Troop 934 Membership

Introduction: What is “Chartering”? What is “Re-Chartering”

• “Chartering” is the BSA’s word for becoming a member. It applies to both new youth members (Scouts) and to new prospective adult leaders (Adult Leaders). Chartering also applies to
  • Past members/leaders of Scouting who let their membership lapse
  • Active members/leaders who are transferring to Troop 934 from a different Troop, be it within Old Hickory Council or from another Council altogether
• “Re-Chartering” is the BSA’s word for the annual renewal of your membership. It also applies to both Scouts and Adult Leaders.

Chartering & Re-Chartering: What Changed?

Chartering Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual (national) membership fee and will renew their BSA membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting. All proration of (national) membership fees will be eliminated.

Re-Chartering Beginning mid-January 2024, each registered member of the BSA will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary date they joined Scouting. Existing members will renew their membership during their normal registration/recharter cycle through March 2024 and pay their (national) dues directly to the BSA vis the emailed link. TROOP 934 CANNOT TAKE OR MAKE THE BSA (NATIONAL) MEMBERSHIP DUES PAYMENT. Moving forward all members will renew on their anniversary date.

What does that mean?

• Old Path: A scout who chartered (joined) in, for example, September 2022 paid a reduced level of national and local dues that essentially bridged him to March 2023, at which time the scout got a Re-Charter (renewal) bill from Troop 934 (that included both BSA (national) and Troop (local) dues) for the new scout year (March 2023-February 2024).
• New Path: A scout who charters (joins) in, for example, September 2023 will pay a full year of BSA (national) dues. The scout does not get a Re-Charter bill via email from the BSA Nationals in March 2024 (when the rest of the Troop does) but rather will get his Re-Charter bill via email from the BSA Nationals in September 2024. The scout does get a Troop (local) dues bill from the Troop in March 2024.

Chartering Options

The Web-Based Chartering Process

This is the preferred method for both Scouts and Adult Leaders – New, Transfer and Reactivation

Again, at this time for Troop 934 the web-based process is only applicable to youth.

• This applies to new members who have never been in Scouting
• This applies to youth who were Cub Scouts, both at bridging and after
• This applies to Transfer members, both from another OHC troop or from another Council
  • OHC will automatically assign a new BSA ID# to someone transferring from another council
  • The system automatically transfer your information. Best to validate everything is correct later.
• This applies to former members of Troop 934 who are rejoining

Steps:

