Scouting truly is a life changing program for youth. It’s where our future leaders learn to lead and it’s a program that prepares our children for a better life.
Just this month, more than two-thousand new families took their first step on the Scouting trail and joined a Cub Scout pack in the Heart of America Council. These families believe in Scouting and trust that our program will instill positive character and leadership values in their children.
They, along with the rest of our Scouting community, also know that Scouting is an incredible value for families. As we continue our mission to deliver Scouting across the Greater Kansas City area, the leadership of the Heart of America Council is committed to providing a safe and cost effective Scouting experience for everyone.
Right now, our National organization is evaluating the ever growing costs of delivering our program and have tasked a team of volunteers and staff from across the country to determine the best path forward for our organization.
This will likely require a national membership fee increase for youth and adult leaders effective January 1, 2020.
The exact amount of the potential fee increase has yet to be determined, but that figure is expected to be released in late October. Once the exact increase is determined, we will relay that information via our council website and social media channels.
It's important to note that annual membership fees go directly to our national organization to pay for essential items like insurance coverage, youth protection resources and criminal background checks. The increase is being considered out of necessity to support these critical safety components of our organization.
Rest assured, our council will make sure that all youth have the opportunity to experience the character-building benefits that Scouting provides regardless of their financial situation.
We thank you for your continued commitment to Scouting in the Heart of America Council and urge you to continue to be an advocate for Scouting and how our programs are preparing thousands of youth across Kansas City for life.