Financing Scouting: Understanding FOS/SME

HI!

Yes, as Adrian stated, SME (or Sustainimg Membership Enrollment, or "Save My Employment") and FOS ( or Friends of Scouting, or "Funding or Suffer") are one and the same.

For those not familiar with either (and Dr. Steve's "reluctance/apprehension" about serving as Family SME chair), the "Language of Scouting" (1988) provides a brief explaination

(I'll be brief today, I promise !! :) )

SUSTAINING MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT (SME): An annual opportunity for parents and interested persons in the community to provide financial support to their local Council. It is divided in some councils into several campaigns: A Family campaign, centering on the friends and family of youth members; a community campaign, centering on the sponsering institutions (chartered partner organizations) and others in the community where Scouting is served; and Benefactor campaigns (they are called Leadership and Patron in other Councils) where corporations, businesses and industries are asked to provide support to special or general Council programs.

Each SME campaign is approved as a supplemental campaign to those of local United Appeal or similiar (United Way, Combined Federal Campaign) organizations.

It is called "Friends of Scouting" now starting in 1988 due to the results of the Foundations for Growth research. Many people associated "SME" with "Save MY Employment" because it did in many Councils, made or broke the success of the district or Exploring executive. Each District/Exploring executive is "expected" to raise the amount of money in his or her District which matches his or her salary. For example, if I was contracted to make $17,200 a year, that is the first year's SME goal. This is in addition to the $17,200 we request from the United Appeals to match my salary...this money goes to provide program support (books, tapes, other materials) and program helps (training, facility rentals, etc.) in my District (that stuff ain't donated all the time, folks...and sometimes its donated at cost...who you think picks up the tab for that???)

So, because of the negative connotation that "SME" had among volunteers already mad about helping to raise United Appeal funds and unit funds to raise money for the executive secretary to do his or her job, it was "recommended" that Councils adopt "Friends of Scouting" as the new local council finance campaign name (some Councils still use "SME" because it has been very successful and because volunteers know what that is...those are the same Councils that have met or exceeded their SME goals year after year!!).

I heard the phrase "Funding or Suffer" at a Commissioners' Conference last fall (1990). It was because if the Executive don't meet his or her SME/FOS goal, then he/she gets a negative "critical achievement" score...which impacts on his or her happiness (and in some places, success) as a DE. It also forces that Exec to continue the campaign into the summer months until he raises approximately 85% of that lowest District's total....if your only raised $5200 out of a $17,300 goal....and the lowest District's total is $12,485, then buddy, you will probably see your DE in the fall...because his or her primary motivation will NOT be program...or program support...or administation of service.

It will be to "save his or her employment"!!!

Settummanque!!

P.S. Dr. Steve...the family campaign is a real snap. I was able to raise $5200 for my part of the District by doing four things:

one, explaining WHY the BSA is asking for the money
two, showing (by pictures, slides and personal experience) what that money buys...
three, by asking each family to contribute $12 for each youth member (that comes to a dollar a month, something that every family "throws")
four, by recruiting a person from each unit to assist me in the unique approach to each unit.

(Alone from my Troop and Post, I raised $824.00 because I went to EVERY family and explained the four things above and relating their son/daughter's involvement in those things.)

Dr. Steve Myers:

Mike, Joan, others...

My experience on Troop committee at SME time was at best uncomfortable.

Our chairman and Unit Commissioner (doing the pres to the committee) and our Chartered Representative got the rest of us to go along with a plan where by the Troop paid an amount equal to $15 a boy, then sent home the info on SME & a note to families asking that they consider paying us back for the donation. Most did. That is not my problem.

It seems to me that by not making a "pitch" to the families for an unlimited donation (perhaps with a suggestion of say $15) you give up the potential for a few big gains. Some of our dads drive cars that rival the value of my house and I have a very nice house thank you. Further, I think asking for the $15 from some each family does put a strain on the "lower income" ones. Why not just make the pitch and hope for the best? Perhaps turn a few special arms if need be?

I guess I don't like the idea of sending home a bill when we hit them up for plenty from uniforms to summer camp.... Am I nuts or what?

Paul Russell:

Gosh, Mike! I'm certainly glad that you were "BRIEF". 8-)

In our district last year, the SME Family Campaign Chairman recruited a team of Scouters to make SME presentations to all of the units in the district. Each team member was responsible for only 2 or 3 units, the Chairman followed up on each team member to be sure that each and every unit was contacted, and there were only a few units that did not schedule presentations.

SME team members were advised to attempt to schedule pack presentations at the pack's Blue & Gold Banquet, and troop presentations at a troop (not Eagle) Court of Honor. The reasoning for this is that those are occasions when you are most likely to have a significant portion of the boys' adult family members in attendance. We were also advised to suggest a family contribution of $52.00 ($1.00 per week).

This was the first year that we had tried this, and it was an over- whelming success - we not only exceeded our goal by a significant amount, we also broke all previous records for SME fund-raising in the district.

My younger son's Cub Scout pack raised 6 times as much as they had the previous year! We are a suburban, middle/upper-middle class district, so the amount we requested was well within the means of the majority of our Scouting families. This may not be the case in other areas.

Frank et all.....

SME was the old name because there were many people whom did not want to become registered members but chose instead to "sustain" the program financially. Hence, the silly (legit) name.

I wanted to reply to Chris's statement about making the finance activities of a local council limited to two a year. In most Councils, those two evnts a year (United Way and SME/FOS) are just enough. In many others, however, those two activities don't even crease the surface!! By "not participating", you are sending a message to your Council by way of your DE: "fire the bum".

As I stated before, SME/FOS is one of the seventeen major ways that a DE/EE is "considered to be of quality to the movement". Failure of a District not to meet its financial goals...which are agreed to by the District Chairman and committee *before* DE goes to Council with the Chairman and announces it.. is grounds for "leaving the profession" unless tenured (tenure in the BSA vocab, is any executive that completes basic training (NEI 1, 2 and 3), have three years or more of service and have agreed to continue past the three year point...they can "leave" but "come back" anytime.....) with no chance to return.

If you want to help your DE but don't want to raise money for him or her, choose instead to do a quality program. Part of the way that successful DEs get their money quota is by showing off "quality programs" to John Q. Moneybags CEO of Moneybags Inc. If the District has only one or two "quality units" then chances are, Moneybags will "invest" his money elsewhere. As a Parapro, I always had a listing of all of what I called "class A" units...these were the ones that I could send a new leader, Moneybags, or my Field Director (the Area Director) to see with me. Those are the ones that, while having no or few uniforms, one or two leaders and maybe a little camping gear, that they *always* have something going on and try to make Scouting fun. You can see it in the faces of the kids that come and go....and the parents that stand around in amazement at that unruly 12 year old take charge and sits still uninterrupted for 20 minutes.

As a former part-time professional, I can sympathaze with all of the units out there that are TIRED of "raising money for the Council". But that is how we can afford to have the best looking Council camp in our state (well... it WAS the best looking until a few years back, right Adrian???); we can afford to bring Scouting to every community that wants it (or needs it!!); and those great training aids and tapes to help make (us) volunteers look and think smart!

Yes, SME/FOS is a pain in the backside, the frontside, the head and the back. Yes, its something that ALL Councils do (even we found that the ones located in the heavily upper-upper middle class and upper class areas of our nation have a SME campaign!) and most do successfully.

No, SME/FOS is something that needs to be added to membership fees because not only would that vary from Council to Council, but also from District to District. (We have enough problems with asking for $7 from each adult and $25 for each unit!!!) No, its something that we need to insure that it don't get out of control and the "corporations" end up "running" Scouting through their "generous contributions and donations". (That's why we have the family and community campaigns, Dr. Steve and Mark!)

And we all, even if its only $1 per kid per month, can give so that Scouting will be the "great equalizer" for years to come.

