In wake of the recent controversy surround the National BSA Membership decision we ask you to please read this letter from the Ozark Trails Council Scout Executive John Feick on how this issue effects our Council. Also listed below is a copy of a letter from Chief Scout Executive Wayne Brock.
Please take the time to read these and use the contact information provided below if needed.
Letter from Ozark Trails Council Scout Executive
National Leadership Policy
The Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Committee announced that they have considered a change in the BSA’s leadership policy. For the past two weeks, this topic has been on the minds of Scout leaders, Scout parents, Charter Partners and council staff members.
At this point, our standards of leadership remain the same as they have been throughout Scouting’s history. This topic will be part of the BSA’s National Meeting, on May 22-‐24, in Grapevine, Texas. At this meeting, voting representatives from each local council will have their say on the matter.
Any proposal for change, if there is a proposal for change, will be voted on by local council voting members from across the country. The voting members of each council are made up of the council president, the council commissioner and one additional voting member per 5,000 registered youth members. The Ozark Trails Council has a total of 4 voting members.
If the National Executive Board proposes a change in policy, the proposal will be provided to local councils for review, 30 days prior to the national meeting. In the month of March, prior to any proposal being made by the national organization, each local council will have the opportunity to meet with and give feedback to representatives of the Central Region of the BSA. All proposals from local councils will be forwarded to the national organization. These proposals could range from “No Change” to “Some kind of Change”.
Like many of our council board members, I have heard from leaders, parents and Scouting supporters on this issue. There has not been a council executive board meeting, since this topic became an issue, so our council does not yet have an official position on the matter. I can tell you that the majority of board members I have heard from have expressed concern about how this process has been handled, by the national organization, and they also have concern about any kind of change in our leadership standards.
The process that is now being set up to get feedback from our council, and council’s across the country, will provide the national organization with a clear picture on how local council members and supporters view this issue. In May, at the national meeting, the 1,400 local council voting members will have the
opportunity to affirm the feedback local councils gave to the national organization.
If you receive inquiries from members or citizens about how to get in touch with the National Council or how to express their opinion to the National Council, please advise them to send an email to
feedback@scouting.org
or direct them here: www.scouting.org/ContactUs.aspx. You can also contact me at johns.feick@scouting.org or phone 417-‐883‐1636 ext. 235.
To provide commentary from our national organization, I have also included a letter from Wayne Brock, the Chief Scout Executive of the BSA. Please see the following letter. I look forward to the resolution of this issue in May and a great Camping Season this summer!
Yours in Scouting,
John S. Feick
Scout Executive
Ozark Trails Council
Letter from Chief Scout Executive
February 13, 2013
Dear Scouting Parents,
We appreciate your participation and support of Scouting as we help equip your children with the life skills to become a good, strong citizen. This week we will celebrate Scouting’s 103rd anniversary, and our focus has remained the same, working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-‐based leadership training. I would also like to take this opportunity to update you on the recent discussions within the Scouting family regarding our membership standards
policy.
After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy.
To that end, the executive board directed its committees to further engage representatives of Scouting’s membership and listen to their perspectives and concerns. This will assist the officers’ work on a resolution on membership standards. The approximately 1,400 voting members of the national council will take action on the resolution at the national meeting in May 2013.
America needs Scouting, and our policies must be based on what is in the best interest of our kids. We believe good people can disagree and still work together to accomplish great things for youth. Going forward, we will work to stay focused on that which unites us. Be a part of this discussion by staying engaged and continuing your role in Scouting. The kids in your community need you.
Sincerely,
Wayne Brock
Chief Scout Executive
Boy Scouts of America