Geez, even the Boy Scouts cheat
 

The Associated Press
12/30/2004, 3:30 p.m. CT


BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) -- Officials with the Boy Scouts
of America say the FBI is investigating whether the
organization has inflated its membership numbers in
north Alabama, a move that could lead to greater
financial support.

Randy Haines, vice chairman of the Greater Alabama
Council of the Boy Scouts, confirmed the review but
denied any wrongdoing.

"We take the allegations seriously," Haines told The
Birmingham News in a story published Thursday. "We are
a highly principled organization, and irregularities
are totally out of character."

But another board member, Tom Willis, said the charges
of discrepancies in membership numbers were not only
accurate but widespread across the country. So-called
"ghost units" are encouraged by the national Boy
Scouts of America organization's pressure on district
leaders to keep increasing the number of scouting
groups, he said.

FBI spokesman Ray Zicarelli said the agency could
neither confirm nor deny any investigation of the
group.

Haines said the FBI contacted the council two weeks
ago about allegations of possible inaccuracies in
membership figures. About the same time, Haines said
he and other scout officials began hearing similar
word-of-mouth reports.

The United Way, which helps fund the Boy Scouts, also
is familiar with the investigation, said spokeswoman
Samuetta Nesbitt. Scouting has asked for $940,855 from
the charity for 2005, she said.

"United Way's leadership is aware that the FBI has
made an inquiry into the reporting procedures of the
Greater Birmingham Council of Boy Scouts of America,"
she said. "We do not have any details about the
inquiry."

The council is said to serve 50,000 youngsters in 22
counties in central and northern Alabama. This
includes 30,000 enrolled in traditional scout units
and 20,000 elementary school students receiving
in-class character education using resources provided
by the Boy Scouts, said Haines.

Willis said he recently saw a roster of 135 units in
his home district, which includes Morgan, Lawrence and
Limestone counties. Only about half the groups were
real, traditional groups, he contends. "I pretty much
know what units are out there," he said.

He said donations garnered through inflated numbers go
to funding the central administration and not
individual troops or programs for children.

Willis said the FBI investigation follows a growing
distrust by some volunteers of the paid leadership of
the council. That distrust was magnified by the recent
debate over whether to spend $5.6 million to acquire
land for a "super camp" to replace smaller, regional
camps, he said.

While looking into the camp, the council and scouting
leaders discussed waning attendance at scouting camps
and questions about the number of reported scouts
arose among scout troop leaders. When they tried to
get answers, they were denied information, Willis
said.

Haines said the Boy Scouts are doing an internal
audit.