the WOSM crisis

[Slouchhat]

Hello,

what's going on here?

 

http://www.scout.org/en/content/download/9539/81200/file/C0733WOSM_Institutional_Crisis_e.pdf

 

best regards,

Volker

 

[dan]

Looks likes BSA is flexing its muscle. Over what I cannot tell from that letter.

[erickelly65]

Has anyone seen this "open letter" and what it stated with regard to governance?(This message has been edited by erickelly65)

[BadenP]

I bet it is either over the gay issue, religious principle, or coed scouting.

 

Looks like there is a storm a brewing mateys!

[Gold Winger]

BSA pays 40% of the budget of the the WSC? Interesting. I'm glad to see that BSA is showing their cojones.

[ASM915]

Gold Winger,

The 40% was the total withheld by all NSO's, not just the BSA.

[Slouchhat]

Hello,

I'm a bit disappointed that the newsletter doesn't exactly say what the problems are.

Too bad that this seems to be compartmented for the higher echelons.

 

best regards,

Volker

[Lisabob]

Without knowing what the argument is about, it is hard to tell whether the BSA is flashing their figurative parts as GW suggests, or just being stubborn about some idiotic bureaucratic thing.

[Trevorum]

The "governance issues" are not specified but it looks like BSA, Sweden, and unspecified other countries want Mr. Missoni to step down as Sec. General. It'll be interesting to see who blinks.

[Beavah]

Yah, a copy of da letter from HQ. Issues have nuthin' to do with conservative social issues, but rather with financial transparency and support of "pet projects" over aid to National Scouting Organizations in the developing world. Sorta like UN funding issues, eh?

 

Beavah

 

-------

 

Date: October 17, 2007

 

To: Members of the World Scout Committee

 

From: Wayne M. Perry

International Commissioner

 

Subject: Recent Decision of the Boy Scouts of America

 

 

I am writing you today in my capacity as the International Commissioner of the Boy

Scouts of America (BSA) to inform you of an irrevocable decision the BSA made at its

National Officers Meeting last night with respect to our participation in the World

Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM). This decision was made after a very

careful review of numerous issues that have evolved since early 2004. We are fully

aware of the impact this decision will have on the BSA and WOSM; however, it has been

determined that no other course of action is available to take.

 

Let me begin by expressing how proud the BSA is of our long involvement in world

Scouting. The BSAs support and participation in WOSM has enabled us to use our

resources to aid the Scouting movement throughout the world. The movement has in turn

enhanced the richness of the BSAs Scouting program. We sincerely believe we have

helped make a difference and hopefully look forward to doing so again soon.

 

Perhaps a brief summary of our financial commitment to world Scouting can help frame

the issues at hand. The most recent audited financial statements of the World Scout

Bureau (WSB) dated September 5, 2007, shows that the BSA contributed 39.04 percent

of the fees collected by the WSB. This 39.04 percent the BSA contributed does not

include the some $2.5 million (USD) that the BSA, its donors, and its benefactors made

in special grants to the WSB, its regional offices, and selected National Scout

Organizations (NSOs) during this past year. Nor does the amount in fees paid include the

large sums that were donated to the World Scout Foundation (WSF) by BSA Scouters,

which were made as a result of the direct encouragement of the BSA. Additionally, the

BSA continued to make program support materials available to selected NSOs at no cost.

 

The financial commitment made by the BSA outlined above also does not include the

extensive time and financial commitments made by so many BSA volunteers and

professionals who willingly attend and participate in the various task force and committee

meetings of WOSM at the world, regional, or NSO level. BSA volunteers both give their

time and pay their own way to these meetings (BSA volunteers do not receive travel or

expense reimbursement from WOSM or the BSA). They do this out of a deep and

personal commitment to WOSM.

 

Clearly, the BSA is by far the largest single financial contributor to WOSM of any

member NSO, and we have an obligation to be certain these combined resources are

utilized properly. Therein lies the core issue.

