LDS Church and Scouting

[Moliere]

I think the HOI only allows for one fund-raiser a year - plus "Friends of Scouting."

BTW - Doesn't Friends of Scouting money go to the District & not the Troop?

Why would I want to give to the District & not the Troop?

I'll need to check but I think the HOI doesn't limit you to one fundraiser a year but it does say that the fundraiser(s) should be done only to raise money for specific things like camp. Most stakes put the "one fundraiser a year" limit on the troops. That leaves the troop to live off of the budget for the entire year. Running a troop of 10-20 boys on $1,000 a year. Maybe this is why the guy with money or the guy with a cabin always gets called as scoutmaster.

Fundraisers are also limited in what you can do. Obviously this varies from stake to stake but door-to-door sales and selling products (mulch sales) are not allowed. I know of stakes that have outlawed the flag services where the troop puts up flags on holidays. I guess parents were upset that they had to plan holiday activities around the kids putting up and taking down flags.

FOS money goes to the district or just to the BSA in general. None of it stays in the local troop, although I guess it pays for the district that supports the troop. I don't donate to FOS and instead I make a donation to the Boy Scout fund for the ward.

Like I said, I could write a book on scouting and the church. I have experience in this area. I've been reprimanded by the stake for certain things. But my favorite comment about scouting came from FMCoug who called the church's version of scouting a "bastardized version" which I think is most appropriate.

[pelagius]

I'll need to check but I think the HOI doesn't limit you to one fundraiser a year but it does say that the fundraiser(s) should be done only to raise money for specific things like camp.

You are correct (2006, HOI):

As an exception, a stake president or bishop may authorize group fund-raising activites only when necessary to help pay for annual camps and equipment as outlined on page 160.

If a fund raising activity is held, it should provide meaningful value or service. It should be a positive experience that builds unity.

[eldiente]

I used to be a bear, then staffed as an eagle

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Trails-Testimony-Bringing-Through-Scouting/dp/1439228434/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287006619&sr=8-1"]Amazon.com: Trails to Testimony: Bringing Young Men to Christ Through Scouting (9781439228432): Bradley D. Harris: Books@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VR8Cc3O6L.@@AMEPARAM@@51VR8Cc3O6L[/ame]

A great book explaining some justification for the close relationship between LDS Church and Scouting.

I feel badly for those areas of the Church without access to Scouting. They have to depend on local leadership to almost entirely create their own program. Results are all over the place in terms of complexity, intention, and accomplishment.

Remember, 35% of Scouts in the LDS Church are under the age of 12 - that age-group seems to get alot more out of Scouting than the 14+ age-group, yet most LDS complainers focus on the problems of the older age group.

FWIW

[fresca]

Nice Thread Bro - and I know I'm late to the party

I'm a vote for no and not to replace, at least officially. I think the church can still support scouting and members (who want to) can be encouraged to volunteer as leaders.

As a current YM president, I don't feel like scouting is a fit for all ages of YM. I think the deacon-age YM are well served. They are new in it. It's exciting. Scout camps are great experiences (albeit huge commitments for the the leaders). In general, scouting activities cater to the whole group.

As the YM get older, some go for the eagle and get it quickly. If you're into scouting, you will get your eagle by 13-14 years old, no problem (I did - as did Wally). At this point, it's pretty clear which kids care about scouting and which don't. As YM leaders in the teacher/priest age have to come up with activities which cater to the whole group, they are faced with some kids who are done with scouting (eagles), some who don't care, and maybe one or two who still want some scouting. This last group are faced with a disadvantage. This is why I think scouting (at the varsity/venturer levels) should be more regional, staffed with leaders who want to be focused on scouting and populated with YM who want to be there. YM leaders at the ward level need to be focused on the group as a whole, which by this time is quite diverse. I find scouting to be a less effective tool for the older groups.

[wally]

The Tribune blasts "Friends of Scouting."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/5...tml.csp?page=1

In 2009 amid the recession, the Great Salt Lake Council of the Boy Scouts saw its revenue plummet nearly $400,000 below projections, forcing it to cut 13 full-time jobs to make ends meet. Income was lower in every category but one — the annual Friends of Scouting drive that seeks donations.

The Friends of Scouting campaign that is successful even in hard times here is conducted differently in Utah than in most of the nation — with the LDS Church pushing harder for money than in the lower-pressure drives suggested in national handbooks.

