The Watchdog Is Off The Porch!

GREATER PHILADELPHIA STORY-May 2000
 As a watchdog organization, the Anti-Discrimination Support Network (ADSN) has monitored the activities of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) since 1993. Various articles have been published in the pages of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia's (FSGP) newsletter, The Greater Philadelphia Story, regarding BSA's involvement with public schools, United Way funding, and government gratuities.

 Over the years, ADSN letters have been sent to school boards and United Way offices informing them about BSA's discriminatory membership policy. ADSN's president Margaret Downey has represented the interest of ADSN on many occasions. In 1993 she was able to stop BSA from using a meeting hall in the Westtown township building free of charge. She also prevented BSA from obtaining free labor from the military and free land from Westtown township.

 Downey has spoken to three United Way allocation committees in Pennsylvania. No United Way office agreed to stop funding the BSA but the issue was brought to the attention of committee members and discussed at length.

 In 1992 Downey convinced the Unionville School District to impose recruitment restrictions on BSA. Her appearance at two Unionville School board meetings forced the board to take action.

 The recent U. S. Supreme Court ruling establishing the BSA as a 'private expressive' organization has provided ADSN with better proof that the BSA is discriminatory and should be expelled from the public arena. A more aggressive watchdog approach can be taken now. Look out BSA, the ADSN watchdog is off the porch!

 ADSN needs the help of FSGP members in order to chase down BSA trouble spots. Please be willing to assist in letter writing campaigns, make personal appearances (school board meetings, township meetings, United Way meetings, etc.), and participate in protest efforts. Copies of ADSN letters, articles, and Downey's speeches are available to interested activists. Please see adjacent ADSN contact information to obtain copies and reference materials. Unleash your activism potential. Only you can keep the BSA out of the public arena and force them to live up to their new 'private' profile. Go get 'em, ADSN volunteers!