The 2nd National ATAS Gathering held by Scouts Australia at the 25th Australian Scout Jamboree held at Tailem Bend, South Australia 4-14 January 2019.

ATAS World Gathering during the APR Scout Conference in the Philippines at the Philippines International Conference and Convention Centre in Manila on 28 October 2018.

ATAS was formed in 2004 as a loose fraternity to unite all leaders who were once top achievers ( such as King's Scouts, Queen's Scouts, President's Scout, Eagle Scout, etc.) when they were youth members together so as to encourage them to assist and promote the aspiration of their youth members in their own NSOs and to encourage them to achieve the same level of success.

It proves to be very popular and through mostly the hard works of Simon Rhee #002 and other individuals it spreads and grows quickly from an APR outfit of old boys networks of a few APR Committee and related members to a world-wide body of over 10,000 members from all the 6 regions of WOSM and in about half of all the NSOs.

Whilst its growth is spectacular there are also many shortcomings accompanied by its quick growth by being too loose a body.

The aim of ATAS is for the promotion and encouragement of the progressive training of the youths of all those NSOs which still have a progressive training scheme leading to a Top Award for Youth members. On the other hand, this is still an old boys network for funs and fraternity open to all those Peter Pans who were once Top Achievers but will never grow old nor tired of Scouting.

ATAS does not mean to be a rigid or as a very centralized the organisation, we do not have the human and financial resources to manage such a diverse and large fraternity nor can we preempt/replace/surrogate the programme function of each NSO. Apart from hosting world event which is often held along with a World or Regional Event like the present 24 WSJ in West Virginia USA, it is to be co-ordinated and held by their own Local Chapter.

ATAS still remains as a Loose Fraternity (like the first Gilwell Group –where all Woodbadge Holders can wear a Gilwell Scarf) with an ATAS Patch on our sleeves. It is NOT or meant to be an organised and proactive international outfit coordinating and supervising all the functions of its many Chapters by the ATAS Management Committee but a loose fraternity for Top Achiever Scouts. Please note that ATAS does not have any Award System or Medal, nor any certificate, there is only ONE official ATAS Patch which should be worn on the sleeve if permitted by members’ own NSOs.

Please also note that ATAS membership is free, there is no admission charge nor subscription. All events are opened to all ATAS free of charge. Expenses are met by voluntary donation and contribution and mostly comes from Simon Rhee who made all the ATAS Patches and Scarves and travelling everywhere to present them all on his own funds.

Do Support ATAS.

Yours in Scouting

Alexander WONG
ATAS #007
Membership Director of ATAS World

Latest ATAS World Gathering during the 41^st World Scout Conference in Baku of Azerbaijan on 17 Aug 2017.