California Inland Empire Council                      Monday Memo

Welcome to our March 7th, 2011 Monday Memo

Pack 641 celebrates 70 years!

Pack 641 of Alta Loma, CA celebrated 70 years at their Blue and Gold Ceremony on March 5th. Over 80 people were in attendance to help the pack celebrate. Henri Mascorro of the Apache Tribe did a traditional American Indian blessing of the event as well as blessed the three recipients of the Arrow of Light Award: Ian J., Luc D. and Nathan H. The Order of the Arrow ceremony team presented the boys with their Arrow of Light Awards.

Tips for Deducting Scouting-related Expenses on your Income Tax Returns

When Baden-Powell said “Be Prepared,” I’m pretty sure he wasn’t talking about income tax returns. But still, there’s no better advice than that two-word phrase during tax time.

Scouters who heeded the Scout Motto last year remembered to track and document their Boy Scouts of America-related expenses. And now, they know that they can include those expenses if they plan to itemize their 2010 deductions. But what if you didn’t know that BSA expenses were deductible? Or what if your “filing system” is really your glove compartment that’s stuffed with gas receipts and crumpled-up napkins? And what qualifies as an eligible expense, anyway?

Your fellow Scouters and I are here to help. Along with other Scout leaders on Facebook, I’ve collected some tips to help you track and deduct your BSA-related expenses. And with the April 18 deadline roughly six weeks away, there’s no better time than now to get started.

Before we go any further, let me tell you that I’m no CPA, and I can’t help you file your 2010 return (for the best advice, find a professional, use tax-preparation software, or check out the IRS Web site). What I do know is this: You give your time and money to the Scouting program, and Uncle Sam wants to give you credit—at least for the money part. Much more after the jump.

General facts you need to know

• On the IRS form “2010 Instructions for Schedule A,” the Boy Scouts of America is listed as a “qualified charitable organization,” so BSA expenses are eligible.
• Three types of contributions can be deducted:
• Cash/check donations
• Property donations
• “Out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work”
• Some types of relevant contributions cannot be deduct:
• Travel expenses, like meals or lodging
• The value of your time

Easy enough, right? Scouters will mainly be concerned with that third type of eligible deductions, “out-of-pocket expenses you paid to do volunteer work.”

Some items that you purchase to benefit your unit can be deducted, provided you don’t get reimbursed for them. You’ll want to check with your tax professional to be sure, but Scouters have told me they deduct uniforms, merit badge pamphlets, den meeting activity kits and much more—as long as their pack or troop didn’t reimburse them.

However, there’s one expense that I’m certain you can deduct: the cost of driving to and from BSA events.

How to include driving expenses
Included in the third category is driving to or from a BSA event. Here’s what the IRS says about mileage:

• First, you’re eligible to deduct the cost of driving to and from the volunteer work, which would include most BSA activities.
• You have two options here: You can take the actual cost of gas and oil, OR You can take 14 cents a mile.
• Add parking and tolls to the amount you claim under either method above.
• As a reminder, you cannot deduct any expenses, mileage included, that were repaid to you by your unit, district, council, or anyone else.

Important caveats
Next, there’s the tricky part of “gifts from which you receive benefit.” Let’s say, for example, that you attend your council’s annual dinner. Can you deduct that expense? Sort of. Here’s what the IRS says: “If you made a gift and received a benefit in return, such as food, entertainment, or merchandise, you can generally only deduct the amount that is more than the value of the benefit.”

So if tickets for the council dinner were $75 and the value of the dinner was $35, you can only deduct $40. Or if you paid $100 for a $20 item at a silent auction, you can only deduct $80. Make sense?

Also, you’ll want to consult a tax professional or the IRS site for individual gifts of $250 or more. There are special rules that apply to those larger gifts. You shouldn’t combine separate gifts into that $250 requirement, though. For example, with a Friends of Scouting donation where you give $50 a month over the course of the year, you would treat each $50 payment as a separate gift.

