scouter-parent

My son is a Life Scout and he is no angel, but when he said that he wanted to organize a Car Wash for the Hurricane Katrina Victims and send the money to The American Red Cross. My son was hit by a bombshell when one of the other parents replied to his email with this: Although the BSA Charter and Bylaws do not allow for youth members to solicit funds for other organizations, there are many ways your Scouts can help in the relief efforts. Yes, it does say that but what this person failed to do was to put the entire email that Roy Williams sent out that states this: Hurricane Katrina-How your unit can help! Although the BSA Charter and Bylaws do not allow for youth members to solicit funds for other organizations, there are many ways your Scouts can help in the relief efforts. Print this flier and distribute it in your community to let people know where and how to donate. Contact your local Red Cross, Salvation Army or other disaster relief agency and find out what help they need. Food drives, clothing drives, and other services will be needed in the near future. Encourage your family and friends to make financial contributions to their favorite disaster relief agency. In the near future the councils in the affected area will know what they will need to re-establish Scouting in their communities. Check back to this link often to keep up on new developments. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Boy Scouts of America http://www.scouting.org My son contacted THe American Red Cross and was told that whatever money was collected had to be sent in a check for the Hurricane Katrina Victims. My son was apalled with the adult leaders who for so many years of his scouting experience have instilled in him the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. My son was taught by another Troop that a Boy Scout Troop is Boy run and that the adults were there to watch over them and to give them advice. Today most of the Troops are adult run and the boys have no say so. My son left the other Troop when it became apparent that the new Scoutmaster was running the show now with no Scout input whatsoever. My son joined the new Troop that he is in now because he saw a little fragment of a Boy Run Troop. My son tells me that in order to earn his Citizenship in the Community, Nation and World he needed to be involved in them. Well, now when he wants to help in the Nation he is turned down with of course the Politics of this Nation. He may only be 15 years old, but he is old enough to know that when there is a need for Humanitarian help, he is there to help and it does not have entirely have to do with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, it has to do with helping another human being in a time of need. We went through Hurricane Andrew and we lost everything, our home etc. and when the help came from total strangers I was thankful and thoughful in making sure that everyone was thanked for their efforts. Gloria Estefan went around giving ice and water to those of us that needed it and I was very thankful for that. I think that by letting these boys help out in our Nation by whatever means, is their way of letting us know that they are not only good Scouts but also good human beings. Thank you Scout Parent and a very proud one at that!