BetterWithCheddar

I can't speak to the specifics of my council's financials, but I've also noticed a shift toward the "event model," as you described. Assuming those events are successful, then I vastly prefer soliciting donations from rich guys at venues rich guys like to FOS.

What isn't expensive these days? I enjoy walking and spend $1,000 / year on walking-related expenses. 90% of my walks are done on the same 1/2-mile loop around my neighborhood. I will occasionally enter a half-marathon (which cost ~$100 these days). Figure a new pair of quality shoes every year ($150); replacement socks and compression shorts ($50); an annual trip to the podiatrist when something isn't quite right ($200); 2 actual "races" ($200); and foot care supplies ($50) - that's $650 per year for someone who just enjoys walking at a brisk pace 6 days per week. All of that and I still have a dad bod. 🙂 OP, at least it sounds like you're getting your money's worth!

I have a hunch that, at least in some areas, it's becoming increasingly difficult to find sufficient volunteer support to sustain programs from start to finish. Hence, the greater reliance on the professional corp. Having returned to Scouting as a Lion Den Leader after a 15-year hiatus, one big difference I've noticed is that the Council runs a lot of multi-district events that used to be ran by the districts themselves.

Maybe it is. I'm a former Lodge Chief. I was never drawn to the ceremonies or cheerful service. I appreciated the recognition as a youth, but was an active OA-member because it allowed me to go to my favorite council camp more often with my Scouting peers (the ones around the same age as me). If the OA were disbanded, Venturing would enjoy new life.

This has to be a big part of it. I'm in my late 30s, having returned to Scouting as a Den Leader. I still put program first, but reducing liability is a close second.

Perhaps I'm in the minority, but I was never really comfortable using Native American imagery as a youth in the OA. I also attended a college that used a Native American athletics mascot - same deal there. I'm hardly the PC-type, but neither felt right and I still avoid the use of certain logos out of respect for individuals who may not be accurately represented by the OA- and NCAA-sanctioned symbolism. Again - not trying to make waves, but I suspect there is a silent majority on the issue who are largely indifferent, but (if pressed) would prefer to move on to something less likely to offend or draw criticism.

I think that's a rational response, but some volunteers have a lot emotionally invested in their Scouting service - especially if they were once youth participants and/or watched their child grow through the program.

This Wikipedia page is well-maintained with some nice visuals and brief descriptions of adult awards. Square knot insignia - Wikipedia I would agree - the Scouter's Training Award (green knot, tan background) is most appropriate for troop-level leadership, but don't feel constrained to providing just knots for recognition. Service stars are a great way to provide annual recognition to leaders. Plus, your district may have an annual award program for recognizing volunteers in your area.

BE PREPARED I liked @mrjohns2"Good Citizen" response. As a parent, that's really my number one goal - to raise a decent person who provides a net benefit to society (as opposed to being a drag on others). Everything else is a stretch goal. However, I think the Scout motto answers the OP's question pretty well. Scouting will eventually nudge my son out of his comfort zone when he's old enough to join Scouts BSA. Spending a weekend away from his parents and relying solely on supplies he and his troopmates packed will teach him independence and self-reliance. If he chooses to work on camp staff, he'll spend 6 weeks away from my wife and I every summer. Most successful adults have to occasionally operate outside of their comfort zones and Scouting provides a controlled environment for youth to be independent and make mistakes without serious repercussions.

I didn't assume it's a district function, but connecting with a knowledgeable person on the local level may be a good place to start. I doubt one could write to Aaron on Scouting to ask "How do I get my favorite Scoutmaster reinstated after a Youth Protection violation?" and expect to receive a reply.

OP, I'm sorry to hear of your predicament. Short of a youth participant actually getting hurt, that's my nightmare as a leader / parent - to be accused of misconduct with little recourse to defend myself. I'd ask for additional context, but I don't think it matters much. You might start by petitioning your DE or District Chair, but they may be unwilling or unable to discuss the matter due to its sensitive nature. Unfortunately, zero tolerance occasionally translates to zero common sense; however, please don't completely dismiss the issue as accidental. It seems like an odd thing for a parent to complain about if they didn't suspect impropriety. Hopefully, some more seasoned forum members can offer better suggestions. Good luck.

