So what happens when

[Eamonn]

Before we get too carried away.

The "Stuff" belongs to the CO. The money was raised in the name of the CO.

But what are we talking about?

Most packs have very little equipment.

While Troops have a lot of equipment and have worked hard to get it, most CO's that I know would sooner have the space that a bunch of smelly tents take up!!

As for money, I don't see anyone going very far on the amount that most units have in their accounts and if they do have large amounts, I wonder how come? and why are they folding?

We all need at every level to do what we can to improve the way we get on with our CO's. If something isn't working we need to fix it. In the end it will pay tremendous dividends.

Eamonn.

[Kahuna]

With all due respect to Eamonn, I take strong exception that the money was raised in the name of the CO. Most people who go to a Scout fundraiser and get a car washed or buy a Christmas tree only see the BSA strip on the uniform or the sign. They are not thinking of the Last Baptist Church, the CO of the unit, even if the car wash is in the church parking lot.

 

There are other legal issues as well. Notwithstanding the BSA/CO relationship, there are state laws that govern what a non-profit corporation can do with monies and assets. In most cases they would not be able to do anything other than use it for the intended purpose or give it to another non-profit organization.

 

Again, I strongly recommend non-profit 501©(3) corporations for large troops, or even packs, to hold their equipment. Of course, it is true that most packs don't have much in the way of equipment.

 

I had to change sponsors a time or two and only one of them knew that they really owned the equipment. The others I just got a written consent to the change. The latter required showing written documentation as to who actually owned the equipment, which was the corporation, not the church.

[msnowman]

Agreed Eamonn - our Pack as very little equipment and almost none of it useful to anybody outside of Cub Scouting - a Pinewood Derby Track, a bridge and a bunch of craft supplies. No question that all belongs to the CO until they decide otherwise...the most useful things we have for our CO would be our paper products...afterall, what church can't use more plastic forks/knives/spoons/cups, etc? LOL

Fortunatly for us our COR is very active in Scouting (at the local, district and council levels), but he is the only member of the church who is.

 

As far as what the Pack has on account, I have no idea, I am friends with the two people who are our check signers so I intentionally stay as far from that as I can, particularly since I have no business knowing what we do have in the bank. The only think I know is how much we have on account at the council store and that's only because I am authorized to purchase there.

 

I know that once I step down as CM, I have no more say, but that doesn't stop me from being concern about the future of Cub Scouting in Orland, Maine. I am hoping to be able to go back to being "just" a Den Leader and let someone else have the joys of being CM. /smile

And boy, don't I know why they suggest wearing just one hat. lol

 

Michelle

[SemperParatus]

Kahuna,

 

Just to confirm...

 

When your 'unit' does a fundraiser, is it done under the auspices of the non-profit affiliate rather than the CO? (e.g., checks in name of affiliate, receipt confirmation on affiliate letterhead, deposits/accounts/books reflect affiliate).

 

You have a generic waiver signed by the CO that it is has no financial interest in the money raised or property used by the unit?

 

Was that your family recently featured in Scouting magazine for its fireknife dancing - a lawyer in Hawaii named ahuna?(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

[packsaddle]

I was wondering the same thing. (the Scouter magazine thing)