BRATS =   Bringing Real Attributes to Society

Why are our Youth Auxiliary Members  Called BRATS?

 It was in St Louis in 1987 when a group of kids were organized by Leah Morrison. It was not unusual for kids to be at conventions but they had not previously been organized.  Ron Swisher, President of one of the former organizations had a big family.  M.B. Morrison was a membership icon, Leah was his wife. Leah was a grandmother at the time and she was very proactive about the kids learning how to run a meeting, having a pizza party, having their own dance and seeing some sights of the convention venue.  The kids came up with their own choice of Name "BRATS" and then decided on an acronym that set a standard for what the group intended to achieve as they grew up Bringing Real Attributes To Society.  Personally, I was amazed then, as I am now that a group of kids would be so forward thinking about what they intended to accomplish and how this new group would make that impact.  Each year, they elected officers, held their own programs and the B.R.A.T.S. President lead the group into the general meeting and spoke briefly to the general audience.  Over the years, the Presidents ran from teenagers to college students, while the group covered about every school grade.

Read some of the stories Below shared by former BRATS on how being part f this organization influenced their Lives.

My career in law enforcement requires attention to detail for reports, clear communication, teamwork and leadership skills. I enjoy the opportunity to share information with children that policemen are here to protect and serve you. I look back on the affiliations that I had with sports, teams, clubs, organizations and draw from both what I learned and how I benefited from those associations. That helps me to plan how I can reach, educate, and impact the kids that I protect and serve.

My earliest participation came at 6 weeks old, when my Mom took me to the League National Convention in Washington DC. My grandmother came along as my babysitter. Over the next 20 years, I grew up thinking of League events, similar to family reunions. Being a B.R.A.T.S. member was similar to a week at summer camp! I developed friends from across the country, had an opportunity to travel to great places and broadened my cultural horizons. As B.R.A.T.S. we took our meetings very seriously. We learned parliamentary procedures, meeting etiquette, decision making and planning our own events such as pizza parties and dances. We learned the politics of running for B.R.A.T.S. offices and the responsibility of leadership. The B.R.A.T.S. earned budget money by selling raffle tickets, had the finance responsibility for our budget and we learned the role of being a good leader and a good follower. Each year at the National Convention, the B.R.A.T.S.’s President would briefly address the entire Convention. We all marched in and proudly stood in formation as they spoke. Whether you think of this as a P.T.A program or a UN Delegation, it was definitely a learning experience. We understood the responsibilities of taking care of our own, the older kids would guide the younger ones in and hold their hands in case they should try to wander. Immediately, you understood the responsibilities of being a role model because, the kid holding your hand looked up to you. I guess looking back, that’s how I think we were Bringing Real Attributes to Society – one kid at a time, a legacy of passing on what someone had done for us.

In my job as a law enforcement officer, I see the need for so many of these KSA’s (you can tell I learned a lot for my Postal Mom). Bringing Real Attributes To Society, should be our personal and professional goal. I was never offended by the term BRATS. How could I be, when I think it stands for increasing “attributes” like, character, responsibility, leadership.