UPDATED: Boy Scouts Re-Considering Ban on Gays

Boy Scouts of America will take up the issue at is national board meeting next week.

Boy Scouts of America is considering changing its longstanding policy against allowing openly gay members, according to a news release from the organization Monday. Under the change now being discussed, local Councils would be able to decide for themselves how to address the issue — either maintaining an exclusion of gays or opening up their membership. Monday's announcement of the possible change comes after years of protests over the policy — including petition campaigns that have prompted some corporations to suspend donations to the Boy Scouts. In Oct. 2012, the Knox Trail Boy Scouts Council Board of Directors met and considered taking action against the National Boy Scouts anti-gay policy. The Council represents Milford and 20 other …

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Knox Trail Scout Executive Director To Retire

Dennis Prefontaine’s has served as Boy Scout of America Knox Trail’s first and only executive director; a Life Scout, the Holliston resident joined the Cub Scouts in 1954 and was awarded the Life Saving Award for helping a young man having a seizure.

Boy Scouts of America Knox Trail Council Executive Director Dennis Prefontaine will retire on Dec. 31, after four decades working with Scouts. A Life Scout, Prefontaine joined the Cub Scouts in 1954 and was awarded the Life Saving Award for his part in assisting a young man having a seizure and is a Vigil Member of the Order of the Arrow where he received the Order of the Arrow Distinguished Service Award. Being a professional with the Boy Scouts of America is the only job he has had since graduating from New Hampshire College (now Southern New Hampshire University) in 1970. He began his career with Pine Tree Council in Portland, Maine from 1970 to 1977 where he served as District Executive, Program Director and District Director of Casco …

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Knox Trail Boy Scouts May Vote To Ignore Anti-Gay Stance

When the Knox Trail Boy Scouts Council Board of Directors meets Thursday, they may vote to take action against the National Boy Scouts anti-gay policy.

When the Knox Trail Boy Scouts Council Board of Directors meets Thursday night, they may vote to take action against the National Boy Scouts anti-gay policy. The Council represents Framingham, Milford and 18 other communities in Massachusetts. The possible vote comes after more than half of the parents of Framingham Cub Scout Pack 12, based out of Plymouth Church, sent a letter in September to the executive director of The Knox Trail Council of Boy Scouts, stating they have and will continue to ignore the anti-gay policy of Boy Scouts of America. The letter, submitted and signed by 38 Framingham parents states: "Our Scout Pack has been an important and powerful force in our community, and in the lives of our children, parents and guardians…

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Contributor Corner

Four Milford Eagle Scouts Recognized

Steven Dorsey, Stephen Ward, Timothy Doyle and Erik Hytholt, all of Milford, were among the Eagle Scouts recognized at a dinner in Marlborough last week.

The Knox Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America this month honored its Class of 2011-2012 Eagle Scouts at a banquet held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Marlborough. Organized by the Council’s National Eagle Scout Association (NESA) Committee, over 100 Scouts, parents, Scout leaders, and mentors attended to celebrate the Scouts’ achieving the highest rank in Boy Scouting. Milford scouts reaching this status were Steven Dorsey, Stephen Ward, Timothy Doyle and Erik Hytholt. Between 2011 and the first quarter of 2012, 156 Knox Trail Council Scouts attained the rank of Eagle Scout, representing 8 percent of all current Scouts. Across the United States only about 5 percent of Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Serving as Honorary Guest…

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