News

The UWTC suspended funding of the Knox Trail Council of Boy Scouts of America on December 19th 2012 after three months of fact finding and discussion. The Council Chairman Brian Dingman was informed via letter from UWTC President & CPO Paul Mina citing the following reasons for the action:

1. Boy Scouts of America's reaffirmation of their ban on Gay men and boys within scouting that eliminated the ability for local Councils to base membership on "behavior" rather than on "sexual orientation". This latitude of interpretation was the policy followed by Knox Trail and other local Councils for years prior to this recent reaffirmation. United Way's policy prohibits discrimination based on many factors including sexual orientation.This is the same policy that most corporations, non-profit organizations, state and local governments maintain as well.
2. The revelation that for almost 25 years pedophiles were placed on a "ineligible volunteer list" rather than be turned over to law enforcement. A recent law suit in Washington State caused the release of these records comprised of hundreds of pedophiles. Twelve such men were from the Knox Trail Council. This policy protected Boys Scouts as an organization at the expense of the children.
3. An internal personnel issue that was not handled in accordance with our memorandum of understanding with funded agencies

United Way understands the importance of Scouting as an important builder of "citizenship".
 
The door was left open for future affiliation once the national policy is addressed.