[Desertdog]

The only way to win recognition of the Boy Scouts again is to not donate to the United Way and let them know why.
Donate directly to the Boy Scouts if you want to support them.

http://www.sierratimes.com/03/11/17/ar_hanszieger.htm
Divided Way: Texas United Way Cuts off Scouts
By Hans Zeiger

Next year, the Capitol Area Council of the Boy Scouts in Austin, Texas will lose nearly $160,000 in allocated funding from the United Way Capitol Area. On Thursday, November 13, the Boy Scouts and the United Way parted ways due to differences in the two groups' non-discrimination policies.
In what was advertised as an amicable separation, the Austin United Way concluded two years of Inclusiveness Committee meetings and focus groups by announcing that the Boy Scouts of America's policies banning homosexual troop leaders precludes it from being funded.

"We are one community, and we raise money from the entire community," Austin United Way president Clarke Heidrick said. "We want to serve the entire community." Thus, the Austin United Way has proceeded to cut off funding to its community's most valuable and respected youth organization.

The Boy Scouts are not only important to Austin, Texas - the Boy Scouts have always been a vital partner with the United Way. In 1918, the Boy Scouts of America was one of a dozen organizations that joined forces to found the American Association for Community Organizations, the forerunner to the United Way. For the past 75 years, the United Way and the Boy Scouts have been close-working partners.

The Boy Scouts have come to rely heavily on funding from the United Way. Since millions of American employers transfer employee charitable contributions to the United Way, Boy Scouts of America has remained a popular recipient for donor funds. In 1996, United Way chapters around the country pitched in nearly $84 million for Boy Scouts programs like after-school activities, camps, and merit badge courses.

Yet today, in nearly 70 communities across the country, United Way chapters have excluded the Boy Scouts from their charity pools or are in the process of altering policies to deny money to the Scouts. In major cities like Austin where the Boy Scouts are especially indispensable to the character development of disadvantaged children and the overall quality of life, funding is at greatest risk.

Without United Way funding, the Austin Capitol Area Boy Scout Council will be forced to spend more time raising money from individual donors and less time focusing on character development. In a letter to supporters of Scouting, Austin Council Executive and CEO Thomas O. Varnell wrote that his administration is forced to increase its 2004 Friends of Scouting fundraising goals by 29 percent.

As political correctness wreaks its havoc on America's communities, more and more United Way chapters will be severing ties to the Boy Scouts. Americans who contribute to their local United Way should be curious about how the relationship between the United Way and the Boy Scouts affects their workplace paycheck deductions or charitable giving.

The United Way insists that its 1,400 chapters are "independent" and "separately incorporated," that it does not "dictate policy or funding decisions to local United Ways." However, recent United Way of America internal memos and letters suggest that the national headquarters of the United Way has taken an active, strategic role in building pressure against the Boy Scouts. American Civil Rights Union president Robert Carleson launched the Scouting Legal Defense Fund (SLDF) in 2000 to ally with the Boy Scouts through legal action and public education. The SLDF website at www.defendscouting.com is the most comprehensive effort to expose United Way chapters that have cut off funding to the Scouts. When Carleson contacted United Ways last year to verify his information about specific United Way-Boy Scout relationships, national United Way president Brian Gallagher immediately assumed the defensive, warning Carleson to "reconsider your strategy and cease efforts to identify or label United Way organizations." Meanwhile, Gallagher and his national staff formulated what he identified in a memo to United Way local administrators around the nation as, "our initial strategy to deal with this." Gallagher ordered that United Ways "not comply with [SLDF's] request for information." Apparently there is a national "strategy" to "deal with" issues involving the Boy Scouts. Despite the fact that Carleson was merely seeking to maintain accuracy in reporting on local United Way chapters, Gallagher threatened "to take action to protect the interests of our members if SLDF published "misrepresentations" about local United Ways. In a letter to the national Boy Scouts of America, Carleson warned of "discrimination against the Scouts by local and possibly the headquarters of the United Way. Their memo to their locals and their 'initial strategy' to put pressure on you demonstrates to us that United Way headquarters is part of the problem." As the United Way - across the nation - heightens its opposition to the Boy Scouts, Americans who give to charities should be vigilant. The United Way, not the Boy Scouts, should suffer the consequences of moral relativism.

