The regional Boy Scout organization overseeing the Treasure Coast says it is in serious financial difficulties.

In the face of a 30 percent decline in financial support, the Gulf Stream Council cut staff and expenses earlier this year.

Still the administrative organization has “an urgent cash flow shortage that threatened our operations and program,” wrote John Marion, Gulf Stream Council Executive Board president, in a recent letter to local Scout groups.

This year the council is $350,000 short of its budgeted income, after cutting expenses 15 percent from last year’s spending.

The council’s chief executive, Jeff Isaac, referred questions to an executive board member Patti Hamilton, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

The problem isn’t having an immediate effect on Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops, which are financially self supporting and run by volunteers, a county official said.

But the council partially underwrites insurance for the groups, said Brenda Carley with the Indian River (County) District. And the council trains leaders, keeps records and runs camps including a summer camp, Camp Tanah Keeta, near Tequesta.

Carley is particularly concerned about the insurance she said is necessary for getting groups, such as churches, to let scout organizations meet in their facilities.

The council doesn’t charge scout membership fees. But scouts do annual fundraisers — including community popcorn sales — that support the council.

Still, Carley said that doesn’t make up for about a 75 percent drop in United Way financial support councilwide in the last three years.

Marion is calling on families with scouts to contribute at least $20 or more until other money can be raised from other sources this year.

“With your immediate help, we can avoid the devastating consequences of defaulting on our financial obligations,” Marion wrote.

Dennis Armstrong heads up the Sailfish District that includes Martin County, which has 1,200 scouts. “Our membership is up,” he said, “Revenue collection is down. We’re struggling” but this can be overcome and scouting will continue, Armstrong said.

“We have some fundraising events coming up including an auction and golf tournament” in Martin County, he said.

In addition to the Treasure Coast, the council includes Palm Beach County and Okeechobee counties. It has a primitive camp, Oklawaha, on the west side of Sebastian.

The council, and the Scout groups, are affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America. Marion said other regional councils are facing similar financial shortages.

Gulf Stream Council, Boy Scouts of America, A 95-year-old regional nonprofit organization that oversees scout groups in seven counties including the Treasure Coast.

The region includes 25,000 youth, ages 7 to 20, in 190 groups, both Cub and Boy Scouts.

The council has a staff of 26 people based out of offices in Palm Beach Gardens. They help train leaders, keep records and run three scout camps, including a summer camp. Also, the council helps underwrite the cost of insurance for local scout groups.

The council is supported by annual fundraisers and contributions.

Local Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops are self supporting and run by volunteers.

Gulf Stream Council and local scout officials.

How to donate:

Mail checks to the Gulf Stream Council Inc., 8335 N. Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. 33410-6329.

Go to the council’s Web site www.gulfstreamcouncil.org and fill out a donation form

Elliott Jones

Tags: Boy Scouts, budget, children, treasure coast

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009 at 11:33 am and is filed under Economy, Indian River County, Martin County, Palm Beach County, St. Lucie County. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.