With all of these expenses, no matter how small, it’s a good idea to keep receipts. Speaking of…

Ten tips for keeping track of it all
Now let’s hear from your fellow Scouters. I asked Scouting magazine’s Facebook friends to weigh in on this issue. Here are 10 tips they gave:

1. Theresa W. keeps a “notebook in the car for tracking mileage! Man, it adds up faster than you think!”
2. “I update an Excel Spreadsheet with costs, and a folder for receipts,” says Jeff B. “I print out the Excel table when I do my taxes.”
3. Jamie D. also has a high-tech approach: “I use Mint.com to track all our expenses. I set up a category just for Scouts.”
4. So does Tom H.: “I have a program called NeatReceipts that comes with a scanner. I use it for my expense reports for work. Just drop the receipts in the scanner then catagorize them. Set up a group for Scouting and everything is there at tax time.”
5. But Michelle H. prefers the low-tech method: “We have a calendar and a folder (calendar stays in the folder) to keep track of everything!”
6. Patricia L. makes it easy on her accountant: “I keep a file and drop my charitable receipts in it all year. Our accountant appreciated copies of online maps that we used for driving directions. Date, purpose, and mileage all in one place.”
7. Julus P. doesn’t itemize, but he might start some day. “Scouting is not for profit, and not a hobby. Granted, it feels like a hobby sometimes! I don’t keep track of all these things but really should!”
8. For Mark F., it’s not worth the trouble. “I don’t keep up with it. I enjoy being a Cubmaster and camp promotions chair, and so far, it’s cheaper than going to NASCAR races and cheaper than maintaining my boat and related gear I use for fishing!”
9. Shawna R. keeps track of mileage, but not for every trip: “I don’t keep track of mileage for going to the store to pick up Scout items, even if it’s the only thing I’m going to the store for.” That’s probably a good call.
10. And finally, please remember to heed the advice of Ann O.: “Check with your tax person on what you can deduct. It wasn’t as straightforward as I thought, and the rules seem to change.” 

Cub Scout Day Camp Patch Design Contest Winner Congratulations Erik Johnson, a Wolf Scout from Three Peaks Pack 46 for creating the winning patch design for this year’s Cub Scout Day Camp. Erik will be receiving a certificate to attend day camp for free! Be sure your Scouts join in the game this summer by signing up for day camp. Camps vary from one to five days and are held throughout the Inland Empire. CLICK HERE for more information!

It is that time again! Our three high-adventure bases, Philmont Scout Ranch, Florida Sea Base, and Northern Tier, in conjunction with the Emergency Care and Safety Institute (ECSI) are offering another round of Wilderness First Aid and CPR/AED instructor courses at a price that can't be beat, $300 per person! The course agenda can be found at the bottom of the page. Review the dates and sites below then click on "Register Now" after you decide which high-adventure base and date will best fit your needs. This fee includes room and board and the basic supplies you will need for the course. After registration is complete, you should receive an email verification that includes specific high adventure base information.

Register now: Florida Sea Base, March 17 - 20, 2011
Register now: Philmont Scout Ranch, March 24 - 27, 2011
Register now: Northern Tier, April 7 - 10, 2011

You must have a current CPR/AED certification in order to attend this course. It is also highly recommended that you have had a previous WFA course. After successful completion of any one of these courses, you will be certified as a Wilderness First Aid and CPR/AED Instructor for the Emergency Care and Safety Institute. You will not only be a very valuable asset to your council and unit, you will have fun!

Eagle Recognition Dinner

Early Bird Camp Fees

California Inland Empire Council camps offer a great value for you and your Scouts. Take advantage of the early bird fees and pay the same rate as last year! To qualify, camp fees need to be paid in full by the early bird date.

Camp Emerson Boy Scout Summer Camp - Friday, April 1^st (A $10 savings per Scout!)
Tribe of Wisumahi  - Thursday, March 31^st (a $10 savings per Scout!)
Camp Wiley - March 31^st (a $10 savings per Scout!)

If you have a Scout that needs assistance to attend a California Inland Empire Council summer program, have them complete and submit a campership application. Applications should be received by April 1^st.

New Award Honors BSA Alumni The national Alumni Relations Committee has created a new award designed to honor Scouting alumni who have helped other former members reconnect with the program. The new Alumni Award recognizes accomplishments in four areas: alumni identification and promotion, alumni engagement, personal participation, and personal education. The requirements for the award are available at www.BSAalumni.org for registered alumni. For more information on the award or on forming an alumni committee, please contact Bill Steele at bill.steele@scouting.org or 972-580-2032.

Philmont Training Center - "The Youth Leader Training Continuum" - Summer 2011 

"The Youth Leader Training Continuum." The conference will take place this summer from June 19-25. The course description is:

This course provides an overview of the content and flow for youth leadership training, beginning with unit level Introduction to Leadership Skills courses and moving up through council and national-level leadership courses such as National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) and Kodiak. It provides a total understanding of youth training and an outline where each course works in the youth training curriculum. Conferees will gain understanding of where every course fits, how to leverage each of them and how to ensure the best course is available for our youth and our nation. Open to Boy Scout, Varsity, Venturing and Sea Scouting leaders.

