Note to parents and supporters of 1^st Greenwood Scouting:

I wanted to pass you this note for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I wanted to thank you for your participation in this event. This event, and the concession in September are our primary fundraisers and provide the seed money required to start the Scouting year. Secondly, being the end of August, I also wanted to say a word or two about this year's registration and other topics of interest.

The registration fee for this year is set at $90. This represents a $10 increase over last year. The primary source of increases is arising from increases in insurance rates from $5.00 per registered youth last year to $15.00 this year. Changes in coverage will also mean changes in the way certain activities are carried out by Scouts Canada in order to ensure that risks are limited. An example of this is the transportation policy introduced last spring.

The following graph outlines the breakdown between amount assessed by the various organizational levels within Scouting:

As you can see, Group has reduced its share of registration fees from $12 last year to $10 this year. This was done primarily through the relocation of several meeting nights from Public to Catholic Board Schools, were rents are much lower. This $10 represents a portion of the fees that 1^st Greenwood must pay to register each uniformed leader, with the remainder payable from general fundraising. $10 is payable to each section for each registered youth. This is known as the "operating grant" and ensures sections have some monies available for ongoing purchase of equipment, supplies and badges.

Of course it costs much more than $20 per youth per year to run a quality program, with the truer cost being closer to $200 per year, which is why fundraising is so critical as it makes up the remaining 90%. Fundraising revenues within 1^st Greenwood are somewhat constant, although certain windfall donations , such as a $2,500 donation by the Fire-fighter's Youth Program Fund allow certain targeted spending to take place, in this case on new tents. However, one trend that is disturbing is that the overall participation rate in fundraising is down, meaning fewer people are raising more dollars. This is neither fair nor equitable. In order to provide an incentive to parents and youth, we are planning to provide a rebate to youth and parents where for every $50.00 raised, Group will provide a credit $5 toward future camp or activity fees. The exact details are still being worked on at this time. It is hoped that this will encourage a broader participation rate in fundraising activities.

One of the objectives of Group committee this year is to increase contacts with local businesses and corporations. If you are aware of any businesses interested in partnering with Scouts, please do not hesitate to call me or pass the information to your son's or daughter's section leader. Sometimes a donation of goods or services in lieu of cash is just as valuable if it can reduce a camp fee for instance because a van does not need to be rented. Scouts Canada can also arrange to have a tax receipt issued is that is desired.

Following is a tentative listing of Group events for the 2002-03 Scouting Year. You will also be notified through your section newsletters and details.

Preliminary Schedule

2002-03 Scouting Year

• September
• Registration Night Mon Sep 09
• Deadline for Tulip Orders
• October
• Apple Day
• Popcorn (Fall)
• November
• Senators Night
• Remembrance Sunday
• Festival of Lights
• December
• Gift Wrapping and Trees at Loblaws
• January
• February
• Scouting Week
• Car Rally
• Banquet
• Church service
• March
• Spring Fundraiser
• May
• Trees for Canada
• Lynx Sleepover
• Annual General Meeting
• Group Camp
• June
• Year-end BBQ

Yours in Scouting

Pat Osborne

Group Chair

1^st Greenwood Scouting Group