Dear
Scouter,
There
are some important changes to BSA National membership fees and protocols that
we want to share with you. The overall goal is to simplify both the joining and
renewal process, but there are still some details being ironed out.
The
membership fees beginning August 1, 2023:
Youth Members
$80
National membership fee ($5 increase)
$69
Connecticut Rivers Council fee (no change)
$149 Total base annual fee
$25
First Time Joining Fee (no change)
$15
Scout Life subscription (optional and no change)
Adult Leaders
$60
National membership fee ($12 increase to cover enhanced background checks)
$12
Connecticut Rivers Council fee (no change)
Merit Badge Counselors
$25
National membership fee (this new fee is only for those who are not already
registered in Scouting and offsets some of the cost of background checks)
- Because our merit badge
counselor renewal process will be completed prior to August 1st, this fee will only affect
new counselors registering after August 1st. The fee will affect
existing counselors not registered elsewhere in Scouting on the July 1,
2024 renewal.
Scouts Who Qualify for Free/Reduced School
lunch and/or Connecticut Husky Benefits
$24
total fee
- The council will pay the $25
joining fee for these Scouts, the $24 is comprehensive
Largest Change – Membership Fees Will No Longer Be
Prorated After August 1st
Beginning
August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be
enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle. Both youth and adults will pay the
full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary
date of joining Scouting.
Put
simply, Scouting members will be asked to pay for one year of Scouting when
they join, and they will renew their membership at the conclusion of those 12
months.
For
currently registered Scouts and leaders, they will renew their membership at
recharter this year (November 1st),
and that will be their annual renewal date.
You
may be asking yourself what this means for rechartering going forward.
Great question! For this Fall, Unit Charter Renewal will look like it has
the last few years. For Fall, 2024, the process will look different and
should be largely simplified. As we learn more, we promise to keep you
informed.
Join Us For a Webinar to Explain and Discuss the
Changes
If
you have questions, concerns, or would like to learn more about these changes,
please plan to join Assistant Scout Executive Kevin McClelland for a webinar.
Wednesday,
June 21, 2023
7:00
PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81528688977?pwd=ME1Id2d2ODcrQlhjeHFzTzdCMU5xZz09
Thank
you for taking the time to read this. While costs are on the rise everywhere,
we are glad that we can keep our Council fees flat next year and continue to
provide the subsidized membership fees for Husky/Lunch Letter Scouts. This ability is a direct result of the continued support of donors, as well as our units participating in popcorn sales, district & council programs, and utilizing our camp facilities. Thank you!
If
you are not able to join us for the webinar on June 21st, or you have questions prior, please contact Kevin McClelland
– kmcclell@scouting.org
Yours
in Scouting,
Bob Sanford Council Commissioner
Lee Hoffman Vice President - Membership
Steven Smith Scout Executive/CEO
|