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County Boy Scouts might merge with Aloha Council

Loss of Mormon units key reason for talks

Boy Scout Troop 18 Life Scout Thorn Rebugio helps Kahului’s Eric Miller register to vote in October. Rebugio’s work with the county’s drive-thru voter registration program is part of his Eagle Scout project. With the loss nearly half of its Scouts at the end of December when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints units depart Scouting, the Maui County Council of Boy Scouts is considering merging with the Aloha Council, which includes all the other Hawaii counties, Guam and American Samoa. -- The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photo

The nearly century-old Maui County Boy Scout Council, facing the loss of nearly half of its Scouts from the departure of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints units at the end of year, is considering merging with the statewide Aloha Council.

The Maui County Scouting program is the only program in Hawaii not under the Aloha Council, which oversees 10,500 Scouts on Oahu, Hawaii island, Kauai, Guam and American Samoa.

The Maui County Council formed in 1920, a decade after the national organization. Over the past century, independent councils throughout the state and the Pacific region have merged to form the Aloha Council, the Oahu-based council news release said Friday.

It has been a challenge in recent years to operate the Maui County Scouting program, which has a $150,000 annual shortfall, said Duc Button, Maui County Scout executive/CEO, on Friday. The breaking point was the loss of half of its current 800 Scouts with the departure of the Mormon units at the end of 2019.

The Mormon church and Scouting have been affiliated for more than 100 years, but changes in Scouting in recent years led to the dissolution of their association in May. The changes included Scouting admitting gay and transgender youths, allowing openly gay adult leaders, and opening the program to girls.

Even with the influx of girls, the loss of half of the Scouts “cannot be sustainable moving forward,” Button said. The Maui County program for kindergarten to 5th-grade girls, which began in the fall, has attracted about two dozen girls. A program for older girls mirroring the Scouting curriculum will begin in February.

“It’s bittersweet,” he said. “There is pride in staying independent but at what cost.

“At the end of the day, we are here to serve the kids in the program,” Button said. “If we waste our money to maintain our independence we are not serving the kids.”

The Maui County and Aloha councils recently began discussions about a merger “to better serve all Scouts in the state and region and to provide the most effective program possible,” the Aloha Council news release said.

“As a small Scout council, we must meet the same operating requirements as much larger councils,” said Brian Kakihara, Maui County Council president. “While we work hard to be as efficient as possible, we are challenged by the cost of employing experienced BSA (Boy Scouts of America) talent, such as our CEO, and covering insurance and chartering expenses. By joining with our neighbors, we can share these expenses and reduce the local operating costs.”

Nothing has been formalized yet, and “it is premature to say it is a done deal,” Button said, though there is the looming end-of-year deadline. In fact, a public meeting will be held Tuesday night at Kahului Union Church, the home of Troop 1, to discuss the possible merger, which has to be approved by both boards.

The two councils currently are in discussions to determine what a merger would look like. The Aloha Council can support much of the back-office functions, such as accounting and management, leaving Maui staff and volunteers to focus on growing the program, the Aloha Council said.

“It is unlikely that the average Scout or family will notice much of a difference,” said Jeff Sulzbach, Aloha Council Scout executive/CEO.

Sulzbach said that the Aloha Council would continue to employ on-island staff to serve Maui and hopes that it can secure additional funding to expand the program countywide, especially on Molokai and Lanai.

“We will also provide expertise in the areas of fundraising, marketing, and property management,” said Sulzbach.

Button said the Maui County Council employs him, an office manager, camp manager and a part-time clerk. A district executive position has remained vacant to save money.

It is ironic that one of the most notable changes with a merger would be the elimination of Button’s position.

“As a Scout myself, I believe in the mission and at the end of the day, I think it is best,” said Button, who has been on the job for about 18 months. “It will give Scouting a better opportunity.”

The merger would mean the elimination of his job but the vacant district executive position could be filled, he said.

While the Maui County Council name would disappear, there will still be volunteers with the authority to run Camp Maluhia, Scouting programs in Maui County and fundraising.

Button emphasized that funds raised in Maui County would not be shipped to the Aloha Council; money still will be needed to operate programs, the Wailuku office and Camp Maluhia near Kahakuloa in northwest Maui.

“The money will stay here,” Button said.

The Maui County Council receives no money from the national organization, he said. Funding comes from the Friends of Scouting annual direct-giving campaign, in which community individuals and families make donations; annual popcorn sales, which are split between the council and units; special fundraising events; camps; the Maui United Way and grants.

The council has a $600,000 budget, its website says.

Troops raise funds through the popcorn sale, fundraisers like car washes and support from sponsors, such as churches and community groups. Every Scout pays a $33 fee, which goes to the national organization.

“While we value our independence, we believe that the community would rather have us invest those funds into our Scouts, our programs, and our vital assets like Camp Maluhia,” said Ellen Loucks, Maui County Council commissioner. “It seems to be the wisest use of funds, particularly because we want to grow our program and reach out more into underserved areas like Hana, Molokai, and Lanai.”

Kakihara said the Maui County board is actively seeking input before making a decision later in the month.

“We would like to hear from all our Scouting families, Scouting alumni, and anyone else who supports our programs,” he said. “We take our responsibility as the stewards of Maui Scouting seriously.”

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the church at 101 W. Kamehameha Avenue. The county board of directors, leaders from the Aloha Council and other Scouting officials will be attending to answer questions.

* Lee Imada can be reached at leeimada@mauinews.com.

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