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School facilities free to Scouts (April 26, 2001 - San Ramon Valley Times) School trustees have rejected a plan to charge fees to nonprofit groups such as the Boy Scouts to use district facilities but will consider letting those groups pay for rentals with a little on-campus work. School board members considered the fee plan Tuesday, after a staff recommendation to charge both nonprofit and commercial groups using school facilities. School officials have estimated the fees could bring in an extra $230,000 a year. According to the proposed fee schedule, nonprofit agencies would pay a substantially lower fee than commercial agencies --from $10 to $100 an hour, depending on the facility used -- but some board members are concerned about charging nonprofit organizations such as the Scouts. Board member Greg Marvel said he would rather see Scouts doing odd jobs around the schools -- such as planting flowers and picking up trash -- than being charged fees. Marvel applauded the idea as building community spirit.

Broward human rights law comes under attack from Boy Scouts supporters (April 25 2001 - Sun-Sentinel) When he went to see his physician several weeks ago, Lee Eaton took along a clipboard bearing a petition. Taped to the clipboard was a message stating that: "Broward County took away funding from the Boy Scouts because our human rights ordinance includes sexual orientation. "By signing this petition you are requesting the county call a special referendum to vote to determine if sexual orientation is to be included in Broward County's nondiscrimination policy." Eaton found most people willing to sign. "The receptionist signed it. People sitting in the waiting room signed it," he said. "The nurse that weighed me and took me to the funny room signed it. When the doctor got through, he signed it." Throughout Broward County, residents such as Eaton, of Fort Lauderdale, are asking friends, neighbors, acquaintances and strangers to sign petitions seeking a referendum for the repeal of a county anti-discrimination law that protects gays and lesbians.

Boy Scouts ousted from festival over stance on homosexuality (April 25, 2001 - Santa Barbara News Press) Jewish leaders have ousted the county's only Jewish Boy Scout troop from the annual Santa Barbara Jewish Festival on Sunday. The vote on Monday night was spurred by Congregation B'nai B'rith, the largest synagogue in the county, which threatened to withdraw its beer truck, bakery booth, music and children's games from the Oak Park festival if the troop was allowed to set up its corned beef sandwich stand. "Our ethics would not allow us to participate. Our goal was simply that the Jewish community should not extend invites to a group that discriminates," said Rabbi Rick Shapiro, from Congregation B'nai B'rith. He added later, "The Boy Scouts do a lot of wonderful things, but that is negated by this one thing. When that is addressed, we will support them again."

Scout leader's sentence criticized (April 25, 2001 - Post-Gazette) Relatives of three young boys who were bound and physically abused by a Boy Scout leader on an overnight campout said they were appalled by the light sentence imposed on the defendant in a Westmoreland County courtroom yesterday. John T. Levendosky II, the assistant scoutmaster who pleaded guilty two months ago to 18 charges stemming from the incident and has been in jail about 10 1/2 months, will be eligible for parole in about a month and a half under the sentence handed down by Common Pleas Judge William J. Ober. Ober ordered Levendosky, of Derry Borough, to a maximum of two years in the Westmoreland County Prison, giving him credit for the time he has spent in prison since his arrest June 9.

Boy Scout's shake up said no cause for concern (April 24, 2001 - Whittier Daily-News) Local Boy Scouts of America officials said they are not worried about a drop in donations in the wake of last week's resignation by advisory board member Steven Spielberg because of the group's policy excluding gays. "I guess the worst thing about this whole thing is the divisiveness, as evidenced by his withdrawal," said Bob Booker, executive director of the Boy Scouts of America San Gabriel Valley Council, which serves 30,000 boys in an area roughly east to west from La Canada to Diamond Bar and north to south from Glendora to Monterey Park. "There are just as many other people who believe just as strongly in what we do and how we do it."