Hans Zeiger is president of the Scout Honor Coalition. He is a Seattle Times columnist and student at Hillsdale College in Michigan.

[F4GIB]

That's why I've cut off the United Way.

When my employer's United Way rep gave me some crap, I mailed my cancelled check made out to the Boy Scouts to the company president. Never heard a word from them again.

[King]

It's a tough situation in that the United Way does so much for the Austin area. As far as electing not to support the United Way, most people donate through a payroll plan via their employer. To that extent, the commitments were already in "before" the big announcement. Done deal.

Even though I agree with the Scout position, it's kind of hard to punish all the other worthy causes that are not controversial. That's not right either.

The Boy Scouts are resourceful and I'm betting that they find another way to raise funds. If so, they can have their cake and eat it to.

[Old Fuff]

We have had some of that in Arizona too. When the United Fund cut off the Boy Scouts I cut them off. They can get their money from the politically correct, but not from me.

The Boy Scouts are one of the few youth organizations left that still sponsor and encourage markmanship training. You can't say that about the United Way.

[jimpeel]

I can't sever my relationship with the United Way because I have never had one; but if I did, it would be severed tomorrow.

They came to my work in Massachusetts and I was asked to attend the meeting even though they knew of my opposition to the United Way's stance with the Scouts. I was good and I sat there and I was quiet; but after the meeting, I told the person why I would not be participating.

She said that if a person designates that their contribution is to go to the Scouts, the United Way, regardless of their feelings in the matter, would have to give those funds to the Boy Scouts. I wonder how one would go about confirming that, though.

[CZ 75 BD]

deserves not one dime. The scandal at the top some years ago finished them for me. The United Way is of course free to allocate their donations as they see fit. I concur with the comments that donations should be made directly to the Scouts, even to individual units.

To beat a dead horse, Scouters and their supporters don't wear Levi's or Dockers for the same reason.

[HankB]

I don't donate to United Way - I donate directly to charities I believe in, as that way I know there's no middleman (i.e., UW) taking a cut.

My company tries to collect for UW, and the goal is pretty high . . . well into six figures. Some people make faces when I point out our entire company's goal doesn't even pay the salary of UW's CEO.

UW claims that you can designate your donation to a particular charity. Sure - but here's how it works. Say the XYZ charity was supposed to get $10,000 from UW. You designate $100 to go to them, so XYZ gets $10,100, right?

Wrong. UW will give YOUR $100 to XYZ, but that puts XYZ's allocation over the plan, so . . . UW takes away someone else's $100 and XYZ gets, you guessed it, $10,000.

And "your" designated donation frees up $100 to go somewhere you didn't want it to. Sweet scam.

[Standing Wolf]

I don't even consider supporting so-called "charities" that discriminate against the Boy Scouts, engage in fake accounting, and support organizations that practice anti-Second Amendment bigotry.

[Bill Hook]

I cut off the United Way after their CEO misappropriated funds, in addition to his half million dollar salary, many years ago.

[MeekandMild]

most people donate through a payroll plan via their employer. To that extent, the commitments were already in "before" the big announcement. Done deal Not hardly. All you have to do is go by your company's human resources/personell/payroll office and say you need to drop out of UW. You fill out and sign a short form and they stop subtracting from your paycheck.

[whoami]

Not hardly. All you have to do is go by your company's human resources/personell/payroll office and say you need to drop out of UW. You fill out and sign a short form and they stop subtracting from your paycheck.

Hehehehe. Some places it is that easy. Others you'll get a visit from the center manager to have a little 'chat' with you about not supporting the company.

The place where I work pushed for 100% participation, but fortunately they don't go into the kind of 'interrogative spot light' stuff some other places do.

