Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members who join Scouting will be enrolled in a 12-month membership cycle and BSA will cease prorating fees. Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee and will renew their membership on the anniversary date of joining Scouting.
Click here to view current membership fees, effective August 1, 2023.
The following FAQs are meant to address common questions but does not cover all questions or scenarios.
Existing Members and Renewals
Q: How does this change affect existing members (everyone on the last recharter AND everyone who registered between February 1 and July 31, 2023)?
A: Existing Members:
- No change to expiration date. Membership will still expire on January 31, 2024.
- No change to recharter renewal this year. These members will be renewed on the recharter, just like last year. Their renewed membership will expire on January 31, 2025.
- In future years, these members will renew online, with email renewal notices arriving 60 days before their expiration month (January).
Q: How does this change affect new members (youth and adults who join August 1, 2023 or later)?
A: New Members:
- Beginning August 1, 2023, all new youth and adult members will join for a standard 12-month membership cycle, regardless of when they join.
- Both youth and adults will pay the full annual membership fee to join Scouting and will renew their membership on the anniversary month of joining. For example, if a scout joins in April, the membership will go through March of the next year.
- Each member of the BSA – and the unit Key 3 – will receive an email notice with a registration renewal link beginning 60 days before the anniversary month of joining. The member will be responsible for renewing their membership. The Key 3 is copied for visibility into the renewal status.
Q: My unit wants all our members to renew at the same time each year, can we still do that?
A: No. The membership renewal will be in the month the person joined. In the first few years of this new process, most of the renewals will be in January, but over time we expect that will shift to the August – October period as these are the month’s most new members join.
Recharter
This Year’s Recharter – Opening November 2023
Q: Will recharter be different this year?
A: No. This year’s recharter will be the same as last year for the Pacific Skyline Council. Same system, same process.
Q: Does my unit need to collect recharter fees this year? Won’t everyone get an email to renew online?
A: Yes, your unit must collect recharter fees this year. Your unit will pay recharter fees as usual, so your unit must collect full recharter fees for everyone who was on last year’s recharter AND everyone who registered with your unit between February 1 and July 31, 2023. These members will not receive a renewal email this year. You do not need to collect recharter fees for anyone who registered as a new youth or adult leader with your unit on August 1, 2023 or later, but you will include them on your recharter roster.
Q: How will my unit know who doesn’t owe fees at recharter?
A: These members will show $0.00 due or be marked as “prepaid” in the recharter tool. You do not need to collect recharter fees from them.
Next Year’s Recharter – Opening November 2024
Q: Will recharter be different next year?
A: Yes. A new simplified system and process will be in place for PacSky’s recharter next year (opening November 2024). Units will renew their charters separate from their membership. The process will be much simpler as the system will validate the unit leadership, verify the unit has the minimum required youth and adults, and validate YPT. The COR and council will approve the leadership, the unit will approve the recharter, and the unit will submit the annual unit charter renewal fee of $100. This will all be done from one screen in My.Scouting by one of the unit Key 3 leaders.
Q: Will my unit need to collect recharter fees next year? Will everyone get an email to renew online?
A: No, units will not need to collect recharter fees for the recharter opening in November 2024. By that time, everyone will be receiving renewal notifications by email. It is important for everyone to have an up-to-date email address.
Other Unit Fees
Q: Does my unit need to collect our own dues?
A: Yes. Your unit will still need to collect any dues that go directly to your unit. These fees are not collected at initial registration, online renewal, or recharter.
Q: Does my Troop, Crew, or Ship need to collect Good Turn Assessment (GTA) fees?
A: Yes. Your unit will need to collect the Good Turn Assessment fees for all primary youth registrations in your unit. These fees are not collected at initial registration, online renewal, or recharter. GTA will be based on your roster as of March 1, 2024. The fees are due to the council office by April 30, 2024.
Online Renewal
Q: When will online renewal start?
A: Online renewal will start in Summer 2024 for the Pacific Skyline Council. August 2023 registrations will expire in July 2024, with email notifications starting in June. Registrations that expire prior to August 2024 will renew at this year’s recharter (opening November 2023) and will not be eligible to renew online at this time.
Q: How will membership renewal work?
A: All members will be sent an email 60 days out from their anniversary month. Upon joining, the person will be asked to enter their Credit Card information and then in future years the renewal will be an “opt-out” process similar to a subscription or recurring gift. You will be reminded of your membership expiring and you can opt-out, renew your membership. Alternatively, the unit can elect to pay the renewal fees and collect from their members.
Q: How will my unit leadership know who is due to renew and who has renewed in the unit?