CWA Executive Board Resolution on Discrimination by the Boy Scouts (April 24 - Press Release) For decades, the Boy Scouts of America has provided a positive experience for thousands of boys, helping them acquire important skills and maturity. Many CWA members have benefited from scouting over the years both as youngsters and later as adult volunteers, where they have had an opportunity to make a difference in young lives. Our union has been proud to show our support by frequently designating Boy Scout honor guards to display the colors at the opening of annual CWA conventions. Therefore, it is with sadness that we now take action to sever ties between CWA and the Boy Scouts of America until such time as its leaders reverse their policy of excluding gays form[sic] membership or volunteer activities in scouting.

Rep. Royce named Good Scout of Year (April 21, 2001 - Whittier Daily-News) U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, who was a Boy Scout while growing up, was honored Thursday as the Good Scout of the Year. Royce was given the award by Boy Scouts of America Los Angeles Area Council's Frontier District before more than 200 people at the Holiday Inn. "Congressman Ed Royce has an excellent record of supporting Boy Scouts," said Sylvia Southerland, chairwoman for the Frontier District, which includes a portion of the Southeast area of Los Angeles County including Norwalk and La Mirada. "Ed attends many Eagle Scout Courts of Honor, in which a Scout becomes an Eagle Scout," Southerland said. "He is always very generous with his time. The Frontier District believes he exemplifies the Scout Code: loyal, brave and true to his word."

The American Legion Stands By Boy Scouts (April 5, 2001 - Press Release) The nation's largest veterans organization has come to the defense of the Boy Scouts of America's constitutional right to maintain its leadership standards. The chairman of The American Legion's National Americanism Commission found one sobering truth in a CBS-TV "60 Minutes" segment that aired Sunday. Joseph Caouette agreed with correspondent Lesley Stahl's observation that, "The Boy Scouts have found themselves on the front lines of the nation's culture war." Indeed, the organization has become the political target of gay activists who disagree with the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of the Scouts' right to prohibit avowed homosexuals from serving as Scout leaders. "This assault on a venerable American institution like the Scouts is an effort to topple yet another domino in the devaluing of America by those who have a very different vision of what this nation is or ought to be," said Caouette, whose 2.8-million member Legion has supported Scouting troops since its inaugural National Convention in 1919 in Minneapolis.

Teen turns suicides into life message (April 26, 2001 - Denver Post) They tie-dyed socks together in chemistry class. They were friends. Jason Meade put a gun to his head and took his life that fall of 1999. But he left behind a legacy in his lab partner, Trina Gutho. She is a high school senior, a 13-year Girl Scout who survived the jabs and kept on earning badges, experiencing the outdoors - and yes, selling hundreds of boxes of cookies each year - under the guidance of the world's largest organization for girls. This month, Trina is among 27 local teens who have earned Girl Scouting's highest honor, the Gold Award, the female equivalent of Eagle Scout. Trina's award project weaved tradition with tragedy as she used the personal impact of Jason's death to spread a message of hope and tools of communication to more than 100 eighth-graders.

Scouts' good deed gives poor job hunters a boost (April 26, 2001 - Bergen Record) Meghan Washington and her friends never gave much thought to not having the proper clothes for important events such as a job interview. That is, until they watched "Oprah" on television and saw a program called Dress for Success. They learned that impoverished men and women need business clothing, items they can't afford and are rarely available through donations. And so, a project to earn their Girl Scout Silver Award was born. The Scouts are planning a clothing drive for business attire, with collections in their bucolic suburb and donations to a Dress for Success Program in Paterson.

Scouting opens careers (April 26, 2001 - Detroit News) Miles Coshett is one of thousands of Michigan high school students who wants to end up in the engineering field some day. He's just not sure how he'll get there -- or what the work is really like. The high school junior and several dozen of his classmates at Edsel Ford on Wednesday got a peek at working engineers in a school auditorium. A Detroit area Scouting group brought a woman who runs her own company and a college professor who teaches engineering, statistics and related topics. The two offered practical tips and encouragement to those who voluntarily skipped a second-hour class to learn that it takes up to 18 computers to run a Cadillac. "You want to know what you're getting into. This sure helps," Coshett said. The Detroit Area Council of Boy Scouts is beefing up its career development programs, bringing dozens of professionals to schools in Dearborn, Livonia, Detroit and other Wayne County districts. Topics like health, law, entertainment, computers, accounting and engineering are among the array of subjects introduced to the youngsters.

