Question:
A little background:
I am an ASM for a troop that has grown from 19 boys 3 years ago to 61 boys
currently. This pattern of growth looks like it will continue. When the
troop was small, campouts were attended by 10 - 12 scouts and 2 - 3
leaders. Currently, campouts now average 30 - 35 boys, with 6 - 8 leaders
and parents. As you can imagine, there is a great need for purchasing
additional camping equipment, tents, etc. Also, we are looking at
purchasing a troop trailer to facilitate transporting equipment to and from
campouts.
The problem:
A trailer and additional camping equipment costs money that has been
difficult to raise beyond the normal expenses of running the troop. We
have held a troop garage sale and are planning additional fund-raisers such
as car washes, wreath sales, etc. Our charter organization, the local
Catholic church, does not allow us to hold fund-raisers on the premises and
we have had to look elsewhere for assistance.
Questions:
Does your charter organization subsidize the troop?
If so, to what extent?
Has it helped out with the purchase of a large item such as a trailer?
If the charter organization has not subsidized the troop, how has money
been raised to purchase a troop trailer?
Answer:
-Our troop is in the process of purchasing a new trailer (approx. cost
$3,000.) Our chartering org. has agreed to pay for most of it, but
the troop will pay some from fundraising efforts.
Another troop in our district, chartered to the same fraternal
organization, but a different lodge, is also in the process of buying
a trailer. They went about it much differently. They sold
advertising space on the sides of the trailer to local vendors. A
24"x24" spot sold for $350. , a 18"x18" spot sold for $250. It still
leaves a 4'x6' section for the troop to do their logo, etc.
I don't know whether this is allowed by national, but it sure takes
care of the lack of funds.
-I would suggest that your troop committee establish a capital equipment
sub-committee. A member of the troop committee should chair the
sub-committee, but the other members should be parents not otherwise
involved. The tasks of the sub-committee should be to identify the
financial needs for capital equipment, devise a plan for meeting those
needs and then carry out the plan. There should be a separate capital
equipment fund (even if the money is in the same bank account as the
troop's general fund). There should be planned fundraisers earmarked for
capital equipment. And, most importantly, the operations of the capital
equipment sub-committee should not interfere with the fundraising
necessary for the day-to-day operation of the troop.
BTW, it is not just the cost of the trailer that you are dealing with,
it's also the recurring expenses of registration, insurance, maintenance,
etc. I would suggest at the very beginning that money be set aside for
these items.
