Boy Scouts bankruptcy filing will not affect local council

Karen Meier has a long history as a Scout volunteer.

Her son, a former Eagle Scout, is an Army captain stationed at Fort Bragg. Her daughter reached the highest honors in Venturing, the Boys Scouts of America co-ed program.

Both of her children’s youngsters are Scouts.

Meier, now the CEO of The Boys Scouts of America’s Inland Northwest Council, said despite news of this week’s BSA bankruptcy filing, the local Scouting chapter continues to be strong.

“It’s full speed ahead,” Meier said Tuesday.

At the national level, however, the Boy Scouts of America, hit with a wave of nearly 300 abuse lawsuits, with more on the horizon — potentially another 1,400, according to national reports — on Tuesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Delaware bankruptcy court.

The 110-year-old organization, one of the largest youth organizations in the U.S., accounting for more than two million youth participants in 261 local councils, has paid out more than $150 million in settlements over the past two years, according to reports.

The latest move is meant to achieve two objectives, according to a press release issued by BSA. “(To) equitably compensate victims who were harmed during their time in Scouting and continue carrying out its mission for years to come,” according to the press released.

The group, which has between $1 billion and $10 billion in total assets, much of it tied up in land for Scout camps and facilities across the nation, according to the bankruptcy filing, plans to use the bankruptcy process to create a Victims Compensation Trust. More than 90 percent of the abuse took place more than 30 years ago, according to BSA, before it enacted a screening process for volunteers.

The group’s database to screen its volunteers requires criminal background checks, prohibits one-on-one contact between adults and youths, has helplines and counseling and requires mandatory reporting of any allegation or suspicion of abuse, according to the group.

“Scouting is safer than ever before,” Meier said.

The bottom line for the local chapter, Meier said, is that Scouting will not change in Idaho’s Panhandle and eastern Washington, where the Inland Northwest Council’s 7,184 members and more than 3,000 adult volunteers reside.

“The main thing to remember for our local group, we’re continuing scouting,” Meier said. “We did not file Chapter 11.”

Although there was talk that a recent membership fee increase from $33 to $60 was meant to help offset the lawsuits, Meier said the increase — adopted nationally — was just part of doing business.

“We haven’t raised our fees in a very long time,” she said. “Everything has gone up, two-fold.”

Families who cannot afford the fee can tap into a local membership assistance fund.

Michael Aagesen of Post Falls, who was an Eagle Scout as a kid and whose grown sons both achieved Eagle Scout status, said the lawsuits and bankruptcy likely will not affect local membership, or interest in Scouting.

“We’ve gone through some challenges,” he said.

Not long ago, the LDS church — a once strong supporter of Scouting — opted out of the organization.

But Scouting has continued to be popular, he said.

“The program is rebounding,” Aagesen said. “The program is strong.”

Meier said the local council, a stand-alone 501(c)3 nonprofit, hopes to raise around $300,000 this year to help families in need from Grangeville to the Canada border and across eastern Washington to join the Scouts.

The group’s annual fund drives — including a March 18 breakfast fundraiser at the Best Western Plus Coeur d’Alene Inn — begin this month.

“We’re continuing like normal,” Meier said.