Five Rivers Council and Western NY Council to Merge

 

For Immediate Release

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Date: July 16, 2024
To: Five Rivers Council Scouting Community, Family, and Friends
From: John M. Sharkey, Council President
Marc D. McGrain, Council Commissioner
Brad W. Bodoh, Scout Executive & CEO
Re: Merger Announcement

For generations, the Five Rivers Council and the Western NY Council (based in Buffalo) have provided high-quality, life-changing Scouting experiences for the young people of the Twin Tiers and Western New York.  The challenging environment of the past few years and a decline in overall membership means that Councils nationwide must adopt new strategies to ensure stronger, better Scouting experiences for the youth and families they serve. As a result, our two councils have decided to merge, with an anticipated consolidation date of November 1, 2024.

Combining the strengths of each Council will give our Scouts, leaders, and families increased camping opportunities, more frequent training programs, and a wider range of council-hosted Scouting events and activities. The combined council staff will better support units in program delivery and recruitment efforts. Additionally, the merger will produce financial efficiencies and operational savings by consolidating and eliminating duplicative functions.

Together, we are committed to providing a world-class Scouting experience for our members during this transition and beyond. We are excited about the future of Scouting in our region and will provide you with additional updates on the merger process as it develops.

Thank you for all you do for Scouting and the amazing young people we serve.