Not sure what the future holds for the Boy Scouts of America, but I certainly appreciate the point of view of this scoutmaster. It gives me hope that, with good men like this in the program, the Boy Scouts of America can stay pure and clean a little longer.
Urgent prayers and action are needed to oppose change in boy scouts’ policy (to include homosexual membership) which will be considered early next week. My husband is Scoutmaster of Troop 102 in Fremont. The following is his letter to parents of his scouts.
Dear parents of troop 102,
As you may have heard, the Boy Scouts of America is considering changing its longstanding policy of excluding from membership those who are openly homosexual. Frankly I am astonished that board members would consider such a sweeping change without soliciting comment from local unit leaders. Modifications to the scout uniform or updates to the Scout Handbook are one thing; changes to the core values of scouting is something else altogether. For the record, I have been contacted in the past to comment on proposed updates to the Boy Scout Handbook; no one at the national level has solicited my input on this.
But I will solicit yours. Are you comfortable with idea of your son participating in overnight outdoor activities with those who are openly gay? Please let me know by Friday so that I can forward your views to the board before they meet to discuss the issue next week. I welcome and will read any comment you may have, but if you want to be brief, you can just give me a number:
1. I think the policy change is a wonderful idea.
2. It doesn’t matter to me either way.
3. It’s okay as long as Troop 102’s policy remains the same.
4. It’s a terrible idea and I will reconsider my son’s involvement in scouting should it be adopted.
Let me comment with regard to #3, the idea that each local unit will be able to decide for themselves. This, in my opinion, is baloney, a fanciful, false and fleeting illusion. How long will a unit be able to keep its scouts apart from those who openly advocate homosexuality? Will it cease participation in camporees? Will it forego summer camp? And how long in fact will they be able to maintain their distinct position? Already those who advocate the change are calling it “only a baby step.” No, either the policy remains for all or changes for all. The middle ground will not long endure.
As for my own position, when I assumed the role of scoutmaster of Troop 102 I took an oath to do my best to keep not only myself but also the boys under my charge–your boys– “physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.” This I have done and will continue to do to the best of my ability. But it would be a sad and ironic day indeed to have to retire my beloved scout uniform in order to keep my scout oath.
Yours truly,
Don Gordon, Scoutmaster, Troop 102
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If you wish to contact national boy scout board directly to oppose inclusion of homosexual membership, by all means do so. Here are the names of the board members:
Select Boy Scouts of America Board Members:
David L. Beck: (801) 240-1000
Donald D. Belcher: (858) 453-7210
R. Thomas Buffenbarger: (310) 967-4500
Anderson W. Chandler: (480) 726-3030
Dennis H. Chookaszian: (773)702-7369
Keith A. Clark: (703) 993-1160
D. Kent Clayburn: (972) 580-2000
Philip M. Condit: (866) 473-2016
William F. “Rick” Cronk: (925) 283-7229
John C. Cushman III: (904) 393-9020
R. Michael Daniel: (412) 297-4989
Jack D. Furst: (972) 982-8250
T. Michael Goodrich: (205) 328-9445 ext. 200
Earl G. Graves: (212) 242-8000
Aubrey B. Harwell, Jr.: (615) 244-1713
Stephen Hemsley: (800) 328-5979
Larry W. Kellner: (713) 468-4050
Robert J. LaFortune: (918) 582-2981
Joseph P. Landy: (212) 878-0600
Robert J. Mazzuca: (703) 836-7100 ext. 522
Francis R. McAllister: (406) 373-8700
Ronald K. Migita: (808) 544-0506
Scott D. Oki: (425) 454-2800
Arthur F. Oppenheimer: (208) 343-4883
Tico A. Perez: (407) 849-1235
Frank Ramirez: (877) 542-3232
Robert H. Reynolds: (317) 231-7227
Roy S. Roberts: (313) 870-3772
James D. Rogers: (888) 562-0000
Matthew K. Rose: (909) 386-4140
Nathan O. Rosenberg: (949) 494-4553
Roger M. Schrimp: (209) 526-3500
Marshall M. Sloane: (781) 395-3000
Randall L. Stephenson: (210) 351-5401
Rex W. Tillerson: (972) 444-1000
David M. Weekley: (713) 659-8111
Togo D. West, Jr.: (202) 775-1775
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