Membership Policy Change (CLICK HERE)

Dear Scouters,

We promised to keep you informed as new information is shared by the National BSA regarding their discussions of their national membership policy.

The National BSA voted to adopt a policy that revises their youth membership policy so that sexual orientation is no longer a criteria for youth membership in Scouting. The new policy reads as follows:

Youth membership in the Boy Scouts of America is open to all youth who meet the specific membership requirements to join the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, Sea Scout, and Venturing programs. Membership in any program of the Boy Scouts of America requires the youth member to (a) subscribe to and abide by the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law, (b) subscribe to and abide by the precepts of the Declaration of Religious Principle (duty to God), and (c) demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law. No youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of sexual orientation or preference alone.

The Three Rivers Council received an outpouring of feedback from our Scouting family—from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change. Such a response reinforces how deeply people care about Scouting and how passionate they are about the organization.

From the results of our Scouters feedback the Three Rivers Council’s voting members (President, Commissioner and National Representative) voted the majority will of our Scouters; that was for no change and to maintain what was the Boy Scouts of Americas policy on membership standards.  The loss was a disappointment and I recognize this remains a sensitive issue for our Scouting family here in Southeast Texas and nationally, but we cannot allow a policy debate to negatively impact the quality of the program we deliver to our Scouts. The youth are counting on us.

The Three Rivers Council will continue our mission of providing the best Scouting program to our local Southeast Texas youth, while the National Board will continue to discuss the best ways to implement this new policy before it goes into effect on January 1, 2014.

Scouting is strong in Three Rivers Council – and with your help we will continue to provide our local youth with the same great leadership development and once-in-a-lifetime adventures that we always have.

Hank Hamilton                                           Leslie Bentley

Three Rivers Council, BSA                                                    Three Rivers Council, BSA

President, Three Rivers Council                                  Chief Executive Officer

   4650 Cardinal Drive

   Beaumont, TX 77705

   409-842-5240