July 25, 2013
Some good points were made, valid questions were raised and a few plans were put in place. I will try to summarize the things I thought important. Items in parentheses are my personal opinions and commentary. (of course, I am going to have opinions and commentary...)
There were about 25 people (more or less) there, mostly men (three ladies-two from Troop 30!). There were 4--maybe 5--troops represented. Some of the troop numbers that I can recall: Troop 30 (yea! five of us) Troop 393, Troop 339, Troop 11 (probably the largest group present but Troop 30 had almost as many there) and Den 1. There were scoutmasters, cubmasters, den leaders, ex officio leaders, wood badge trained leaders and parents. Oh! and one Senior Patrol Leader. (a scout of character, who was a homeschooler; more about him later)
Thee was a consensus that realistically there is probably no chance that the decision will be changed, no matter how many Scouts and Scouters rise up in protest. (there was an agenda from the beginnning--they knew how the vote would go right from the get-go, because that is how they wanted it to go)
BSA is counting on there being people who will just cruise along, continuing in BSA because change is difficult and it's just easier to do what they've always done. (and if a lot of troops do this, the gays will have in essence won) (remember, what's in parentheses is my opinion)
Most of those present were totally not surprised how the vote went down. After all, BSA is not a Christian organization at heart, even though there are Christian principles at its foundation. (And it was just a matter of time until it became politically correct)
(since Boy Scouts is boy led, what kind of boys are going to be leading? esp. with the ban lifted the gays will feel they have to make a point and will push the gay boys to be leaders.)
There was some discussion about the next, inevitable step, presumably lifting the ban on gay leaders. (they never really came out and said those words, which I thought a bit odd, maybe they just assumed we all thought that would be the next step)
Most, if not all, of the peole present, are planning to leave BSA so there was some concern and sympathy for the guys who are close to getting their Eagle rank and would like to do that. They want to be able to identify some (safe) troops for them to be able to transfer to so they can finish their Eagle. They referred to these young men as orphan scouts.
The point was made that even though most of the general population in scouting doesn't agree with the gay agenda, it is being pushed through by the radicals and the gays.
One man commented that if we start on the ground floor of this new organization it will be us (we?) who are the pioneers, who are the ones blazing the trail, setting the standards and beginning the traditions.
Several of the men thought that the On My Honor group has already written a lot of policies and done a lot of planning--more than what we might think just from what we see on the website. They were of the opinion that the On My Honor people saw the writing on the wall a long ago and began unofficially planning even before the vote.
Some of the outcomes:
-This group is planning to meet on a monthly basis so as to be able to hit the ground running when the On My Honor organization goes live--presumably Jan. 1, 2014. (I am planning to be at as many of those meetings as possible) The meetings will be the third Thursday of each month (I think--I didn't write it down so I don't remember but we will get emails) and will be held at the Memorial Road Church of Christ.
-One troop is considering NOT renewing their charter with the BSA but going ahead and using the curriculum, the handbooks, and the merit badge books they already own on an unofficial basis until the new school year of 2014 and then see what On My Honor looks like and maybe start up with the new organization at that time. They haven't officially decided (just to make that point clear)
-We left our email addresses and phone numbers and got a point of contact (Mike Flowers: the gentleman who set up this meeting and will be heading up the next meetings.)
-Several men there--probably 2 or 3--are planning to go to the On My Honor national meeting in September and report back to us. (I think Troop 30 should send Kelly and I) (no? well, it was worth a try)
And the young man I promised to tell you about? Just as the meeting was winding down, he spoke up to thank us all for coming to the meeting, and for all we do for scouts and for our sons. My husband spoke to him after the meeting and found out he was a homeschooled Star Scout who was about a year and a half away from Eagle. However, he was choosing to leave the BSA. It made me sick to think about what the BSA stole from him but I was so proud of him for being a young man of character and conviction (exactly the kind of young man needed for the fledgling On My Honor organization!)
