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Boy Scout Membership Standards Vote Outcome

For 103 years, the Boy Scouts of America has been a part of the fabric of this nation, with a focus on working together to deliver the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.

 

Based on growing input from within the Scouting family, the BSA leadership chose to conduct an additional review of the organization’s long-standing membership policy and its impact on Scouting’s mission. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public.  Following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting’s history, the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone.  A change to the current membership policy for adult leaders was not under consideration; thus, the policy for adults remains in place. The BSA thanks all the national voting members who participated in this process and vote.

 

This policy change is effective Jan. 1, 2014, allowing the Boy Scouts of America the transition time needed to communicate and implement this policy to its approximately 116,000 Scouting units. Though there may be different personal opinions about this policy, we can all agree that kids are better off when they are in Scouting. Going forward, the Northeast Iowa Council will continue to focus on reaching and serving youth in order to help them grow into good, strong citizens. America’s youth need Scouting, and by focusing on the goals that unite us, we can continue to accomplish incredible things for young people and the communities we serve.

 

For more information on the Boy Scouts of America’s membership standards, please visit www.bsamembershipstandards.org.

 

How to Volunteer in the Northeast Iowa Council

Volunteer-logoThe Scouting programs can only be as good as the tremendous volunteers.  Our goal is to continue to provide an excellent program through the constant recruitment of excellent volunteers!  There are literally hundreds of ways that you can become one of over a thousand volunteers in our councils scouting programs.  

If you are interested in becoming a Scouting Volunteer, please contact the Northeast Iowa Council Scout Service Center, 563-556-4343. A basic overview of the most general areas are listed below, however there are so many opportunities and ways that you can help make a difference, that we could not possibly list them all!

Unit Level Volunteering:volunteer-photo 

Cub Scout Pack Leaders and Committee Members
Boy Scout Troop Leaders and Committee Members
Venturing Crew Leaders and Committee Members
Exploring or Learning for Life Advisors and Trainers
Order of the Arrow Advisors
Venturing Officers Association Advisors 

District Level Volunteering:

Pack, Troop or Crew Trainers
Friends of Scouting Fundraising
Merit Badge Counselors
Program and Activity Planning
Advancement Committee and Eagle Scout Review Boards
Program Committees
Unit Commissioners to help new and struggling units
Roundtable Commissioners and Trainers
Religious Committees with various local Churches
Specialized Trainers (CPR, First-Aid, Leave-No-Trace, etc.) 

Council Level Volunteering:

Climbing and COPE Instruction
Camping Committee
Major capital campaign fundraising
Council Executive Board
Finances
Summer Camp and Cub Day Camp Staff

Properties Maintenance at Camp Klaus and Camp Burton:

All trades and skills are welcome: Mowing grass and other grounds maintenance, Plumbing, Electrical, Excavation, General Carpentry, Auto mechanics, HVAC, Engineering, Architectural, Forest management, Metal fabrication.

Other Opportunities:

Council Web Technology Committee
Graphic Design such as graphics for newsletters, flyers, patches, t-shirts, etc.
Cooks
Shooting Range Trainers & Instructors
Waterfront Instructors