End of 2024 membership numbers

[Eagle1993]

Regardless of the month, all of the numbers show a program either in decline or barely hanging on.

[PACAN]

@Eagle1993Probably correct

 

My friend said that over 10% of councils have less than 1000 youth and there are only 5% with more than 10K youth.

[Tron]

On 2/17/2025 at 9:56 AM, PACAN said:

@Eagle1993Probably correct

 

My friend said that over 10% of councils have less than 1000 youth and there are only 5% with more than 10K youth.

Does that mean that we can expect multiple council mergers in the next year or two? It is my understanding that national does not want councils under 5000 youth.

[fred8033]

On 2/22/2025 at 5:00 PM, Tron said:

Does that mean that we can expect multiple council mergers in the next year or two? It is my understanding that national does not want councils under 5000 youth.

I'd hope.  If the average salary cost is $50,000 (low considering we also have executives, directors, etc) and that a council probably needs at least three staff (probably way low), the per-scout council cost is at least $150.  I assume the majority of council finances happen thru donation or endowments.  Even then, council finances have never made sense to me.  I don't understand how small councils can stay in business.  

[Eagle94-A1]

On 2/22/2025 at 6:00 PM, Tron said:

Does that mean that we can expect multiple council mergers in the next year or two? It is my understanding that national does not want councils under 5000 youth.

Yes.  There is a document in the lawsuit that proposes a significant reduction in councils, something like 100-150.

 

2 hours ago, fred8033 said:

  I don't understand how small councils can stay in business.  

A small council that provides quality service will meet their finance goals. I know a council that is having membership issues, but they provide quality service to their members, and their financial goals are exceeded. Contrast to another council I know that has membership growth, but poor customer service. I cannot tell you how much they lost donations, but it is significant. One district's goal is 5.3% of what is was 20 years ago when adjusted for inflation.

[Tron]

On 2/24/2025 at 10:17 AM, Eagle94-A1 said:

Yes.  There is a document in the lawsuit that proposes a significant reduction in councils, something like 100-150.

 

A small council that provides quality service will meet their finance goals. I know a council that is having membership issues, but they provide quality service to their members, and their financial goals are exceeded. Contrast to another council I know that has membership growth, but poor customer service. I cannot tell you how much they lost donations, but it is significant. One district's goal is 5.3% of what is was 20 years ago when adjusted for inflation.

I just checked the national map of councils which appears to have been updated 4 Dec 2024 (but does not reflect the realignment of Bay Lakes in WI and MCC in Michigan). That map shows 244 councils. If the settlement documents are binding to any degree that means we're probably looking at a council reduction of at least 100, the low end is at the floor of expectations right? If we look at the cost savings, Scouting America saves anywhere between 18 million and 28 million a year just on council executive salaries (average salary seems to be around 200k) when they merge these councils. This is some EXTREMELY low hanging fruit to find money for program for the scouts. This is just CE money we would save, we don't have good visibility on what council registrars, camping directors, etc ... make those are also all de duplicated roles in a council merger.