May 23, 2013

From The Desk Of
Jeff Moe, Scout Executive

Update on Membership Standards Vote

Dear Scouting Families, Friends & Leaders,

As many of you know, after completing the most extensive listening exercise in its 103-year history earlier this year, the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board drafted a resolution in April that, if approved, would remove reference to sexual orientation in its membership standards for youth members. Today, more than 1,200 voting members of the National Council approved the resolution.

Throughout the listening process, leadership of the Simon Kenton Council heard an outpouring of feedback from our Scouting family, reinforcing the importance of Scouting to society and the passion that people have for it.

In our email last week we informed you that our board directed its local delegates to cast all votes in favor of the resolution, understanding that while a strong majority of the council’s stakeholders agreed that denying a youth member the opportunity to benefit from the many virtues of Scouting was unacceptable, no decision was going to please everyone.

Moving forward, our focus remains on our mission of instilling in young people the values of the Scout Oath and Law, and serving young people to help them grow into strong citizens.  We hope you will stand alongside us in this effort.

In Scouting,

Jeff Moe
Scout Executive