Good Afternoon Families!
By now you have all received an invoice from our Advancement Manager concerning money owed for badges. Please let me take a moment to explain what you are looking at.
First, in our dues, we budgeted for the units to earn 4 or 5 badges at $3.50 per badge. Yet now we are charging $3.75 for additional badges. This is extra charge is the result of an increase in shipping costs. In February it was announced to us that we would no longer be able to pick up our badge orders but would have to pay the shipping charges. The troop is just not in a position to absorb any additional shipping charges.
Next, we are charging for all service stars earned over three stars. This is because we had budgeted for each girl to earn only 3 stars, at a cost of $1 per star, including shipping. In the past, we have been able to absorb if girls went over the budgeted stars and did not worry about it. However, this year, we are unable to cover the added expenses.
We are offering to purchase the vest/sash for girls that are leveling up. This guarantees that the uniform is here for the Court of Awards in May. We are adding and additional $2 to cover the shipping and handling. This actually saves you a few dollars, since you don’t have to pay the full amount for the shipping that you would pay if we were not ordering these.
The overall reality is that when we were asked to cut the dues we listened and did our best. What we have found is that we have just cut everything too close. We had hoped that the Kroger fundraiser would bring in more revenue. For two years now we have had to cut into reserves more than we would like. We simply don’t have the reserve to cut into anymore.
As we look ahead to next year, we are looking at how to better solve this situation. I do not have immediate answers. We are still looking for new board members to help. We need a fundraiser manager and a vice-coordinator.
Please be in prayer for the leadership team. We are doing our best to work through this and answer all questions.
Blessings,
Cynthia
