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Q: Why are the fees increasing now?
A: While costs increase every year, the Boy Scouts of America has worked to keep the annual membership fee as low as possible to make Scouting available to as many young people as possible by subsidizing core costs, including liability insurance we must carry to cover all official Scouting activities. As the national organization’s financial situation has shifted over the past several months, it is no longer possible to subsidize at the level they have in the past, especially as the cost of insurance has increased dramatically.
Q: Does this apply to youth members and volunteers?
A: Yes, the new fees apply for youth and adult members. Effective January 1, 2020, the new fees are:
Q: Is Scouting still a good value?
A: Absolutely! While most extracurricular activities are seasonal, Scouting is a year-round program that remains one of the most valuable investments we can make to support young men and women today so they can become the leaders we will turn to tomorrow. For most of our youth members, the new registration fee amounts to $5 a month, which is an enormous value when you consider that many seasonal extracurricular activities often start at $100 for programs that last a few weeks.
Q: What will the money be used for?
A: Every dollar of membership fees will go to cover the national costs of essential services, including liability insurance for members participating in approved Scouting activities, background checks for adult leaders, program development and training resources, continuously updated youth protection and youth safety training, improved IT/digital experiences and services to our councils nationwide.
Q: Is this increase being implemented to cover the cost of the additional background checks?
A: No, the cost of background checks is not the prompting the fee increase.
Q: Why is this being announced now?
A: The National Council recognizes the timing of this fee increase creates challenges as units have already begun collecting fees for their 2020 registration renewal process, and we would not make this difficult decision if it were not absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, the cost of liability insurance we must carry to cover all Scouting activities has increased dramatically over the past several months, and the organization is no longer able to offset the cost of insurance. We are committed to supporting you through this process and are making necessary adjustments to the online rechartering system to ensure units can carry out the recharter process.
Q: Does this increase cover financial challenges the organization is facing?
A: The increase was prompted because the cost of liability insurance that the National Council must carry to cover all Scouting activities has increased dramatically over the past several months, and the organization is no longer able to offset the cost of insurance. The national membership fee also enables us program development and training resources, continuously updated youth protection and youth safety training, improved IT/digital experiences and services to our councils nationwide.
Q: When will this increase take effect?
A: The new membership fees will take effect starting January 1, 2020 for the 2020-21 program year.
Q: Is financial assistance available?
A: We are committed to ensuring that all youth can experience the character-building benefits of Scouting regardless of their financial situation. In addition to the many existing council and unit membership assistance funds, we have established the donor-funded Growing Future Leaders Fund to provide financial support to those who need it. In addition, the Mount Baker Council has had in place an Opportunity Fund for those Scouts in need to assistance to participate in the program. The Mount Baker Council Opportunity Fund is still available to those youth needing assistance.
Q: My council recently announced a new fee to cover insurance. Does this change mean that fee is no longer necessary?
A: No, the liability insurance that we need to carry for all Scouting activities at the national level is different from local fees that are collected to address local needs, which can include such as local property and accident insurance, as well as unique local programming costs. The Mount Baker Council will continue to charge the $7 per year insurance fee as previously announced. This means every Cub Scout, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scout youth member will pay $67 and every registered adult leader will pay $43 at recharter time.
Q: In addition to the national membership fee, my council is implementing a program fee. Is that allowed?
A: Starting August 1, 2020, councils can choose to charge a local program fee, up to but no more than the national membership fee – up to $60 for youth members in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts and up to $36 for adult members. The local program fee can include local insurance costs (i.e., accident, property, etc.), as well as cost to administer unique local programming efforts.
Q: What measures has the national organization taken to offset the financial challenges?
A: In addition to ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify the organization, the national organization has taken a number of steps in addressing its financial challenges, including the recent elimination of more than 35 positions at the National Service Center and ongoing consolidation of departments for the most effective utilization of resources in support of Scouting.
Q: Will the national membership fee continue to increase?
A: Although no decision about future increases have been made, the cost of operating our organization and services increases every year. Should it be necessary to increase fees in the future, the National Executive Board of the Boy Scouts of America has agreed to evaluate the needs and make such decisions, whenever possible, at the National Annual Meeting in May or early in the summer so that they can be announced with as much lead time as possible to allow for councils and units to be able to plan accordingly.
Q: Will be I charged the new fee for multiple registrations or positions?
A: No. You will only be charged the membership fee for your primary position.
If you have questions, please contact us at the Everett Service Center.
The Mount Baker Council is currently seeking a Program Administrative Assistant for their Everett, Washington office. Interested candidates should read the full description below and send a cover letter and resume to Gloria Fansler.
Program Administrative Assistant Position – Mount Baker Council, Boy Scouts of America
Description: We are currently seeking a self-motivated, detail-oriented and highly organized Program Administrative Assistant with exceptional customer service capacity.
(Full-time)
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Provide general support to the Program Director.
Will serve as Business Manager during summer camp.
Prepare ScoutNet, Blackpug and Custom Reports.
Prepare materials for events to include notices, flyers and awards.
Set-up and maintain online registration forms for scout camping events, training courses and other council/district activities on council website.
Ability to work with volunteers to set up the events.
Assist parents and unit volunteers over phone and email.
Ability to work with minimal supervision, problem-solve, work in a fast-paced environment and adhere to deadlines.
SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: Organized, Attention to Detail, Self-Starter, Customer Focus, Flexible. Become familiar with the Scouting program and terminology. Prior experience within Boy Scouts of America would be beneficial but not required. Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
Intermediate to advanced skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, and PowerPoint
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE – High School Diploma and minimum of two years related experience or training.
Compensation This is a full-time, non-exempt position with competitive pay.
The Council also provides a generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 403B Match Savings Plan, sick time and vacation leave.
The Council’s standard office hours are 9:00am-5:30pm.
Provide a letter of interest and work history to Office Manager Gloria Fansler at Gloria.fansler@scouting.org
FREE LIMITTED EDITION PATCH!
Yes, you read it right I am willing to give you a free limited edion patch. NOT A FUNDRASIER!
All you have to do is visit one of our councils fine Cub Day Camps or Family Camps. Too good to be true? Well there is a little more than that.
Each year our Council holds some of the best day and family camps. The volunteers that operate these camps work many long hours to make sure their campers have the best time possible. One way they do this is by getting feedback through the National Camp Accreditation Program also known as .NCAP.
As the council’s NCAP Chair I am responsible for making sure assessments are made and reported to national. If you would like to be part of this elite team of Scouters who perform these assessments, just let me know. The time commitment is really minimal compared to what else we all do.
To volunteer or for more informaon email; richard.mueller2@comcast.net
Together we can build outstanding camps!
Council Philmont Contingent Trek June 22, 2020 – July 5, 2020
Ever thought of doing a high adventure trek at Philmont Scout Camp in Cimarron, New Mexico?
Philmont has many opportunities for high adventure. Besides rugged backpacking on some of its over 300 miles of high country trails and climbing one or more of its numerous peaks that tower over 10,000 feet, there are many programs that you will be able to experience. These programs are scattered throughout the nearly 200,000 acres of the ranch and the neighboring land that Philmont uses. It is a wonderful adventure!
The Council’s 2019 Contingent Crew has a couple of slots still available for their June 27 – July 10, 2019 Trek.
We are also planning on sending a Council Contingent Crew for a Trek June 22, 2020 – July 5, 2020. Attached is the brochure with more details. If interested, please contact the Everett Service Center at 425-338-0380.
Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 7:30 am
Stillaguamish Senior Center
18308 Smokey Point Boulevard – several blocks north of 172nd
Arlington, WA 98223-7825
All registered Chartered Organization Representatives and registered duly elected Council Members-at-Large, including current Executive Board members.
The annual meeting will be for the purpose of:
All those planning to attend, please RSVP to Kersten Eggers at kersten.eggers@scouting.org or at (425) 338-0380 by Monday, May 6, 2019.
Suggested nominees:
Suggestions for Nominees to the Mount Baker Council’s Executive Board may be offered by any registered Scouter in our council. Please submit nominees in writing, prior to April 1st to:
Council Nominating Committee
Mount Baker Council, BSA
1715 – 100th Place SE, Suite B
Everett, WA 98208
February 1st is a historic day for the Boy Scouts of America. Our Boy Scout program officially becomes Scouts BSA and our Troops for Girls will be formed.
Below are some resources for use when recruiting and advertising our new Units.
As a reminder please only refer to our new all-female Units as the following
You should not ever put the word “Girl” immediately proceeding the word “Scout” in any written or verbal communications.
This is the best place for graphics including logos, email templates, peer-to-peer cards, social media graphics, and videos. You will also find a PowerPoint presentation for use during recruiting.
Scouts BSA Marketing Guidelines
Dos and Don’t When Talking About Scouts BSA
Scouts BSA Meeting Talking Points
Family Scouting Program Resources
Order of the Arrow (OA) Upcoming Events Banquet, Elections, and Crossover Ceremonies
By Kai Leedy
Sikhs Mox Lamonti Lodge Communications Vice Chief
The Sikhs Mox Lamonti Lodge wishes you a happy New Year! To kick off the year, we’ll be hosting our Annual Winter Fellowship and Banquet on January 18-19. All members are invited to this fellowship to meet new brothers, make new connections, and enjoy the fun the Order has to offer. All families are invited to our Annual Banquet for a delicious meal to
celebrate the successes of 2018 and welcome in 2019, as well as to witness the callout for the Vigil Honor and the awarding of the Founder’s Award. Banquet and Awards begin at 6pm at North Creek Presbyterian Church in Mill Creek.
Additionally, the Lodge wishes to remind all unit leaders that the Unit Elections season runs from January 1 – May 31! Chapter leaders will be reaching out to schedule Unit Elections. If you’d like to schedule one, please get in touch with your chapter’s chief or adviser (contact information below). As a reminder, Unit Elections are the only way a youth may become a
member of the Order of the Arrow and further their commitment to unit and council service. Cub Scout leaders should also expect information from their chapter leaders regarding crossover ceremonies.
Below is the 2019 Lodge Calendar, as well as the contact information for your chapter leaders. We hope to see you at our events in the new year.
| Chapter | Chapter Chief | Chapter Adviser |
| Island | Miles Erikson | Miles Gallagher |
| Tillkum | Jacob Jackson | Dan Studley |
| Puget Sound | Ben Eyman | Charlie Breeden |
| Klahaya | Kun Kim | Sean Blackburn |
| Tyee | Kaleb Glenn | Steve Glenn |
| Skagit | Cypress Norton | Tom Templeton |
| Whatcom | Blue Leedy | Lans Leedy |