Donations don’t go to local Scout troops. Money goes to the administrative council to operate such things as Scout shops and campgrounds. It also helps pay some large salaries. Compensation of $148,796 was given in 2009 (the last year data are available) to Great Salt Lake Council Scout executive Rick Barnes, who replaced former executive Paul Moore and his $228,174 annual compensation.

Controversy has arisen in the past about donations also helping to pay big salaries of some council executives. When The Tribune asked for current salary levels, the councils declined to provide them.

But nonprofits must list the salaries of some top executives on annual Internal Revenue Service Form 990 and must report how many employees earn more than $100,000 in compensation. Guidestar.com collects such forms.

According to the most-recent available 2009 forms, the Great Salt Lake Council had four employees receiving compensation of more than $100,000.

[Moliere]

The Tribune blasts "Friends of Scouting."

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/5...tml.csp?page=1

Hey trib, youre late be welcome to the party nonethelss.

[BigPiney]

Hey trib, youre late be welcome to the party nonethelss.

I got an email a while ago about FOS. They were wondering if there was a mistake, because my unit was showing no contributions. I told them there was no mistake and thanks for their time.

[Clark Addison]

I got an email a while ago about FOS. They were wondering if there was a mistake, because my unit was showing no contributions. I told them there was no mistake and thanks for their time.

CUF bishops are the coolest.

[Uncle Ted]

I got an email a while ago about FOS. They were wondering if there was a mistake, because my unit was showing no contributions. I told them there was no mistake and thanks for their time.

Cool, was that email from the SP or SYMP?

[Donuthole]

Hey trib, youre late be welcome to the party nonethelss.

I got an email a while ago about FOS. They were wondering if there was a mistake, because my unit was showing no contributions. I told them there was no mistake and thanks for their time.

It felt really good this year to tell the Silver Beaver in our ward who is really, really pushy about FOS that I wouldn't be donating this year. When he questioned why I, as a YM leader in the ward, was choosing not to renew my FOS donation (yes, he asked that, and almost exactly that way), I said something to the effect of "Oh don't worry about our ward's scouting fund, I'll be donating directly to that, instead." And I did, with quintuple my prior annual FOS donation (which isn't really that much, considering we were donating $20/year before)

I am really, really tempted to start an underground anti-FOS movement in my ward, mainly because we end up collecting thousands of dollars every year (over $10,000 this year), but when we threw out the idea of going to Catalina island's BSA camp, we were told each boy would have to raise $450 of the $550 (Oh, and I was asked to shell out $150 of my own cash to pay for the right to take work off and take boys to Beaver High Adventure). I'm torn, however, because I really do like and appreciate my bishop, and an anti-FOS movement is only going to provide him with a headache.

[wuapinmon]

It felt really good this year to tell the Silver Beaver in our ward who is really, really pushy about FOS that I wouldn't be donating this year. When he questioned why I, as a YM leader in the ward, was choosing not to renew my FOS donation (yes, he asked that, and almost exactly that way), I said something to the effect of "Oh don't worry about our ward's scouting fund, I'll be donating directly to that, instead." And I did, with quintuple my prior annual FOS donation (which isn't really that much, considering we were donating $20/year before)

I am really, really tempted to start an underground anti-FOS movement in my ward, mainly because we end up collecting thousands of dollars every year (over $10,000 this year), but when we threw out the idea of going to Catalina island's BSA camp, we were told each boy would have to raise $450 of the $550 (Oh, and I was asked to shell out $150 of my own cash to pay for the right to take work off and take boys to Beaver High Adventure). I'm torn, however, because I really do like and appreciate my bishop, and an anti-FOS movement is only going to provide him with a headache.

Do it; the BSA organizational structure is bloated and needs pruning.

[TripletDaddy]

Friends of Scouting initials are FOS.

Speaks volumes.

[Shaka]

Young mens leader takes a stand and loses his calling.

[Moliere]

Young mens leader takes a stand and loses his calling.

I will not complain about scouting. I will not complain about scouting. I will not complain about scouting...

[TripletDaddy]

Another reason I will never accept a calling in Scouts.

This was disappointing. Almost a bit of bullying, actually:

After The Tribune talked to Roth, Thomas said the stake presidency requested a meeting with him, which included asking why he had contacted the news media.