During the summer of 2010, we delivered a prototype version of this course and had considerable success helping our participants to emerge from the conference as ambassadors for youth leader training. We will help Scouters learn about the entire continuum of youth leader training available in the BSA and how these elements interact to create the best leadership development program available to young people. Our participants will leave the course as youth training advocates who will return to their home councils, districts, and units prepared to make a difference.

To accomplish this, we seek your assistance in sharing this information with local council training chairs, and likewise encourage them to share with local council- and district-level Scouters with an interest in youth leader training. We would direct you and interested council and district level Scouters to the MyScouting portal to register for the conference: http://www.myscouting.org

We would be more than happy to provide more information regarding this course and our goals for our participants.

Pattie Sauer, Voyageur's Area Council & Kin King, Three Fires Council 

Hall of Fame Awards for Recognition Success Name Unit Award Name Unit Award Mt. Rubidoux Old Baldy Josh Rodriguez Troop 156 Single Trudy Holloway Pack 300 Home Run Temescal Carson Swenson Pack 641/2010 Single Jared Bearden Troop 54 Single Riley Brown Pack 641/2010 Single Brian Freeman Troop 54 Single Walker Noble Pack 641/2010 Single Everette McCombs Troop 54 Single Evan Langer Pack 641/2010 Single Matthew Krock Troop 421 Single Manuel Zapata Pack 641/2010 Triple Joey Clark Troop 421 Single Joshua Herrmann Pack 641/2010 Home Run High Desert Kelly McCarty Pack 641/2010 Single Max Rosenberg Pack 574 Double Jon Herrmann Pack 641/2010 Home Run Sunrise Lorrie Herrmann Pack 641/2010 Home Run Alex Miller Troop 377 Double

Boy Scout Shotgun Merit Badge Day

Sat., March 19, 9 a.m. $45  Lunch Not Included (Lunch available for $5.00) The fee includes 50 targets, ammunition, shotgun rental and instruction.

• Can’t go to Boy Scout Camp?
• Didn’t get the hang of it?
• Bring your blue card for Merit Badge Counselors to sign 

Also available that day for BSA Scouts

NRA First Steps Shotgun Instruction, 4-5 hour NRA Lesson that includes safety certificate. This will also satisfy the workbook portion of the BSA Shotgun Merit Badge. Class starts at 0630 and includes donuts and coffee. $45.00 normally $85.00

Info: (949) 637-5534 www.dochollyday.com

Also offered is Rifle Merit Badges, handgun training for Police Explorers and Venturing crews. BSA approved bolt action .22 rifles CA Dept of Fish and Game Hunter Education Classes 

Journey to Excellence

Webelos-to-Scout Transition Plan

Most new Boy Scouts began their Scouting career as Cub Scouts. But it’s not automatic that graduating Webelos Scouts will always join a troop. It’s important that packs and troops work together to invite every graduating Webelos Scout to join a troop.

To qualify for the bronze level, packs and troops must hold at least two joint activities. One of these activities must be a Webelos parent orientation and camp promotion meeting. Packs can qualify for the silver and gold level by having 60% or 80% of graduating Webelos join a troop. Troops can qualify by recruiting a minimum of two Webelos Scouts for silver or five Scouts for the gold.

Visit http://scouting.org/scoutsource/BoyScouts/ImprovedWebelosTransition.aspx for information on developing a Webelos-to-Scout transition program. For more information about the Journey to Excellence program, please visit http://scouting.org/scoutsource/Awards/JourneyToExcellence.aspx

Recently Completed Eagles

New Unit Status Report

Tribe of Wishumahi

Weekly Camping Report

Camp Emerson Boy Scout Summer Camp

At Camp Emerson, you’ll find the best camp value in Southern California. Plus cool mountain weather, an extensive merit badge program and great food! Don’t delay and reserve you campsite today. Save $10 per Scout by paying camp fees in full by Friday, April 1^st. Call Gail at (909) 793-2463 ext 129 or email  gnichols@bsamail.org for more information.

Weekly FOS Report

Positive Quote
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"Greatness is not a function of circumstance. Greatness, it turns out, is largely a matter of conscious choice, and discipline."

Jim Collins - author of Built to Last, Good to Great, How the Mighty Have Fallen.

Have a great Scouting week!
Yours in the Spirit of Scouting,

Joe Daniszewski Scout Executive/CEO California Inland Empire Council, BSA 1230 Indiana Court Redlands, CA 92374 909.793.2463, Ext. 120 877.732.1450 909.793.0306 Fax