By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
For 113 years, the Boy Scouts of America has helped prepare America's youth to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetimes. Now, the program is battling some cost issues. District Program Chair Shanna Meeks said Scouts are used to paying a $75 fee to enter the program, and the same re-charter fee each January. The Quivira Council recently voted to implement another fee.
"Now it's even more than that because National has decided they're going to raise their rates to $99 per person," Meeks said. "On top of that, we would have the additional $125 fee. So you're looking at $225 per scout and per parent or leader, to be involved in Scouts. That doesn't include any other activities that cost money."
The annual fees have been $75 for scouts and $45 for parents who want to become leaders or volunteers. Most of those costs are covered for scouts living in Great Bend. The new fees would impact five districts in an area ranging from Lacrosse and Kinsley east to the Missouri border, and Great Bend south to the Oklahoma border.
According to an email from the Quivira Council to leaders, the fee was approved last March, and the national increase would take effect Aug. 1, 2023. Meeks said the Quivira fees are higher than fees for neighboring councils, and she and seven other leaders sent letters to the council board and started a petition that, as of Thursday morning, had more than 650 signatures from Scout families and supporters within the council area.
"We've already reached out to the national council office of the BSA, so they're also aware of this," Meeks said. "If they continue to want to impose something like this, the membership within scouts is going to drop, and we're eventually not going to have any Boy Scouts whatsoever."
The Quivira email stated a popcorn initiative would likely also be implemented to help offset costs. View or sign the petition by CLICKING HERE.