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10 GUIDES TO UNIT MONEY-EARNING PROJECTS
The way in which a unit earns
money to carry out its program is of great importance in the education of youth
members in basic values.
Whenever your unit is planning a money-earning
project, this checklist can serve as your guide. It will be helpful to you
as you fill out the application. If your answer is yes to all the
questions that follow, it is likely the project conforms with Scouting's
standards and will be approved.
1. Have your unit committee and chartered organization approved your
project, including the dates and the methods?
There should be a real need for raising money based on your unit's program. We should not engage in special money-earning projects merely because someone
has offered us an attractive plan. It's important to remember that
individual youth members are also expected to earn their own way. The need
should be over and above normal budget items covered by dues.
2. Do your plan and corresponding dates avoid
competition with money-raising efforts and policies of other units, your
chartered organization, your local council, and United Way?
Check with your
chartered organization representative to make certain that your chartered
organization agrees on the dates and type of fund-raiser. The chartered
organization representative can also clear the other dates by calling the
council service center. 3. Does your plan comply with local ordinances;
is it free from any association with gambling; and is it consistent with the
ideals and purposes of the Boy Scouts of America?
Money-raising projects that
include the sale of raffle tickets are in violation of this policy.
This
question can be answered only in terms of specific proposals. If there is
any question of its suitability, contact your local council service center for
assistance. 4. If a commercial product is to be sold, will it be sold on
its own merits and without reference to the needs of Scouting, either directly
(during sales presentations) or indirectly? Teaching youth members to become
self-reliant and to earn their own way is an important part of training our
youth members Tickets may be sold by youth members in uniform in the name of
Scouting for such things as pack shows, troop suppers, circuses, expositions,
and similar Scouting events. 6. Even when sales are confined to parents
and friends, will they get their money's worth from any product they purchase,
function they attend, or services they receive from your unit?
Here again is
the principle of value received--a sale standing on its own merit--so that the
recipients are not in any way subsidizing either Scouting or the member. Youth members must learn to pay their own way and to honestly earn the money to
do it. You cannot permit anyone to use the good name of Scouting to sell a
product. 7. If a project is planned for a particular area, do you
respect the right of other Scouting units in the same neighborhood?
It's a
courtesy to check with neighboring units or the local council service center to
coordinate the time of your project and to see that you aren't covering their
territory. Your unit commissioner can help you with this.
8. Is it
reasonably certain that people who need work or business will not lose it as a
result of your unit's plan? Your unit should neither sell nor offer services
that will damage someone's livelihood. If possible, check with the people
who may be affected. 9. Will your plan protect the name and goodwill of
the Boy Scouts of America and prevent it from being capitalized on by promoters
of shows, benefits, or sales campaigns? Because of Scouting's good reputation,
customers rarely question the quality or price of a product. Unchecked,
the network of Scouting units could become a beehive of commercial interest to
the neglect of character building and citizenship training.
10. If any
contracts are to be signed by your unit, will they be signed by an individual
without reference to the Boy Scouts of America, or the chartered organization to
any agreement of financial responsibility? Before any person in your unit
signs a contract, he must make sure the venture is legitimate and worthy. If a contract is signed, he is personally responsible. He cannot
sign on behalf of the local council of the Boy Scouts of America, nor he bind
the chartered organization without its written authorization. If you're
not sure, check with your local council service center for help. |