1. The prospective youth member’s parents follow the “Join Scouting” link on the Old Hickory Council’s homepage at https://www.oldhickorycouncil.org/ to https://beascout.scouting.org/
2. The prospective youth member’s parents follow the prompts
   • Please search based on the zip code of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church (MTUMC) — 27106
   • Please be sure to select the Scouts BSA box (adds a blue border) and de-select the Cub Scout box (removes the blue border)
   • Click “Find a Unit”
   • A list of ~27 units will appear. Troop 0934 is usually (not always) the first troop that appears for zip code 27106 — you may have to scroll down 3-4 units.
   • There will be a blue “Apply Now” button under Troop 0934. Hit this.
3. Confirm that you are registering a Youth
4. The next question is “Is the youth a current/former Scout?”
   • This question is asking if your child is or was EVER a member of Scouting, INCLUDING Cub Scouts (your should answer Yes if your child was a Cub for less than a year)
5. If you answered “Yes” …
   • The website will ask for four pieces of information
     • Member ID (aka your BSA membership number)
     • First Name
     • Last Name
     • Date of Birth
   • Most parents do not know the Member ID. This is OK.
     • There is a small question mark that if you hover opens a link. Click the link and a sub-window “Recover Member ID” opens. This window asks for four pieces of information (First Names, Last Name, Date of Birth, Zip Code)
       • Zip Code most likely means your Zip Code at the time you were an active member.
       • Try your old once first. If you have moved several times try all of them.
     • If this does not work STOP. Call us. We will work with Old Hickory Council staff to find your son’s Member ID.
6. If you answered “No” …
   • The website will collect personal information about the child
   • The website will collect personal information about the parent(s)
   • The website will generate and assign a new BSA Member ID
7. The website will collect payment via credit card
   • For youth members who are brand new to scouting (i.e., have never been a Cub Scout or Boy Scout and therefore do not have a BSA ID) or were at one time Cub Scouts or even Boys Scouts (and therefore have a BSA ID) but let their membership become inactive the fee is EITHER
     • $105.00, which includes (1) a $25.00 one-time joining fee and (2) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues OR
     • $120.00 which includes (1) a $25.00 one-time joining fee and (2) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues and (3) $15.00 for Scout Life magazine. (Scout Life is optional; we encourage it for younger scouts.)
   • For youth members who have a BSA ID and are either reactivating with Troop 934 or transferring into Troop 934 from another troop (either inside Old Hickory Council or from another council), the fee is EITHER
     • $80.00, which includes only a full year of annual national BSA dues OR
     • $95.00 which includes (1) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues and (2) $15.00 for Scout Life magazine. (Scout Life is optional; we encourage it for younger scouts.)
   • For prospective adult leaders, regardless of BSA ID status, the annual BSA (national) dues are $60.00
     • The $25.00 one-time fee is not charged to adult volunteers
     • The $60.00 BSA (national) dues are required for College Scouter Reserve where the current membership status is inactive
     • The $60.00 BSA (national) dues are not required for an active youth member who has turned 18 and is transitioning to College Scouter Reserve
   • At this time we do not have an alternative to payment via credit card
     • if you are using the web-based system you are locked in to payment via credit cards, and
     • Troop 934 cannot make the payment on behalf of the parents
   • Separately, Troop 934 will bill the pro-rated portion of the annual Troop (local) dues, based on the number of months left in the scout year (which runs from March to February of the following year).
8. If all the data was entered correctly …
   • Old Hickory Council staff will receive and process the application
   • Troop 934 leadership will receive an email that your membership is active
9. If some of the data was not entered correctly …
   • Old Hickory Council staff may send you (the parent or adult leader applicant) an email requesting action
   • Old Hickory Council staff may send Troop 934 leadership an email requesting we gather more information from the parent or adult leader applicant
10. Please forward any confirmation emails your receive to t934leaderadm@gmail.com
    • This will help us know you completed an application and the process has started
    • If you do not receive a confirmation please send a note to t934leaderadm@gmail.com so we know to chase it

Chartering (Joining) Using the Paper-based Application

(NOT the preferred method )

The Paper-Based Process

1. Obtain the paper application online
   • A fillable pdf of the Youth application can be accessed by clicking Youth Application Link
   • A fillable pdf of the Adult application can be accessed by clicking Adult Application Link
     • College Scouter Reserve (age 18-21) uses the Adult application as a background check is required
2. The youth’s parents or the prospective adult leader (including College Scouter Reserve) completes, prints, and signs the paper application
3. The paper application is returned to T934 (usually to Ms. Shannon) together with a check that is payable to “Troop 934”.
   • For youth members who are brand new to scouting (i.e., have never been a Cub Scout or Boy Scout and therefore do not have a BSA ID) or were at one time Cub Scouts or even Boys Scouts (and therefore have a BSA ID) but let their membership become inactive the fee is EITHER
     • $105.00, which includes (1) a $25.00 one-time joining fee and (2) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues OR
     • $120.00 which includes (1) a $25.00 one-time joining fee and (2) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues and (3) $15.00 for Scout Life magazine. (Scout Life is optional; we encourage it for younger scouts.)
   • For youth members who have a BSA ID and are either reactivating their Troop 934 membership or transferring into Troop 934 from another troop (either inside Old Hickory Council or from another council), the fee is EITHER
     • $80.00, which includes only a full year of annual national BSA dues OR
     • $95.00 which includes (1) $80.00 for a full year of annual national BSA dues and (2) $15.00 for Scout Life magazine. (Scout Life is optional; we encourage it for younger scouts.)
     • Please note: If you don’t know your BSA ID number there is a method to locate it described in the Web-Based Chartering process described below.
   • For prospective adult leaders, regardless of BSA ID status, the annual BSA (national) dues are $60.00
     • The $25.00 one-time fee is not charged to adult volunteers
     • The $60.00 BSA (national) dues are required for College Scouter Reserve where the current membership status is inactive
     • The $60.00 BSA (national) dues are not required for an active youth member who has turned 18 and is transitioning to College Scouter Reserve
   • Alternatively, if the parent prefers to pay via a credit card Troop 934 can, if asked, issue a Square invoice, which will be grossed up 3.5% to cover transaction fees.
   • Separately, Troop 934 will bill the pro-rated portion of the annual Troop (local) dues, based on the number of months left in the scout year (which runs from March to February of the following year).
4. A Troop 934 adult leader will then take the paper application to the team at Old Hickory Council.
   • Old Hickory Council will process the application
   • Old Hickory Council will bill Troop 934 for the BSA (national) dues and one-time joining fee (if applicable)
5. A few days later Troop 934 will receive notice that the new youth or adult member is active

