[21023] in APO-L
Re: [APO-L] APO and BSA campaign?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Clifton T. Gilley)
Sat Jul 22 17:36:41 2000
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Message-ID: <NDBBJEKPGLNIAGBJMOMNGELGCBAA.clifg@seattleu.edu>
Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 14:38:58 -0700
Reply-To: "Clifton T. Gilley" <clifg@SEATTLEU.EDU>
From: "Clifton T. Gilley" <clifg@SEATTLEU.EDU>
To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
In-Reply-To: <20000722131749.22531.qmail@web906.mail.yahoo.com>
From the APO Articles of Incorporation (as posted on the website in PDF):
"6. No part of the activities of this corporation shall be the carrying on
of propa-ganda,
or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, nor intervening in any
politi-cal
campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. No part of the income
or
property of this corporation shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributed to, its
Members, directors or officers, except for reasonable compensation for
services
actually rendered in carrying on the work of the corporation."
For APO to issue a statement telling the BSA that they are "wrong" would not
be a violation of this section of the article. Telling Pres. Clinton to
remove himself from an honorary position with the BSA would. Yes, it's a
somewhat fine line, but the basic point of this section (required no doubt
by the IRS to qualify as a charitable organization) is to prevent lobbying
with the money brought in -- to prevent APO from becoming a PAC.
Also, severing APO from directly supporting the BSA doesn't really prevent
us from accepting Scouts as members. All we would be doing if this were
adopted (and it really doesn't stand a chance in Hell, in my opinion), is to
sever our ties to the BSA, which has been slowly happening over the past
decade anyway. While it is true that some Scouts who know of the history
between the BSA and APO might feel "torn" in deciding whether to join APO,
it's not APO saying "All Scouts are discriminatory, therefore they have no
place in our organization." From my reading of the proposal, all APO would
be officially saying is that we will have no further contact with an
organization which has adopted a blanket rejection of membership based
solely on sexual orientation.
Now, those are the only parts I really have to disagree with Jason on, and I
admit that they're technicalities. Pulling APO's support from the BSA will
not help at all in stopping their activities. It is far more likely that by
doing so we would isolate and segregate the BSA further from the mainstream
of society and such insulation would simply reinforce the current thinking
of the "old boys" that gays are BAD. The only real way to change the BSA's
attitude is to work from within, as the Scouting for All group is trying to
do. We, as Alpha Phi Omega, are not officially "connected" with the BSA --
at least that's what I've been told time and again -- so we really have no
pull. I guarantee that if APO takes such a stance, the BSA's response will
be simple -- "Fine." Cliche -- You can't *force* someone to change their
beliefs, they have to *want* to change.
On a personal note, I simply find the BSA's stand on this to be absolutely
ridiculous, given the sheer number of gay former Scouts (most Eagle Scouts,
as well) that I know personally. I'd have to say they outnumber the
straight former Scouts I know...
For what it's worth, that's my 2-1/2 cents worth...with inflation and all...
;-)
YiLFS,
Cliff Gilley
Gamma Alpha (UW) Alum
Former Section 8 Chair
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alpha Phi Omega Discussion List
> [mailto:APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU]On Behalf Of Jason Rice
> Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2000 6:18 AM
> To: APO-L@LISTSERV.IUPUI.EDU
> Subject: Re: APO and BSA campaign?
>
>
> The originator of this is obviously upset over the
> "discrimination" that the BSA is doing, and would like
> APO, as a nonexclusionatory organiztion, to tell them
> they are wrong. This all sounds very political, and,
> if it is deemed to be such, an official statement from
> the organization is not possible: number six (6) of
> the Articles of Incorporation would forbid it.
>
> However, if a statement were made it should go
> something like this: "We of Alpha Phi Omega, in light
> of the discriminatory policies of the Boy Scouts of
> America, do hereby reassert our status as a
> nonexclusionary organization. We do and will not deny
> membership based on race, creed, gender, religion,
> sexual orientation, etc., etc. . ."
>
> Now, if we were to go full force into extracting
> ourselves from the BSA as he wishes us to do, what
> would be the result? It seems that it would not only
> reduce our integrety as an all inclusive organization
> and bring question to our belief in our roots, but it
> would also cause a great disturbance within the
> brotherhood itself. There are many members who may
> feel that they would have to choose between APhiO and
> the BSA; some would not agree with the severence and
> would fight it as strongly as those who oppose the
> integration of the all male chapters. It would bring
> questions as to whether we should participate in
> functions sponscerd by the BSA (such as merit badge
> day, a huge project for many chapters). Those that are
> scoutmasters or otherwise involved in BSA, would they
> have to resign their positions?
>
> The many questions that are brought up by taking such
> course of action are so numerous and mind boggling
> that it is hardly worth it. Our disaproval will do
> little to change their polocies and will hurt us more
> in the long run. I say we definitely should not sever
> our roots, for no matter how rotten they may become,
> we can help nurse them back to health; however, if we
> cut them away, we shall surly perish.
