Chi Lang is a significant historical place in the history of Vietnam. Chi Lang was as a name of Explorer Post 279. Through the years, as Chi Lang grew to include BSA Troop, GSUSA and BSA Pack, it became a Lien Doan Chi Lang in 1995. Since Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation subscribes to the core values of Chi Lang from its beginning, the name remains the same, Lien Doan Chi Lang, but the number is different.
With a new, separate nonprofit organization, BSA requires a new number when chartering Pack, Troop or Crew.
Since Lien Doan Chi Lang’s birthday is 2/22/1979, the new number 2279 was chosen for BSA Pack, Troop, and Crew. This number has a distinct advantage of being the same for both BSA and GSUSA, especially now that BSA accepts female scouts as members. A BSA Family Pack or Scouts BSA Troop will have the same number, 2279, on their both their BSA or GSUSA uniform.
Lien Doan Huong Dao doesn’t identify itself by a number, but rather by a location or person of high significant value in Vietnamese history.
Almost forty years ago, Chi Lang was started by six young men and one woman who shared the core values of respect and self-discipline, or “tinh thần tự giác”. These guiding principles throughout the years created Chi Lang rich traditions, values, and culture, and will continue with Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation: Original values and missions. Same name. Updated nonprofit organization.
Numbers can change, but the true Chi Lang spirit does not as it always lies deep in our hearts.
When a Pack, Troop or Crew is registered with BSA, they are given a number that is associated with their chartering organization. Lien Doan Chi Lang Association chartered Pack, Troop and Crew 279 and sponsored Girl Scout Troop 1279 until October 2018 when the rift in leaderships led to the formation of Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation first and later on ChiLang 1279 Association in December 2018. This resulted in three separate organizations.
Beginning January 2019, Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c) corporation, charters BSA Pack, Troop, and Crew 2279 while sponsoring Girl Scout Troop 2279. ChiLang 1279 Association charters BSA Pack, Troop, and Crew 1279 while sponsoring Girl Scout Troop 1279. (Both Lien Doan have the same number for BSA and GSUSA.)
Lien Doan Chi Lang Association charters only BSA Crew 279 with a minimum of 5 scouts. All three organizations are supposed to operate independently from each other.
The numbers 279 and 1279 remain in history with the Lien Doan Chi Lang Association, but the core values, principles and traditions of Chi Lang rich history continues with Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation.
Chi Lang is a significant historical place in the history of Vietnam. Chi Lang was first registered with BSA as Explorer Post 279 in 1979. Throughout the years, as Chi Lang grew to be a Lien Doan, BSA Troop 279 was added in 1985, GSUSA Troop 1279 was added in 1990, and BSA Pack 279 was added in 1996.
In 1997, Lien Doan Chi Lang Association was formed to be a nonprofit 501(c) corporation to charter BSA Pack, Troop and Crew 279 and to sponsor Girl Scouts Troop 1279.
An association is defined as a group of people who join together and 'associate' for a specific purpose. An association is limited in scope.
Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation subscribes to the core values and missions of Chi Lang from its beginning, so the name remains the same, Chi Lang, but the vision of the Foundation goes beyond a specific purpose.
Like Chi Lang’s motto, “Tien”, or moving Forward, it is necessary to move our organization forward in order to serve the needs of the youths and community.
Unlike other activities, LD Chi Lang Foundation focuses on the outdoor, builds character, provides leadership training, and promotes citizenship and personal fitness. We believe in the motto, “Do Your Best”, which is very different than being the best.
Our training doesn’t expect our scouts to be the best. Such expectation often backfires because many scouts may never want to try to take the first step. Why? If they can't be the best, then there’s no use to begin the task, or they may feel so intimidated to start because they don’t want to risk failure. The end result of such expectation is less than desirable, leading to arrogance (I’m the best and you’re not!) or lacking empathy (without regards for other feelings, they may do whatever it takes, cheating included, to achieve the status of being the best). In every activity, it’s important to emphasize to all scouts to simply do their best and not focus on being the best.
Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation values the personal growth that comes along with the leadership training. To be a good leader, one must know how to follow orders. Through the patrol method, scouts will learn necessary skill sets to become leaders. Along the way, scouts are encouraged to go beyond their comfort zone. There’s no safer place to fail than in scouting because it’s a place that allows scouts to grow and learn, especially from their mistakes.
LD Chi Lang Foundation will continue the Khoa programs that includes Vietnamese scouting materials.
All of us can join our local American scout troops, but we choose to come to a Vietnamese scouting troop for a reason. While the songs are challenging for our kids, it’s not so much how well they pronounce it, but the fact that they made the effort to immerse themselves to learn more about their ancestors, heritage, and culture is most important. In addition, this gives them an opportunity to “speak” and learn more Vietnamese.
Tr. Thu Hang oversees the entire Nu Program that includes the journeys, activities, and patches. Tr. Tram will serve as the Bronze, Silver and Gold Advisor to assist the Girl Scouts with going through the entire process. This unique experience will transform the girls to be inspiring leaders, but the process is completely different from the Khoa or BSA advancement program.
Tr. Hoang Pham oversees the Nam Program that includes the training, programs, merit badges and outdoor activities.
Tr. Charles Nguyen will oversee the Advancement Committee that includes advancement, scoutmaster conferences, Board of Reviews, and training opportunities.
With the girls set to join BSA in 2019, this represents an opportunity and a few challenges as we need to find a balance between the BSA, GSUSA and HDVN. There is tremendous value to the GSUSA’s programs that journeys and Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. They were designed specifically for girls with the goals to develop leaders of courage, confidence and character. For this reason, all girls joining LD Chi Lang Foundation register with GSUSA as Girl Scouts Troop 2279 so that they can experience the journeys and Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.
The Cubs Arrow of Light and BSA Eagle Scout are both great programs that offer many opportunities to learning new skills through their earning ranks and merit badges. These programs were designed for boys, but girls can certainly benefit from them. We don’t believe the BSA programs can replace the GSUSA programs for our girls.
Lien Doan Chi Lang Foundation charters BSA Family Pack 2279 that includes a separated boy and girl den, and Scouts BSA All Girls Troop 2279.
BSA = Boy Scouts of America
GSUSA = Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
Besides having the experience and learning from all the requirements set forth by BSA and GSUSA, our scouts also learn about Vietnamese scouting, heritage, and traditions.
We have weekly meetings on Sundays. Our meeting calendar is published annually and they are completely voluntary; however, we encourage our scouts to attend regular meetings so they can interact with their "brothers" and "sisters", learn basic scouts skills, and be a role model.
Email us at ChiLang2279@gmail.com or call (657) 464-7450 or Click Join Chi Lang below:
Each scout is responsible for paying the membership fee to either BSA or GSUSA. Additionally, each family contributes a nominal annual fee to LD Chi Lang 2279 to cover other expenses associated with operating a non-profit organization.
Copyright © 2022 LD Chi Lang - All Rights Reserved.