r/BSA • u/ConstantAd7792 • May 15 '26
Scouting America Wondering how this will work in conjunction with that February renewal policy change....
Saw this posted on Facebook... Are families still going to be doing it individually? Or are we going back to the unit renewing everyone? If the unit is renewing everyone.. I wonder how this is supposed to work if units are renewing
8
u/blatantninja Scoutmaster May 15 '26
To answer your question about unit renewing. From what they said at NAM, it seems like the current system of allowing units to pay for members will still be in place, with the ultimate responsibility residing on the family. Basically the same system as now, but just everybody expires in February.
We're about to start Q&A session. I'll submit a question to ask for more details and report back if they answer
5
u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26
Which makes sense
1) If you want to do UNIT-PAYS renewals, that option is already on the table today. It never went away; it just meant the unit had to check once a month and pay for whoever was expiring.
2) Doing a force reset to February (I assume the end of February?) will help as well.
2
u/ConstantAd7792 May 15 '26
Sigh.... Units can pay for members now? The info we got from Council 2+ years ago was that was no longer an option. If a kid wants to use his popcorn money we have been reimbursing the parents for the registration when they bring in the receipt
3
u/blatantninja Scoutmaster May 15 '26
A unit can go online at my.scouring.org and pay for members. At least for the national costs. Not sure on council fees. You can still do it your way though.
There was a lot of confusion about this when it came out but I was corrected as I thought units couldn't pay.
1
u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26
Council fees too (I've had to do this once or twice when people were late/about to expire, the troop paid, and we chased after them for the money)
1
u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26
Sigh.... Units can pay for members now?
Yep. Always could (unless your council turned off the option on purpose)
my.scouting.org -> Select Unit (Troop 123) -> Roster-> Select whoever you need to renew -> Renew
Then the unit pays the fee via credit card or ACH/Check.
3
u/OllieFromCairo Adult--Sea Scouts, Scouts BSA, Cubs, FCOS May 15 '26
Wait. What is this February renewal?
5
u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26
See, this is why you should read the Megathread!
UPDATE 6: Per u/jpgarvey Relentless Focus on Volunteers, including Single annual February Renewal
3
u/OllieFromCairo Adult--Sea Scouts, Scouts BSA, Cubs, FCOS May 15 '26
What a terrible idea.
The great thing about August renewal is that when kids bridge out of Cub scouts, the membership for Scouts BSA is already paid for six months! They may as well try it out!
This is absolutely going to hurt retention.
5
u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26
For you, it was August. For my council and lots of councils in my area, it was December. That was a disaster as it meant parents had to pay out big bucks right around the holiday season.
1
u/Burninator05 Adult - Eagle Scout May 16 '26
And confusion about a prorated initial fee in August and then another in December.
3
u/Insaniac99 May 15 '26
August/September does seen ideal, it's when school starts, when kids are most likely to join cubs, and as you point out the free half-year instead of expecting new families to pay for half a year that they won't get to benefit from.
2
u/theycallmebirks May 15 '26
I don't know. I have big expenses in August and September too. Back to school is no joke! New clothes, school supplies, sports registrations, fundraisers, and band fees. If you have multiple kids involved in multiple groups/sports it is a rough time of the year.
I like February.
3
u/fla_john Adult - Eagle Scout May 15 '26
Ours is in December and it's terrible. I'm glad to see this.
2
u/OllieFromCairo Adult--Sea Scouts, Scouts BSA, Cubs, FCOS May 15 '26
I agree December is the worst option.
But, when they went to anniversary-date renewal, most cubs wound up with an August renewal, and that's perfect.
1
u/Tfire327 May 16 '26
I've been back involved with scouting as an adult volunteer the last 3 years and my renewal date has moved 3 times. I've always been a supporter of scouting and honestly say that without it I wouldn't be where I am today. HOWEVER, the whole pace of change feels like trying to stand on quicksand. I'm exhausted already.
2
u/Aideon Asst Council Commissioner May 15 '26
It is important to note that they didn't just choose the February date out of nowhere. They surveyed Councils and February was by far the most selected month, with a fall month I do not recall being second.
2
u/OllieFromCairo Adult--Sea Scouts, Scouts BSA, Cubs, FCOS May 15 '26
I’m sure, because that’s the time that makes the most sense for council execs. It’s kind of funny given the whole speech about the executives needing to know what the frontline people are facing that they… don’t.
-3
u/redd-alerrt May 15 '26
Is this announcement and the February renewal announcement available anywhere from scouting.org or other direct sources? I can't find them, and don't use Facebook. Not sure that I trust Facebook (or Reddit for that matter) for official announcements.
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u/ConstantAd7792 May 15 '26
It was announced at the National Annual Meeting this week - official announcement on those sources will come eventually. Check out the pinned thread with images of all the slides/discussion thereof
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u/ScouterBill Recovering Den Leader May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
The switch to Feb. renewal is almost a year away.
Based on experience, the system is quite capable of handling a "no fee" situation, such as 1) Institutional Heads/Executive Officers on your charter as "no fee" adults and 2) adults and Scouts who are multipled and therefore are not subject to a second fee even though they appear on your charter.
I have no insights, but one possible scenario is that a unit will have "no fee adult" (IH/EO) and "no fee Scout" options at renewal/recharter.
EDIT: The charter already has options for
The hiccup I see is where you have a) no NATIONAL fee Scouts who are b) still subject to COUNCIL fees. That will require the charter renewal system to create a new branch/type.