Document text
United Way decision on Scouts will stand By JONEL ALECCIA Weeks of public comment about a United Way of Jackson County decision to reduce funding to local Boy Scouts over a discrimination policy have not affected the agency's stand. In fact, the controversial issue was not on the agenda for a regular meeting this week of the United Way board of directors. President Jon Mitchell said the group doesn't expect to reconsider the topic soon. "I think the board was very comfortable in its decision for the ensuing funding year," he said Thursday. "I've not had one board member asking for reconsideration." Meanwhile, the Crater Lake Council of the Boy Scouts of America has received about $30,000 in donations from local contributors in response to the United Way move, development director Ed Roussell said Thursday. That's about five times the amount of initial cuts aimed at penalizing the Scouts for discriminating against homosexuals. In March, the United Way board voted to decrease funding to the Scouts by 15 percent this year and every year, as long as the youth group refuses to sign a policy saying it won't discriminate against homosexuals and others. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled the Scouts have a right to refuse to admit homosexual leaders. The move generated dozens of telephone calls, e-mails and letters to both agencies and to the Mail Tribune from people for and against the United Way's action. But neither that agency nor the Scouts expects public input to alter the outcome. "I think the board would be remiss in reconsidering," said United Way board member Carin Niebuhr. "The board was very thoughtful in making that decision. I think they feel pretty solid about it." Roussell questioned Thursday whether that resolve would remain strong. "They were pretty clear what their position was," he said. "But I would wonder how the conversation might take place as they approach the fall (fund-raising) campaign." Reach reporter JoNel Aleccia at 776-4465, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.