Excerpt of speech follows:

["Over the past week, I have been a party to a computerized discussion about the role of the Sustaining Membership Campaign, or SME, in Scouting's scheme of things........(stuff deleted).....SME is important for that business to contribute, because it assists us in providing a quality program to all units in our districts and Councilwide. Your Explorer Presidents' Association, the Eagle Scout Association, and your Order of the Arrow groups all benefit from this influx of funding that we volunteers candiditly express to each other its to "save the employment" of you, the career staff.

"But I think that we miss the real big picture here. We talk about how SME will help us to provide needed services to all of the units--but nobody ever talks about the units' role in all of this. Our units are NOT fundraisers. That's why we have professional staffs and volunteer finance committees at the Council and District basis. Our units are in the "business", if you will of executing the Scouting programs....they ARE the reason why we are raising monies, not the source. Yes, it is very important that we allow the families and friends of those members of Scouting's family to help us to help Scouts and Cubs that are unable to go to Day Camp or Summer Camp.

"However, ladies and gentlemen, we need to insure that ALL of our units are having a good Scouting experience before we ask them to help us promote and provide for Scouting for others. We need to make sure that Scouts are going camping, that Cubs are having fun learning and growing with their families, and that Explorers are doing just that...exploring a career, a vocation, a hobby. We need to make sure that they are not holed up in some church or school, with kids waiting for the bell just like they do at the last period of school.

"That is how you will meet your finance goals. That is how you will meet your critical achievement in this area...and more importantly, this is how you will gain the respect of your volunteers in your District...and how in turn, they *will* "save your employment".

"Be with them....assist them...and provide for them. In return, their quality program will allow you to raise the funding and expand the program further." ]
(Mike Walton, "Save My Employment", 1982 (used in June, 1991))

Frank Boimare:

Mike --

The District Chairman and Committee agree on the FOS amount *before* the DE takes it to Council???????

Neither our Committee nor our DE has *any* input on our quota. It is assigned to us by the SE! Period. No discussion or appeal allowed!

Our quota jumped from $25K in 89-90 to $35K in 90-91 to $48K in 91-92. I like our DE -- I sure hope he can handle it! (We help to the best of our abilities, but some units refuse to do an FOS campaign.)

That is the purpose of the District Finance Committee...to determine the amount of money to raise to support the District's operation and the Council's

(oops..that should read the District's) share of the council's operation.

Again, this will vary from Council to Council. If that's the way they do it in NOAC, then that's the way it's done (unfortunately!!)

48 thousand??? You must have at least a two-man operation (or more....) The AVERAGE District raises someplace between 12-26 thou per exec.

Kathie Cerveny

Hi!

The district I live in consists of one town (Evanston IL) in Northeast ILL Council, and it alone has over $50 grand as a goal! Most districts in Northeast long ago passed the mere $20000 mark.

However, in Chicago Area Council, the goals are indeed set by the Key 3 and approval of the district committee, once presented by the Finance committee of the district. What in the world do you have them for, if you put everying on your D.E. By the way - $48,000 is possible, but NOT with the family part of the program, you are overlooking two other parts of the fund raising plan, the business support is indeed going to be very important at this point for you to get over that goal.

But then, if your Key 3 does not like the goals nor agree with the council budget - the volunteers need to actively work to participate in the process, it is the right of every volunteer, and the specific charge of your district finance committee. They should be sitting in at the council level planning meetings where these goals are set.

In Chicago Area, we have a council wide meeting (after the districts have met to set the individual goals, including finance) of all Key 3s of the council, at which time the entire financial picture is shown and discussed, and the districts participate openly in this process.

Result? Our district goal is only $21,000 and we will make it this year for the first time in years, because of a concentrated effort of members of our finance committee to raise the funds for the boys. And - that is what it is all about - the more our economy gets financial in trouble, the more boys we need to reach out to and help - the more single parents trying to survivie and raise those kids - the more important our movemnet becomes.

Instead of worrying about your goals (that is the unwritten job of a professional scouter) just do your best - that is all our movement has ever asked of boys and adults. But - do make sure your volunteers are indeed doing their best with the position they have accepted and been charged to do.

Good luck - good scouting -

KISMIF works in finance too.

Frank Boimare:

Mike --

Actually, we only have a [Junior] DE, and he has only been onboard since 01 April. He doesn't even have a Scouting or fund raising background either! He is subbing for the DE who resigned recently, *and* helping with FOS in a third District, too.

He came in three months after the start of the year and salvaged the District's FOS (at least up to the 85% level in pledges) for this year. He recruited a Nominating Committee who in turn recruited a Chairman and Finance Chair with the capability of generating 50% of next year's FOS if they keep their word.

He didn't catch on until recently that they reward a job well done with more work here.... He is learning rapidly!

Kathie --

The Council here is trying to recover from *many* years of fiscal mismanage- ment and the SE charts his own course.... Bottom line in the black, not input, is his main concern. He has replaced, gracefully or without grace, almost all of his staff with people who "follow his logic carefully" (a euphemism indeed!). He has, however, done a lot to get the Council moving forward financially. His position is secure, so he feels no need to risk involving volunteers in financial planning....

The District Chairman and Finance Chair have committed to raise half of the money, so I guess the DE technically got a slight reduction in the family FOS amount.

Kathie Cerveny

Just a quick note - my council, Chicago Area Council , has 12 districts, NONE of which are manned by two (2) D.E.s ---it used to be true, but no more. My district has 92 units and one D.E. However, we have a strong and active commissioner staff, and volunteer force in finance who indeed knows what to do and where to go. Just thought I'd let you know - I know hundreds of places where volunteers actually are doing the work of "volunteerism" in Scouting. I am sure you do too.

This is directed toward Joan but maybe of use to someone else:

SME....I support SME as a "blanket" donation only because I HATE SME time!

I hate the idea that I have to "convince" parents that the Council's support is in their best interests. But I do it....I do it well...and in my units that I have served as Scoutmaster or Advisor, $48.00 a year to support the BSA (wait a minute...I said $12.00 a year!!! $480.00 would go to the Council from the PACK...) $12 a year per family is a VERY reasonable fee to support a good council.....I ask for a lot more when I come to your unit and do a SME presentation!

Yes, I agree that in a low-income unit, even $12 is a lot of moola! I offered that only as an example....I have seen chartered partners to "foot the SME" bill for their units...

Settummanque!

Henry Knowles:

Settummanque posted a very informative description of SME/FOS. I agree with almost everything he said, and I am a donor every year. This is in addition to the expenses I incur, out of my own pocket, as a Scoutmaster, OA Lodge Advisor, etc.

When I was discussing SME with one of my former DE's, I was griping, I mean pointing out, that they always seemed to be seeking money from the same volunteers who ran the program. His reponse, paraphrased, was that if the Scouters and parents didn't support the Scout council financially, how could we expect that support from United Way and from the businesses in the area. His response made me reevaluate my position.

The only disagreement I have is with the last part of the following sentence. Please also remember that a great part of that money goes to support the outdoor program of that Council, to include the Camping and Order of the Arrow programs.

It has been my experience, albeit limited to the Central Florida Council, that the SME/FOS money does NOT support the Order of the Arrow program, although it certainly supports the outdoor program. (And yes, I realize that there is some professional advisor support for the O.A.)

Instead, at least in our case, Tipisa Lodge 326 of the Order of the Arrow makes an SME donation as well as a contribution to the Camping fund and donations to the council camperships each year. Our lodge finances do not draw any money from the council, but rather, we put money into the council as well as providing cheerful service. Hopefully, the same is true of most other lodges.

Don Izard:

I have a different question / angle on FOS and SME in general.

If we expect every registered scouter or family of a scout to contribute EXTRA to FOS or SME, why don't BSA just charge it UP front as registration??? It has always seemed to me strange and uncormfortable position, to each year ask a family to start by paying registration, and then maybe also weekly dues to run the basic troop program. Then we sell pop corn, then maybe the troop needs some new tents, or wants to go to Philmont, so we again ask the parents for money, or send the scouts out door to door.

