Proposed BSA Membership Standards

In February, the Boy Scouts of America embarked on the most comprehensive listening exercise in its history to consider the impact of potential changes to its membership standards policy on the organization and gather perspectives from inside and outside of the Scouting family. This review created an outpouring of feedback from the Scouting family and the American public, from both those who agree with the current policy and those who support a change.

Scouting’s review confirmed that this remains among the most complex and challenging issues facing the BSA and society today. Even with the wide range of input, it is extremely difficult to accurately quantify the potential impact of maintaining or changing the current policy. While perspectives and opinions vary significantly, parents, adults in the Scouting community, and teens alike tend to agree that youth should not be denied the benefits of Scouting.

In May, the National Executive Committee is asking its approximately 1,400 voting members to consider a proposed resolution that would remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone and would maintain the current membership policy for all adult leaders of the Boy Scouts of America. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
Read the Proposed Membership Standards Resolution.

It’s mid-March. That means Phase 2 of the Boy Scouts of America’s three-month family discussion has shifted into high gear.

The BSA calls this phase “Listening,” and that’s exactly what the organization is doing. Scheduled to last from March 1 to April 5, the phase includes, in addition to a lot of conversations with a lot of people, a 13-question Voice of the Scout survey, recently sent to about 1.1 million registered volunteers and Scout parents.

The questions, which you can read below, were designed to help committees review the beliefs and concerns of two groups of stakeholders critical to this process: Scouters and the parents of registered Scouts.

The BSA is also sending the survey to approximately 325,000 Scouting alumni, former members who aren’t necessarily currently active but have previously joined the National Eagle Scout Association or the Scouting Alumni Association.

First, though, the survey will collect feedback from our key stakeholders, asking parents and volunteers to carefully consider the current membership policy and potential affects on the program should the BSA change its policy or keep it the same.

If you are a current member and you have not received a survey, you may visit this link to register your member ID number and receive a link for the survey after your information has been verified. Parents of Scouts can also use this link to get a survey. You should use your child’s ID and indicate you are a parent and input your own demographic information.  As is common in any family discussion, the survey touches on some personal issues. But it’s a conversation we must have now to ensure the continued success of our organization for the future.
The leadership of the BSA is firmly committed to making sure every voice gets heard and is dedicated to the integrity of this process. So, if you receive the survey, speak up—for yourself and for the Boy Scouts of America.

Click Here to Answer the Survey

The Boy Scouts of America has decided to delay its vote on a proposal to allow local troops to decide whether to allow openly gay members and leaders. The organization said it needs more time to get input from its members. The vote will now be held in May.

“After careful consideration and extensive dialogue within the Scouting family, along with comments from those outside the organization, the volunteer officers of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Executive Board concluded that due to the complexity of this issue, the organization needs time for a more deliberate review of its membership policy,” the Scouts said in a statement.

Until a vote is taken, it appears the organization will continue its ban on gay Scouts and Scout leaders.

It’s the season for giving. And with that said the EOCS needs your support & generosity to continue its mission.

eocs dues notice 2013

Beloved Priest, Father Angelo Gavalas, Falls Asleep in the Lord

Constantine S. Sirigos

NEW YORK – A man who brought joy into almost every room he entered, Father Angelo Gavalas has left the building. The beloved pastor and youth leader, whose resonant tenor voice thrilled with its singing and inspired with its preaching, passed away early Saturday evening, November 24. Countless people whose lives were touched by this charismatic yet down-to-earth priest were saddened by the loss as word spread by phone and internet across the country. They joined his daughters Catherine and Elaine in mourning and remembering a man whose love, dedication, and struggles came to define both the rewards and the sacrifices entailed by service as a Greek Orthodox priest America. Few who knew him as the man who brought light and solace wherever he visited were aware of the losses and disappointments he endured. Two sons, George and Harry, and Presbytera Ismene departed before him.

ANGELO H. GAVALAS

Obituary

GAVALAS–Rev. Angelo H., on November 24, 2012. Associate Pastor of the

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral under the direction of Father Robert Stephanopoulos.

