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Kobalt
Star
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:19 pm Post subject: Payment for
Counselors?
My troop has been using parents of scouts and friends of the
troop to teach merit badges. Just today, I ran by the council
building and attained a partial list of merit badge
counselors. As you can see by the topic, I am new to using
MBCs outside of the troop. While I'm sure some teach for
nothing, I would not like to assume that all will give their
time and knowledge without some compensation (reasonably so!).
My question is:
How much is the standard payment for an MBC? Should it be
based on number of scouts, or a flat fee?
Thank you very much for your response. If I inadvertantly
offend any volunteer MBC out there, I'm sorry. I'm just new at
this.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager
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BM_Crawford
Life
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:21 pm Post subject:
From my knowlege its completely voluntary. The scouting
organization is built on volunteers, while there are paid
individuals who work with scouting professionally merit
badges, troop functions and everything like that are done by
volunteers.
If I'm mistaken someone please correct me.
_________________
Brian Crawford
Troop 251
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Kobalt
Star
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:23 pm Post subject:
I had thought that at first, but I didn't want to put myself
in an awkward position with an MBC.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager
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BM_Crawford
Life
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:25 pm Post subject:
Yes I understand. Smart move I know I'd feel awkward if I
went to a councilor and did know how things went.
_________________
Brian Crawford
Troop 251
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Kobalt
Star
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 98
Location: Louisville, KY
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 05:32 pm Post subject:
It's kind of sad, but as ASPL I'm having to go to the council
and get these copies. I wish my SM would be a little more
active... oh well.
_________________
John Baunach
Troop 42
"If it were easy, it would have been done before." -Jeana
Yeager, co-pilot of Voyager
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 04 Aug 2004 06:05 pm Post subject:
MBC is a Volunteer Position. They all must complete an adult
application Plus the MBC application.
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 06:29 am Post subject:
At our council's MBC training they clearly explain that as a
MBC you are doing this on your own time, therefore you can
make it fit your schedule and that there may be certain times
when you are not available to help a scout earn a merit badge.
I think they are basically saying that they don't expect you
to jump through hoops to council a merit badge. I would hope
that when they fill out the Adult Application and pay their
registration fee they would realize this is not a paid
position. The Scouts should be prepared to cover all costs
associated with earning the merit badge.
I have heard it said many times that the Boy Scouts is one of
the few volunteer organizations that you have to pay to belong
to.
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ScoutmasterBob
Counselor
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 79
Location: Woods Cross, Utah
Posted: 05 Aug 2004 08:52 am Post subject:
MBC is a volunteer position, and should not require a fee to
pass off a MB.
There are a few exceptions that I have come across.
One of the high schools in our area offers MB classes as part
of the community school program. The school charges a fee for
the class.
If you earn MB at Scout camp, you are paying the counselor for
his services, although indirectly.
All MBC are in it to help the scouts and the scouting program,
if they expected monetary renumeration for their services,
they would not have volunteered. Dont feel obligated to pay a
counselor for his services, he is there to help.
_________________
Bob Torkelson
Scoutmaster Troop 538
www.wx5troop538.homestead.com
Live The Oath!
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 08:53 am Post subject:
MBC'S Do not pay a registration fee. That is a free position.
ALso as far as paying for MB's There are a few places that
offer merit Badges for a fee. CLimbing Walls and Gyms that are
BSA approved offer climbing the Y offers Swimming and
Lifesaving, a resort with a Ropes course offers COPE for
Venturing Crews etc.
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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wagionvigil
Counselor
Joined: 21 Jul 2004
Posts: 191
Location: PA
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:09 am Post subject:
At one time there was a "home repair" MB. The parents were
expected to be the counselor.
_________________
Action Center D Rappel Tower Director 2001 and 2005 National
Jamborees
Northeast REgion Area 4 Venturing Chairman
Wagion 6 Lodge Advisor 96-99
"If you ain't A bear you're a Meal"
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RWSmith
Counselor
Joined: 13 Jul 2004
Posts: 55
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 10:13 am Post subject:
wagionvigil wrote:
At one time there was a "home repair" MB. The parents
were expected to be the counselor.
Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure that's the only I had to
ask my father to sign.
_________________
Bob Smith, OA, NESA, DAV
ADC, Apache District
If you can read this, thank a teacher... If you can read it in
English, thank a Veteran.
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 06 Aug 2004 01:58 pm Post subject:
I guess you could look at it from the perspective that it may
be a good recruitment tool not just for merit badge counselors
but for troop leaders too?
_________________
http://www.bsatroop88.org
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Rick Tyler
Scout
Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 7
Location: Redmond, Washington
Posted: 07 Aug 2004 07:55 am Post subject: Re: Payment for
Counselors?
Kobalt wrote:
My troop has been using parents of scouts and friends of
the troop to teach merit badges. Just today, I ran by
the council building and attained a partial list of
merit badge counselors. As you can see by the topic, I
am new to using MBCs outside of the troop. While I'm
sure some teach for nothing, I would not like to assume
that all will give their time and knowledge without some
compensation (reasonably so!).
I don't charge anything for counseling MBs, but I like your
thinking!
Seriously, MB Counselors work for free, just like
Scoutmasters, Committee Chairmen, and Assistant Scoutmasters.
When I counsel a group of Scouts I sometimes charge a couple
of bucks if I've had to photocopy materials, and I have
charged $5 for Photography MB if I've reprinted photos to show
boys techniques. I can afford to provide these, of course, but
paying your own way is part of Scouting, which is why some
units collect dues and others have group fundraisers.
_________________
Yis,
Rick Tyler
ASM, Troop 571
Chief Seattle Council
Troop MB Chancellor and Admiral of the Troop Fleet
Last edited by Rick Tyler on 07 Aug 2004 09:31 am; edited 1
time in total
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BM_Crawford
Life
Joined: 12 Jul 2004
Posts: 131
Location: PA W/F Council
Posted: 07 Aug 2004 08:56 am Post subject:
I really hate the idea to be honest with you. Boy Scouts is a
Volunteer run program for the most part. Most merit badge
councilors are associated with scouts in another way besides
the counciling and alot of them were in scouts before and are
trying to give back to scouting in some way or another. They
are there to help the kids-to help them grow and mature into
greater people. To put a price on that would jeperdize
everything scouting stands for-a Scout is helpful.
_________________
Brian Crawford
Troop 251
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Guneukitschik
Life
Joined: 02 Aug 2004
Posts: 162
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posted: 09 Aug 2004 02:20 pm Post subject:
I would have to agree...although I have not yet charged a
scout for a merit badge...I think that the Scout should be
responsible enough to pay for any supplies used. They had to
buy the Merit Badge Book most likely. It's only fair they
purchase anything they need to complete the merit badge.
_________________
http://www.bsatroop88.org
Last edited by Guneukitschik on 09 Aug 2004 09:35 pm; edited 1
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MeritBadge.Net
The Scouting Discussion Network
Hmmm, yeah, I haven't heard of any Counselors being paid, OR expecting same. I'm volunteering to help another District in their upcoming Merit Badge day (Palooza is their activity name). They do offer to reimberse Counselors for some limited material expenses. That is different I know, but is a nice gesture to encourage folks to be more willing perhaps.