Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore (Савез Извиђача Србије и Црне Горе) is the primary national Scouting organization of Serbia and Montenegro. Formerly known as Savez Izviđača Jugoslavije/Савез Извиђача Југославије, (the Scout Association of Yugoslavia), Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1995 to represent Serbian and Montenegrin Scouting interests in the European Region and worldwide. A referendum on independence was held in Republic of Montenegro on May 21, 2006, voting to leave its state union with Serbia by a narrow margin. Montenegro became the world's 193rd recognized sovereign state, which will then split the Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore, as happened with Czechoslovakia in 1993, meaning that both nations may now need to reapply for World Organization of the Scout Movement membership. The coeducational Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore had 5,856 members as of 2004; with the national split, percentages belonging to each section are unknown as yet.
The first Scout units in what was to become Yugoslavia were founded in 1911 by Dr. Miloš Popović, in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Vranje and Valjevo. As Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro served as one of the 20 original signatories that founded the World Organization of the Scout Movement, from 1922 to 1950.
The Russian Scout association Русский Скаут went into exile after World War I, and continued where fleeing White Russian émigrés settled, establishing groups in Serbia.
The outbreak of World War II saw the suspension of Scouting in Serbia and Montenegro in 1941, when Yugoslavia was occupied by the Germans.
Scouting in Yugoslavia was coopted by the Tito government in 1950, at which time WOSM membership was forfeited, as the new organization did not meet all the criteria for membership, as there were very close connections with the communist government. In 1951, individual Scout associations were founded in all then-Yugoslav republics. In addition, the socialist government fostered their own Pioneer movement, the Pioniri.
The Scout Association of Yugoslavia was renewed under the former Federal Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia on November 24, 1951 at a meeting held in Zagreb, now in Croatia. Individual branches were created for each constituent republic, and the Scout movement grew and thrived until the Yugoslav dissolution in 1991.
The Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore is a voluntary, independent, nonpolitical and social organization of children, youth and adults, for development of their physical, intellectual and spiritual potential. Every citizen of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro can become a member of the Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore, if he or she accepts the Program of the Association and acts in accordance with the Scout Laws and regulations of the Constitution of Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore, and is active in his or her unit and in the Association.
The President of Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore is Mr. Vuko Darmanovic from Podgorica, elected in March 1995. He serves a four-year term. The Vice-President is Mr. Nikola Petrovic from Kraljevo.
The Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore does not presently own its own centers, nor do the individual Scout Organizations of Serbia and Montenegro. A number of Scout Groups have their own centers, including groups in Buljarice, Debelo Brdo, and Brezovica.
Where most countries have a formalized structure of Councils, Districts and Groups, Serbia has a less formal organization. At the heart of Savez Izviđača Srbije are the Groups, typically much bigger than Groups in other countries, containing several Cub packs, Scout troops and Senior Scout units. For example, the France Prešeren Group in Belgrade, founded in 1957, has had over 11,000 members, over 200 new members a year.
The Scout Association of Vojvodina (Serbian: Savez Izviđača Vojvodine/Савез Извиђача Војводине, Hungarian: Vajdasági Cserkészek, Croatian: Savez Izviđača Vojvodine) has been active since 1911, when the first local Scout units were founded in Novi Sad, Pančevo, Subotica and other places. The Scout Association of Vojvodina, which has around 2000 members, unites the work of 35 Scout units from towns and villages across Vojvodina. The work of the Scout Association of Vojvodina includes camps, various activities, training of leaders, meetings, seminars, and competitions, Scout jamborees of Vojvodina gathering up to 2000 participants, orienteering all-around competitions, an international Scout artists' colony, and the Eurostep program, including an Eco-camp in Pančevo, the Archeology camp in Sremska Mitrovica, the International Scout Artists' Colony in Kovačica and the Camp for River Scouts in Kanjiža.
A referendum on independence was held in Republic of Montenegro on May 21, 2006, voting to leave its state union with Serbia by a narrow margin. Montenegro is poised to become the world's 193rd recognized sovereign state, which would then split the Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore, as happened with Czechoslovakia in 1993.
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Scout Groups in Serbia and Montenegro tend to be named after people-either from local history or the founders of the Group. Each Scout Group has its own neckerchief, the generally vibrant colors of which are chosen by the members. Scout Groups are led by a Group Commissioner and have a number of Section Leaders responsible for the Cub Scouts, Scouts and Senior Scouts.
The uniform of Savez Izviđača Srbije i Crne Gore consists of a dark-blue cap with the insignia of the SISCG, shirt (violet for Cub Scouts, green for Scouts and Guides, khaki for Venture Scouts, dark blue for Sea Scouts, light blue for Air Scouts), dark blue trousers or shorts; or a skirt or trousers for Guides, a dark blue belt with the insignia of the SISCG on the buckle, neckerchief in the color of the unit, and dark blue socks. In international events, all Scouts are to wear a violet neckerchief with the edges colored like the national flag, with the national coat of arms in the lower outward corner.
The Cub Scout section is for boys and girls aged seven to ten, and is a coeducational section (boys and girls in the same pack). Most Scout Groups have at least two Cub packs, many of which are led by Senior Scouts. The Cub Scout uniform is commonly just the Group neckerchief.
The Scout section is for boys and girls aged 11 to 14. While SISCG is coeducational, there are separate structures for males and females; these are often simply separate patrols, but in the case of larger Groups they are separate troops. The Scout uniform consists of a khaki shirt and the Group neckerchief for both males and females.
The Senior Scout section is for boys and girls aged 14 to 20, and like the Scout Section it has separate structures for males and females; these may be separate patrols, but in the case of larger Groups are separate units. Senior Scouts are referred to in a number of ways, "Explorer Scouts", "Explorers", "Venturers" and "Venture Scouts" are some variants, but the literal translation is Senior Scouts. The Senior Scout uniform consists of a dark green shirt and the Group neckerchief for both males and females.
Specialized River/Sea Scout Groups are also being formed. These follow the same structure as conventional Scout Groups with Cubs, Scouts and Senior Scouts. The uniform consists of a navy blue shirt, a beret and the Group neckerchief for both males and females. Most of the maritime Scouts have connections to the major rivers in Serbia and Montenegro, but there are units elsewhere in the country.
The common term for all members, regardless of section, is "Izviđač" (meaning "Scout")
The Scout Motto is Budi Spreman, translating as Be Prepared in Serbian.
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