Local Boy Scouts Try the Tech-A-Roma (April 21, 2001 - MSNBC) Dan Swets, Master Leader, says, "What were trying to do is let the boys have a chance to mess around with some computers and get their hands on and get a look at what computers look like." Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts spent the day racing around Tech-O-Rama like racecars drivers mastering the drag way. They splashed in and out of different exhibits catching the latest from the technology super highway. Jeff Wilkins, Tech-A-Roma Chairman, says, "It's a way that the kids get to showcase what they're doing all year and the fun things that their learning about whether its cooking and camping or just technology of computers." Not only did the scouts grab a handful of techno knowledge they tossed out some of their own.

Girl Scouts trade traditional green for trendy khaki (April 17, 2001 - San Gabriel Valley Tribune) GIRL Scouts no longer look like Girl Scouts. In an effort to look more fashion savvy and less conspicuous on the school campus, they've traded their green beanies for bucket caps, and their traditional emerald green jumpers for khaki separates. The new wash-and-wear uniforms were previewed in a fashion show last week at the Girl Scout Council of San Fernando Valley in Chatsworth where many of the girls and troop leaders expressed surprise at the change of color. However, council spokeswoman Shannon Adams explained the uniform designers took a trip "Back to the Future." "Girl Scouts had been wearing khaki uniforms since 1912, but then during World War II there was a shortage of dye, so they started wearing green," Adams explained. "But the silhouettes are definitely today -- from the cargo pants to skorts (split skirts) and knee-length A-line skirts with matching vests worn over pale or dark blue polo shirts. And they've got backpacks to match, as well as silver charm bracelets and earrings to accessorize their uniforms."

Scouts adding plates to menu (April 12, 2001 - Whittier Daily-News) Just after the Girl Scouts ended their annual cookie sell-a-thon, the organization placed a new item on its menu: personalized license plates. Scouts in the Mt. Wilson Vista Council, which serves 8,400 girls in the 23 cities in the San Gabriel Valley, went to Department of Motor Vehicle offices in Montebello and Pasadena to promote the new plates, while Girl Scout troops throughout the state did the same on Wednesday. "This is a great way to get the needed funding to help out the Girl Scouts and the many activities that these girls take part in," said Sylvia Rosenberger, director of fund development and communications for the Mt. Wilson Vista Council of the scouts. The specialty plate comes complete with the distinctive green Girl Scout logo on the left hand side and came be personalized like any other license plate.

Scouts experience life on aircraft carrier (March 29, 2001 - Tampa Tribune) Forty-eight Boy Scouts from Troop 120 relived history during a three-day stay aboard the World War II aircraft carrier Yorktown in Charleston Harbor, S.C. The troop became shipmates with other troops as they toured Yorktown and other World War II vessels. The purpose of the trip was to experience living aboard a decommissioned carrier. The boys were able to work on their aviation, photography and American heritage merit badges while on the trip as well. Morning and evening meals were prepared and served to the Scouts in the chiefs' mess. Much of the trip was spent touring the various vessels. The Scouts were given a 10-page questionnaire about the action and the history of the ships. Happily, Temple Terrace Troop 120 won the contest among all the troops staying on board and brought home a plaque.

Developers eyeing old Boy Scout camp (April 26, 2001 - Free Press) Northern Oakland County could lose another scout camp to the lure of development dollars. The Clinton Valley Council, Boy Scouts of America -- which oversees Oakland and Macomb counties -- is accepting preliminary proposals for Camp Agawam, a 125-acre site in Orion Township, said Rick Bassett, director of field service. Close to highways and the Bald Mountain State Recreation Area, Agawam could sell for an estimated $4.5 million, he said. The council will make a final decision in 18 months on whether to seek bids or raise money to improve the camp, Bassett said. The camp, open since 1922, serves 4,000 to 5,000 scouts a year. "It would be disappointing," said Janet Dondanville, a scout leader with Cub Scout Pack 185 in Waterford, which makes yearly day camp visits to Agawam. "It's nice to have ownership. The kids go to it, and it's their camp."

