May 17, 2013

From The Desk Of
Jeff Moe, Scout Executive

Update on Membership Standards Process

Dear Scouting Families, Friends & Leaders,

As many of you are aware, in February the Boy Scouts of America embarked on the most comprehensive listening exercise in its history to consider the impact of potential changes to its membership standards policy on the organization and gather perspectives from inside and outside of the Scouting family.

Since that time, Simon Kenton Council has been hearing from our local Scouting family, our supporters and the community as it relates to the BSA’s membership standards. We held Town Hall meetings, surveyed individuals and met personally with many key stakeholders. Passionate opinions on both sides of the debate were shared as it related to the current membership policy denying membership to both youth and adult open and avowed homosexuals.

On April 22, 2013 the Executive Committee of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America drafted a resolution that states that youth may not be denied membership in the BSA on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone and maintains its current membership policy for all adult leaders.

The resolution proposes the following:

Membership in any program of the Boy Scouts of America requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.

Yesterday evening, Simon Kenton Council’s executive board determined how our delegates will cast their ballots on May 23, 2013 at the Boy Scouts of America’s National Annual Meeting. After considering all the relevant feedback, our executive board directed all our delegates to cast votes in favor of the above resolution.

The council’s board feels that this decision was made in the best interest of the youth members in their charge, the Scouting family and the broader community. While the board recognizes that some may disagree with this decision, the Simon Kenton Council will continue to focus on reaching and serving young people to help them grow into strong citizens within our 18 county territory of southern and central Ohio and northern Kentucky.

In Scouting,