October 4th, 2021
Dear Glacier’s Edge Scouters,
As a valued member of our Scouting community, I am reaching out to provide you with an update on the national organization of the BSA’s financial restructuring and how the Glacier’s Edge Council is participating in the efforts to equitably compensate survivors and ensure the future of Scouting’s vital mission. Specifically, I’d like to share an update regarding local council contributions that will be used to compensate survivors.
Our Council’s Contribution:
As part of the Boy Scouts of America’s financial restructuring, the specific contributions each local council will make to help fund the Trust for survivors was filed with the Court. These figures were determined through a combination of information filed in the claims process and what local councils could meaningfully contribute while ensuring Scouting can continue in their areas.
Our council participated in the process and our contribution was determined to be approximately $620,000, which will comprise a combination of cash and other assets.
The Glacier’s Edge Council is legally separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties, and local donations are controlled by our council. We share in the BSA’s commitment to equitably compensate survivors of past abuse. We are carefully reviewing how we can fund our contribution to the compensation Trust while ensuring that Scouting can continue to serve our youth, families, and communities for generations to come. Specifically, the executive board has taken steps to fund our contribution including the sale of Camp Indian Trails. The net proceeds from the sale will pay off the outstanding debt on the property and GEC’s contribution to the trust. We look forward to celebrating Scouting and Camp Indian Trails during the upcoming Council Camporee; October 15th through the 17th. The final day of operation at CIT will be October 17th.
It is important to note that restricted donations can only be used for their designated purposes and are legally protected so that they are used as the donor specified. Local donations through Friends of Scouting (FOS) go straight to supporting Scouting in our communities today; these donations are used in real-time and are critical to maintaining local operations.
The BSA’s Path Forward:
There is still much to be done to obtain approval from the Court to solicit survivors to vote for the BSA’s amended Plan of Reorganization. However, the BSA is wholeheartedly committed to working toward a global resolution. The BSA intends to seek confirmation of the Plan this fall and conclude its financial restructuring around the end of this year.
While this is an important step forward in the national organization’s financial restructuring, I also want to take a moment to recognize the exciting things happening in our council. There has never been a better time to be a part of Scouting. This fall, we look forward to welcoming new members to our ranks as we actively launch our recruitment campaign. We look forward to welcoming new families as well as welcoming back those that left during the height of the pandemic. There is no better character and leadership program than Scouting and simply put Scouting is the best way to Escape the Indoors!
Thank you for your continued support of Scouting. If you have any other questions about the national organization’s financial restructuring, please visit www.bsarestructuring.org.
Yours in Scouting,
