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French Creek Council Sustainable Funding FAQ
1) What is changing?
a. The traditional Family Friends of Scouting program is being replaced with a Council program fee that will be due at the unit level at the time of re-charter.
2) Why are we doing this?
a. FOS Family contributions have been in decline for a number of years, while costs continue to rise.
b. This reflects the true cost of Scouting, with every member helping to offset the cost required to support their children in the program.
c. While National BSA and local units have long required members to pay annual fees/dues to support Scouting operations, our local council will be adopting this approach.
d. Our staff and FOS volunteer teams spend an inordinate amount of time with the Family FOS program. This will allow for a more focused effort on delivering the life-changing program with greater effectiveness and impact.
e. Families prefer to know the annual registration cost up front and at one time rather than to be asked later in the year for additional funds.
3) What does this fee cover?
a. This fee provides for a professional District Executive, insurance (accident and sickness, property, vehicle coverage for every youth and adult, ect.), recruiting campaign materials, council-wide communications and administrative support to facilitate these. While there will still be costs to participate in some activities, like camporees, the organizational and support costs are provided by the fair share fee.
4) Who is initiating the change?
a. A group of volunteers began studying this concept as part of an initiative to rethink operation with the goal of improving Scouting.
5) Does this represent a cost increase?
a. No. This change does not represent a cost increase, but merely a different way of funding these costs.
6) When does the new plan begin?
a. For existing Scouting families, it begins with the unit re-charter submission in the fall, which will cover the 2023 calendar year.
b. For new Scouting families who join after January 1, 2023, the cost will be prorated and submitted with the registration.
7) Will this impact National or Unit dues?
a. No. National and Unit dues are totally independent and are set by National and the unit, not the local council.
8) Some of our families will struggle with this cost. How can I help?
a. While the amount is based on unit membership, the total amount due will be paid as one cost by the unit at re-charter, so if the unit or more financially secure families can assist the less financially secure within the unit, they will be able to do so.
b. The Council will also be establishing a fund to assist families in need, which will be announced at a later date.
c. Also, many families have more than one scout in the program. A multi-Scout discount will be offered to these families.
9) Will there still be FOS presentations?
a. No. Individual donors will still have the opportunity to support Scouting but will not be engaged through a unit-based Friends of Scouting presentation.
10) Will the local districts still host local FOS Community events like breakfasts and the Wine Walk?
a. Yes. The Community Campaign events will continue to reach out to the community beyond our Scouting families.
11) What about Council fundraisers like popcorn and the gun raffle?
a. We will continue to promote these as campaigns as a value to both the Council and the units. These campaigns offer viable ways for units to significantly decrease the activity costs at the unit level.
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