SO why isn't what BSA expects from FOS/SME built into the registration or charter fees? I forgot, then we also have bowlathons, hikeathons, GOLF tournaments, gourmet dinners, etc, etc $$$$. Sure I realize the costs for camps, staff, supplies etc. But we are getting to the point that there is some kind of fund drive, or FOOD drive, every other month! It's getting hard to find time to go camping!!

Chris Haggerty: Don has a point, but I think there are several reasons Scouting Breaks registration and FOS/SME into two items. Registration is not tax deductable, SME/FOS is.

Some people simply cannot afford even the $52 dollars a year or whatever the number is that your council wants per scout. Single parent families simply do not have the extra money and this would scare many off. In many areas, Scouting has to show that it is for those with less resouces as well as for those with many resources in order to get the United Way or in-school scouting funds. The intent of the campaign is for people to give what they can and feel comfortable with. Some give more than the council asks, other give less. It depends on what they feel they can afford.

As far as constant fund raising goes, our troop sells Xmas greens as our main source of revenues. We officially sell the popcorn as well, but most of the sales are to family and friends who like the BSA popcorn. We do not push it. We do SME/FOS in March or April. The greens and popcorn come right after each other, with deliver on the same day (how convient!).

If the scout needs something, he knows he has to work for the greens sale. We offer no other opportunity as a unit. (Scout-O-Rama tickets, maybe, we sign-up to keep the council happy, but the boys rarely sell very much.)

We put our effort into the sales once a year, and FOS. Then we take it easy the rest of the time. We sign up "officially for pop-corn and Scout-O-Rama, but we do not put any effort into these.

Maybe what the units need to do is let the Council know that it is not really interested in this or that fund raising by lack of participation.

When the proffessionals start asking where is the participation, tell them it has been watered down too much, they should concentrate all their resources on one good fund raiser and then leave the troops alone for the rest of the year. (They can still have their $100 a plate dinners, but should not expect unit participation.) Tucson, Arizona

Budgeting for FOS/SME

From:Mike Walton:

Steve:

This may sound a bit extreme, but I don't like the idea of the "weekly dues" and in this budget, allow for each family to pay ONE SET FEE for the entire year:

National registration: 7.00
Boy's LIfe 7.00 (even if there are more than one Scout in family (I'll explain)
Crafts and things 5.00
Awards 10.00 (this includes camp/council/district activities patches, etc.)
Activities 6.00 (not including district/council ones)
"oops fund" 3.00 (to cover "things that you have no control over)
SME contribution 15.00 (I know that many families don't give... this way, you can assure everyone of the Pack's support to Scouting!

________

$48.00 (This includes EVERYTHING for the year)

Yeah, it is extreme..but it give you a greater amount of flexibility:

ONE, each pack has at least 4 families that have multiple Boys' Life registrations...since only one BL is needs, the pack can use the other $7.00 to place in the "oops" fund subaccount.

TWO, the awards include all awards (which come pretty close if a Cub earned a rank (2.00), two arrowpoints (.75 each or 1.50), four beads (3.00), and takes part in at least one district/council event (4.00 to 5.00). This can also hanlde the certificates for each award as well.

THREE, the activities one provide for one activity a month at .50 per Cub. this is where the dues would come in to play.

FOUR, I have found out the "hard way" that Things happen without my control. Examples are going back to the Council office to pcik up spare awards, the Quality Unit awards (which must be paid for), blown tires, no food at a given WEBELOS outing when there was supposed to be, and other "oops" things that occur. $3.00 per Cub or $120.00 in a Pack of 40 should answer most "oops" (and still ahve plenty left over for the following year.)

FIVE, I did not even mention insurance, and it was not as a oversight. The SME contribution by family will pay for Cub insurance through one of the private agencies, a $12.00 contribution to SME ($1.00 per month per family) and the remainder to go to the costs of leader's awards...like the training awards

In a pack of 40, the SME contribution would make any Council happy...$480.00.

Which was followed up by:

Joan Webster

PACK FINANCES "the cheap way":

We are lucky to have a sponsoring org. who pays National dues for all boys and adult leaders. New cubs are asked to pay $7.00 the first year which essentially is "good faith" money kept by the pack (when reimbursed by the sponsor for registration). We promote Boy's Life but subscription is voluntary, paid by the family if desired, and re-collected yearly before rechartering.

Den dues are 50 cents per meeting, kept by the leaders to pay for supplies. A higher amount may be asked for den field trips that cost more.

General pack expenses are covered by one or more fundraisers. We discussed the higher cost of WEBELOS awards, and realized that they actually earn more on fundraisers than the younger boys so the issue was dropped. We sold M & Ms this year and made $1,000. This is the easiest type of fundraiser.

You get the cases on consignment, have the goods in your hand to deliver to the buyer and almost anyone can come up with 50 cents for a box. We used a local fundraising group rather than any ads in Boy's life. We earned 40% profit with an extra 5% added for selling more than 20 cases. (Remember that this type is "on it's own merits" and the boys can not wear their uniforms while selling, and a permit must be aproved.) Our council has forbidden any such fundraisers during popcorn time next year, to reduce competition and increase incentive to sell corn. I sold 2 cases of M&M's myself by taking them to our one-day council POW WOW!!

We would NEVER consider a mandatory SME donation, and in all due respect to Blackeagle, if we suggested a $48.00 tab to join our pack per year we would have MAYBE 3 cubs in the pack. In our lower-income neighborhood 50� a week and a buck or two for a special trip is a lot easier to come by than a one time lump sum. SME is presented and entirely voluntary.

Our sponsor also pays for cabins for one WEBELOS and one FAMILY camput at Camp Miakonda each year. On campouts we collect $5 per person and shop for food discounts and eat 5 very nice meals for that amount. This helps to acclimate the families to the camp who have not been there before. and also gets some parents to participate who would never consider sleeping in a tent.

** For anyone "jealous" about our FREE dues there IS a catch!! Our sponsor has fundraisers to earn money to pay our dues, and of course the scouting families are HIGHLY encouraged to assist with these; Monthly Pancake breakfast after Sunday masses, 50-50 raffles, Monte Carlo nights etc. AND of course we don't need council approval for doing these during popcorn drive!

ONE GENERAL QUESTION...how can you all keep up with this list and get any **WORK** done? I have about a hundred reader files now waiting to be disposed of!! I am enjoying the list, but have to page through screens of files to get to the work-related notes!!

Well....I'm off to Camp Libbey (local Girl Scout camp) for a family work weekend....deluxe cabins with real showers in each....the joys of cookie profits!!!

Where Does the Money Go?

From: Michael F. Bowman

Awhile back in one of our discussion threads some folks were curious where the money went that was raised by FOS/SME campaigns. In the National Capital Area Council, we are midway through a two year fundraising effort called "Investment in Character." I thought it might be useful to share some of our successes here. We set out to raise $9 million and have succeeded in raising $4.5 million to date with contributions from over 3,800 companies, organizations, foundations and individuals. The money has been used to:

Retire the Council's debt (NCAC had been over $1 million in debt)
Repair the dam and bridge at Goshen Scout Reservation (this was a major project that was much needed after a devestating flood last Spring wrecked the dam, draining the lake which served six camps.
Build six new program shelters at Goshen
Build handicap accessible campsites at Goshen
We are in the process of purchasing a camp property closer to the metropolitan area (Goshen is four hours away on average) for training, OA, Wood Badge, etc.
Make kitchen upgrades at Goshen
Establish an endowment for Urban Emphasis
Hire a volunteer services coordinator for the Scout Service Center

It is wonderful to see so many suportive folks helping to raise money that is being used to directly improve the facilities for delivering a great program to the Scouts.

Chris Haggerty

Gary is right about the importance of SME, but he does not even begin to tell what it pays for.

