One of our members is highly involved in Scouting. I'm awaiting his reply to this.
I DIDN'T LEAVE SCOUTING, SCOUTING LEFT ME.
Sorry it's so long, but it did help getting part of this mees out.....
A little background – Started Scouting as a Cub Scout in 1951. Went through until joining Boy Scouts, then into the now defunct Explorer Scouts [older – now n ow as Venturing Crews{by the way Crews came be co-ed}]. As an 'Adult' have been Den Leader. Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, then Unit Commissioner [UC]and Assistant District Commissioner [DE], while living up north. While a Scoutmaster and ADC [for other units] I caught another adult in bed with a boy, kick them both out of the cabin we were in, woke up one of my Assistant Scoutmasters, to take over and headed home on an early Sunday morning, contacting the then DE and DC, to report incident. They informed me that “Volunteers are hard to come by, we'll watch himâ€. Well they didn't do a good job, because about 2-3 weeks later his jealous 'boyfriend' invited some scouts over to their house for a 'movie'. The boyfriend made advances to one of the scout who refused, so he shot him in the head, killing him. For years I've wondered if I had done more, would that boy still be alive, but it was time to walk away from scouting.
Since living here in Alabama, I started as the Organizational Rep. between scouting and my church. Two years later I was talked into coming back as a Unit Commissioner, then my District Executive [paid professional] promoted me to District Commissioner [ must be approved by a Council vote]. When my DE was promoted I had a new DE come and he only lasted 4 months before quitting [ to hard of a job I guess], so I finished the rest of the year running a district of approx. 1200 scouts and 400 adults, as a volunteer. Shortly after we got a new DE, I decided 3 years was long enough at that job, recommend a man I recruited and trained as my replacement. [Note; he's been doing a great job]. I stepped back as a Assistant District Commissioner [ADC] and took over as the Advancement Chairman and Eagle Chairman for the district.
With all that said I think I have a bit of a scout background, so now to the present.
About 3 months ago National headquarters was bullied into 'possibly' changing their policy and allowing gays into scouting. And in their 'pea pecking' mind they agreed to poll scouting throughout the nation. About a month ago they came up with the idea – keep 'Adult' homosexuals out, but don't question the boys [unfair to not give boys a chance was the mantra]. So they can stay in scouting until 18, then they are out – well 18 has always been the 'drop dead' date for 'boys in' scouting. My question is and was – since young boys{ and the 8-11 year olds haven't really matured} but look up to the older scouts { 15-18} that ARE in full bloom, and isn't camping together in tents an 'accident looking for a place to happen. I mean for years scouting as made 'Youth Protection' classes [renewable every two years] mandatory for ALL adults in scouting, but nothing for the boys. They use the phrase “two deep†meaning there must ALWAYS be two adults in the presence of one or more scouts. But lets not worry about this small stuff. [SACASAM]
The national poll showed overwhelmingly that the change was not wanted, but I guess the 1400 voting delegates didn't have time to read the months of banter going an almost daily, or could it be that the honorary BSA President [you can guess who that is] wanted the change, even though two years ago the Supreme Court rejected the gay movement from joining Boy Scouts, - because it was a privately owned, non-government funded organization, that had the right to control it's membership and leadership.
Well yesterday at 5:00 the results were made known, and by a 61% [chuckelhead] vote the change was finished, to take effect Jan. 1, 2014. On a personal note, by 5:10 PM I received confirmation and by 5:20 PM my three calls of resignation were complete, and my formal letter started and since sent.
