Troop 373 Scout Accounts

Troop 373 has established the scout account program as a method of providing financial assistance to scouts and their families. The program assists scouts in proportion to a scout’s participation in the troop’s fundraising activities. Scout accounts reward scouts for participating in fundraising activities and help them pay for scouting-related activities and equipment. The following questions and answers help explain the scout account program.

A: Scout accounts contain money that has been earned through a scout’s participation in troop fundraising events. Funds are reserved by the troop to help scouts pay for scouting-related expenses. The troop keeps track of an amount available to each scout. The money in a scout account is available to the scout for approved uses as long as the scout remains active in the troop. A form is available to help you use money in a Scout's scout account.

A: The money belongs to the troop.

A: The troop sells King Soopers grocery coupons at meetings and Courts of Honor as an ongoing fundraiser. Five percent of sales are credited to the scout's Scout Account. The troop has at least one major fundraiser each year, currently the Holiday Wreath and Garland Sale. The sale raises most of the troop's operating budget each year, so all scouts are asked to help sell wreaths and garlands.

A: Two types of expenses may be paid from scout accounts. First, scouts may use their account to pay for annual registration fees, high adventure trips and summer camp. To use a scout account to pay for these fees, send a written request to the event coordinator letting him know how much of the fee you would like to have paid from your scout account.

The second type of expense that may be paid from a scout account is the purchase of uniforms, merit badge supplies, Eagle project supplies, and camping equipment (tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, stoves, cook sets, water filters, etc.).  Scouts must request prior approval of camping equipment purchases.  To receive an expense reimbursement, the scout must send the troop Treasurer a store receipt.  A check will be issued to the scout for approved expenses.  The Treasurer will make the determination of whether the expense can be reimbursed.  Any requests that are not approved by the Treasurer may be presented to the Troop Committee for review.

Q: What happens when I leave the troop?

A: Money left over in a scout account after a scout is no longer active will be used by the troop to help offset the cost of equipment purchased by the troop. The Troop Committee uses three criteria to determine whether a scout is active: (1) payment of membership dues, (2) attendance at troop meetings, and (3) active participation in rank advancement activities.

A: Requests for assistance that would result in a negative balance in a scout account will usually be denied. Special cases will be considered by the Troop Committee.