In Tucson when we go to Summer Camp, we pay to use the camps. If we use the pool at one of our camps, we pay a fee for the pool. If we go to any of our camps and use a campsite (with water, important here in the desert) and the nice pavillions or other other outdoor facilities (including the potties) we pay NOTHING!

SME pays for the ranger and to maintain the camps. This is not true in all councils, but take a good look at your camp fees and compare them with the fees collected by PRIVATE CAMPS.

Most which do not have campsites as nice as our BSA camps. (KOA for example pack you in!) Sure State and some Federal parks and campgrouds may be competitive, but they are subsidized just like the Boy Scout Camps.

This list of things SME pays for (other than salaries which is an admitted large chunk in most councils) goes on. This is one of the big visible items.

The big wigs we refer to, sometimes deserve the Silver Beaver on occasion.

Our Council recently gave one to the widow of a pair which donated a camp to the council. She also gave the coucil a new building for a service center with office space to rent out and collect additional revenues. The building is FREE and CLEAR.

I have been working with the scouts since I joined at eight years of age and quite frankly, I RATHER HAVE THE CAMP AND BUILDING THAN THE SILVER BEAVER. The camp and office help me provide the program to the scouts, the SILVER BEAVER is just an ATTA BOY which really does not change how I try to provide the program to the scouts or how I feel about the scouts.

Conducting the Family SME Campaign

Jim Holman asked:

I'm the Family SME (Sustaining Membership Enrollment -- see I remember the abbreviation problem) chairman for our district. We're getting a pretty awful response with our campaign this year and it's not just because I'm the chairman -- we have the same presenters as in past years. I'd like comments from others who have done this (by e-mail, please -- I'll summarize for the group if there's interest) to see what can be done differently in future years. As I see it, the way it is run in our Council has several pros and cons.

We try to do the presentation at Blue and Gold's or Court of Honor: pro, there are lots of people there; con, that is a VERY BUSY night, packs/troops don't like the intrusion.

We are asking for a contribution of $75 per scout (the cost of providing the program= cost of running the council/number of scouts) which is out of reason for a lot of families. Rather than give a smaller amount, they give nothing. That amount is ok for Rotary or somebody like that, but not the families.

We show a 7 minute slide show with taped commentary explaining the services provided, funding, and ending with a contribution request -- I'm assuming everyone has pretty much the same thing with the council name inserted and a few local slides.

Problem is, it isn't working this year. We'll be lucky to get half our goal for the family division. Most of the troops (who get the most benefit) don't participate at all -- 75% of the collection comes from packs. Troops/packs get a 5% discount at the service center for having a presentation and an additional 5% if they exceed last year's amount by 10%. One pack even admitted before we came in that we wouldn't get anything, they just wanted their discount (I got $35 for 2 1/2 hours of a Sunday afternoon).

So, What works?? If we're going to do this, we might as well do it right!

To which the following responded:

From:Mike Walton:

I wrote this to Larry earlier; it's amazing what you cannot find and what you DO find! For instance, I found eight German certificates of thanks, two old photos, and a box of old Scouts-L postings on paper going back to 1990!

Once I find the rest of this stuff I couldn't find for Larry, I'll post it on the Leaders' Online website so that we won't have to go through this again. Shame on those that gave Larry such little time to be prepared for this IMPORTANT part of our program!!

Lawrence E. Faust wrote frantically and asked:

Last Thursday, our DE informed me of a FOS presentation that needs to be made tonight at 6:00p.m. For whatever reason, the DE was unable to attend (holidays, whatever, etc). He handed me a packet of brochures & stickers and then hit the high road.

Contacted our District Commissioner to see if he could do it. He called the contact person, who informed him that the DE had known about the presentation for at least 1 month. As the DC's plans for this afternoon/evening are in flux at this point, he doesn't know if he can do it. Despite his vast Scouting experience, he has never done a FOS presentation before. Neither have I.

Is there a script or something similar (hints, tips, highlights, etc.) that we can use? Hope you're still at home...

Sorry for the long delay....I've torn my officeroom up trying to find a copy of my actual SME/FOS presentation (with slides) ...they've got to be down in Kentucky with the other stuff in the boxes...
but...

I do have my Parapro (Paraprofessional) Handbook here and here's some things that will help you to make a good presentation:

Introduce yourself clearly and state your volunteer position within the BSA; spend a little time explaining what you do. It's important you explain to your audience that you're not a BSA employee but a volunteer, family member, father, etc. In other words, establish a rapport early with them. Remember that you're going to be asking them for their MONEY, an important commodity!
Explain why you are there. Not "just to talk with you about SME/FOS" but rather to "explain why the Takeany Council, Boy Scouts of America NEEDS THEIR SUPPORT", and how that like with any other major activity or event, "money talks" louder than any other aspect of support. Use examples from local newspapers, events that highlight what Scouting has done for youth in your community. Downplay negative aspects of youth life today in favor of more positive things. Remember that you're asking them to give their money toward something they cannot "SEE" nor "TOUCH" and that's Scouting....and it's potential for good in the community.
Give positive examples of how Scouting works, within families, within the community. Don't go "nationalist" here; the idea is that Scouting works on a local level and that giving money toward the SME/FOS program is a LOCAL INVESTMENT.
Also give examples of where the money goes. Be prepared with either a copy of your Council's breakdown of how the money is raised and spent or be prepared to defend those questions on where the money is raised and where it goes. Remember that your presentation should emphasize the positive good - so stay away from discussions on "how much better the camping operation is this year over last" and the "lack of DE support to my unit"; rather emphasize that "We operate a sterling camping operation called Camp Lake-in-the-Woods, which takes in (number) of campers each summer and which is open year-round to Scouting units and organizations supporting Scouting...." and "Our Council employs a small staff of (number) which supports me and all other volunteers in our area. They provide the backbone of support which eventually comes down to supporting every youth member in the Council's Scouting programs."
Finally, don't be afraid to ask for a specific amount. Many people understand that Scouting, like anything else, isn't free and the small costs associated with uniforming and activities fees are a tip of the iceberg. Give them a figure based on your Council's or District's SME/FOS Family goals; for instance "Fourty-Two dollars from each family present here this evening will support our District's Scouting program for a year. It will bring about a level of support which will allow us to provide additional support and programming to youth whom are not yet Scouts and will help me to train (or coach) additional Scouting volunteers to do an effective job working with youth".
Be honest. Remember again, you're asking for THEIR MONEY to support Scouting. If you don't know the answer to a specific question, before you get a committment from them, try to get the answer or offer to stop by in person with the answer to their question. They will feel more confident in giving you the money you're asking for.

Hope that this helps out, Larry....and please accept my apologies for not getting this to you sooner....and let me know how the presentation goes!

------- There were a couple other things which I didn't explain to Larry because he didn't have enough time to find this out in advance which the Handbook talks about:

Sometimes, a "tag-team" approach is necessary. Bring along another Scouter from that unit or community familiar with the people present and with the target audience. This could be the unit's Commissioner or leader, a member of the unit's Committee, or some other Scouter or community member. While you're explaining what the Council does for its youth, your "tag member" can explain in more detail what that means for the youth in that specific unit or community. This works effectively especially when you are visiting a unit for the first time and people are not familiar with you.
Don't forget that your Council's end of year stats plays an important role in convincing people to support you. Don't be afraid to throw out numbers of campers attending summer camp last year and how much of an increase that was over the previous year; how many Eagle Scouts or Arrow of Light receipients were honored last year and the increase over the previous year; what your Council has done to protect the environment, to prevent crime and endangerment, and talk about national programs like the BSA's (new) Youth Protection Program and other emphasis. The point here is that you need to provide as many positive examples of how Scouting is working in their communities and how with additional monies from those present, Scouting can continue to offer that level or a higher level of support and programming.
(there are a couple other notes here for professionals dealing with prompt reporting of SME/FOS funds and how to handle them which don't have any "play" here.)

