2023 Friends of Scouting

 

2023 Funds used to help build Scouting

 

What is it?

We would like to make a 10-minute presentation by a staff person or trained volunteer to your pack or troop.
The presentation will inform everyone about the services provided by Gateway Scouting. Families are asked to support these efforts with a financial contribution if able. As a Thank You for returning a pledge card, a special take-home item will be given out!

So what are the next steps?

Units are asked to select a date between January 15 through May 31 for a presentation to families to occur.
This can be at a Pack meeting, Troop court of honor, etc. Pack Pinewood Derbies have not been the best event for a presentation as it can be very busy to begin with!

Units submitting a date prior to February 25 will receive a voucher for a free night of camping in a site at Camp Decorah OR a buy-one, get-one night in a lodge.

Complete form below or send your date to Morgan Hoff at Morgan.Hoff@scouting.org.

Click here to make an ONLINE gift towards Friends of Scouting

 

How is the money used?

Money raised is spent in the following ways:

Recruiting resources to promote Scouting such as mailers, flyers, advertising and more

Support for programs that supplement your unit calendar such as SBSA Merit Badge Days and Cub Scout day camps

A staff to directly help coach your unit and help solve Scouting challenges related to membership, volunteerism, and programming.

Technology to help families interact with Scouting such as the council website, online registration programs, and virtual meetings programs.

Financial assistance to help those who could not otherwise participate in Scouting

Handbooks provided to all new Cub Scout members to help these families engage in Scouting right away

Accident insurance for all participating youth, adults, and siblings. Liability insurance for charter organizations and locations hosting meetings

Upkeep on Camp Decorah and the Scout Service Center, both are available as a place for your unit to meet and for other Scouting needs

 

Are there goals and giving levels as in the past?

  • The Objective for 2023 is for each unit to participate in a presentation and for each family to be asked to support either by being at a presentation or receiving a phone call and mailer.

  • The overall goal is $37,000 (which is less than 5% of the overall council budget). Units will have a goal based on past giving participation. If a unit has not participated in the past or has had a nominal level of participation the goal would be $600. 2023 details to come!

  • Giving levels: any amount / $175 / $250 / $500 / $1,000. Option to make a monthly reoccurring gift.

 

BSA National Fee

The $75 annual registration fee goes entirely to support BSA National, it does not go toward the local council funding. The $4 insurance fee does stay local to help offset the cost of insurance provided to help cover volunteers, scouts, and chartered organizations (the $4 fee only generates enough to cover about one-third of this expense).

 

Local Council Fee

Many other nearby councils have gone to a per-Scout fee instead of trying to do unit presentations.
Nearby fees include: $144 (Twin Cities); $54 (Eau Claire); and $66 (Rochester). We hope to avoid adding a similar fee at the Gateway Area Council and, instead, focus our efforts on this Friends of Scouting fund drive and the popcorn sales.