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Change or Challenging Policies


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Are you talking about a troop policy, a district policy, a council policy or a national policy? Each as you would imagine would go up a few notches in degrees of difficulty.

 

My advice would be to sound out your thoughts to a group of people you respect to get alternate viewpoints. If after those discussions you feel you have support or you feel you are right even if you find no one who agrees with you, begin the process. If its a local thing, a face to face appointment should be schdeuled. If its a national thing, write an Email/snail mail letter and see what happens, dont be afraid to follow up with a phone call in a week.

 

As a bit of elderly advice ( I really hated saying that) be suer to pick battles that you can win, while tilting at windmills may seem romantic and brave, it is more often irritating and frustrating. , good luck

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I have known a few gay adults. One was a teacher who was always afraid he would be found out and lose his job. He was a very nice guy who never tried to "force" himself on us at all.

 

As long as he doesnt preach what he practices, why the big deal?

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It's an issue of morality. If I was a nice guy in every visible way, but it was common knowledge that I collected kiddy-porn, would my membership in BSA be acceptable? Of course, it would not be acceptable. The issue is not how "nice" I appear, or whether or not I push my ideas onto the others. The issue is the behavior. BSA and most of its adult leaders (at least I hope and believe this to be true), believe that homosexuality is wrong. Someone who practices this behavior and refuses to recognize it as such is not considered to be a good example, either as a Scout or a Scouter.

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ok Mr Rooster, I think I understand what you mean, but I am not sure I agree.

 

I just found this site and think its kewl, anybody can post a topic and you guys respond. I think thats awesome.

 

Im gonna take a look at all the topics and erad them, you guys seem to have strong opinions

 

TTFN

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To respond to the original question a bit more at length...

 

As OGE pointed out there are many levels of policy within scouting, just as in any other large organization. It is perhaps useful to understand the legal structure of scouting. The national organization is a federally chartered non profit corporation, whose charter was granted directly by congress. This is itself unusual since there are very few federally chartered corporations.

 

The national BSA corporation is a self governing body controlled by a self perpetuating board of directors, whose members are selected in accordance with the by laws of the corporation. This is not like a business corporation where the board of directors is elected by the shareholders. There are no shareholders of BSA. This board of directors is the group that sets national policy. One can communicate with them, and perhaps even show up at a meeting where the board may run an open forum, but ultimately the board decides.

 

There is a similar structure at the council level. Councils are non profit corporations organized under the laws of the state in which they operate. Councils are also "chartered" by the national BSA corporation to operate a scouting program and call it part of BSA. The councils also have their self perpetuating boards of directors and they decide policy at the council level. Concerning the gay issue, some councils have publicly adopted policies somewhat at variance with the national policy, but apparently not far enough off the ranch to get the council into trouble with national. Influencing policy at the council level, as OGE said, would be done in much the same way.

 

Hope that helps. By the way, I am one of those who strongly supports the BSA policy on homosexuals.

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Welcome to the board I B a Scout.

 

The gay issue is covered in the issues and politics area and there is an exensive history of discussions. This and other topics of that nature need to be discussed there as it is not pertinant to theme of Boy Scout Program.

 

As to strong opinions, you catch on quick!

 

You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.

 

Enjoy.

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I B a Scout,

 

Actually I should apologize for not pointing you there in the first place. But as you noticed, I and many others, do have strong opinions. I guess I got carried away. Anyway, good to hear a new voice (even if we disagree).

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