BSA Vote

[Cubmaster Pack 410]

Greetings Pack 410,

 

       Below is an e-mail sent out by our council.  I will address some impacts on our Pack at the end.

 

Dear fellow Gulf Coast Council Scouter,

By now you may have heard that the National Council of the BSA, in its Annual Meeting
earlier today, voted to modify its YOUTH membership standards, as of 01/01/2014,
to no longer deny membership to a youth solely on the basis of a feeling or claim
of sexual orientation or preference. The adult standard is not changed.

We disagreed with this change, and spoke and voted against it, consistent with our
personal beliefs and the vote of your Council Executive Board. However, it did pass.
We now ask you to join us in the implementation of this change in a way that will
continue to protect our youth and our organization, and positively influence any
new members we might gain as a result of this change.

First, be assured that any member, youth or adult, who in a Scouting setting, in
any way promotes, advocates, or acts out a same-sex attraction status or lifestyle
will have their membership revoked. Guidelines for consistent application of this
policy throughout Scouting will be forthcoming and we ask for your help in its full
implementation in this new setting.

Second, if a youth who claims a same-sex attraction does join one of our units,
you can continue to be a positive example of "morally straight."  By this example
you can help guide such a youth as they develop and form their preferences, with
the hope for positive change.

We believe the BSA can continue to be and will be the most effective youth-serving
and youth-developing organization in our world today, and ask you to join us in
a re-commitment to its ideals and principles found within the Scout Oath and Law.
Let's continue in Scouting to be a positive influence and role model as we expand
the potential realm of that influence through this change.

For further information, please feel free to contact Council Executive Spencer Page
at the Council office or either of us.

Yours in Continued Service,

Pete Smith, Council President

Ted Spangenberg, Jr., Past President and Region Executive Board Member

 

       I know many of you disagree with the change and as a result many may elect to discontinue membership with Scouting.  I fully understand that decision.  One of the immediate impacts is our meeting place.  The church that has graciously and generously allowed us to meet in their facilities for years at no cost has asked us not to meet there anymore.  The keys will be returned today.  I also understand their decision and harbor no resentment, only gratitude for their generosity over the years and wish them continued growth and success of their church.

 

      This brings me to the first of two requests.  If you know of any potential meeting places, we have the summer to find a new venue.  The obvious preference is a no cost venue but I am willing to consider others.

 

      Secondly, I would like to get an idea of how many of you plan to end your relationship with Scouting and Pack 410.  It may have an impact on our venue search.  If our numbers are decimated we may not have worry about finding a place.  However, I hope not. 

 

      This change does not take effect until 1 January 2014 and even then, our Pack is no place for someone discussing, demonstrating or otherwise bringing to light sexual topics or ideas weather homo or heterosexual.  That is not the purpose of our Pack.  We meet together to teach our boys the values of the Scout Law (trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent). 

 

      If you have any questions, comments or cries of outrage, I am willing to talk about it face to face or over the phone.  I hope to see as many of you as possible tomorrow morning (see next subsequent e-mail).

 

Scott DeLay

Cubmaster Pack 410

(850) 426-3994