Buyer alters plan to cut down all of camp's trees (April 25, 2001 - Austin American-Statesman/AP) Part of a Boy Scout camp that was sold to a buyer who planned to clear-cut the entire camp for timber will be preserved. Boy Scout officials with the Three Rivers Council were criticized for their decision to sell Camp Bill Stark, which sits on a 132-acre tract southeast of Kirbyville, for $276,000. The facility was given to the Boy Scouts by Orange millionaire Lutcher Stark almost 70 years ago. But Jack Crawford, scout executive for the Three Rivers Council, and Robert Williams, a title specialist who represents the buyer, say the entire camp will not be clear-cut. Williams said at least 33 acres will be preserved. "The campsite itself, which is 22 acres, plus 11 acres across the creek from it, will be preserved intact as a campsite," Williams said.

Scouts to spiff up camping facilities (April 23, 2001 - Tri-Valley Herald) The Boy Scouts are planning of one of the largest expansion projects ever at their recreational camp near Livermore, one of only a handful of such facilities in the Bay Area. The San Francisco Bay Area Council of Boy Scouts of America is planning to install new cabins and other facilities at the camp that it has operated 15 miles south of Livermore for more than 50 years. "In order to better serve our members, we really need to make these changes," said Michael Dybeck, a council official. The camp is one of three operated by the local Boy Scouts for weekend retreats and training sessions. The other camps are located near Santa Rosa and Willits. All are being retrofitted using money raised during a lengthy fund-raising campaign. The organization will spend about $1.2 million on the first phase of construction at the three camps. Organizers expect to spend a total of about $5 million by the time construction ends in five years.

Boy Scout hazing (April 27, 2001 - Sun Star[Philippines]) It's a good thing that Councilor Luzviminda C. Ilagan is initiating in the Sangguniang Panglungsod an immediate investigation into the reported hazing of two lady highschoolers by some local executives of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines. Indeed, the probe should be immediate because a delay will only give the perpetrators time to cover their tracks with the help of some unscrupulous school officials. The probers should ask scout executive Dante Simangan to explain why he has organized a fraternity called the Impeesa Society among scouters, who are mostly teachers involved in the otherwise laudable scouting movement.

Supporters stigmatize non-believers(April 24, 2001 - Telegraph Herald) It's on the TV, it's on the radio, it's in the newspapers. You can't avoid it. "It" is homosexual activism and what is resulting from it. Sex-change operations paid by health insurance? Homosexual Boy Scout leaders? A homosexual activist as ambassador to Luxembourg? Cities and schools in Iowa passing anti-discrimination laws. Homosexuals clamoring for the right to marry and adopt children? Homosexuals demanding employee "spousal benefits" in spite of the fact they cannot marry, but also because they cannot marry? NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association) parades on city streets? Why is all of this happening for a group that comprises perhaps only 1 percent of the population, can only be identified by what they do in the bedroom and burdens the rest of the population with a very diverse set of health-care costs that are stratospherically out of proportion to their numbers?

Merit Badge for Gay Rights (April 13, 2001 - SF Gate) Director Tom Shepard, 31, certainly looks like he could have been a Boy Scout, but his merit badges this year came from audiences at the Sundance Festival and, of all places, the Playboy Foundation. Three years ago, when the San Francisco-based filmmaker headed up to Petaluma to work on a documentary about Steven Cozza and his nascent gay-rights organization Scouting For All, he had little idea that the tenacity and charisma of this 12-year-old would ignite a national movement. "Well, yeah, this is taking off," Shepard remembers thinking, "and they're getting some really nice attention, but within a year, it's not going to be around. It was such a local movement in the beginning."