 

In return for these commitments, the BSA asks that the funds we provide to the WSB are

(1) spent with a view of supporting the NSOs especially NSOs in lesser developed

countries to grow and deliver a quality Scouting program to a maximum number of

youth and (2) spent in an efficient manner with appropriate and transparent financial

controls. The BSA has reluctantly come to the conclusion that under the current

processes and leadership of the WSB, neither of these two goals has been nor will be

achieved.

 

Therefore, the BSA has decided that it will suspend the payment of any and all funds

(fees, grants, and task force support) to the WSB and its regional offices until the current

Secretary General is replaced and appropriate processes instituted to restore the WSB to

what we believe is its core mission in aiding NSOs to grow and deliver a quality Scouting

program. (The BSA will continue to provide direct support to selected NSOs.)

 

Decisions of the WSB seem to be made with little regard to their effect on often-

struggling NSOs. The WSB has focused on other priorities such as the World Scout

Scientific Congress and its proposed new $14 million World Scout Center building in

Geneva, but it has not completed its 2007/2008 budget for at least three months into the

current fiscal year (which is better than last years budget, which was finalized five

months into the fiscal year).

 

The recently disclosed multimillion-dollar WSB investment in the Picarquin Training and

Events Center (dubbed a World Scout Center) has adversely impacted the Interamerica

Region Office and the NSOs it is charged to serve. Scout use at the Picarquin Training

and Events Center represents only 7 percent of the use (on a revenue basis) of the center.

The recently released report on Picarquin by the WOSM Audit Committee discloses that

Picarquins ongoing operations result in a significant annual loss to the Interamerica

Region and that a profit will not be feasible under the current financial structure of

Picarquin. We disagree with the Secretary Generals belief that Picarquin makes

money and disagree with the desire to construct a hotel on the site (with the area around

the site being rezoned as a proposed gambling center) as a way of salvaging his decisions.

 

The recently proposed tax of 7.5 percent on the income from future world Scout

jamboree fees as a means of raising money would make it more difficult for youth to

attend future jamborees. There also appears to be no need for the WSBs effort to license

World Scout Centers. The impact these two items will have on struggling NSOs is likely

negative at best.

 

We at the BSA are not at a loss for opportunities for using our resources. The BSA has

many places to utilize its resources to further the Scouting movement. We have a

renewed focus on serving disadvantaged youth in the USA and around the world, which

can effectively utilize the dollars we have previously contributed to the WSB. Despite

these competing needs, the BSA would like nothing more than to resume the financial

support for WOSM. Under current conditions, it is just not possible for us to be

responsible stewards of the funds we have been entrusted with by the generous supporters

of the BSA to entrust any further monies to the WSB.

 

We have thought hard and appreciate the magnitude of our decision. If the situation is

not resolved, the BSA would be suspended from WOSM late next year for nonpayment

of fees and thus would not be eligible to attend the upcoming world Scout jamboree in

Sweden, the world Scout conference in Brazil, or other WOSM-sanctioned events. If this

were to be the case, our Scouts and leaders would surely miss the opportunity for a

wonderful interaction with Scouts and leaders from around the world; however, in light

of the legal and practical circumstances faced by charitable organizations in the USA

today, we have no other choice.

 

Like others that share these concerns, we look forward to working together with our

fellow NSOs to bring the WSB back on track. We welcome the sharing of ideas on how

to achieve this task, but we hope you understand that new leadership at the WSB is a

prerequisite to the restoration of funding by the BSA.

 

[scoutingagain]

Even before Beavah posted the letter I suspected something like a financial issue. I mean would you really expect the BSA and Sweden to come to a consensus on the social stuff?

 

SA

[Trevorum]

Thanks for posting, Beav.

 

I find it interesting that BSA is contemplating being banned from the next World Jamboree - in Sweden - and Sweden is on record supporting the BSA's stand. (I suppose the Swedes wouldn't be allowed to attend their own event?)

[eolesen]

Gee, a move by National that everyone should be in agreement on...

[BadenP]

This is indeed an interesting issue concerning the distribution of contributions and the lack of accoutability. I wonder if BSA-National would be as open to an audit of their own books and the lack of accountability to its own volunteers and supporters here in the USA.

[Slouchhat]

Hello,

I would think that as long as nobody really asks for this, it's not voluntarily given.

 

best regards,

Volker