[rock jock]

I never started giving to UW after I found out they support Planned Parenthood. When I worked for Conoco's HQ in Houston and they had a huge contribution party during lunch, I stayed in my office. After I told my co-workers why I didn't attend, they got this glassy-eyed look and said in an automatronic voice "but everyone supports United Way." I thought I would see a large lobotomy incision if I turned their head around.

[PATH]

Stopped donating to the United Way long ago. I send money directly to charities rather than this PC crowd!

[feedthehogs]

They did the same thing down here a couple of years ago and the UN Way lost big and the Boy Scouts got more money than they had been getting. Go Scouts!

To those who say they can't change their payroll deductions, I say get off your lazy butts and march down to the payroll office and demand to be removed. Its your money.

If you get a visit from some nazi funds collector give them the finger and tell em to shove off!

[DadOfThree]

feedthehogs,
If you get a visit from some nazi funds collector give them the finger and tell em to shove off!
better yet, tell 'em how you really feel.:D

[goalie]

The large health care company/hospital system I work for in Minnesota tries hard to hit 100% participation. I pointed out to my boss that the UW for years refused to allow donation money to be specified NOT to go to certain "charities" such as Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics. Then, all of a sudden, it became possible to ensure that your money didn't go to the Boy Scouts. I stated that, due to that hypocrasy, I will not even fill out the "required" form from the UW stating that I do not want to contribute.

It is nice to know that you could have another job in about 45 minutes if you wanted to look elsewhere, especially when your employer also knows you could leave in half a heartbeat. :p

[Henry Bowman]

Even though I agree with the Scout position, it's kind of hard to punish all the other worthy causes that are not controversial. That's not right either.
That's the point. To motivate those "other worthy causes" to put pressure on the UW to clean up its act because it's hurting everyone.

[Selfdfenz]

I have worked places that almost compelled you to contribute to UW. It wasn't strongarming but it wasn't far from it either.
Thankfully my current employer does not do this.

I donated many units of blood to the Am. Red Cross but it appears in many ways they are less than honest and the fat cats there lined their pockets with $ from the charity. I have been donating blood at a diffeent place for years now and I know it goes to good use.

Not I have another group (UW) not to donate a cent to.
Circle Ten is just down the street and I imagine they take contributions directly.
S-

[Andrew Rothman]

I don't support any Anti-Homosexual Bigots. And the United Way is okay by me.

[Jack19]

My company is pretty strongarmish too. I actually had to specify that my UW money go to the Scouts this year.

Although the company didn't tell us this, the Scouts were still on the list of participating UW organizations. I was able to locate the contribution code on the UW's website and write it in on my UW contribution card with the specification that I recieve acknowledgement from the Scouts that they had received my contribution. It came in the mail a few days later.

This did not set welll with my company as they want employees to contribute to the general UW pot, allowing UW to make allocation decisions. Too bad. When the anti-Christians eventually convince the UW to exclude the Scouts, I'll donate to them directly.

[Khornet]

as you wish. And I, in my turn, don't support the kind of bigot who permits only one side to have a voice. Bigots like UW, for instance.

[Silver Bullet]

Just tell them you already give to the NRA.

[Yanus]

Silver Bullet,

Well done...............:D

Yanus

[Daniel T]

And I, in my turn, don't support the kind of bigot who permits only one side to have a voice.

You mean, like the Boy Scouts?

The Boy Scouts can have whomever they wish as Scoutmasters, but they also suffer the consequences of their decisions.

I've never given a penny to the United Way either, BTW.

[Henry]

Here in Miami the United Way actually wanted the Boy Scouts to implement some type of gay sensitivity training as a pre-condition to continued funding. The Boys Scouts, rightfully, said no way. I have not contributed to the United Way since and have urged others to do likewise.

