Council Fair Share Fee Starting at Re-Charter

Dear French Creek Council Scouting Family:

For over 112 years, Scouting has helped to build future leaders by combining educational activities and lifelong values with fun and outdoor activities. For over 50 years, the French Creek Council has been dedicated to developing local youth into leaders of good character and preparing them for life by instilling in them timeless values of the Scout Oath and Law.

As the French Creek Council continues to deliver the Scouting mission to youth into its second century, it is important that those values remain, while also keeping pace with an ever-changing world.

While the National Office of the BSA and your local unit ask for annual registration fees and dues, our local council instead has relied upon the generosity of those willing to donate to the Family Friends of Scouting Campaign (FOS). These donations have been an integral part of the financial support needed to operate Scouting locally, helping to secure the funds necessary to provide many essential services and resources to units and Scouting families, such as camp activities and programs, youth and adult leader training, communications, and a dedicated professional and office staff.

On January 1, 2023, the French Creek Council will be discontinuing the Family FOS program and will not be conducting unit presentations and solicitations going forward. Instead, a different method will be introduced to help provide for the operating costs needed annually to provide quality Scouting programs. Beginning in 2023 an annual Fair Share Council Fee will be included at the time of re-charter. The annual amount will be $30 for youth ($2.50 per month) and $15 for adult ($1.25 per month). This will be in addition to the annual youth and adult fees required by National BSA and our insurance fee. Included is the pro-rated fee chart showing the National BSA and local council fees.

While FOS contributions have been a critical part of funding and supporting local Scouting for many years, these contributions have been declining as costs continue to rise. The FOS presentation disrupts the unit meetings and their recognition programs, and takes a significant amount of time, effort, and resources to organize and implement effectively. The FOS funding model has become outdated in many ways. While some families choose to contribute, many choose not to do so. The feedback we’ve received is that most families would prefer to know what the annual costs are upfront, and then pay one fee, as they do with many of their children’s other activities.

There are sure to be many questions about this change. Please refer to the included FAQ which will answer many of them. You can also reach out to the Council Management Team at registration@frenchcreek-bsa.org.

Scouting remains one of the most valuable investments that we can make to support our youth today so that they can become the leaders that we will turn to tomorrow. From campouts to service projects, from career-inspiring merit badges to the once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Scouting continues to leave a lasting impact on our communities

Yours in Scouting,

French Creek Council Board of Director