Probe: Boy Scouts Lied About Black Members

[wicket]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050531/ap_on_re_us/boy_scouts_blacks

An independent investigation of the Atlanta-area Boy Scouts found that the organization inflated its number of black Scouts by more than 5,000 in a program for inner-city youth.

The executive director of the Atlanta Boy Scouts resigned after the report was released.

Auditors said Scout officials assigned to inner-city areas may have felt pressure to demonstrate membership growth, which is a part of their performance evaluations. Membership numbers also are used to help determined funding from the United Way, a major Scouts donor.

The audit found that former Scouts too old to participate remained on the memberships lists and that boys who had only attended informational meetings about the program were signed up.

[Atman]

1. Now THERE'S a provocative headline!

"Honest, sir, We didn't touch! 'Cept Cranston, but he's a little funny that way."

[salib]

2. United Way is "a major Scouts donor"?!?

One more reason not to give United Way anything!

[Der Blaue Engel]

7. Yup. I've been refusing to donate to UW since 1992 for this very reason.

n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Not quite -- many United Way organizations stopped funding the Boy Scouts

because they discriminated against gay kids and scoutmasters. Check your local UW organization. Some haven't contributed to the scouts for years for that reason. Some homophobic freepers I work with have refused to contribute to our employer's UW drive because the UW stopped funding the scouts.

[Gyre]

3. That's a real problem.

Not only do they hate gays, but they're liars.

[dmr]

4. I thought the Scouts was about honesty and honor

Membership numbers also are used to help determined funding from the United Way, a major Scouts donor.

I stopped giving to the United Way years ago, but still hate to see how their money is stolen from liars inflating their membership.

That's fraud.

[starroute]

5. Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient,

Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent.


Nope. Nothing about honest. I guess they're off the hook.

[Kolesar]

12. "Do a good turn daily"

and "Be prepared".
I think Trustworthy covers "honest".
I remember when I had to remember the scout laws. I always had trouble with "cheerful". :mad:

[Shipwack]

6. This saddens me so much...

It makes me ashamed to have once been a Scoutmaster of a troop. If we had competent leadership at the national level, we wouldn't be losing members every year. The BSA (and also the Girl Scouts, to an even greater degree)needs to get in line with the times, and make itself relevant to today's youth.

If there is any integrity left in the organization, there'll more resignations(other than Executive Director, who did do the honorable thing)of the people in the Atalanta councils... not holding my breath, though.

[UpInArms]

8. Add "LIAR" to their length list

of why I despise this group.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Homophobia, deceit, AND fraud

They're on a roll.

--p!
A very seedy roll, at that.

[Gothmog]

11. A couple of Councils have been caught inflating numbers

The Circle 10 council in Dallas was caught pumping up its numbers several years ago. I recall seeing that an Alabama or Mississippi council got caught fudging membership numbers a while back.

Many United Ways have cut off the BSA. Others United Ways have worked out deals where funding is continued based on assurances that the BSA policy would never be enforced. Many BSA leaders are against the stupid policy and would like it changed but are afraid of the reactions of the Mormons if anything official is done. I have met with a couple of the senior executives in my council to discuss this matter.

BTW, there are several gay leaders in the district organization that my son's troop is a part of. No one cares so long as they refrain from using their scout uniform to make a political message.

[David Zephyr]

13. Gives an entire new meaning to "Scout's Honor", doesn't it?

Someone should go to prison over this as it was intentional fraud for public monies that could have, should have gone else where.

[Danmel]

14. I wouldn't let my son be a Boy Scout

Too narrow minded, just too "Red State" for me. I;m not saying there are no benefits but I was a Girl Scout leader and the Girl Scouts are a much more open minded organization. I had a very diverse troop ethnically and religiously and the organization has no sexual orientation issues.

[spotbird]

15. Ollie and man Ann have fundraiser rs there.

Guess there is no honor among thieves.

[wicket]

16. kick

:kick:

[Horse with no Name]

17. And don't forget a few months back

The President of the Boy Scouts (or whatever they call him) was arrested on child pornography charges.


Edited to add link:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7326932/

[Ian David]

18. This could be related to their new merit badge in Tanning Salon Management