Updated Fee Structure

Effective 1st August 2023 the fee structure has also changed.

• For youth
  • $80.00 for Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting participants ($5 increase)
  • $25.00 one-time joining fee for new program participants in Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouting (Not prorated and no change in fee) — this fee is only supposed to be charged ONCE in your lifetime
  • $15.00 for Scout Life magazine (optional)
• For adults
  • $60.00 for all adult volunteers ($15 increase to provide general liability insurance and enhanced background checks) OR
  • $25.00 for Merit Badge Counselors (New Fee applies only for Merit Badge Counselors not already registered as leaders)

What Has Changed: Re-Charter
Applicable in January 2024

Effective 1st August 2023 all youth and adult leaders who are members of Scouts BSA will be billed individually for their annual national BSA dues. The bill will come via email directly from BSA Nationals ~60 days prior to the due date. The bill will include a unique payment link and (as we understand it) payment must be remitted via credit card.

• For 2023 the annual national BSA dues amount is $80.00 for youth and $60.00 for adult leaders.
• For youth members and adult leaders who are active members as of 1st August 2023, the due date will be in March 2024.
  • For youth members and adult leaders who became active members after 1st August 2023, the due date will be the 1-year anniversary of joining.
  • For example, if you join Scouting in September 2023 your annual national dues will not be due in March 2024 but rather in September 2024
• ~60 days prior to the due date (for most is us this will be in January) the bill for the BSA (national) dues will be issued via email directly to the parents or adult leaders
  • At this time there is no paper billing
  • At this time there is no website where parents or leaders can go to access the bill
  • Our understanding is Troop 934 will be copied on the emailed bill
  • We do not know what email address BSA Nationals has on file for the individual troop members, but we expect half of them are wrong
• Troop 934 will work with parents and leaders to make sure you have copies of the BSA (national) dues bill
• Unfortunately, Troop 934 cannot make the payment of BSA (national) dues on behalf of the parents or adult leaders

What happens if I don’t pay or I am late paying?

• At this time we are not aware of any grace period.
  • Our expectation is that if you do not pay national dues by the due date you will not be considered an active member of Scouts BSA.
• If you are not an active youth member you are not covered by insurance.
  You CAN come to a Monday Meeting (as a visitor), but you can NOT
  • Go on a campout
  • Go to summer camp
  • Log a rank advancement
  • Log a merit badge completion
  • Log completed rank requirements
  • Be active in a troop leadership position — if you are active in a troop leadership position we believe the system will automatically “kick you out” of the position and this will delay your eligibility for rank advancement because (according to the system) you will not have completed the time requirement
• Likewise, if you are not an active adult leader member you are not covered by insurance. You CAN come to a Monday Meeting (as a parent), but you can NOT serve as a leader at any function
  • You cannot, for example, stay with the Troop overnight on a campout
• If you do not renew by the date in the email your application will switch from “Re-Charter” to “Charter” and you will be charged the $25.00 joining fee in addition to BSA (national) dues.

Separate Billing of Troop (Local) Dues in 2024

In the past, Troop 934 was able to collect the annual national BSA dues and the Troop 934 (local) annual dues in one payment. Going forward this will no longer be possible. Instead, look for Troop 934 to separately bill the Troop 934 (local) annual dues in January.

The fact that two payments will be required is going to create mass confusion. We know it, we hate it, we just can’t do anything to stop it.

Questions? Concerns?

You have them, we have them.

Do not hesitate to ask, but understand we (the adult leaders) may not have answers ready.

Please be patient as we all come to an understanding of this new world.

Thank you!