I learned in church today

[Jeff Lebowski]

Nikuman, you live in a weird stake. Hang in there, amigo.

[Portland Ute]

We got the Friends of Scouting shakedown today. It didn't go over too well.

I got it last week one night.

I politely told the FOS solicitor that I would not give to FOS but would directly to our ward's troop because I believe the money should go to the boys and not to professional scouters.

He said he completely understood and that was the end of it.

[UtahDan]

If you are such a badass walk away. There are plenty of folks here that can show you how. Or, just stop being such a puss and getting offended so easily.

CUF is full of pussies that love to complain. Cowboy up bitches.

All I could think of while reading this was Lebowskis cupcakes.

[Uncle Ted]

We got the Friends of Scouting shakedown today. It didn't go over too well.

FoS was a little different for us this year. They passed around a list of the families in the ward with areas to check off if you wanted to donate or not. It kind of reminded me of the United Way and how they somehow get employers to harass those who don't donate. Sitting in my reserved seat in the back I got to see everyone that marked "no" along with everyone else back there.

Of course, Ross Perot and I believe in the scouting program and donate to our local council every year. I don't donate at anywhere near the level that Ross does but donate enough that I get invited to a lot of the BSA special events that he does where we learn about how the money is being used. The BSA does put a lot of the money to good use.

[Uncle Ted]

I got it last week one night.

I politely told the FOS solicitor that I would not give to FOS but would directly to our ward's troop because I believe the money should go to the boys and not to professional scouters.

He said he completely understood and that was the end of it.

I have more of an issue on how the church uses the donations it gets or has earned from its investments. The BSA doesn't build one of the most expensive shopping malls in the country, for example. The church also has paid professionals.

[mUUser]

We got the Friends of Scouting shakedown today. It didn't go over too well.

Ugh, is it that time of year again?.....I wouldn't give one red cent to the scouting program at any level.

[Omaha 680]

Not really, but there are a few that would work. And for the most part, it is true.

The danger in relying on these magically appearing groceries stories is that the scriptures dont promise temporal blessings specifically as a result of paying tithing. Also, it has never made much sense to me to tout the magically appearing groceries in tithing stories. To be a full tithe payer, you don't have to be current at that very second. Some folks show up to tithing settlement and cut a check or settle up a the end of the year. Great, no problem. So if you have to pay your rent or pay tithing, why wouldn't you pay your rent? Just pay your tithing later and you are still a full tithe payer.

The best reason to pay tithing is because we have been asked to do so, not because one time when you did it you received a random phone call offering you a job. Because 99% of the time, you will cut your tithing check and won't come home to a doorway filled with magic groceries or lucrative job offers.

Be smart. Pay your rent and keep a roof over your head.

This is fair, but the choice I see people struggle with more often than tithing vs rent is tithing vs cable tv, tithing vs expensive cell phones and data plans, or tithing vs eating out often. Maybe leaders would do better to talk less about magic groceries (even though I know these things happen) and more about budgeting and how it is usually possible to be a full tithe payer if we value it enough to sacrifice some of the superfluous luxuries in our lives. This is of course referring to leaders in countries with a high standard of living like the US.

[Moliere]

FoS was a little different for us this year. They passed around a list of the families in the ward with areas to check off if you wanted to donate or not. It kind of reminded me of the United Way and how they somehow get employers to harass those who don't donate. Sitting in my reserved seat in the back I got to see everyone that marked "no" along with everyone else back there.

Of course, Ross Perot and I believe in the scouting program and donate to our local council every year. I don't donate at anywhere near the level that Ross does but donate enough that I get invited to a lot of the BSA special events that he does where we learn about how the money is being used. The BSA does put a lot of the money to good use.

If my boys were in a non-LDS scout troop that ran scouting the way it is supposed to be ran, then I'd be more inclined to support the program. I think scouting is great when you are not burdened with unwilling parents, unwilling kids, and a budget that prohibits participation in almost every scout activity....it's tough to donate. Our shakedowns have become more and more mild over the years but I'm still tormented by the first one I ever attended, which was probably more akin to an Amway presentation than anything else.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Our ward has never dedicated a meeting to FOS. They just send out a letter every year.

[Pheidippides]

Our ward has never dedicated a meeting to FOS. They just send out a letter every year.

I don't know that I've ever even heard FOS mentioned in my ward. So at least I have that going for me. My stake is bizarre, but not in that way. Of course, I haven't been to EQ in over a year now, so maybe I missed it there.

[BigPiney]

Addressing the question of a metric, for what is a ward. In the handbook: there is a minimum of 15 full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders to make a ward.

Normally all new wards must have at least one active, full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holder per 20 members.

I am not seeing anything about maintaining ward status, but this may be the level where they are concerned you are falling close to.

[Jacob]

If my boys were in a non-LDS scout troop that ran scouting the way it is supposed to be ran, then I'd be more inclined to support the program. I think scouting is great when you are not burdened with unwilling parents, unwilling kids, and a budget that prohibits participation in almost every scout activity....it's tough to donate. Our shakedowns have become more and more mild over the years but I'm still tormented by the first one I ever attended, which was probably more akin to an Amway presentation than anything else.

You refuse to donate because they scouts don't have nearly enough money to hold quality activities?

I refuse to donate because I'm cheap. But I've considered making in-kind donations. Or rather, asking the scout leader what they need, purchasing it, then letting them use it while I maintain ownership, if it's something I'd like to have. Then we wouldn't lose it when the ward is split again. But I've been too cheap/broke to follow through.

[Northwestcoug]

Our ward has never dedicated a meeting to FOS. They just send out a letter every year.

We never have FOS mentioned over the pulpit at sacrament meeting. What usually happens is that it's mentioned at priesthood opening exercises, while the ward clerk/exec secretary hands out envelopes to everyone. It includes a BSA form that shows what you donated the year before, and a slip to pay for the current year.

[Pheidippides]

Addressing the question of a metric, for what is a ward. In the handbook: there is a minimum of 15 full-tithe paying Melchizedek Priesthood holders to make a ward.



I am not seeing anything about maintaining ward status, but this may be the level where they are concerned you are falling close to.

I'm guessing that's it. One full tithe paying MP per 20. Demographically I can see us tripping that given the numbers of inactives, numbers of children, and numbers of families without an MP. Not that it changes my opinion of the delivery of the message or the SP.

[Moliere]

You refuse to donate because they scouts don't have nearly enough money to hold quality activities?

I refuse to donate because I'm cheap. But I've considered making in-kind donations. Or rather, asking the scout leader what they need, purchasing it, then letting them use it while I maintain ownership, if it's something I'd like to have. Then we wouldn't lose it when the ward is split again. But I've been too cheap/broke to follow through.

I refuse to donate to FoS because I prefer my money go to support the local troop. Our troop does not have the money to attend many of the events that require fees to register. The CHoI doesn't allow us to solicit donations or to have parents pay and we don't have the money in the budget, so we just get left not attending the events that are subsidized by FoS funds. Instead we camp on ward member's property (for free) or at the local park (which is free for scout troops). I give a lot to the local troop (both monetarily and in-kind) so I don't feel bad at all not donating to FoS.