Boy Scouts call for community help to replace United Way funding

The Miami Herald ^ | 5/15/03 | Elaine De Valle

[RonF]

Local Boy Scout leaders asked the public Wednesday to fill a funding void of half a million dollars left when United Way of Miami-Dade pulled its support in a dispute over how the scouts treat gay youths.

Flanked by uniformed leaders and some board members, Jeff Herrmann, chief professional officer of the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America, said the organization was "shocked and disappointed" by the "breach of the community's trust in the United Way."

United Way announced Tuesday that it would withhold its annual funding grant of $480,000 because it believes the South Florida Council has reneged on an agreement to help gay youths cope with their sexuality.

Herrmann said the organization may be forced to cut some of the programs in inner-city communities "whose children need it most." The United Way funds were allocated to Boy Scout, Cub Scout and Venturing programs in Liberty City, Little Haiti, Little Havana, Overtown, Homestead, Hialeah and other low-income areas.

Herrmann specificially criticized the timing of the announcement.

"Thirty days notice is inexcuseable. We're about to go to the summer programs, which are essential to us and the most costly to run," he said.

The $480,000 grant was about 20 percent of the South Florida Council's $3 million operating budget.

People can still give to the scout programs through the United Way if they mark that they specifically want the funds to go there. But Hermann said the organization would also seek funds directly from community groups and donors.

United Way officials said the decision to not renew the annual grant came because the South Florida Council failed to live up to a 2001 agreement to have local leaders undergo diversity and sensitivity training crafted with the help of Project Yes, a Miami group devoted to the needs of gay youth.

Agency spokeswoman Tamara Klingler said the training would teach leaders how to counsel "the young boy who might be questioning his sexual identity, who might think he's gay."

[RonF]

Agency spokeswoman Tamara Klingler said the training would teach leaders how to counsel "the young boy who might be questioning his sexual identity, who might think he's gay."

BSA leaders already know how to counsel a young boy who's questioning his sexual identity. They'll tell him to talk to his parents and his religious leader. The problem there is that they may well counsel him to fight off any homosexual tendencies. And, admittedly, the young man may well feel that he can't face up to the condemnation that they'll give him. It is true that sexually conflicted kids tend to committ suicide more than other kids not so conflicted.

Herrmann specificially criticized the timing of the announcement. "Thirty days notice is inexcuseable. We're about to go to the summer programs, which are essential to us and the most costly to run," he said.

The United Way isn't too concerned about this, I'm sure.

[dark_lord]

Why the heck don't the parents of the Boy Scouts cough up more money for their organization? Taking money from the United Way is just stupid. The Boy Scouts are a private organization. Parents who put their kids in it can kick in the money for their kids!

(BTW -- if you work for an office and they come around to get you to donate to United Way and pressure you...you know "except for you we would be 100%, we won't win the award, etc." -- tell them to you have your own charities and you are not donating, no way, no how, no matter what.)

[Shermy]

The United Way operates not unlike the UN Food for Oil Program. Normally Iraq would pay money for, say, wheat from country "A". By analogy, a donator who wanted to give to the Scouts (or other group) would give money to the Scouts.

The UN scheme adds extra costs, extra bureaucracy, extra controls. It takes a cut and decides who gets the contracts via political control, coercion, and corruption.

The United Way is a similar extra bureaucracy, exerted extra controls on the donee's dollar, takes a cut, employs more "bureaucrats", is political, and may even be involved in coercion (businesses who have connections to UW "suggesting", almost ordering, automatic charitable deductions to UW.)

Both operate under pretense of Charity. The UN program labelled "Food" - but involves so much other things, like Russian television equipment.

[CindyDawg]

I stopped donating to the UW about a year ago. They may not care about the boy scouts but if enough people quit supporting their agency, they will pay attention.

[Cindy]

CULTURE AND FAMILY REPORT: "UNITED WAY IN MIAMI CUTS OFF BOY SCOUTS Scouts refuse to turn sexually confused boys over to ‘gay’ group or send leaders to ‘gay’ diversity training" by Robert Knight (May 14, 2003)

http://www.cultureandfamily.org/articledisplay.asp?id=3953&department=CFI&categoryid=cfreport

[caisson71]

I stopped giving to the UW long ago and I tell them every year why I don't. The only way to "enlighten" the United Way is to hit them in the pocketbook like most organisations.

[CindyDawg]

In the mean time I guess I need to send a little extra to the boyscouts.

[mabelkitty]

That 100% deal is also a lie and a strong arm tactic at that.

Tell them the Supreme Court found that unions cannot take money from its members if it goes against their principles.

Find it and cite it if you need it.

[Joe Brower]

FLORIDA FREEPERS!

I just called the BSA South Florida Council and donated $50 on my MasterCard. It took me a while to get through, evidently they are getting a good number of responses from the Miami Herald's article (although the MH deliberately omitted their contact information).

Please call and help this great organization out now!

Dade: 305-364-0020

Broward: 954-584-4200

If you wish to donate via a standard check and mail it in via standard post, here is the address:

Boy Scouts of America - South Florida Council
15255 N.W. 82nd Ave.
Miami Lakes, FL 33016

There is also a web-form you can fill out if you wish to become a regular donor. Click HERE.

Yours in liberty,

[caisson71]

Just send them what you would normally would have given to UW - or more.

[johnb838]

Here is how the BSA can help a child who is smaller than the other boys or perhaps more feminine...

1) Make sure the other boys don't beat him up.
2) Make sure he is fairly included in activities
3) Make sure that ALL the scouts follow the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.

Scout Oath:

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Scout Law:
* A Scout is TRUSTWORTHY
* A Scout is LOYAL
* A Scout is HELPFUL
* A Scout is FRIENDLY
* A Scout is COURTEOUS
* A Scout is KIND
* A Scout is OBEDIENT
* A Scout is CHEERFUL
* A Scout is THRIFTY
* A Scout is BRAVE
* A Scout is CLEAN
* A Scout is REVERENT

Any questions?

[Ladysmith]

Boy Scouts donation BTTT...

[FourPeas]

Thank You For The Address BuMp.

[Grampa Dave]

Excellent comparisons.

[LiteKeeper]

bump and bump and bump until there requirements are met!

[Ed_in_NJ]

bttt

[shuckmaster]

Through the Southside Virginia United Way, I've made the maxx 'fair share' donation to the Robert E Lee Council #602 Boy Scouts every year for the past 22 years thru 2003. After reading this article, I will never give them another dime of my hard earned money and you can tell them I said so!

[FourPeas]

BuMp

[Ed_in_NJ]

me2

[RussRoberts]

I am an active Scouter, and I hope you will reconsider your position. I can understand the emotion from the name change, and I will not try to defend the Council. We recently had a emotionally charged meeting when two of our districts were combined into a new district. Because of longstanding traditions, people were upset about the change. However, after a bit of time, I noticed that all the volunteers were still involved and the anger gone. The reason - we all remembered why we are here. IT IS FOR THE BOYS. In your Council, assuming you intended your contributions to benefit the scouts, they are still there! And they need your contributions. I firmly believe, as a Scouter for a dozen years, that most of the problems we find in scouting are the result of adults and their agendas, and forgetting why we are really here, which is for our scouts.