A NOTE FROM FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL, EDWIN MEESE III, CHAIRMAN OF THE SCOUTING LEGAL DEFENSE FUND:

Dear Friend of Scouting;

For nearly a century, Scouting has helped millions of boys mature into responsible men and good citizens. Unfortunately, Scouting recently has come under increasing attack. We are launching this newsletter to help keep you informed about what is happening with Scouting around the country.

A coalition of liberal activists, homosexuals, atheists and feminists were enraged last June when the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Constitutional right of the Scouts to prevent openly homosexual men from serving as Scoutmasters. Since then, as you know, they have made the Scouts the target of their anger.

I agreed to chair the Scouting Legal Defense Fund for two reasons. One was because there has never been a time when Scouting's positive influence has been more essential to our nation's future than it is today. But it was also clear to me that the Scouts are merely taking the brunt of what is a much broader assault. The same Constitutional rights of speech and association that protect the Scouts also protect tens of thousands of other groups and organizations. We must never lose sight of the fact that all of these groups are the true target of this liberal coalition.

So, in defending the Scouts we are also defending all of these other groups that together comprise the essential fabric of our country.

I look forward to joining with you in this defense!

Ed Meese
Chairman, Scouting Legal Defense Fund

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR:

Because the focus of the attacks on Scouting has shifted in recent months from the national level to the local level, most of us who are concerned about Scouting never hear about them. Equally important, most of us do not hear about the successful defense of Scouting which is also occurring in many local areas.

The goal of this newsletter is to help remedy that. About every two weeks, we will give you a quick overview of some of the more significant and interesting developments around the country. Where possible, we will include a link to more detailed information.

We have added you to the list of people receiving this newsletter because we think you are someone who is concerned about the future of Scouting. However, if you prefer not to continue receiving it, simply follow the easy "unsubscribe" process outlined below.

I also hope that you will help us make this newsletter even more useful. If the Scouts are under attack in your local area, please let us know so we can pass the word. Simply e-mail us!

Thanks!

Peter Ferrara
Editor

P.S. To learn more about the Scouting Legal Defense Fund, please visit our Web site, www.defendscouting.com.

WHAT'S HAPPENING TO SCOUTING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

•Communities and school districts large and small are withdrawing support for the Scouts or facing lawsuits to force them to do so.

The Los Angeles City Council adopted an anti-Scout ordinance which among other things ends police sponsorship of the Scouts and stops free use of meeting rooms in city facilities.

The New York City School Board has barred city schools from supporting scouting activities.

Mount Pleasant School District in Michigan has been sued in an effort to stop all school support of the Scouts because of their ban on admitting atheists.

•And a large Jewish group also withdraws support of the Boy Scouts.

Reform Jewish leaders are formally advising their membership, which constitutes about 40% of the nation's Jewish population, to stop sponsoring or financing Scout troops. (see article here).

•However, strong public support and pressure has also forced some communities and school districts to reverse actions that hurt the Scouts.

Tempe, Arizona had to reverse a policy that would have prevented city employees from contributing to the Scouts through the local United Way. Miami-Dade County, Florida school officials had to back off a ban on Scouts recruiting in schools (see article here).

The Eugene, Oregon school district reversed a ban on the Scouts recruiting in the schools after receiving only about 100 calls, e-mails and letters from angry citizens (see article here).

A state-wide poll in Illinois showed that 82% of registered voters supported allowing the Scouts to continue to use schools and other public buildings (see article here).

•The Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee refutes charges it is discriminating against the Boy Scouts.

The organizing committee for the 2002 Winter Games, joined by the local scout councils, has refuted charges originally made in an Internet publication that it was banning Boy Scouts from volunteering to help with the games. (see article here).

•Meanwhile, the Scouts stand firm.

The national scout office rejected a request by its Providence, Rhode Island-based Narragansett Council to review the ban on homosexuals (see article here).

And, some thoughtful commentary on the attack on Scouting.

"Un-American Activity? The Boy Scouts are Entitled to Their Own Moral Vision," by John Leo in U.S. News and World Report, October 23, 2000, (see article here).