Somewhere around here, I've got two scripts I've used sucessfully to help raise monies (one of the things I'm frequently asked to do when asked to speak someplace!)...it's either here somewhere or down in Kentucky in the storage shed. As soon as I find it, I'll post a followup and post them as well as posting them to the Leaders' Online (tm) website.

Again Larry, I hope that this information helps out somewhat and I'm sorry that I couldn't get it to you faster! Settummanque!

Peter Farnham

Hi all,

Flame suit on here.

This is the second year I've helped out with our district's FOS family campaign, and I don't see why so many people blast these necessary fund-raising efforts. Scouting takes not a nickel of government money, but any institution as big and well-established as BSA needs money to keep things going. Why shouldn't the families be approached?

I don't know how things are in ya'll's neck of the woods, but around here a week of cub day camp costs $75 ($65 if you meet the "early-bird" deadline). A comparable week of private, non-cub day camp starts at about $200, and can be twice that. Sleepover camp for boy scouts and weebs is also a bargain. A week of private, non-scout camp runs $300 and up (way up). A week at Goshen is half that.

Our council subsidizes each kid in the council to the tune of about $90 a year. Thus, if a kid goes to a week of summer camp or a week of day camp, he has already gotten his subsidy and then some. Bottom line--scout camp alone (whether day or sleepover) is a huge bargain, and it is not unreasonable to ask families who can afford it to contribute a little (tax deductible) extra each year to help defray these and other necessary costs associated with running an organization as large and well-established as scouting.

As far as never seeing anyone from the district without his hand out goes, a lot of our district scouters are also unit scouters (like me, for example) or were unit scouters for many years. My committee chair is a council scouter, and my advancement chair is a district scouter.

I don't know about others, but I am in touch with my UC every month; he's a district scouter. Also, anyone who goes to RT no doubt sees his DE and various other district scouters there. Try talking to these people once in a while. You might find that they're actually pretty decent people and worth getting to know!

It kind of surprises me to hear from such fine scouters as generally populate this list so many complaints about the non-caring "duct tape" guys, how egregious and money-grubbing DEs are, etc. I think scouting would be a whole lot better off if the unit types and the district types would make an effort to get along a little better, and work together toward the common goal of making scouting a great experience for every kid in their units--and districts.

Pete Murray

Peter wrote:
Flame suit on here.

Yo Pete,

As a Scouter and a former Scout, I am very proud to support scouting not only with my time and effort, but with my wallet as well. I owe the BSofA so musch that I could never hope to repay them fully. I see my current efforts as mere tokens of my appreciation for all of the benefits I have derived (and now my son the Tiger Cub) from scouting over the years.

My dad died when I was very young. Without Scouts I would have had few (if any) quality male role models to emulate. Although I did not become a rocket scientist, I have done well for myself and am considered a leader within my company. I learned so many intangible lessons from scouting on how to be flexible and just plain solve problems, not to mention real skills that come to be needed on a continuing basis.

However, I have heard the tales about some of the "presenters", and I know from whence some of the animosity arises. The presentations have been charecterized as being lengthy and boring. While we could all get angry with the criticisms, perhaps we should LISTEN instead.

This past year our presentation was done by our Cub Master and it was GREAT. His message was quite short and direct. The results were double of what the "official" presenter did the year before... (almost $1200!!!). He realised he was preaching to the choir and kept it BRIEF.

He did keep us posted through-out the evening of how much we had raised and that only built the momentum.

Anyway, I was very impressed, and if you would like some more insight as to how he did it, e-mail Kevin . I am sure he will be glad to help out.

Jim Sleezer

Several years ago, as a new Cubmaster, I allowed a district representative to come to our Blue and Gold Banquet and do a presentation for SME. The volunteer that was supposed to come couldn't so the DE (who had been invited to B&G) stepped in. He made a 20 minute presentation (that slot was scheduled for under 5 minutes with the volunteer). The response was very low.

The next year the DE was NOT invited (specifically and obviously).

I met with the volunteer who was to do the presentation. He had a poster presentation which people could view as they arrived. He spoke for about 3 minutes, made his points and cards were distributed to be picked up later in the evening. When he was done the committee chairman (who was mc) told the audience that 1) the membership fees they paid last fall went to national, 2) the dues they paid each week went to den and pack expenses, 3) the money you give tonight will go to the district and council to help us give your boys a better program, 4) nothing from this goes to the pack.

He then added, "I'd sure like to see US exceed the average, we're worth it." We raised almost 150% of the per boy cost (I think it was $30 back then).

I think there were several factors, but the most important was the committee chair's comments--he let our families know SME was important and that our pack ought to support it. A short, clear presentation by a volunteer helped too. Since that time, I have never allowed a professional to attempt to raise money in one of my units. (They always seem to whine!)

The unit leader and committee need to be sold on SME--it isn't just a one time shot at B&G or a Court of Honor. It needs to be an education program that starts with the committee membership.

Mark Wilson:

Jim,

While it sounds good to ask for $75 per boy, and that may be what it costs for council to support one boy, it generally ignores other income sources including the United Way, Corporate SME, program fees (ie summer camp, etc), and other sources. You certainly should let the parents know that it takes more than just their dues to provide Scouting to their sons, but, as you noted, quoting that as a desired donation will scare them off.

Here is an idea. It may be too late for this year, though.

Look at the Council budget including their projected income figures (without Family SME) and determine the shortfall amount. Divide that by the number of boys served by the council (round numbers are OK) to determine the shortfall per boy. Use that number to establish a goal for each unit and a suggested starting point.

BTW, the council has more than likely already done the above and set a goal for your district. If so, then use your district goal plus 10-20% divided by the district enrollment as a guide for the unit goals. Either way, the amount is likely to be less than $75 per boy.

Focus on UNIT goals. Play to unit loyalty ("you can help your unit reach it's goal"). The district may want to set up some type of recognition for units reaching their goal and those exceeding their goal. By making it a UNIT goal rather than a personal challenge there will be more who will give what they feel they can afford (which is all we can ask) because they will see that it help the unit even if the donation is not a lot. A dollar toward a $200 goal seems more important than a dollar toward a $250,000 Council goal.

In summary, set a reasonable unit goal based on the unit membership and focus attention on each unit meeting or exceeding that goal.

PS, this might be a good time to show parents the council budget so they can see exactly how the Council is funded. I'm talking about a spreadsheet not the ubiquetous pie charts.

Then again, maybe you already knew all this stuff.

Sam Fairchild:

Mark Wilson wrote earlier:

While it sounds good to ask for $75 per boy, and that may be what it costs for council to support one boy, it generally ignores other income sources includin the United Way, Corporate SME, program fees (ie summer camp, etc), and other ... (lines deleted)
Look at the Council budget including their projected income figures (without shortfall. BTW, the council has more than likely already done the above and set a goal for your district. If so, then use your district goal plus 10-20% divided by the district enrollment as a guide for the unit goals. Either way, the amount is likely to be less than $75 per boy.

many good ideas, Mark. ;-)

I, for one, feel that $75 per boy is absurd!

Our local council quotes a figure of $85, as I recall. Also too high! Something is wrong somewhere. Maybe like the Congress and budgets that are too fat (many reasons, some might be good).

In my son's cub scout pack, we get by with $30 pack dues per year per boy. That includes: two campouts, B&G banquet, misc pack expenses, Fun Nite prizes, Pinewood derby car, all awards, and adult leader dues. If Popcorn sales go well next Fall, we'll include a Boy's Life subscription for those who want it. Dens vary their dues depending on amount of donated support from parents.

Would someone publish a detail list of expenses/explanations for why BSA structure thinks it has to spend $75 for each boy who practically never sees such structure?

No, I don't think camps should be supported by "everyone", especially when most land for camps is donated (or should be from wills).

