Friends of Scouting

Friends of Scouting is a voluntary program whose purpose is to encourage the support of the Scouting Program by Scouting Families by asking them to share in the cost of the program that serves their youth. As volunteers in the Scouting Program, we invest our time to make the program successful. But there are things that volunteers can’t do, that still must be done. Scouting Dollars pay for the things volunteers can’t do:

• Training for adult volunteers
• Leadership training and advancement programs
• New unit organization
• Recruiting activities
• Program publications
• Communications
• Maintenance of our Scout Camps
• Program Materials
• Records processing
• Clerical staff
• Telephone and office equipment
• Other related costs to support the entire program

IMPORTANCE:

The Greater Alabama Council’s Operating Budget for 2018 is again in excess of $6 million. That’s more than $15,000 per day. We are a United Way Agency, and they support BSA by providing about 26% of our operating budget. Friends of Scouting, including the Community and Family Campaign, provides 36% – the largest part, of our operating budget. None of the annual re-charter fees or monthly dues we pay go to support our Council. That is why we have this campaign each year.

There are at least three reasons why each of us should participate in
“Friends of Scouting“:

• Because we believe in the ideas and ideals of Scouting
• Because Scouting has impacted OUR sons in a positive manner
• Because this will ensure that the Boy Scouts will survive in the future

SUPPORT:

For 2020, we are again asking each Scouting family to consider a pledge of at least $300. This is about the amount that our Council spends on each Scout. This is less than a dollar a day. We ask you to support the Council’s objectives by giving, because of what Scouting has done for our sons and our families. Payments can be made in installments. BSA will send periodic invoices, based on how you mark your pledge card. If your unit’s parents haven’t had an opportunity to hear a presentation on Friends of Scouting, please contact Logan Black Logan.black@scouting.org or Steve VanWinkle slvanw@bellsouth.net and we will be glad to accommodate; or if you would like to fill out a pledge card yourself, you can click here for a form to fill out and mail to Logan Black, P.O. Box 43307, Birmingham, AL 35243.

On behalf of YOUR Scout, we thank you for your support of Friends of Scouting!

Give2Help-a-Scout!