Here is the letter stating where our council stands and how we will vote:
East Carolina Council, BSA Publish Survey Results On Youth Membership Standard, Executive Board Takes Action On Vote
May 2013
After a study and listening period the Boy Scouts of America volunteer resolution committee recommended no change in the membership standards for adult leaders related to sexual preference. Adult volunteer membership will continue to be denied to homosexuals. Using the Impact Study submitted by each council the National, BSA volunteer resolution committee wrote a resolution related to the youth membership standard to be voted on by national council representatives at the Annual Business Meeting of the Boy Scouts of America to be held May 23 - May 25 in Dallas. The last sentence of that resolution reads, “No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.” Each council has allowed their leaders and parents to vote on the resolution to determine how their representatives to the National, BSA Annual Business Meeting should vote. In East Carolina Council, BSA the resolution was added to the annual Scouting outcomes survey and mailed to 7,300 individuals.
Of the 7,300 surveys mailed, 984 were return for 13%. This is a high return rate for surveys. Of the 984 surveys submitted by mail and on line, 398 or 40.4% voted to approve the resolution. A “yes” vote on the resolution would allow homosexual youth to become or remain in the Boy Scouts of America as youth members. Of the 984 votes returned, 586 or 59.5% voted against the resolution, Leaders voted against the resolution by 64%. Boy Scout parents disapproved of the resolution at a higher percentage rate than Cub Scout parents.
Using this survey and the survey of financial contributors and chartered organizations where nearly 40% stated they would discontinue support to the East Carolina Council, BSA if any change occurred in the membership standards and 70% disapproved of any membership standard change the East Carolina Council, BSA Executive Board took two votes at its Wednesday night Executive Board Meeting. The first motion was made to ask the council’s national meeting representatives to vote against the resolution to allow homosexual youth to join or continue in a Boy Scout traditional program. A second motion was made to commit all four votes to be cast against the resolution to change youth membership standards to allow homosexual youth to remain in or join a traditional Scouting program. Both resolutions were approved by a large majority.
Thanks to those who have taken time to complete the survey. You may still complete the survey by going on line at http://survey.eccbsa.org/. Several counties still have not reached a level of return to have a valid survey. The more surveys we receive council wide, the more valid the outcomes study for Boy Scout programs in East Carolina Council will be.
Yours in Scouting,
H. Ray Franks | Scout Executive/CEO
East Carolina Council, BSA
Thank you for sharing this letter. Kudos to the East Carolina Council, BSA!