Kathy Chormicle sde:

On Wed, 3 Mar 1993, Paul Russell wrote:

At the Friends of Scouting (no more Save My Employment) presentation at our troop Court of Honor this past Monday, the council's FoS target was defined as $60 per boy (18% of the total budget). We've got some good programs, and a great summer camp, but some of the recent postings in this thread have got me wondering how/where/why our council is spending $333 ($60/.18) per boy per year when most of the property was donated, and most of the work is done by volunteers. I think I'll raise that question with some folks who ought to be able provide a meaningful answer. I'll let you know if I get one.

Paul,
That's great that you will be asking questions of your Council. You and all Scouters need to know what your Council's budgets are as you are apart of the Council.

I am a District Executive and I ask my volunteers to look at the Budget to see where we can cut back. I want them to know where their money is going.

In every Council, there are mailings, staff, utilities, camps to maintain and pay for.

Did you know that your Council pays liability insurance on every Adult Scouter and a charter fee to National (My Council's fee is $10,000)? When we do FOS/SME presentations in my District, I ask the presenters to tell it from the heart and to be as informative as possible to share their knowledge of the Council.

My goal in FOS, is to give parents and Scouters knowledge of what the Council does for them and what it CAN do for them so they can make a a good, sound decision whether to support it or not.

Jon D. Lyksett

Paul (and others),

After spending a year on our Council's Exec Board, I have a lot better feel for the FoS "goal" figure of $xx.xx per boy and the percentages spoken of. I think those figures you give _might_ be interpreted as follows:

1. The overall council budget divided by the number of enrolled youth is equal to $60 per boy.

2. The FoS campaign results in about 18% of the total revenue generated by all fundraising, ie., United Way, endowment funds, investments, interest bearing accounts, corporate donations, etc.

If your council is truly spending $333. per boy, I'd like to see their budget.

To Give or Not to Give....

Eric Magendantz:

Matt Baldwin wrote earlier:

The question is: "How do others handle FOS?" This is one way to answer the people at the Council office.

Dear Mr. Scout Executive,

We, the volunteers of troops, packs, and posts all across America, will continue to faithfully and generously donate our time to the Scouting movement.

Sincerely Yours in Scouting,

(Your Name)

-----------------------------------------------------

I hope you are joking.

Scouting needs the financial support of the poeple who benefit most from the program. The youth, the parents and yes, even the leaders. I am very aware and appreciate of the amount of time that volunteers and parents give to Scouitng. In addition I am aware of the untold amounts of money that is spent out of pocket each year by parents and leaders.

Scouting is like your church. We not only need volunteers and people to keep our program going, we need money. Every week at your church you are asked to give time and money, the same is for Scouts. What would happen if no donations were given to your church? The same result would occur to Scouting.

I am a senior DE in the Pine Tree Council, Portland ME. I give through our SME campaign to Scouitng, I sponsor a young man through World Vision, I give through United Way, I help homeless people on the street,

I volunteer a lot time to Scouting (ask my wife), I work for the Boy Scouts, Scouting is my hobby and so on and so forth.

I truly believe in what Scouting can do for people!

My point is we should all support, financially, any program we feel is worthy of our hard earned dollar. Letters or attitudes which do not support Scouting lead me to believe that there is a lack of committment and belief in the Scouting program.

I know this will not change the opinions of some, but I hope there are more Scouters who agree with me than disagree. As a metter of fact I know there are.

I hope I do not get flamed too hard for this post. It's O.K. if I do, because I believe strongly in supporting Scouting accross the board.

You're Kidding, Right? FOS Overseas!

From Mike Walton:

(The issue was that the Transatlantic Council (TAC), which serves youth overseas has been asking units to give a portion of their unit's treasury to the Council to help them through a rough time during the drawdown of military forces immediately at the conclusion of Operation Desert Storm (the Iraqi War). During this period, the number of people equal to a medium-sized city (42,000 people and another 19,000 families) were told to pack up and go back to the States. (The United States Army's VII Corps and all of its assigned units, along with a great deal of theater army and divisional elements, all orginally there to combat the "great Soviet pouring into the Fulda Gap", were disbanded and removed from US Army, Europe and Seventh Army. In addition, two Air Forces were returned to the States and the Seventh Fleet was reduced by a great deal of numbers.)

Frank called this "additional request" a "forced extraction of funds normally used by the Packs and Troops of the Council." I explained why the unusual request.)

Frank:

We're mixing the two here. What TAC is doing is supplementing what they would normally receive from the military morale fund. Let me explain this.

When the council was formed in 1954/1956 (I forget the exact date), the military agreed to set aside 2% of what they take in from military and family member's uses from facilities like the base exchange (PX), commissary, beauty/barber shops, gas stations, and concessionaires that operated on military installations.

This is a sizeable amount of money when you consider the entire European command's health and welfare budget in 1986 was $23 million dollars and 70% of the councils budget comes from those funds.

Therefore, with the drastic draw-down of military forces in Europe (and particularly in Germany, Spain, and England where the majority of BSA units are located at), and with the closing of many military facilities including those support facilities which soldiers and their families would go to, I'm quite sure that TAC had to do something to make up for this drastic loss of income.

The council also does an SME campaign every spring in which I have never known to EVER not meet their SME goal. In 1986, it was $1.2 million and they raised close to $2 million. I know in my district, they surpassed the SME goal by a clean $45,000 thanks to a good friend of mine, Greg Jenkins, and my work.

There are lots of councils that will "put the bite" on their volunteers, but it's not because they're hurting for the money, it's simply because the DEs are getting an awful lot of pressure from the Field Directors and the Director of Field Services (if their council has one) to run out and meet that goal!

In TAC, Vince Cozzone and his fellow executives there, didn't have to go out and beat the bushes for their money because they knew that every year, they would be at least 60% toward their goal, by default.

NOT ANYMORE! This is going to place TAC in a more competitive environment as the six other councils within the northeast region (area 6).

Nobody in TAC gets there without a significant amount of experience in both finance and program in a stateside council, therefore, the people in TAC are not "newbies", they are all experienced people and they bring that experience to TAC.

I don't know about your experience, Frank, with them extracting money from you, but this is a common--even more common today--problem that we all have to face as the BSA becomes more competitive and their executives are forced to become more of a salesman and fund raiser and less of a programmer and trainer.

This was followed up by a posting from a Scouter in the Far East Council (FEC):

Auke Koopmans asked:

Sorry to bother you with something which bothers me. We are just in the process of our annual re-charter. The only problem we have is that we have received a letter from the Scout Executive of the Far East Council in Japan that besides the $7.00 for registration and $9.00 for Boys Life the council expects us to fork over an additional $35.00.

An additional $35 per unit is a small price to pay for services that are getting harder and harder to provide.

They justify this by saying that it costs them $9.00 to process the registration ($2.00 for Liability insurance fee, $3.00 for the Council charter fee and $4.00 for data entry costs).

Those are reasonable costs. The $9 is the costs associated with sending the application packages along with the other chartering data back to the Western Region in California. The data entry fee represents the recent LOSS that the Council had in two of their volunteers that were doing data entry for "the good of the Council". When their husbands rotated back to the States, the Council lost those two volunteers as well. They are having now to contract out for the work...and it's not as easy as "looking onto a piece of paper and putting names and addresses in", as anyone that had to create a database for one of the Scouting database programs can easily tell you!!

In addition they need $26.00 to provide service to the scouts calculated as: $3 for supplies and audit fees, $1 for phone service, $1 for postage and occupancy, $2 for printing support, $15 for store/service staff (not professional staff), $1 for recognition and awards, $1 for training supplies, rentals, facilities and finally $2 for miscellaneous.

You're getting a BARGAIN, believe me. Let's take a look at some of those fees, okay??

The military provides phone service, that's true. However, much of the phone service that the military provides to FEC is on a "fee for usage" basis, like all other "quasi-official" agencies in the Far East. The Council gets a bill for their telephone services (which consists of calling the Western Region every day for registration and unit information, for faxing documents to and from Japan, for calling throughout the Council's territory to their staff members and to volunteers, and for conference calls with their full staff once or twice a month.

