Take Your Settlement and Stuff It Where The Sun Doesn't Shine

[eisely 13]

This from the Stars & Stripes, European edition.

_________________________________

 

Boy Scout troops in Europe have little trouble finding new sponsors

 

By Ben Murray, Stars and Stripes

European edition, Thursday, December 9, 2004

 

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany Boy Scouts of America leaders in Europe say they are having little trouble finding new, private sponsors for their troops after a legal settlement ordered military units to sever official ties with the scouting program.

 

Scout masters and regional leaders said veterans organizations such as the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and local unit booster clubs have stepped in as troop sponsors, Dan Adams, executive director of the BSAs Transatlantic Council, said Wednesday.

 

Weve got an incredible amount of support from the military structure here, said Adams.

 

In November, the Department of Defense told units not to sponsor Boy Scout or Cub Scout troops to comply with a legal settlement. The DOD settled with the American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the direct government sponsorship of the Scouts because of the organizations requirement that troop members recite an oath of duty to God.

 

In Europe, military units charter 80 percent of scout troops, Adams said. More than 400 scout troops worldwide are affected by the restriction. About 200 of them are in the Transatlantic Councils region, which spans from Europe into North Africa and Turkey.

 

A DOD policy letter restricting government sponsorships of troops was sent just weeks before some European troops were scheduled to complete their annual re-chartering process, but Scout leaders adapted quickly.

 

Ramstein Air Base, Germanys Troop 12 Scoutmaster Andrew Turnbull said it took just two days for the groups committee to replace the 435th Air Base Wings Construction and Training Squadron as its sponsor last week. A squadron booster club took over Troop 12s charter, he said.

 

Turnbull said the administrative changes will have little effect on individual troops, who simply will continue their activities under their new sponsors.

 

Chartering organizations for European Scout troops serve mainly in a symbolic role, helping the group coordinate events and reserve meeting facilities, but taking little part in day-to-day scouting activities, Turnbull said.

 

Most kids wouldnt know how [the charter process] functions, Turnbull said. To them, its kind of transparent.

 

Scouts can still use military facilities for their functions and meetings, leaders said. Servicemembers also are still allowed to volunteer with the Scouts in their free time, the DOD policy letter said.

 

Its just a matter of changing the paperwork, and everything will be fine, said Bob Schmidt, senior executive for the Scouts Charlemagne District, which covers territory from the Netherlands to Morocco.

 

When all is said and done, itll have no real effect on us, Schmidt said.

 

Many troops are following the path of Ramsteins Troop 12 to find new sponsors.

 

Pat Hanlon, Horizon District commissioner and registrar for the BSAs Transatlantic Council, said, if a private organization cant be found, Scouts parents can create their own chartering group. Hanlon and Schmidt, however, said scout troops in their districts have reported little problem finding new sponsors.

 

I think its not going too badly, said Meg Barrett, a Cub Scout committee chairperson for Pack 44 in Stuttgart, Germany. Her troop and others in the Stuttgart area already have made headway in securing a new sponsorship, she said.

 

Ian Nicholls, scoutmaster for Troop 232 out of Ramstein, said his group has yet to find a new sponsor. But he didnt think his program is threatened.

 

Well survive, [though] this is probably going to be the roughest ride we've had in a while, he said.

 

[NJCubScouter 1389]

RE: Take Your Settlement and Stuff It Where The Sun Doesn't Shine

 

Eisely, you surprise me. Previously I thought that unlike some others around here, you were capable of discussing these issues in a rational, intelligent, non-abusive manner. Apparently not. Do you talk to your Boy Scouts that way too?

 

And by the way, this is proof that the the settlement is working. These units are no longer branches of the United States government. Except for a relatively small number of people who might want to see the units disappear (which would not include me, nor do I think it includes any of the Scouters who post in this forum), that's the whole point. The boys in question should continue to have Scouting available, but not with the federal government as CO.

[eisely 13]

Sorry to disappoint you NJCubScouter. There are serious issues worthy of rational discussion involved in this. My outburst reflects my lack of patience with and contempt for the ACLU, regardless of the merits of their case.

[Guest OldGreyEagle]

SInce there are two identical threads on this issue, I am going to lock this one and refer responses to the thread Mr Goodwin has started