Former Head Pastor at Three Hierarchs Greek Orthodox Church in Brooklyn and Former

Pastor of the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George and St. Demetrios on East 103rd

Street in New York. Beloved husband of the late Presbytera Ismene. Loving father of

Catherine and Elaine and the late George and Harry. Dear brother of Helen. Reposing at the

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 319 East 74th St., New York, on Wednesday from

3-9pm. Funeral Service Thursday, 10am at the Cathedral. Entombment to follow at St.

Michael’s Cemetery, East Elmhurst, NY.

Published in The New York Times on November 27, 2012

This is the official notice that New Yorkers read in the Standard Newspaper of the world, but those of us who go back to Fr. Angelo’s days at Three Hierarchs’ Church in Brooklyn – be they brother seminary classmates, clergy, faithful parishioners, altar boys, Jr. G.O.Y.A. members, or Scouts of his church’s Boy or Girl Scout troops – have been thinking back to the impressions Fr. Angelo left on us. Indeed, the internet and telephones – land lines, cell, and instant messaging – have been passing words of the love, dedication, and struggles Fr. Angelo passed through in his lifetime. Intensely proud of his Greek heritage, he was a pioneer in the New York area in defining that heritage to a new, young generation born in the U.S.

His Brooklyn church was filled with the activities of youth so many years ago. He was always present at the many youth activities conducted by the Greek Orthodox churches of Brooklyn and Queens, and was instrumental in the organization of the now annual Scout retreat begun in 1964. After leaving Three Hierarchs’ Church, he supported the Archdiocese’ new National Youth Department, always keeping Scouting in mind. He was of the generation that bridged the immigrant church to the Greek Orthodox Church in America that we know today.

He was honored for his support of Scouting by the Greater New York Council, Boy Scouts of America, with their “Silver Beaver” award; and by the Girl Scouts, U.S.A., with their “Impact Award”. These awards are significant in that they recognize actual work and inspiration to youth. The outpouring of sorrow at the passing of Fr. Angelo is just a small measure of the inspiration he was to many of us.

May his memory be eternal!

Chef Appointed as New Jersey Metropolis Scouting Commissioner

His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey announced the appointment of Mr. Demetrios Haralambatos as the Metropolis of New Jersey Scouting Commissioner.  The announcement was made by George Tomczewski, the Metropolis Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, during the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting Mid-Atlantic Region’s Religious Retreat, held at Ss Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis, Maryland, on September 29th.

His Eminence stated that Mr. Haralambatos, was the ideal individual to work with the Metropolis’ Department of Youth Ministries in expanding our Churches involvement with Scouting (American Heritage Girls, Boy Scouts of America, Campfire Girls, and Girl Scouts of America), having been a Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Scout Master, Neighborhood Commissioner, and Scout Leader Trainer, as well as a founding member and past-president of the Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting (EOCS), he brings working knowledge and experience to this position.

Mr. Haralambatos, resides in Davidsonville, Maryland, is an active Steward of Ss Constantine & Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Annapolis and is employed as the Corporate Executive Chef of Kontos Foods Inc. in Paterson, New Jersey.  “During my travels, to and from our Corporate Headquarters to perform duties for my employer, I will be able to visit Parishes throughout the Metropolis to promote Scouting, as well as the programs and Religious awards of the EOCS.”
BACKGROUND

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey oversees Greek Orthodox Parishes in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The Eastern Orthodox Committee on Scouting (EOCS) is an agency of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North & Central America (formerly SCOBA), for over fifty years.

The Agency governs the Orthodox Scouting Religious Awards to Scouts and their Leaders.  The Awards are:
the St. George, Chi Rho, Alpha Omega, and Prophet Elias

The EOCS annually hosts Religious Retreats and Competitive Camporees for Scouts.

Demetrios Haralambatos is the Corporate Executive Chef for Kontos Foods Inc, in Paterson, New Jersey.  He is a member of the ACF’s Nations Capital Chefs Association; past-president of the ACF’s Professional Chefs Guild of Central New Jersey; former National Ethics Chairman (three terms) of the American Culinary Federation; and a founding member of the Research Chefs Association.