The military doesn't provide "free room and board" for tenant organizations which are NOT military. If you can't "interagency" the bill for the officespace, the military is now OBLIGATED to bill you for it...the heat, lighting and space! The old days whereby the BSA and GSUSA got "carte blance" is way, way over!!

They call this FOS=FOS or Fees of Service=Friends of Scouting.

Friends of Scouting is an annual planned giving conducted by BSA Councils...ALL BSA Councils...and is approved in advance by local United Ways/Appeals (or in the military's case, by the Combined Federal Campaign, or CFC). FOS (and it's precedessor, Sustaining Memebership Enrollment, or SME) accounts for only 30 to 42 percent of the total Council budget, but it's an IMPORTANT 30 to 42 percent because the monies come from those supporters of Scouting and besides the financial gain, the Council can also use the figures to ascertain the level of community support and awareness of Scouting and it's programs.

Again, this is a VERY SMALL AMOUNT to pay in addition to your unit members' fees; units Stateside are being asked to contribute at least $100 (or more!!) per unit toward the Family category of FOS/SME!! As a former Transatlantic Council Scouter, my units have given $150 and I've contributed a percentage of my military pay toward SME...it's my way of thanking that small group of Scouters for their hard work....

When I received it I was planning to ignore it but they sent us at the same time some 30-40 copies of Annual Request for Membership and Services which needs to be signed by the parents/guardian (text as follows):

As a parent/guardian I have read the above information and understand that I have a responsibility to help fund tge $35.00 FOS fee. I understand that this will provide my Cub/Scout full programs and services from the District/Council offices. I agree to personally support the $35.00 fee or assist my Scout unit in raising this fee by way of projects and activities.

That's a great letter/note...they're not wanting you to just "fork it over", but rather to either give it if you've got it or help the unit to raise the $35 per year. In a unit with 20 youth, we're talking about $1.50 per kid...

I also understand that if our unit qualifies as a 100% FOS unit I will be eligible for the Scout Shop discounts accorded fully to funded FOS units

While I do understand that a Council will have its expenses and that in our case it may be more difficult and more expensive as the Council office is in Tokyo Japan and units are scattered over the Far East (Japan, Korea, Okinawa, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, etc. - our unit is located in Thailand) I can not understand that our boys should shoulder their uncovered expenses (Council claims that their actual expenses are $125 per registered scout

Actually, it's $141 per registered Scout according to the release documents sent to the Eighth US Army's Director of Personnel and Community Activities (DCPA). Again, you're getting off lightly!

but that they are able to get part funding from NAF dollars

"NAF" is Non-Appropriated Funds, a category of funding which is used to build commissaries, support post exchanges and recreation centers and activities. As a tenant organization, the Far East Council (and their Girl Scouting counterparts) receive a small (9 to 12 percent) of that funding based on the number of youth living in the territory served by the Eighth Army and the other Department of Defense Organizations.

(military use only)

Which they use to underwrite the costs associated with the summer camp and day camp operations, the junior leader and Wood Badge courses (which must be paid for), and other outdoor activities of the Council....

United Way

The military participates in a special kind of United Way called the Combined Federal Campaign. Unlike the past, whereby military officers and sergeants basically "passed the hat" and EVERYONE was more or less ORDERED to contribute (or else!), the CFC does the same kind of marketing (and has the same kind of support) that United Ways get back Stateside.

Scout shop income, etc.

I have it on very good word that the "hat was passed around" during several key military staff members, and that every general and admiral within the EUSA/19th Theater Army Area Command was "asked" to contribute to the Council....and it was done. This is way in part that the Council's only asking for $35 per unit....

Formerly we sometimes received a request for additional funding but this time it becomes almost an obligation. What bothers me most is the tone of the whole message which forces us to aquire signatures of parents and the unit leader as well as the district office.

This is because unlike the past, whereby both TAC and the FEC have been basically "living off the military and embassies", they can't do that anymore and are FORCED to do as all other Councils have to do: come up with creative and special ways to raise the necessary funding for the Council's operation.

Again, Auke. Thirty-five dollars per unit per year is getting off VERY lightly....that's about a buck a kid or so.

Pay it and ask for your unit's parents to also contribute personally to offset the Council's need for basic funding to support the program.

Auke wrote me privately and explained that the Far East Council is asking for $35 per youth member as part of their SME "drive".

This doesn't add up, then.

It does NOT take $9 PER BOY (or in Auke's case of his Troop size, which he wrote me as about 20, $180) to send the charter and other materials to Sunnyvale, California!!!

For $180, I can send ALL of the charters of all of units in that Council (all 122 of them, if the numbers are right from last spring!!) to the Regional Office via Federal Express!!

Auke, would you please verify that the Council's asking for $35 a UNIT or PER YOUTH and let us all know??

As I stated (and as some of you wrote me privately, thanks!), $35 isn't a "budget buster" for a unit to contribute to the Council's well-being; but $35 times 20 or $700 IS a lot of money to ask to give to the local Council...no matter where that Council is!!

Note that the minimum for the West Fellowship is a Kilo (Grand, thousand)...this would make a unit of 30 eligible for the West Fellowship...and there's a lot of Cub Scout Packs in the FEC that boasts of 80 or so *youth members*!!

It just doesn't sound right....that's all.

Auke told me that he was concerned about the "form" with the signatures of the parents (which has to be "countersigned" by the local District and the adult leadership of the unit).

If this was a new unit, you would have to have signatures anyway...of the parents of youth that would join the unit. The signatures doesn't obligate the unit to give...and as long as they are not printing their names...it's just a gimmick that the Council devised to emphasize the SME aspect of their operation.

I don't know about the Navy or Marine Corps, but the Departments of Defense, Army, Air Force, and the National Guard Bureau all have STRICT AND VERY STRONG POLICIES about "armtwisting" service members for contributions to organizations....military and otherwise. So if there's a parent (or group of parents) that object to being "included" in such a promotion, they can choose NOT to sign. Remember, as long as their applications are signed, and the Charter's signed by the appropriate volunteers (and professional once it's returned to the Council/District office), those folks are still BSA members!!

It would also help if the council would have informed us about their difficult financial situation but there is hardly any communication other than for scout advancements, etc.

Councils are kinda gun-shy and a little embarassed with regard to telling you and other volunteers that they are "robbing Peter to pay Paul", as many families would be if they were in despirate financial straits!! They have to keep this "brave front" forward to insure it's continued ability to attract key volunteers, businesses and companies, and yes, military people, toward the Council and the good things they are doing.

At the same time, your Council like so many others here, are going through a period whereby the "well's almost dry" and the "pump needs priming". The "well's almost dry" because there has been an explosion of non-profits out there, all of them vieing for those same limited dollars from the same communities. Everyone of them have their own story to tell, the way life is out there for a group, a population, a segment of society and how *their organization* is in a position to do something positive about that situation...and in the long run, make things better for everyone (sorry...the PR man in me gets going a bit, Auke! *grinning*).

The BSA is in the same running with organizations that oppose and in some cases, denounce the BSA for doing what it's been doing all of these years....running a program for strong citizens of positive character. If you ever went through a busy airport with everyone yelling to get your attention...you have some idea of what the BSA and every other non-profit out there is doing today!

The "pump needs priming" because people are tired. Our professionals are tired of going to the same places, giving the same pitch, and getting less and less for their efforts. Some volunteers are in that same rut. The national organization, for their good, has come out with some innovative ads but only one-sixth of all of the local Councils are using the ads, posters, billboards and other media...it costs MONEY to get them, to put them up and to capitalize on them and many are going to wait until Scouting's big month in Feburary to purchase a *few* and do a project sale to get them out there where they can be seen.

And with the BSA not having a major *significant national event* in 1999, makes it even rougher for the national and local organizations to "get their names out there".