Welcome. I've been "corporate" since the day I graduated, but I find that makes the things I do in my limited free time all the more meaningful.

I'm afraid to ask (because I think I know the answer), but what's the rush? To provide immediate recognition, a Troop could announce: "We're pleased to share that so-and-so completed their EBOR. We look forward to honoring them at a future date once their application has been approved by the National Office." Gotta beef up those scholarship apps ASAP and get some Facebook likes, I suppose (or else it's like it didn't even happen 🙂).

Welcome back. The right mix of volunteers in your unit or community can make all the difference.

Our Pack does popcorn "show-and-sells" at two fairly large retailers. I think the families who sign up are reasonably successful; however, I'm uncomfortable asking people to pay $20 for $5 worth of popcorn (but I don't begrudge those who do). We'll hit our Spring candy bar sale pretty hard. No one seems to mind paying $2 for a candy bar and the Pack keeps $1 for every candy bar sold.

This is an extremely interesting premise because it seems to help explain many of the large cost spikes of the past 20 years (health care, college tuition, etc.). Maybe I'm just not following 100%, but are you suggesting that over time, wages seem to get dragged upward by industries experiencing high productivity growth (software development, for example)? But then how do you reconcile the fact that many politicians would have us believe wages have not kept up with inflation over the long run? (I'm genuinely curious)

That's hardly your fault. Everyone has a finite amount of money they're comfortable giving each year. Many on this forum have been positively impacted by Scouting and give a disproportionate amount of their funds to the BSA. But for your average parent, this is one of a half-dozen activities in which their family currently participates. You raise a good point. I hadn't considered the United Way impact. My council's annual report lists the United Way as providing 1% of total revenue. I'm sure that was higher at one point.

No doubt, that's the biggest driver. Over 25 years, it would be reasonable to expect Inflation to cause prices levels to double. Yet, the FOS amount in my council has tripled during that same time. I suspect membership has declined without commensurate cuts in professional staff or facilities (thus leading to a higher cost per scout).

I appreciate all of the replies. I was more curious about the nuances of the campaign (but I'm sure it varies widely by council). I plan on making a token FOS contribution (but probably not the full $401 the council requests). Our DE seems like a nice guy and has been very responsive. However, I already self-fund most of my Den's activities - at least I can be sure that goes 100% to program. When I review my council's annual report, I see roughly 8% of their income comes from FOS and 20% from Popcorn. However, the council also lists fundraising as one of its largest expenses (so it's not clear exactly how much they net from these two activities). I also think they deliberately obfuscate how much is being spent on staff salaries because they list "Management" as a large expense, but this number (~ $300,000) seems too small to cover a large professional staff. I think this is likely for Insurance, as well as Audit and Accounting Services. The staff salaries are probably hidden in "Program Services," which is by far the largest expense. But hey, I don't mean to knock the entire professional corp. There are a lot of good folks out there.

I'm a parent of a Lion and will be experiencing FOS for the first time this Spring. For the more tenured volunteers, can I ask a few questions? I have an FOS flyer from my youth asking for $129 (the cost to support 1 scout for 1 year). Mentally, I was preparing to make a donation of around $200. Now I see the campaign is asking for $401 (the cost to support 1 scout for 1 year in 2023). What the heck happened there? I assume the council has an FOS fundraising goal. Does that goal get pushed down to the districts and the unit level? If so, does that mean every unit has an FOS goal? What happens if the unit doesn't hit the goal? Are they assessed a lump sum?

I have a somewhat cynical view of the OA, but this is a perfect service they can perform to help convert Cubs to Scouts BSA. OP, have you considered reaching out to the Scout Troop your Cubs will be joining? Perhaps, they'd be willing to cover the recognition costs? My Cub Scout Pack has an OK relationship with a few local Scout Troops, but they seem to be more responsive when there are bodies on the line. 🙂

Child safety is a shared concern. My implication is that Millennial mothers drive household decision-making. (Including having final say on their child's participation in Cub Scouts). I always get a chuckle when I hear a story about a well-meaning girl who writes to a detergent company to complain about sexist advertising. She's assuming that women are often featured in detergent commercials because the company believes wives do more laundry than their husbands. While this may be true in some households, the company is featuring women in their ads because women are more likely to BUY THE DETERGENT (or at least choose the brand). Laundry in my household is split 50/50 (my wife would say 60/40), but she's the one who looks forward to the weekly Target run. In any case, I appreciate the dialogue. Rather than risk debating at nauseum, I'll concede my opinion on the matter is in the minority (but please understand it's not unique to me). All else equal, suburban moms would probably prefer that suburban dads are the ones to take their children camping.

