George Meany Award

The George Meany Award is a national recognition approved by the AFL-CIO Executive Council. It may be presented to any adult union member who has made a significant contribution to the youth of their community through Scouting.

Each AFL-CIO city central labor council and each AFL-CIO state federation is permitted to give one award annually. The emphasis of this award is on the the importance of being selective. There is no rule that the quota must be used every year. No honorary recognitions should be made.

The purpose of the award is to recognize the recipient's outstanding service to youth through the programs of the Boy Scouts of America.

From 1974 to 1991 1,440 Scouters were recognized with this award. In recent years about 125 of these awards have been presented each year.

The central labor council or state federation may develop its own standards for judging, but will consider such factors as the nominee's record in:

• Promoting and expanding the use of the American Labor merit badge
• Recruiting youth to earn the American Labor merit badge
• Forming Scout units, especially those to be operated by local unions or other labor groups
• Recruiting union members to become Scout leaders, especially to become American Labor merit badge counselors and to be involved in units operated by union organizations
• Contributing to Scouting in the field of labor relationships, and bringing the Scouting and labor movements together to serve the community
• Taking Scouter training and setting a good example to youth
• Promoting Scouting for all youth, regardless of race, creed, or handicapping condition