A: Both youth and adult leaders will be included in email notifications to the unit Key 3 monthly as to who is due to renew and who has renewed. In addition, the roster in Scoutbook and My.Scouting will indicate the registration status of the member.
Q: What is the role of the family in online membership renewal?
A: Parents and adult leaders must update their email address and their scout’s email address. Parents should also verify that the parent/guardian and scout connection exists by confirming that their scout’s name appears in the “My Application” section of their (the parent’s) my.scouting account. If it does not, they should contact the Council Registrar. They must take action to renew their (or their scout’s) membership or to opt-out of renewal. Parents can renew the registration via credit card payment or pay at the council office by cash or check if they prefer. Credit card details are stored online similar to subscription renewal payments. The unit will not need to collect national/council registration fees if the family is paying online or at the council office.
Q: My unit currently applies popcorn fundraising to youth recharter fees. Will we still be able to do that?
A: If a unit chooses, it will be able to choose to pay renewals for all members (youth and adult). This option will block the online payment by the parent. Units will be able to drop (opt-out) any member for someone who has quit. This will be a setting in my.scouting. If a unit chooses to pay the renewal fees for all members, the unit will need to collect any required fees from the families in their unit – just as they do now. Renewals will happen monthly. The unit will either keep a credit card or ACH bank account on file and the fees will be automatically deducted each month or the unit can pay monthly by check at the PacSky council office.
Q: What happens if someone’s email bounces and is undeliverable?
A: Email notifications are sent to the individual, COR, Committee Chair, and the Key Leader (Cubmaster/Scoutmaster/Advisor/Skipper); the unit should be able to identify that an individual is due to renew and can work with the individual to complete their renewal. Units are encouraged to update email contact information in Scoutbook.
Q: Who will the renewal email come from?
A: The renewal emails will come from a national BSA email address. It will not come from the Pacific Skyline Council or anyone at the council office.
Q: Will there only be one renewal email?
A: A series of renewal notices will go out to the member and unit Key 3. The emails will be sent 60, 30, 15, 7, 1 day(s) before expiration AND 7 days after if needed. There will also be a notification in Scoutbook 45 days prior to membership expiration.
Q: Will the Council Registrar be notified when someone’s membership has ended due to lack of payment?
A: The council is able to run the Non-Renewed Membership Report and see expired youth and adults, but will not receive email or other direct notification.
Q: Is there a grace period for registrations that aren’t renewed on time and expire?
A: There will be a one-month lapse period and then the scout or adult leader will be dropped. A notification will go to the individual/parent and the unit indicating that the person is dropped. After the one-month grace period, the youth or adult will need to submit a new application.
Q: Will a Scout be covered by insurance if they still show up to meetings after their registration period expired for lack of payment?
A: No. Scouts will not be covered by insurance if they are not registered. A scout must register to continue participation in the program. As always, it is important that all youth and adults be registered in a timely manner. This ensures coverage for both general liability insurance and secondary accident and sickness insurance. All youth and volunteers participating in BSA programs are covered by insurance.
Merit Badge Counselors
Q: Do Merit Badge Counselors have a registration fee now?
A: Yes. Beginning in August 2023, Merit Badge Counselors who are not registered as an adult leader in a unit will pay an annual $25 registration fee. This applies to Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors as well.
Q: Can someone register as a Merit Badge Counselor for $25, and then multiple as an Assistant Scoutmaster for free instead of paying the $120 adult leader registration fee?
A: No, an adult must register in a qualified unit position and then they can multiple as a Merit Badge Counselor. The Merit Badge Counselor position is not a unit position and therefore are not allowed to attend overnight Scouting activities/events. This applies to Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors as well.
Q: If I register as a Merit Badge Counselor and pay the $25 registration fee and decide to register as an Assistant Scoutmaster a few months later, will I still have to pay the $120 fee for the ASM registration?
A: Yes. You will have to pay the full $120 registration fee if you register as a Merit Badge Counselor first and then decide to register with a unit. The $25 Merit Badge Counselor fee will not be credited toward the unit registration. This applies to Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors as well.
Q: Does a Merit Badge Counselor registration count for camping with a unit now that it is a fee-paid position?
A: No. Merit Badge Counselors are not registered in a unit position (it is a district position) and therefore are not allowed to attend overnight Scouting activities/events in the role of Merit Badge Counselor. Everyone camping overnight must be registered in the unit position they are serving in, with limited Cub Scout exceptions. This applies to Nova Counselors and Supernova Mentors as well. See the Guide to Safe Scouting’s Barriers to Abuse and associated FAQ for more information.