Friends of Scouting

Longhorn Council is a nonprofit Scout organization that provides services, programs, camps, and facilities to over 30,000 youth each year in 23 counties in North and Central Texas. The Council supports Units just like ours through providing and maintaining camping facilities, providing adult training and a professional staff that supports these functions as well as new unit and recruitment support. Of the money recently paid for registration, $0 is retained by the Council. The registration funds are passed on to the National Office to fund their operations and programs... so how do we continue to be so awesome?  Through Friends of Scouting of course!

At our January Pack meeting, we presented the Friends of Scouting campaign and distributed pledge cards.  We also gave information at the Blue and Gold and passed the hat.  I want to further reiterate the importance of this campaign not only for our Unit (please keep reading as there IS a considerable savings we receive by meeting our goal) but it also helps strengthen our Council and provides the infrastructure for the camps we are able to reserve and enjoy -- FREE OF CHARGE. 

We are so blessed that not only Pack 1910, but also Troop 1910 have both been leaders in many aspects of Council and District Operations. We have several youth and adults on summer camp staff, training committees and training faculties and we provide leadership at the District and Council levels.  We represent... this should be no different!

Our Council's projects are funded with Friends of Scouting contributions by Scouting families and business leaders, popcorn, Camp Card sales, and activity fees.

So, as you can see, the Friends of Scouting is a critical fund-raising campaign that assists the Longhorn Council in offsetting program costs and enables them to continue providing quality service. The true cost of Scouting is much greater than what local dues, camping and event fees cover.

Our Unit goal this year is $1,500 and by meeting that, we will receive FREE RANK ADVANCEMENT for our Unit (this includes the rank patches, all adventure loops and activity pins). We have always exceeded our goal and want this year to be no different!   If we can get each of our unit families to do a minimum of $30 donation to the FOS drive, we will exceed our goal!

Unit insurance per Scout went up this year from $2.50 to $15 per Scout (adult and youth). If we are unable to meet our FOS goal, we will have to raise dues to cover the cost not only of the advancement insignia (which we now get for free because of meeting last year's goal), but also the cost of the insurance increase. 

So, helping us meet this goal for our Unit, proves to be a savings to us both!  Without the dues increase to cover these two changes that took place January 2019, we would operate in the red per scout per year.  That's no bueno!

SO the next burning question is...

WHO WANTS TO BE THE SOURCE OF CELEBRATION?

PLEASE HELP US MEET OUR GOAL!

The pledge can be a one-time gift, it can be a monthly or quarterly contribution – however it makes sense for you to meet your commitment, Friends of Scouting can accommodate your request. No gift is too big... no gift is too small...

Please go to www.myfos.org and register your commitment to the campaign TODAY! On the site, you will be able to make your pledge and schedule your payment(s) according to your own needs. (Note: Make sure you designate Pack 1910 when you make your commitment so we can accurately record it to our Unit's campaign).

Pledges are tax deductible! Please consider a pledge to the 2019 Friends of Scouting Campaign to help the Pack hit our goal. If you completed a pledge card and need to turn it in, please scan and e-mail it to April Driggers.