From: golden cliff (c60clg1@CORN.CSO.NIU.EDU)
Date: Thu Sep 07 2000 - 13:41:38 CDT
>
> So here's a survey. Do adults pay the same fee as youth, go for free, or
> some other arrangement? What about gas costs?
>
We have everyone pay the same amount, Scout or adult. If a trip is a
significant distance we pay all gas costs.
We do this for a couple of reasons.
I believe if we are teaching citizenship, then it's good to teach that
everyone pays their share in expenses. No free rides. If there is a
financial problem for a Scout, the troop may "loan" him the money. We
have ample fundraisers for him to earn money and repay the troop.
Another reason is a very practical one. We do some pretty big trips
sometimes. If adults went free on our activities, the costs would
skyrocket for everyone else.
Sure, the troop could opt to pay for the adults out of our general fund,
but then there's less money for equipment. We own canoes, snowshoes,
etc., which cuts down on costs for activities because we don't have to
rent them. The troop own backpacks available for free loan, so boys don't
have to purchase them. We invest in equipment that lowers the cost of
providing certain types of activities.
I expect that wear and tear on my van, and some extra gas costs will
occur. That's part of my voluntary donation to the troop. We have free
activities for the boys that aren't necessarily free for me due to fuel
costs. That's my choice.
I understand other troops do things differently. I am not attacking their
practice or saying they're wrong. I'm just saying this is what we do and
why.
YIS,
Cliff Golden
Scoutmaster Troop 33
DeKalb, Illinois
