Post by AuntieSocial on Nov 21, 2003 18:22:12 GMT -5
Fighting for Scout funds
Conservatives applaud United Way grant to Miami Boy Scouts chapter [/b]
Click here to read article on the original site
By Ryan Lee
Published: November 21, 2003
Publishing Site: HoustonVoice.com
When the United Way of Miami-Dade allocated $350,000 to a local Boy Scouts of America council last month, it was not caving into pressure orchestrated by a conservative religious group, a United Way spokesperson said.
In May, the Miami-Dade United Way announced it was ending its six-decade relationship with the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America after the group allegedly reneged on a promise to implement sensitivity training for scout leaders.
But on Oct. 31, the United Way and the Boy Scouts signed an agreement that gave the Boy Scouts a $135,000 one-time “transitional funding” grant, according to Blanca Silva, director of media relations for the United Way in Miami. The scouts also received a $250,000 loan, which is the amount the United Way projected it would receive in contributions earmarked for the Boy Scouts.
The funding was hailed by the Miami-based Christian Family Coalition as the first example of a United Way being pressured to restore funding to a Boy Scouts council since more than 50 United Ways stopped funding the group because of its ban on gay leaders and members.
“Transitional funding” is deceptive word play, charged the Christian Family Coalition, which demanded that the United Way “tell the truth” that its decision to allocate funds was in response to public outrage.
But that’s not correct, according to Silva.
“What we have done is we have provided the Boy Scouts with transitional funding to avoid disruption of services to its clients,” Silva said.
When the United Way decided to de-fund a program called the Miami Health Association in 1996, it provided similar transitional funding, Silva said.
Even the head of the Boy Scouts’ South Florida Council said the Christian Family Coalition made a mistake in claiming the United Way was pressured into restoring funds.
“Clearly they misstated it because we have not been reinstated, nor have our funds been restored,” said Jeffrie Herrmann, CEO of the South Florida Council. “The head of the United Way has said their relationship with the scouts is over — I don’t think there can be any confusion as to what that means.”
Christian Family Coalition officials did not respond to repeated interview requests by press time.
The United Way received numerous complaints from Boy Scouts supporters, “but it does not change our decision to end our relationship with the Boy Scouts,” Silva said.
The Christian Family Coalition’s public victory claims — plastered on its Web site and disseminated in numerous press releases — are an attempt to galvanize support for its anti-gay platform, said Mark LaFontaine, southern regional director for Scouting For All.
United Ways began stripping money from local Boy Scout chapters in 1992 because the group prohibits gays and atheists from serving as scouts or leaders.
The de-funding became more widespread after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the Boy Scouts of America did not have to admit gays or atheists because it is a private organization.
None of the more than 50 United Ways that de-funded the Boy Scouts has reinstated funds, LaFontaine said.
Maverick: Added to the news page. Message icon updated.
Conservatives applaud United Way grant to Miami Boy Scouts chapter [/b]
Click here to read article on the original site
By Ryan Lee
Published: November 21, 2003
Publishing Site: HoustonVoice.com
When the United Way of Miami-Dade allocated $350,000 to a local Boy Scouts of America council last month, it was not caving into pressure orchestrated by a conservative religious group, a United Way spokesperson said.
In May, the Miami-Dade United Way announced it was ending its six-decade relationship with the South Florida Council of the Boy Scouts of America after the group allegedly reneged on a promise to implement sensitivity training for scout leaders.
But on Oct. 31, the United Way and the Boy Scouts signed an agreement that gave the Boy Scouts a $135,000 one-time “transitional funding” grant, according to Blanca Silva, director of media relations for the United Way in Miami. The scouts also received a $250,000 loan, which is the amount the United Way projected it would receive in contributions earmarked for the Boy Scouts.
The funding was hailed by the Miami-based Christian Family Coalition as the first example of a United Way being pressured to restore funding to a Boy Scouts council since more than 50 United Ways stopped funding the group because of its ban on gay leaders and members.
“Transitional funding” is deceptive word play, charged the Christian Family Coalition, which demanded that the United Way “tell the truth” that its decision to allocate funds was in response to public outrage.
But that’s not correct, according to Silva.
“What we have done is we have provided the Boy Scouts with transitional funding to avoid disruption of services to its clients,” Silva said.
When the United Way decided to de-fund a program called the Miami Health Association in 1996, it provided similar transitional funding, Silva said.
Even the head of the Boy Scouts’ South Florida Council said the Christian Family Coalition made a mistake in claiming the United Way was pressured into restoring funds.
“Clearly they misstated it because we have not been reinstated, nor have our funds been restored,” said Jeffrie Herrmann, CEO of the South Florida Council. “The head of the United Way has said their relationship with the scouts is over — I don’t think there can be any confusion as to what that means.”
Christian Family Coalition officials did not respond to repeated interview requests by press time.
The United Way received numerous complaints from Boy Scouts supporters, “but it does not change our decision to end our relationship with the Boy Scouts,” Silva said.
The Christian Family Coalition’s public victory claims — plastered on its Web site and disseminated in numerous press releases — are an attempt to galvanize support for its anti-gay platform, said Mark LaFontaine, southern regional director for Scouting For All.
United Ways began stripping money from local Boy Scout chapters in 1992 because the group prohibits gays and atheists from serving as scouts or leaders.
The de-funding became more widespread after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2000 that the Boy Scouts of America did not have to admit gays or atheists because it is a private organization.
None of the more than 50 United Ways that de-funded the Boy Scouts has reinstated funds, LaFontaine said.
Maverick: Added to the news page. Message icon updated.
