Charter FAQ

This is a very important question! Charters are due no later than December 15th.

A quick and efficient completion depends on your unit’s ability to gather information and fees quickly, gather signatures, and return it to your district representative.

Units with late charters suffer a number of problems. First, their unit is no longer covered by the BSA insurance coverage. This means that your leaders could be liable in the event of an accident. Second, youth advancements cannot be recorded through the national office of the Boy Scouts of America. Third, magazine subscriptions of Boy’s Life and Scouting will lapse (and it takes a full two months for these periodicals to resume their circulation to your home). Finally, your unit will not be eligible for the Journey to Excellence Award - an important distinction and an indication that you are bringing the best possible program to your unit’s youth

A Charter Organization is a religious, civic, or community organization that chooses to sponsor a Scout pack, troop, team, and/or crew. This organization enters into a partnership, which is outlined in the Annual Charter Agreement Form with the end goal of helping to develop strong and successful men and women. Examples of charter organizations could include churches, service organizations, and even businesses.

The name of your Executive Officer should be listed on the upper-center of the first page of your charter renewal. This individual acts as a liaison between the charter organization and the Boy Scout unit. The Boy Scouts of America suggests that each unit regularly meet with their Executive Officer to discuss the program, upcoming events, and opportunities to strengthen their partnership.

The access code is a number generated each year for each unit that is due to recharter.  This can be found on the Welcome letter sent to the Unit Committee Chair in late August. A full list can be found here.  Do not confuse the access code with the Unit ID number.  They serve different purposes.

The charter processor will need to ask the adult registrants if they hold more than 1 position in the Council.  This can also apply to a youth member of a troop and crew.  They also need to find out where the person is paying their registration fees so the proper unit is charged accordingly.  Registration fees are paid once.  Where the fee is applied creates their primary position.

As soon as the mistake is discovered, please send an email to your District Executive as soon as possible.

The Journey to Excellence (JTE) form is a great tool for communicating with the District and the Council on the ‘health’ of a unit.  The District Executive, District Chairman, and the District Commissioner can use this information to come up with a game plan to help your unit to succeed.

Contact your Chartered Organization and the District Executive as soon as possible.

The copy you printed is a DRAFT copy…you need to return to the online process and Submit to Council.  Then print a copy for signatures.

Printing a draft copy is for the processor to review with the unit to be sure everyone is accounted for.  The charter is not submitted to Council at this point.

The online computer program will calculate the amount owed to National only.  Each Council sets its own Program/Insurance Fee.  DO NOT PAY ONLINE. Payment should only be made when turning in your final submission and payment must be made to Twin Rivers Council.

You do not need to search out a Council Representative.  When the charter paperwork is received in Council, it will be signed at that time.

Maybe.  The Rechartering Night is staffed usually by a Commissioner that tries to find all the problems (Youth Applications, Adult Applications, fee, counts, amounts, YPT, etc) that need to be fixed.  You will be given a Council receipt for the fees paid.  The Youth Protection Training status may be available online for the adult leaders. You can turn in all correctly signed paperwork and ask any questions you may have.  When the Rechartering packet arrives at the office, it is double checked by the District Executive before processing.