Forte earns Eagle Scout (April 26, 2001 - Lehigh Valley News) Richard Louis Forte of Boy Scout Troop 36 in Roseto recently received the rank of Eagle at a Court of Honor held at Stroudsmoor Country Inn. For his Eagle Scout project, Forte did work at the youth soccer fields in Hamilton Township, next to the Monroe County Prison. He sought and received donations of benches, trees and flowers to beautify the fields, and organized volunteers -- including adults and members of his troop -- to spend two weekends to complete the work.

Board allots funds to help programs for at-risk kids (April 26, 2001 - Birmingham News) The Bessemer school board on Wednesday allocated to five community groups more than $55,000 in state money designated for use in programs that target at-risk students. ... Board members voted unanimously to accept Russell's recommendation to use the money as follows: ... $12,800 for the Boy Scouts of America, which will establish six Cub Scout packs for children 11 and under.

Top Coastal Empire volunteers receive awards for work (April 26, 2001 - Savannah Morning News) ... Nearly 60 Coastal Empire volunteers were nominated for the awards, which were presented to the winners and finalists in each division. Powell received the Youth award, the Angels of Mercy of St. Joseph's/Candler Health System received the award for the group division and Veronica Hiriams received the adult division award and the Herschel V. Jenkins Volunteer of the Year Award. ... Adult winner and recipient of the Herschel V. Jenkins Award - Veronica A. Hiriams for her work with the Coastal Empire Council of the Boy Scouts of America at the West Broad Street YMCA.

Former den leader accused of using parents' names for prescriptions (April 26, 2001 - Star News/AP) A former den leader is accused of using the names of Cub Scout parents to illegally obtain codeine prescriptions. Michele Frezza, 43, of Hammond was arrested Saturday in St. John after a pharmacist became suspicious of a prescription order and checked with a doctor. Frezza was arrested when she attempted to pick up the prescription, police said. St. John police Capt. Bernie Johnsen said he uncovered a list of names that Frezza had been using. He said many of the names were parents who were affiliated with Hammond Cub Scout Pack 225 at Caldwell School.

Bush Nominates U.S. Ambassador to Spain (April 25, 2001 - US Newswire) President George W. Bush today announced his intention to nominate George L. Argyros to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Spain. "George Argyros is a leader in his community who has been active in numerous civic, cultural, and philanthropic organizations. His experience in trade policy and foreign affairs, as well as his interest in education and the arts, will make him an excellent Ambassador to Spain," said the President. ... He is the Director of the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America

[My understanding is that he is the Council President of the Orange County Council; in that Council and a couple others, the Council President is given the title of "Director" and the Scout Executive serves as the "Chief Operating Officer"]

Photo of "Destiny's Child" members in Scout uniforms (April 24, 2001 - LO) Music recording group Destiny's Child, recipients of the award for "Favorite Singing Group," arrived at the Nickelodeon's 14th Annual Kid's Choice Awards in Santa Monica, California wearing what appeared to be official BSA uniforms and insignia. Officials at the BSA's National Office informed the record management and the personal managers of the trio April 23 that the wearing of BSA uniforms and insignia is limited to those whom are registered members of the movement. The managers of the R&B recording act, whose hits include the recent song "Survivor" as well as the theme song to the movie "Charlie's Angels" immediately contacted the BSA, apologized and stated that the ladies would provide a written apology. In their explanation, the group's management stated that in preparation for their national appearance, a member of their "Crew" found the uniforms and badges at a second-hand store and thought that since they were appearing at a kid's show, that they should wear clothing familiar to kids.

Saving Camp Glen Gray - Scouts must make sure it stays open space (April 22, 2001 - Bergen Record) If the Boy Scouts want to sell Camp Glen Gray in Oakland, that's fine. But they must make certain that the 756-acre property -- the largest undeveloped, privately owned tract in Bergen County -- remains that way. So far, the Northern New Jersey Boy Scout Council is saying all the right things. Scout officials insist they will require the buyer to maintain the land as open space and, as a result, have not entertained far more lucrative offers from developers who want to subdivide parts of the property for mini-mansions. But they concede that nothing is etched in stone, and that they are getting all sorts of unsolicited offers for much more than the $4 million that the nonprofit Trust for Public Land has offered. They also say they need as much money as possible to help build an endowment to sustain their organization.