Welcome. Great first post! Please let me clarify - Like most others, I have no concerns about a long-tenured, non-parent volunteer participating in overnight events, provided YP is observed. However, you don't have to convince me that Scouting is safe - you have to convince Millennial mothers. And right now, that's akin to convincing people to board a blimp right after the Hindenburg disaster. I'm not sure how my statement could be construed as sexist. It's a response to observed behavior (with about 82,000 examples, right?). Allow me to provide some insight into how a typical Millennial marriage works: If my wife wanted to quit her job tomorrow, she would be praised for putting her family first. If I wanted to quit my job tomorrow, society would ask - "what the heck is wrong with this guy?" My exclusive domain as a father is our investment portfolio, the lawn, and maybe how the basement is decorated. That's it. Mothers get final say on everything else. You could say that's also "straight-up sexist," but it's a common marriage dynamic of which the BSA needs to be cognizant. The NFL has been wildly successful in recent years, despite political controversy, safety concerns. and ever-increasing prices of tickets and merchandise. A big part of their success is that they know how to market to women (even though their product involves mostly men - not unlike the BSA!). Pink merchandise, pop concerts at halftime, and an emphasis on youth football safety - that's not a coincidence! Bottom Line: Use your discretion and observe YP when deciding who camps with your unit. Most units do this and most units have no problems. However - I implore you to consider the actual decision makers and how they may perceive the participation of male volunteers who are not parents.

I will tread lightly with my follow-up post. I am fully aware of the many contributions of non-parent volunteers (having been the beneficiary of them myself as a youth). This is my perspective as the parent of a Cub Scout: My wife and I are almost 40. We are politically moderate and live in the suburbs of a mid-size city. We have good jobs and sufficient disposable income to provide extra-curricular opportunities for our son, but our time is limited and we have to be selective about the activities in which he participates. You could apply this same description to the majority of parents in our community. By most accounts, we would all pass a "reasonable person" standard. Not long ago, my wife and I endured a nightly barrage of "Abused in Scouting" commercials as we were settling down for bed. Had I not been a Scout myself, there is no way my wife would have signed our son up for Cub Scouts. There are a dozen other age-appropriate activities in which our son could participate that do not involve a high-profile sexual abuse scandal. I know there are many long-tenured Scouters on this forum. Please place yourselves in the shoes of a new scout parent and ask whether you would be comfortable sending your son or daughter on a camping trip with adult men who are not the parents of Scouts. Those of us who have been affiliated with Scouting are likely to say "Sure, that'd be fine, as long as we know the person and observe YP, etc." - but what is a 40-year-old mom with no Scouting experience going to say? Last Fall, I took my Kindergartner to a 1-day event sponsored by our district. It warmed my heart to see so many volunteers I recognized from my youth. Many of them were parents of my Scouting peers who have stuck with the program in some capacity. One day, after my son is grown, I could see myself joining this district volunteer corp. However, I have no desire to chaperone overnight events that my son is not attending. First, that sounds exhausting. And, second, I would not want to put myself in a compromising situation where it could even be hinted that my behavior around youth was inappropriate. While I see merit in everyone's rebuttal, I implore you to think of the average Millennial mother who gets to decide whether her child participates in Scouting. She is the one deciding the BSA's fate right now. You may know that the 60-year-old man camping with your troop has 4 Eagle Scout sons, but she may not know (or care). Respectfully, Better With Cheddar

Unpopular take: This is 2023. Grown men without children in the unit should not participate in overnight activities. I'm fully aware this would exclude many terrific volunteers from participating in a key aspect of the program. By all means, they are welcome to volunteer in other capacities (staffing a day camp or training parent volunteers, for example). As a 30-something parent, I'd be highly skeptical of a male volunteering at the unit level if that person wasn't also a parent and I'm certain my wife shares my skepticism. And we all know moms drive the big household decisions (like whether kids get to participate in Scouting).