My source inside the Scouts (a queer District Executive) tells me some interesting stuff about what National is up to with all the funding revocations. Two items -- first, National has asked local councils to publish in their local newsletters the names and addresses of top people at Levi-Strauss, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo and urge concerned Scouters to write these executives to protest their decisions to suspend funding to BSA. Secondly, and perhaps more interestingly, BSA has sent each council a fax outling a new policy on donations -- if a donation to the local council comes in on a Bank of America or Wells Fargo check, the council now has a form letter they are to send to the donor telling them about BoA and WF decision not to support Scouts and asking them to switch institutions. However, National instructed the local council to go ahead and cash the checks, not to return them with the form letter. Good to see that their values are truly not for sale... These are the actual documents which BSA councils nationwide received from National. ---------------------------- LETTER ASKING PEOPLE TO CONTACT THEIR BANKS: Dear [name] Thank you very much for your recent donation to the Boy Scouts of America [name of council]. It is through supporters such as yourself that we are able to instill in America's youth the long-held traditional family values for which parents have come to depend on the BSA. I did notice that your donation check was drawn from [name of bank]. As you may be aware, [name of bank] has recently decided to defund the Boy Scouts of America. I'd like to ask you, as a valued supporter of the BSA, to voice your disapproval with the bank's action by writing or calling them. Through the power of the individual, we must let our detractors know that the values that the BSA stands for are still held by the majority of America! Once again, thank you for you continued support. Sincerely, [Scout Executive] ---------------------------- NEWSLETTER COPY FROM NATIONAL DATE: June 04, 1992 ID: BSA National Office FOR NEWSLETTER USE SCOUTING VALUES CANNOT BE HELD HOSTAGE In an unprecedented move, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has rallied members of the Scouting family and other supporters to carry their message of disbelief and disapproval to officials of three companies that have withdrawn support of Scouting because of the BSA's positions on homosexuality and duty to God. "We have gone on record as saying Scouting's values are not for sale, and we need to emphasize that they won't be sold at any price," said Buford Hill, Western regional director of the BSA. "We're encouraging everyone who believes in the BSA's membership standards and values to actively share their concerns with Bank of America, Levi Strauss and Company, and Wells Fargo Bank." Persons concerned about the decisions of these three companies are urged to visit, call or write local and national management of these companies. "Special interest groups have planted their flags in several companies. Mainstream Americas need to be sure that their voices are heard by key corporate decision makers, who are under increasing pressure from forces seeking to advance their own agendas," said Hill. This aggressive approach to communications, announced in a news conference held in San Francisco June 4, marked the first time that members and friends of the BSA have been called upon to outwardly support the organization. According to Hill, the vast time given by tens of millions of volunteers over Scouting's history has always been focused on young people. "For more than 82 years, parents, volunteers and friends of the BSA have rallied as supporters of youth, providing for the physical, mental and social development of young people. Today, we're offering practical ideas to the countless number of volunteers who have been dismayed by recent actions of Bank of America, Levi Strauss and Wells Fargo Bank and who are feeling the need to express their feelings," said Hill, who noted that calls and letters of support have skyrocketed since there first were indications that some corporations might alter their support of the BSA. Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank, both California-based, indicated last week that they will discontinue their support of the BSA because of disagreement with the organization's traditional family-oriented values. Interestingly, the two banks and Levi Strauss followed the lead set by the United Way of the Bay Area in April when that local charitable group announced discontinuation of support for the BSA. We suspect that United Way of the Bay Area was largely responsible for decisions made by one or more of the three companies that recently stopped supporting the Scouts. As a result, a question of propriety has arisen among some in the BSA. "Publically traded corporations are charged with acting in the interest of the company shareholders, not with forcing the views and values of one or two special interest groups on society through a system of checkbook policy-making for community organizations," said Hill. "From the overwhelming messages of support that we receive every day in BSA offices all across America, we're convinced that most corporate shareholders -- including many persons who own stock in Bank of America or Wells Fargo Bank -- do not share the opinion of these special interest groups." When asked if the isolated actions of these companies would impact Scouting, Ben H. Love, Chief Scout Executive, replied, "While we're talking about a very small percentage of the BSA's overall contribution income, we're concerned anytime supporters of Scouting choose to discontinue their backing. But in reality, we expect contributions to BSA to climb as many businesses and individuals increase their support of organizations that represent traditional American values." The Boy Scouts of America was founded in 1910 with the purpose of assisting families in the physical, mental and emotional development of young men. Approximately 4.1 million young people and 1.2 million adult volunteers are currently active in the BSA, making it the nations largest youth development organization. Scouting is currently preparing for significant growth in the '90s in anticipation of increasing youth participation and a continued emphasis on its traditional family values.