Far East, Direct Service and Transatlantic also have an additional problem: getting the word out there WITHOUT offending or embarrassing their "hosts". In some countries, the mere tacking up a poster about Scouting is frowned very heavily upon. Scouters and Scouts in other countries have to be very careful about "waving the American flag" (not literally, but doing things like parades and even public camping). So in addition to everyone else's problems here in the States, the CEs of those three Councils have to think "how can I get the needed funding for Scouting in our Council without offending our hosts or endangering our membership. Or my employment?"

In TAC, some key Scouters have been auctioning off older insignia, uniforms, and other memoribilia of the earlier days of that Council to the public...and those funds goes back into the "kitty" of that Council. In Direct Service, like in FEC, letters are being sent to Scouters and parents asking for their contributions to FOS (I typed in "SME", and I got a note back from one Council Scout Executive here whom asked me to "please don't use SME anymore...the BSA is trying to retire that term". I'll try, Neal...but it's *hard to break old confortable habits!* *smiling*)

If it's $35 a boy, Auke, I don't know how to answer you except to say that your Council wouldn't be asking if they really didn't need the money and I would ask you to consider doing a fund raiser to raise some if not all of that money for the Council. Believe me when I say that they are raising some of it on their own..but they need all of the help they can get!!

But it's $35 per UNIT (and I've got a strong suspicion that this is the case...other Councils are doing the same *pitch*), then go ahead and cut that check to the Far East Council and mail it in to the offices in Tokyo!

Settummanque!

Note: George Crawl refers to the James E. West Award as the "JEW" Award, with no intention on slandering any ethnic group. Sometimes we Scouters come up with acroynms for various things that to the outside sounds really, really bad. Rather than to edit out his references, I have retained them here. He later posted to the Scouts-L youth discussions group, expressing his ignorance of the fact that indeed he was "saying something that perhaps wasn't his intention at all."

James E. West Fellowship Award and FOS/SME

Information on the James E. West Fellowship can be obtained from local Council offices, from the BSA's official website, and from many local Council's websites. Additionally, information on the award's square knot can be obtained from the Unofficial Uniform and Insignia site, under "square knots" and from the US Scouting Service Project's website under "adult awards."

From:George Crowl

George Costigan suggested that the $1000 for a James E. West Award could be applied to his unit FOS/SME. As a person who was contributing to my council's Trust Fund prior to the initiation of the James E. West Award, let me explain my rationale. I think it matches pretty close with the BSA rationale for Trust Funds and JEW Award.

If you contribute to the FOS/SME (which I do), that money is spent in the year in which it was given on delivering program for boys. It provides a worthwhile service in the here and now.

If you contribute to your council's Trust Fund, that money is invested. Depending on the specific rules of your council's fund, normally that money is forever obligated to the support of Scouting. If it earns 5% per year, that 5% is made available to the Council to support the council program. The _corpus_ is retained to earn 5% the next year, and the next, etc. In 10-20 years, your gift will have returned as much to the council as if you had given a one-time gift, but then it keeps on giving, for 50-100 years more. So, I decided that a portion of my giving to Scouting should go in perpetuity so that our camps and other programs would have an unfailing means of support.

Thankfully, about 1957 someone in our council established our Trust Fund. It now provides about 15% of our council's budget, and that is possibly the difference between financial and program success and failure. National wants every council to strive for at least 6% of their income from a trust fund, because it is important to have alternative funding sources these days. Thus, the JEW and the other (larger) award whose name escapes me.

To which George replied:

George Costigan:

What I was suggesting in my original quote: "BTW, if a Cub had a thousand dollars that he could put to a James West knot, I would advise him to either put in a bank for college, help the less fortunate, or have his unit apply it to their amount in FOS/SME (or IIC here in NCAC)." was that if a Cub had a thousand dollars in hand and he wanted to do something positive with it, there were a lot more options than buying a knot at his or any age. The trust fund is an idea I'll keep in mind in the future. Thanks, George

Terry Slade:

I have to say that I was surprised about the replys I got on my statement about the James West Knot. For those that don't know. It is a knot you wear above your left pocket after giving $1000 to your Council endowment fund (above and beyond your FOS/SME).

Several said that they had scraped and saved to give the money to earn the knot. A whole bunch said that a group of scouters (wood badge, pow wow, round table, etc.) took up donations and presented the knot to some deserving scouter. Some said that they got some corporate type to give the money and gave the knot to a scouter. A couple said that they just wrote out a check, bought the knot, and were sure going to wear it since they were helping the cause.

I guess what I got was the feeling that a goofy piece of cloth with a knot on it means something different to different people. I don't know what was on the minds of the folks at National when they thought up the knot.

Probably just a way to get extra money into the system. It all goes to help the scouts in general in the long run and the person wearing the knot is the only one that knows how they "earned" that little piece of cloth.

Paul H. Brown:

Whats a FOS/SME premium that must be accounted for when calculating a tax deduction? All I've ever gotten in return is a passably good scout program and a cancelled check. Do some councils give out more than this?

Wendy Theriault:

Daniel Webster Council awards placques to donors of $100 or more and in the past we have also included small magnets with the gift acknowledgement for all donors. The placques are ideally presented at the following years FOS presentation in the hopes of 'inspiring' generosity.

Jim Van Hecke:

Some Councils give coffee mugs, plaques, etc. for different levels of contributions. I guess Uncle Sam wants you to deduct the value of the mug from your FOS deductible tax contribution.

Peter Farnham:

Our district has given out FOS mechanical pencils, FOS swiss army knife ripoffs from Taiwan, and jars of peppermint candy with the following slogan on the outside: "To a Friend of Scouting: You're worth a mint to us". Really.

None of these items are worth more than a buck or two. I wouldn't lose too much sleep over failing to report them to the IRS.

Calvin H. Gray:

John Foxblue wrote and asked:

I DO NOT wish to fuel the fire...........Today I got a letter from our council executive thanking me for my contribution ( a little bit over $100.00 ) that I contribute at work to the United Way and then designate our council as the receipient.

I am not a wealthy person by any means. I support one child (female) and a most likely terminally ill wife. My other child(son) lives elsewhere and is no longer in scouting (22 years old), We basically live paycheck to paycheck.

Question: Why can't the James West Award be cumulative? By my own recollection I've given about $600 to $700 over the last 11 years ago plus many miles on the road plus time away from home.................

Just a qustion, not trying to fuel the fire!

John,

My understanding is that money raised through United Way and FOS (Friends of Scouting) is used to help fund council operations during the year the contribution are made. In most councils, FOS replaces what was once known as SME (Sustaining Membership Enrollment, if my memory is correct) which was never really "pushed" the way FOS is today. FOS was implemented as a result of the nationwide reduction in United Way funding that has affected most local BSA councils during the past ten years.

The money associated with donations to the James E. West Fellowship program goes into your council's trust fund with only the earnings (interest) going toward operating expenses. The West Fellowship is a way to encourage individuals and groups to donate $1,000 to a local council so the council can continue to offer the Scouting program to young people. I seem to remember that the $1,000 may be donated over a three year period.

Jim Miller Sr.:

Ah, but wait. The key factor which you missed is that the cumulative contributions in Rotary are to the Rotary Foundation - an endowment, not to the local Rotary Club's operating budget.

The James E. West, requires that the donors contribution(s) be to the local council endowment and be "over and above" or in additionn to the persons regular contribution to FOS/SME. The two keys here are that it is an "endowment" contribution and that it be something extra or more than the person would normally do.

National does discourage multi-year gifts to qualify although multi-paymeent gifts made over the course of a single year could be acceptable to the local council.

Technically speaking, it would seem that if the donor was not a regular contributor to scouting, say xyz company, and made a gift of $1000 or more to the council endowment, which would be in addition to their regular gift of $0, the council could choose to recognize that gift with a James E. West Fellowship. The key element here is "gift to the endowment" something very different than FOS/SME. Keep in mind the purpose of the recognition, rather then the end result.