Valley United Way won't stop funding Boy Scouts

Penn Live, PA ^ | August 05, 2003 | From staff reports

[schaketo]

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley will not withdraw its support of local Boy Scout programs, despite a decision by the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania to do so.

"It's our policy that all of our agencies that we fund be compliant with federal, state and local laws," said Steve Andrews, spokesman for the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

The Minsi Trails Council of the Boy Scouts of America meets those standards, Andrews said.

The United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania announced Thursday it would no longer provide funding to its local Boy Scout councils because of the organization's refusal to allow gay Scouts.

The Lehigh Valley United Way, which is governed by its board of local community leaders, makes its own policy decisions and determinations as to which groups the organization will fund, Andrews said.

It provides more than $105,000 to three Minsi Trails programs: Learning for Life, Urban Scouts and Low-income Scouts. An additional $11,000 is given through United Way Warren County to the Central New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts.

"Our volunteers have determined those are valuable programs in the community," Andrews said.

United Way allows donors who do not wish to support a particular agency to designate that their money not go to that organization.

Representatives of the Minsi Trails Council did not immediately return calls for comment on this story.

[LiteKeeper]

SPOTREP

[RISU]

Dare we hope that at least one group of Americans haven't lost thier minds?

This is "encouraging"!

[Sacajaweau]

Haven't given United Way a dime since 1984 (I think). It goes to my local favorite...Volunteer ambulance or such.

[schaketo]

Call your local United Way and ask them if they are supporting the Boy Scouts. If the answer is no or the one I got which is “they didn’t ask us to support them”, then let them know you won’t be supporting the United Way social engineering program this year. My local Boy Scout Council didn’t ask the local United Way for support because they already knew the answer was NO.

Help defund this immoral organization. Take your ex-United Way donations and send them directly to the worthy cause of your choice. The Boy Scouts of America could use our help.

[cake_crumb]

Thank heaven there are still a few people left who understand that a wish to protect our kids from predators is NOT an act of prejudice.

Bless you, Lehigh Valley United Way!

[Mears]

I haven't given to the United Way in years either and my boss was horrified. My large company tried to get 100% compliance for United Way and we would have very expensive films and tons of handouts every year,presented by United Way,so that we would doneate.

I decided that I would donate directly to my favorite charities and have done so every year since.

The United Way organization seemed very top heavy to me,and this was before the scandals.I just figured out that 100% of my money would go to my charity,not to the fundraising process.

My supervisor actually pleaded with me to give 5 cents a week so they could reach their 100% figure but I refused. It was pretty funny!!!

[cake_crumb]

"My supervisor actually pleaded with me to give 5 cents a week so they could reach their 100% figure but I refused. It was pretty funny!!!"

....In a frighteningly pathetic sort of way.

[Born Conservative]

My large company hands out the donation forms every year; there isn't any pressure per se to give, but we are REQUIRED to turn in the form even if we aren't giving (I guess they have it in some super secret file for later use). I do give yearly, but I specify that it goes to my local Boy Scout council.

[randog]

My supervisor actually pleaded with me to give 5 cents a week so they could reach their 100% figure but I refused. It was pretty funny!!!

Yours is a common story, and it is funny. I always picture some docker-sportin', perfectly manicured yuppie pleading with his subordinates to fork over a nickel just so he can dash off to the big boss with the good news and get his milk bone.

[Surrounded_too]

The same problem with IIRC the united way exists in Hamden, CT. Scouts, Just like the Episcopalians, are being subverted.

One reason the United Way has done so well collecting are
the "Hey, we're nice guys" promotions present in the
telecast of nearly every National Football League game.

Social engineering in jock clothing instead of wolf clothing. And keep an eye on the WNBA with their PC
and other propaganda. It's too much a Forum for issues and not enough about the sport or they would get rid of those lousy referees. Cheap help unequal to the player skills.
They ought to be in lower class college baskets at best.

[YankeeinOkieville]

Well, you're lucky they respected your choice. When my daughter was in elementary school, there was a school-wide contest and for every class that got 100% PTA membership there would be pizza and a movie (whoop-di-doo!) Well, I don't agree with that particular bigoted PTA and refused to join. Another parent actually paid my dues for me so the class could have their pizza. I was so-o-o angry that I actually went to the next PTa meeting and raised my hand to speak. When I was called on by the @%#$ in charge, I told them, with examples what I thought of their chapter of the organization and asked to not be contacted from them again. I'm really not a mean person, but I can be if pushed into a corner or if someone tries to speak for me.

[Mears]

Did the person actually pay the dues in your name? Is that legal?

What if I paid dues in someone elses name to a scuzzy organization like NAMBLA. Wouldn't that be against the law if the person in whose name I paid the dues didn't want to be associated with the group?

Just curious!

[YankeeinOkieville]

Not only did they pay my dues, but they came up to me with a look on their face like they did me some great favor, you know like I didn't have the $3 or just hadn't gotten around to it. It is amazing how many people think that everyone should wnat to be part of whatever they are a part of.

[RonF]

Thus highlighting that the vast majority (about 1550 out of 1600) UW chapters give grant money to the BSA. While I prefer to give my money directly to the BSA, there is a role for the UW.

Say you have seen a particular charitable need in your community that no one is taking care of. You might go to the local churches or civic groups, but they are already 100% committed. The local UW gives you a way to get grant money without having to commit the time and effort (never mind money) to perform direct public solicitation, thus allowing you to concentrate your efforts on meeting the charitable need. And the UW people can also give you advice on how to apply for other grants, and how to make your charitable organization work. UW does have a place and a function. Now, if the local board perverts that, then that's another situation....