Spoke to one local group leader...their strategy is not to leave. They feel it is too important to continue working with the boys that are in their group and keep them grounded regardless of the BSA policy change. Also the reality that all of a sudden, a rash of gay kids joining their group is very unlikely.
How they are going to protest is that their group is one of the large fundraisers for BSA. At this point, they are going to quit fundraising for the national orgainization, and only fund for their troop ($30-$40,000/year)...They will only submit their annual $10 fee for membership.
He thinks that many of the other local groups will be doing the same...If may of them do this, it will be a big impact.
We have one gay Scout and he really doesn’t attend anything. At that age, gay is more of an attention getting thing rather than a sex thing.
With all due respect to those who have the attitude of stay and fight, I do not think you realize the full impact of this decision.
BSA has lost ALL legal recourse for keep homosexual leaders/adults out, for all programs. The Dale case from the supreme court agreed with BSA on its freedom of association. The key point in that decision was the foundational principal that homosexuality was wrong. This decision removes that point. If you read any of the posts that the BSA is putting out on this you will find that this is a position of affirmation that homosexuality is normal. The previous policy was one of tolerance this is total acceptance. The key players on both sides of the issue agree the adult homosexuals will be in Scouting very soon. The group ‘scouting for equality’ which spearheaded this change ( with help from BSA insiders) will not stop until there are no membership standards. After the adults are in they will then target religion and reverence, to allow atheist to join. Do a search on it and you will find the lawsuits are already getting setup. Also multiple councils have already said that they will openly defy the new policy and allow open and avowed adult homosexuals. BSA will do nothing to stop this. Even now there are troops in Cambridge MA. (Minutemen Council) that allow coed Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, and troops with openly homosexual scoutmasters. Our Scout executive when informed of this said that there are a large number of troops operating like this and he saw nothing wrong. The Cambridge troop has been coed for several years, so it is obvious that BSA National will not act.
There will be internal changes to BSA. The Family Life merit badge centers around the ‘nuclear family’ i.e. father, mother, children. Does anyone really think the homosexual activist will allow that. That badge is Eagle required so acceptance and normalcy of homosexuality will be taught by BSA to all who want Eagle.
The activist have also said that they will target troops or councils that resist this policy. Since BSA national has made this change there will be no legal assistance, the council troops are on there own.
I am a Scoutmaster with 2 sons on the path to Eagle. My wife was on the committee. We WERE a Scouting family, and we have been very active in fighting this. The bottom line is the top level of BSA is infected with progressive liberals, as were many of the delegates who voted. No other Scouting group that has chosen this course thrives. Canada Scouts are in trouble as are Britain’s units.
The only way fight this is a complete overhaul of the top of BSA dissolving the liberal councils. Neither of those actions will occur. It is time to build anew.
My son said it best... “ The only way to follow the true meaning of the Scout Oath and Law is to no longer be in the BSA” It is a sad time.
That is the position stated below ...
5/24/2013 – "An Open Letter to Southern Baptists from the BSA Religious Relationships Task Force" by R. Chip Turner, Chairman of the BSA Religious Relationships Task Force, and Past President of the Association of Baptists for Scouting
http://www.arkansasbaptist.org/letters-to-editor/2013/5/24/an-open-letter-to-southern-baptists-from-the-bsa-religious-r.html
How they are going to protest is that their group is one of the large fundraisers for BSA. At this point, they are going to quit fundraising for the national orgainization, and only fund for their troop ($30-$40,000/year)...They will only submit their annual $10 fee for membership.
Something sounds like it was lost in translation. I am not aware of any individual unit conducting a fundraising event where some of the proceeds go to BSA National in Irving, TX. The closest example that comes to mind of this scenario is the annual Trails End Popcorn Sale. The local councils get an ~30% commission of the sales conducted by units (Cub Packs do the lion's share of the selling.)
He thinks that many of the other local groups will be doing the same...If may of them do this, it will be a big impact.
Need to think this through. Those units which intend to stick with BSA but want to send a message by hurting BSA National in the pocket are in reality directing their frustration at their local council. Yes, it can be done in 3 ways - stop funding your (1) local United Way chapter, (2) local council's FoS (Friends of Scouting) campaign, and (3) stop selling Trails End Popcorn (which also hurts the unit). But here's the point - even if a vast majority of units do this, all you will do is succeed in shutting down your local council. You will still need somewhere to purchase uniforms and literature. And yes, that can be done on-line. But those sales proceeds would go right back to BSA National, thus you would still be feeding the beast.