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Our newest bestest friends were in Florida on Saturday
You may or may not have seen the news reports but a new organization dedicated to keeping the current BSA membership policy was launched on Saturday in Central Florida.
I don't go to these types of sites, they just upset me. But if you want to check it out:
Link to people who think the world should be just like 1910
1910: Because women have no place in scouting, segregated troops are a great idea, separate and unequal troops for Blacks, Catholics, and Jews are fine, (Hey we can give them our old uniforms - but lets rip them up first!), and immigrants need not apply.
But while this was going on outside, inside the Central Florida Council Leadership Summit, our newest bestest friends were saying some interesting things. In their own words:
[Wayne] Brock, speaking before a leadership summit by the group's Central Florida Council, candidly admitted that, even if the policy doesn't change, the issue will probably not go away. "We know the younger generation does not view this the same way the older generation does," Brock said. "They don't understand what the big deal is."
Addressing the question of what happens if the policy stays the same, Brock said: "If you look at the demographics, in a few years we'll revisit this again."
So basically our newest bestest friend Wayne, who happens to be the Chief Scout Executive, told this audience at this conservative council that even if they win in May they're going to lose eventually.
Our other newest friend had this to say:
At the [same] Scout leadership summit, Tico Perez, national commissioner, emphasized that no one knows what the policy change might be. He said one proposal under consideration would give churches that have chartered a Scouting unit a way to maintain the current ban.
If the national policy is changed, Perez explained that church-affiliated Scouting groups would be free to continue such a ban under the First Amendment clause for freedom of religion. However, Scouting groups sponsored by nonreligious groups would have to abide any changes, he said.
Whatever the change, Perez and Brock hoped local Scout leaders will remain devoted to Scouting and to the boys who have benefited and grown through Scouting. "Honestly, I don't know what the future will hold. We don't know if there will be change. What I do know is no matter what happens, we need you,'' he told parents and volunteers. "The kids we serve in this council need you," Brock said. "We just have to move forward, and we cannot do it without you."
Source Article
It's reasonable to assume Wayne and Tico know things that we don't know. For example the survey that BSA National is taking has probably surpassed the statistical hurdle and the final results can be accurately predicted. They may have had a hand in limiting the number of surveys going to alumni. They almost certainly were in on the decision to commission a separate poll with Harris Interactive to make sure youth were included in the survey.
I don't know about you, but I can't do this for a "few" more years. I need to get off this roller coaster in May. I'm sure a "few" more years of this is not the best thing for the BSA.
What you can do to help (Oh, Oh...this is going to cost you...)
1. Donate to Mt. Diablo Silverado Council's Friends of Scouting campaign. Just because we have newer bestest friends we shouldn't forget our penultimate bestest friends. The council did step up and do the right thing. We were the first council to publicly endorse that BSA change their membership policy to include a non-discrimination clause. (Nashua Valley Council in Massachusetts was #2). We also need to support the Camp Card program and other fund raisers.
2. Donate to Scouts for Equality (the national version). For some reason the other side seems to have more money than we do.
Donate to Scouts for Equality
(Ok you're safe, the rest don't cost anything.)
3. Join Scouts for Equality. Now that I have access to both their list and my list (Oh, didn't I mention that...) I'm amazed at the lack of overlap. (You know who you are, and well now, so do I.) It doesn't cost anything to join.
Join Scouts for Equality
4. Talk to scouters in neighboring councils. We want all of the councils in Northern California to adopt resolutions similar to those adopted by our council. There are all sorts of resources available on our web site at:
SFE_Golden Gate index Page
Sample e-mails for specific councils that can be attached to other e-mails are available on the link:
SFE-Golden Gate E-Mail Archive
There are more links everyday. If you have a letter I can add to our library send that to me too.
I'm really glad to have Wayne and Tico join the Council in our group of friends. But I've also discovered that this is a lot like middle school. Today's bestest friends may be tomorrow's worstest enemies. (I'm serious about this being an emotional roller coaster.) So, sorry Wayne, I think I'll wait a couple of weeks before I start weaving your friendship bracelet.
Yours in Scouting,
Wendell Baker
SFE-Golden Gate | 
