín Garcia Menocal was the President of the Consejo Nacional Scouts de Cuba of the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba.In 1956, under his leadership, the Scouts of Cuba bought the national training grounds Campo Escuela Nacional Mayabeque at Mayabeque, in the margins of the river of the same name,...
, President of the Consejo Nacional Scouts de Cuba (National Council), the Scouts of Cuba bought the national training grounds Campo Escuela Nacional Mayabeque at Mayabeque
Mayabeque
Mayabeque can refer to several places in Cuba:* Mayabeque Province, created in 2011, comprising the eastern half of the former Havana Province* Playa Mayabeque * Mayabeque River...
, along the river of the same name, near Catalina de Güines in Havana Province within 50 km of the capital. The National Camp School was dedicated to the training of Scouters and for Scout camping. The Field School was abandoned in 1961, and at the moment is under the water of Mampostón reservoir.
Scouting existed in Cuba itself until the 1960s, when Cuban Scouting ceased operations after the Cuban revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
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. The last National Chief Scout
Chief Scout
The Chief Scout is the uniformed head of a Scouting organisation:*For the Chief Scout of the World see: Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell*For the head of The Scout Association see: Chief Scout...
s were Virgilio Morales Díaz and Doctor José Borrel Tudurí, along with Doctor Celina Cardoso, President and Secretary of the National Council. Kenneth Symington
Kenneth Symington
Kenneth A. Symington of Cañal was a British-Cuban civic leader, the last National Executive Commissioner of the Asociación de Scouts de Cuba.Professionally he was a chemical engineer for Industria Sanitarios Nacional, S.A. in San José de las Lajas. He was also a Rotarian.-Publications:*Caverns of St...
of Cañal
Cañal
Two places in Cuba are named El Cañal*El Cañal, Pinar del Río, *El Cañal, Holguín,...
was the last National Executive Commissioner.
Communist leaders replaced the association with the José Martí Pioneer Organization
José Martí Pioneer Organization
Cuba's José Martí Pioneer Organization was established in 1961, created as a replacement for the banned Asociación de Scouts de Cuba.The organization gets its name from Cuban writer and nationalist hero José Martí....
.
Current status
Cuban Scouting-in-exileScouts-in-Exile
Scouts-in-Exteris, also referred to as Scouts-in-Exile, are Scouting and Guiding groups formed outside of their native country as a result of war and changes in governments...
does not presently exist per agreement with WOSM in hopes of Scouting's eventual return, however Cuban-American Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
are instrumental in annual Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
-Martí
José Martí
José Julián Martí Pérez was a Cuban national hero and an important figure in Latin American literature. In his short life he was a poet, an essayist, a journalist, a revolutionary philosopher, a translator, a professor, a publisher, and a political theorist. He was also a part of the Cuban...
celebrations in Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
.
Sections
The Association was divided in three sections:- Cub Scouts - ages 7 to 11
- Scouts - ages 12 to 15
- RoversRover ScoutsRover Scouting is a service division of Scouting for young men, and in most countries, women. A group of Rovers, analogous to a Scout troop, is called a 'Crew.'...
- ages 16 to 20
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.
- On my honor, I promise to do what is expected of me, to meet all of my obligations for God and my Homeland, and to always obey the Scout Law. To be of use to my fellow man at all times. To always keep myself: physically strong, morally correct and mentally ready.
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
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.International Scouting units in Cuba
- In addition, as on many military bases, there are American Boy Scouts in Guantanamo Bay Naval BaseGuantanamo Bay Naval BaseGuantanamo Bay Naval Base is located on of land and water at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba which the United States leased for use as a coaling station following the Cuban-American Treaty of 1903. The base is located on the shore of Guantánamo Bay at the southeastern end of Cuba. It is the oldest overseas...
, serving in Cub Scout Pack 3401 and Boy Scout Troop 435, linked to the Direct Service branch of the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of AmericaThe Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, which supports units of U.S. citizens around the world.