How do you get to the top?
   The first requirement is to learn the way.
   In developing a method of deciding what would be "Tops" in Sea Scouting, the National Sea Scout Committee last year issued a new Rating Plan that was to be the measure of quality in Sea Scouting for 1938. Everyone in Sea Scouting now knows the outline of that plan--- that there should be six classes of Ships: Third Class, Second Class, First Class, Local Flagship Squadron, Regional Flagship Flotilla, and National Flagship Fleet.
   The results are now known. Each Council knows how many Third, Second, First Class and Local Flagship Squadron Ships it has.
   Out of the 2,000 Sea Scout Ships in the United States, 93 reached the second highest rank---Regional Flagship Flotilla.
   21 Ships reached the very highest rank---National Flagship Fleet.
    In order to honor its previous Chairman, the National Senior Scout and Sea Scout Committee developed a beautiful trophy, the Commodore Howard F. Gillette Trophy which is to be given to one Ship of the National Flagship Fleet every year. The selection of this Ship is no mean task, although the basis for selection is simple. It is to be given each year to the Ship that, in the judgment of this Committee, best demonstrates through its conduct as a group and individually, that they have put into practice in their daily lives the Scout Oath and Law.

  In addition to the fine spirit and all-around record of this Ship and as an indication that service is uppermost in good Sea Scouts, we quote from the citation of the National Flagship for 1939:
   "This one Ship helped organize Sea Scouting not alone in its own Council, but in many Councils in the Region.
   "Its members designed and built a sailing boat that would be suitable for Sea Scouting in the Region and made two tours of the Region in demonstrating this boat.
   "This service was rendered so efficiently and in such a fine spirit that it is one of the major factors in the outstanding growth of Sea Scouting in this Region in 1938 and in the words of the Regional Executive, it is the outstanding factor responsible for the even greater prospective growth in 1939."
   On this basis, the National Sea Scout Committee awarded the Howard F. Gillette Trophy to the S.S.S. Davy Jones of Greensboro, N.C., of which Mr. Charles T. Hagan, Jr., is Skipper.
   Not the least in importance in the citation of this Ship is that Skipper Hagan was, as a Scout, a member of the Davy Jones. When he went away to college he maintained his affiliation with the Ship and when he finished school, came back to lead his Ship to the highest honor in Sea Scouting.
   Congratulations and commendation have been showered from all parts of the country on the Sea Scout Ship Davy Jones.
   Very well done!

Sea Scout Record Lauded by Commander Keane
Work of Greensboro Sea Scout Ship, Davy Jones, Won National Flagship Honors ---
Presentation of Gillette Trophy Made at Starmount

   "Democracy in America is safe and secure so long as we continue to teach our boys such ideals as are carried out in Scouting," declared Commander Thomas J. Keane of New York City, national director of Senior Scouting, at a banquet held last night at O'Henry hotel in celebration of the achievement of the Greensboro Sea Scout ship, Davy Jones, in having won national flagship honors.
    Commander Keane, who was presented by Paul W. Schenck, chairman of Region Six Scouting activities, explained the point system of selection of a national flagship and added that the final basis for selecting Day Jones was made on the question: "How near have these young men come to having the qualities of gentlemen?" It was found, the speaker added, that the officers and crew of the Greensboro ship came nearer to "loving the Scout Oath and Law" than any of 2,200 other ships in the nation.

Enumerates Counts
   Following Commander Keane's address, Mr. Schenck enumerated the counts upon which the Davy Jones was selected as national flagship, namely, because it was instrumental in creating amongst the Scouters of its own council an interest in the Sea Scout program, through its influence in organizing Sea Scouting in other councils of the reagion, because of its appearance, conduct and service at the annual regional meeting in 1938, in the ship's developing and building of a type of boat that could be used by every council in the region, its demonstration of the boat, its aid in setting up a splendid membership record of the councils in region six this year, and its service record.

High Praise Accorded
   Reflected in in the service record, according to Mr. Schenck's citation, were two factors which were attributed to the Davy Jones in promotion of Sea Scouting, namely: "Region six had the highest percentage increase in Sea Scout membership of all of the twelve regions," and second, "Region six was the only region in the country that reached and surpassed 100 per cent of its Sea Scout objectives in membership."    Sharing the speaking last night with Commander Keane and Mr. Schenck were W.A. Dodson, of Atlanta, Ga., regional Commodore, who paid tribute to the parents and girl friends of the Sea Scouts, and Mayor Ralph Lewis, who commended the Sea Scouts in behalf of the city. Introductions were made to R.W. McGeachy, director of senior Scouting in Greensboro, Herman Cone, Dr. Henry Louis Smith, L. Carroll Atkinson, president of the chamber of commerce; Ben L. Smith, superintendent of city schools; Mrs. Douglas H. Long, director of Girl Scouting in Greensboro; Walter King, Jr., former Skipper of the Davy Jones and now head of Ship No. 61; Otis N. Brown, national commander, V.F.W., and Edwin F. Lucas, president, Greensboro Council of Boy Scouts.
   Congratulatory recognition was given at the banquet to Charles T. Hagan, Jr.,Skipper of the new national flagship, and to the ship's committee, composed of W.R. Deation, chairman,Charles J. Gast, Harold Seburn, F.L. Atkinson and Robert Trosper.
   Following the supper affair, adjournment was called in order to allow those attending the banquet time to arrive at Starmount Country Club where a "bridge of honor," ship ceremonial, was held at 10 o'clock.
   Featured at the ceremonial was presentation of Howard F. Gillette trophy, awarded annually to the national Sea Scout ship in recognition of the valuable services rendered by National Sea Scout Commodore Howard F. Gillette.
   Other presentations included aiguelettes, national flagship insignia, which were given to of the Davy Jones, and the awarding of the Quartermaster rank toSea Scouts Joe Leak and Armistead Estes, crew leaders of the national flagship. The Quartermaster rank is the highest award in Sea Scouting.
   Upon the conclusion of the ceremonial, dancing was enjoyed to the music of Freddy Johnson and his orchestra in the ballroom of the Starmount Forest club, which was appropriately decorated with international code flags, Sea Scout insignia, and other articles of nautical equipment.
   Mr. Keane, it was stated, will make an inspection trip today to the Sea Scout base at High Rock lake, Southmont, after which he will return to New York.