YMCA gun activity upsets parents (April 17, 2001 - Seattle Times) A YMCA camping trip in Oklahoma last month has brought complaints from parents upset to learn the activities included the firing of .22-caliber rifles by young girls. The parents were particularly upset that fathers - not camp counselors - were responsible for teaching the Indian Princesses group how to shoot guns. ... Rob Hoffman, a Boy Scouts spokesman in Dallas, said Scout firearms instructors must be certified by the National Rifle Association. Scouts must be 11 or older to learn how to use .22-caliber rifles. Child psychologists call such programs misguided, saying at 5 to 9, children can't put the experience of shooting into perspective.

Spielberg leaves Boy Scouts board over ban on gays (April 16, 2001 - CNN) Oscar-winning filmmaker Steven Spielberg stepped down Monday from an advisory board of the Boy Scouts of America, saying that he could no longer associate with a group that engages in "discrimination" -- an apparent reference to scouting's exclusion of gays. "The last few years in scouting have deeply saddened me to see the Boy Scouts of America actively and publicly participating in discrimination. It's a real shame," Spielberg said in a statement. Although he did not name the Boy Scout policy that he considered discriminatory, it appeared clear that he was referring to the organization's controversial exclusion of "avowed homosexuals" on the grounds that they violate the group's values

From Cubs to Eagles, these four are a team (April 14, 2001 - Pioneer Planet NOTE: The Pioneer Planet expires their articles after 7 days, so if you want to see the full text, make sure to do so with 7 days of the article's date.) Motivated by a love of the outdoors, positive peer pressure, and a promise to a cancer-stricken mom, four Mounds View High School seniors who have been friends since kindergarten have become the "fab four" of local Scouting. Grant Dawson, Wilder Freed, and twins Dave Berg and Steve Berg, all 18 and members of the Indianhead Council of the Boy Scouts of America, share a bond they said will be the foundation of their future relationships and their careers. They are Eagle Scouts. Only four of every 100 kids who start as Cub Scouts and work their way through the Boy Scouts of America earn the elite distinction.

President Bush donates to Boy Scouts (April 13, 2001 - US Newswire) The following was released today by the White House: ... President and Mrs. Bush contributed $143,300 to churches and charitable organizations in 2000. Of the total charitable contributions, $75,000 represents royalties from the President's book, A Charge to Keep, which were donated evenly to the following charities: the Boy Scouts of America, The Girl Scouts of America, The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and Girls Inc (formerly the Girls Club of America).

County To Charge Scouts For Space (April 12, 2001 - Washington Post) Girl Scout cookie sales and Boy Scout car washes will have to stretch much further next year for Montgomery County troops who meet in the public schools. After more than 20 years of county benevolence, Scouts will be charged to use school facilities, and some leaders worry about the financial impact on what are commonly shoestring budgets. A recent decision by the Office of Community Use of Public Facilities and the 12-member Interagency Coordinating Board will end the special status both organizations have long enjoyed.

Working To Weed Out English Ivy (April 5, 2001 - Washington Post) English ivy has invaded Arlington. The ivy, a nonnative evergreen climbing vine, has spread from the untended properties of local homeowners to nearby parks, wrapping itself around trees and suffocating native plant seedlings on the forest floors, officials and activists said. Worse yet, dense ivy provides cover to local vermin. ... Last month, Kovenock invited Boy Scouts from his Arlington Forest neighborhood to pull English ivy from nearby Lubber Run Park. ... Scoutmaster Jeff Lund said the project opened his eyes to the ivy problem. ... Lund said he plans to offer ivy removal from Lubber Run Park as a service project to Scouts working toward the Eagle Scout honor.

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