[bountyhunter]

They have always been way too political for my tastes. back in the 70's when my brother was running an Aquarian Effort drug rehab facility, the Aq Effort tried to get UW status and they wouldn't even talk to them. A few years later (after more celbrities admitted to being addicts and drug rehabs got "stylish"), all of a sudden the UW is overflowing with compassion for them.

If you want to donate money give it straight to the charity. That way you know where the money goes and there is no overead skim for the over priced top managers and their girlfriends.

[Khornet]

We agree!

[TheLastBoyScout]

[4570Rick]

I wrote;

I will no longer be able to support the United Way as a result of the stand taken against the Boy Scouts of America. I will also work to STOP as many people from funding an organization that is either bowing to political presure or becomming un-American.

They replyed;

Thank you for sharing your perspective with regards to United Way funding of local Boy Scout councils. Below, please find United Way of America’s position concerning the Boy Scouts.
Thank you,
Jessica Jaspin
United Way of America

United Way is a system of 1,400 separately incorporated and independent organizations. As such, each United Way, in consultation with members of its community, decides what is best for their particular community. As the national membership and training organization for local United Way organizations, United Way of America does not dictate policy to or intervene in the policy of funding decisions of local United Ways, except to the extent that funding decisions must be consistent with applicable law.

The emphasis within the United Way system is on local decision making by volunteers within each community. Local United Way funding decisions have always been decided using an inclusive community process. This process involves the community in a broad dialogue with donors, volunteers, and other concerned citizens dedicated to improving peoples’ lives.

Because your perspective does count, please share your views with your local United Way organization. You can find the number for a local United Way by logging on to the public website at http://national.unitedway.org/index.cfm and keying the zip code into "Find a United Way."

United Way of America embraces inclusiveness, diversity, and equal opportunity as part of our core values, Code of Ethics, and human resource policies. We truly believe that the nation is stronger when all segments of the community and the gifts of all people with their diversity of viewpoints are respected and embraced.

We also respect and value the diversity of opinion and process in community building efforts undertaken by our member United Ways as they assess their relationship with the Boy Scouts.

In the end, we hope the millions of individuals, organizations, and corporations who comprise the United Way and represent many differing opinions will continue to embrace the local autonomy that has always been the hallmark of the United Way system.


For the zip code you entered (92703), the United Way serving the area is:

Orange County's United Way
18012 Mitchell Avenue South
Irvine, CA 92614-6008
(949) 660-7600
http://www.unitedwayoc.org/

I will contact the local United Way but because they are located in Irvine, CA...The Most Politically Correct City In The World...I don't expect anything favoring the Scouts. :(

[stv]

I contribute money and time directly to the Boy Scout troop I got my Eagle from. No middlemen for me - this way I KNOW where it goes and can see it being used.

[Bob Locke]

The UW here in northern Colorado still contributes to Scouts. As the letter stated above, it's up to the local governing bodies of each agency, and ours still gives (and readily).

But I'm also in the camp that thinks it's a better idea to contribute directly to whatever charitable organization you think rates your support. There's no doubt about who's getting the money, and there's no middle man to take a slice of the pie.

[XLMiguel]

In my various careers I have worked for weveral large corporations that supported the UW. I have never cared for their heavy-handed tactics 'encouraging' employee participation. Throw in their ridiculously high 'overhead' and corrupt management, I just can't feature giving them a dime. They're just the secular version of "stealingin the name of the Lord.":barf: :barf: :barf:

I tjust isn't that hard to find good, legit charities that very cost-effective and tangile social benefits that you can support directly, :neener: UW.:neener:

[MeekandMild]

It is nice to know that you could have another job in about 45 minutes if you wanted to look elsewhere, especially when your employer also knows you could leave in half a heartbeat. Yes, my standard answer is, "I was looking for a job when I found this one and my noncompetition clause ends the minute I quit."

Mpayne, the Scouts aren't anti homosexual. As a long time scout parent I know several homosexual ex-scouts and several scouts with homosexual family members. These folks are treated with dignity and respect. The scouts just don't want the sort of problems which occur any time adults try to sexualize children. Scouting is about things other than sex.