Scout registration

What do you feel is the correct way to register scouts? Register all that show up on MLS or go through the list and see who is active in scouts. There is a feeling that the church wants all boys registered just in case they decide to go on an activity so they would be covered by insurance. We spend a lot of money on boys that don't attend scouts.

farwest wrote:What do you feel is the correct way to register scouts?

Fortunately, we don't have to be concerned about how we feel about this topic. Handbook 2, Section 8.13.4 is quite clear:

Where Scouting is authorized by the Church, young men ages 12 to 15 should be registered.

There are no exceptions listed, no criteria related to activity or participation, not really any room for interpretation that I can see.

farwest wrote:We spend a lot of money on boys that don't attend scouts.

What do you mean by "we"? In the US at least, all scout registration costs are covered by the Church. Of course we should be concerned about Church finances as a whole, but where the policy that comes from CHQ is clear and you are faithfully following it, I don't think you need to be concerned about that.

If by "we" you mean that somehow your local ward or stake is bearing these costs using Budget funds, then your stake needs to review the procedures for using the reimbursable Scout Registration category to pay for these costs.

We went through a similar experience in my ward where the Bishopric counselor paid out-of-pocket for a scout registration and wanted to expense it to the ward. I talked to my stake clerk at the time and he said to send it to him, and the stake did the reimbursement. It was't too much longer that I was called as the stake clerk. I reviewed this policy/instruction, and looked back over the years.... it was a very interesting find...After working with LUS-Finance specialists - I recovered about 20K to the Budget from over 4 years worth of paying BSA registration out of the Budget rather than the reimbursable BSA Registration account. This can add up quickly.

Scout registration fees are also to be paid for non-members joining the pack/troop/team/crew. Using the activities of Scouting is a good missionary tool.

farwest wrote:What do you feel is the correct way to register scouts? Register all that show up on MLS or go through the list and see who is active in scouts. There is a feeling that the church wants all boys registered just in case they decide to go on an activity so they would be covered by insurance. We spend a lot of money on boys that don't attend scouts.

If the parents want to register them, you register them as Cub Scouts when they turn 8. Unless they transfer out, register them annually during the recharter process. When they turn 11, have them fill out a BSA application for the Boy Scout Troop and mark it as a transfer. Again, reregister them during rechartering. When they turn 14, they fill out another BSA application for a Varsity Team (assuming your ward sponsors a Varsity Team) and mark it as a transfer. When they turn 16, if your ward sponsors a Venturing Crew, have them fill out another BSA application for a Venturing Crew, and mark it as a transfer. If your ward doesn't sponsor a Crew, keep the Scout registered until he is no longer working on advancements or until he ages out. The advantage of marking it as a transfer is that the cost is $1 compared to $15. Granted, the ward and stake won't see it, but the additional fees add up quickly.

As far as who should be registered, aebrown quoted the relevant portions of the Handbook. If you're doing the full Cub-Troop-Team-Crew program, the parents have to give their approval several times for the YM to continue with Scouting, (they have to sign the applications), so as long as they keep signing the forms, the boy should be registered.

Procedures for Submitting Scout Registration Information from MLS
In a letter dated November 9, 2009, the Young Men General Presidency of the LDS Church stated:
“All boys, young men, and their adult leaders who participate in Scouting activities in the Church are to be registered with the Boy Scouts of America (see “Scouting Handbook for Church Units in the United States”, June 2011 edition, pages 4 & 5). Ward and branch leaders should complete the registration process as outlined by their stake leaders and the local BSA council.”

I guess the key word is participate. We have many young men on the rolls that have never participated in scouts or church. My concern was the use of sacred funds that are never really utilized.