Charter Renewal 2020
By: Ed Reger, Council Commissioner
I look back at articles I wrote in December 2019 and February 2020 and where we are now in Mount Baker and Scouting throughout the Country. It is nothing like we expected it to be. It has been, and still is, a year of significant impacts and has required a great deal of creativity, flexibility and stamina. Now that we at the time to renew Unit Charters we will be completing the process in a different manner, with minimal contact. Due to the pandemic “contactless” has become the way we do most everything. We are separate and remote in most meeting, doing “drive-bys” with limited contact for Courts of Honor and even with a completely virtual Annual Auction.
Not only will we be completing our charter renewals in contactless manner, but we are also changing our Council’s charter year. The decision to change was made prior to the impact of COVID-19 and with a great deal of consideration. The early Fall is the time of the year when we see the largest number of youths, and adults, joining our program. And with our old Charter Year we found ourselves working to renew charters during the “holiday season”, from Halloween through Christmas. The decision was to change to a Charter Year from November 1 thru October 31. This year we are doing a 10-month charter, which has also contributed to the confusion.
Our Registrar, our VP of Marketing, council professionals, our District Commissioners and the Commissioner staffs have worked hard to create a process to allow for charter renewal, with limited paper and minimal contact, including a new website and all Unit Key Three members should have received instructions and a specific units access codes from your District Directors.
This year has had many challenges, and this will be another, but I have watched you, our volunteer leaders step up to the challenges and maintain an active and vital program for our youth. Thank you for what you have done in the past, what you are doing now and what you will do for Scouting in the future (stealing the closing from our Council Executive, Kevin Nichols!)
