Buckeye Council

Member & Unit Renewal

Membership renewal is handled on a twelve-month cycle and no longer directly linked to a unit charter. Please review the information below carefully.


Download the Scouting Ahead Guidebook for a step-by-step guide to unit and member renewal! 

Click Here to Download

How to Earn Free Rank For Your Unit

In order to earn free rank, complete the Ahead Survey and select a date for a Celebrate Scouting Presentation. A Celebrate Scouting Presentation includes: unit highlights, 2026 camping promotions, and an invitation to support Scouting. A member of our team will confirm the details for your event and once your unit's presentation takes place, you will earn free rank!

All units currently receiving free rank will have it until 3/31/2026 with the upcoming year's free rank running from 4/1/2026-3/31/2027.

These surveys are due by 12/15 to receive free rank for your unit.

Unit Renewal: Occurs Annually

Unit Renewal is the process to renew or extend the agreement with the Chartering Organization to operate the unit for another year.  Through this process, a member of the Key 3 logs into my.scouting.org to validate Youth Protection Training and Criminal Background Checks for all adult leaders and then pays the annual renewal fee.

When the online process has concluded, the Buckeye Council requires all parties complete the Annual Charter Agreement form to fully complete the annual renewal process.

$100 = Unit Renewal Fee

Member Renewal: Occurs Monthly

Beginning August 1, 2023 new members paid the full annual membership fee upon initial registration. At this time, all memberships are renewed every twelve months upon their initial registration anniversary. This applies to all youth, adults, and merit badge counselors registered in Scouting.

$86 = Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing participants
$51 = for Exploring participants
$66 = all adult volunteers
$25 = all merit badge counselors (new fee only applies to merit badge counselors who are not already registered as leaders)

*all fees above include the Buckeye Council $1 Accident Insurance fee

Unit Renewal

STEP 1: RECEIVE NOTIFICATION

The Unit Key 3 (Chartered Organization Representative, Unit Committee Chair, Unit Leader) and the COR Delegate will receive renewal notification from the system sixty days (i.e., two months) prior to the charter expiration date.

 

STEP 2: LOG ON

Access the online Unit Renewal system through my.scouting.org. A member of the unit Key 3 logs into my.scouting.org and clicks on Organization Manager then Unit Renewal. Only members of the Unit Key 3 can process the renewal, Key 3 Delegates do not have access to submit the renewal.

 

STEP 3: REVIEW ROSTER

 1. This step triggers an automatic validation of the charter. To pass, you must have:

  • At least 5 youth
  • Correct adult leaders
  • YPT for those adults
  • Background checks completed

 2. Review the Unit Leadership section. To edit positions:

  • The Chartered Organization Representative (CORs) can click Edit Positions to change positions during the Unit Renewal process.
    *Only CORs can make position changes online*
  • Unit Leaders and Committee Chairs cannot make these changes online. We recommend turning in applications for changes prior to beginning the Unit Renewal process.

 3. Then the person completing the Unit Renewal process (e.g., Key 3 member or COR Delegate) must input their name in the Unit Renewal and Leadership Approval section and then click the Next Step button in the bottom right.

 

STEP 4: PAY

To renew by credit card or ACH payment online:

  • There will be a summary page showing totals and directs the unit to pay. Please note: there is an ACH Payment fee of $1.00 or a Credit Card fee of 3%.
  • Review Renewal Order Status page and print a copy of this page if a receipt is needed.
  • Click the Go To Confirmation button in the lower right. The system will show that the payment is being processed and that the Unit Renewal order has been submitted.

To renew and pay at the council office via check or cash only:

  • Click Click here for Pay at the Council Office Option at the bottom of the page. Here you can download a report and submit payment at your nearest Buckeye Council office or via the mail to 2301 13th St NW, Canton, OH 44708.

 

STEP 5: COMPLETE ANNUAL CHARTER AGREEMENT*

 1. Download, fill out, and print the Annual Unit Charter Agreement.

 2. Review the Annual Unit Charter Agreement and have it signed by the following people:

  • Charter Organization (Executive Officer) - The name of the Executive Officer can be found in My.Scouting.org. Organization Manager > Position Manager > Registered Positions.
  • Charter Organization Representative (COR)
  • Unit Committee Chair
  • Local BSA Council (e.g., Unit Commissioner, District Commissioner, or District Professional)

 3. Return to the Buckeye Council, via:

*REQUIRED PROCESS FOR COMPLETION BY THE BUCKEYE COUNCIL*

Member Renewal

STEP 1: RECEIVE NOTIFICATION

Each month, the Unit Key 3 (Chartered Organization Representative, Unit Committee Chair, Unit Leader) will receive an email notification about members who are due to renew.

 

STEP 2: LOG ON

A member of the unit Key 3 logs into my.scouting.org and clicks on Organization Manager then Roster. The follow the steps below to validate your roster below.

 

STEP 3: REVIEW ROSTER

Review your roster and select members who are due to renew. Units may renew members up to 60 days prior to their expiration and 60 days after their expiration lapses.

 

STEP 4: PAY

 1. To renew by credit card or ACH payment online:

  • The unit leadership selects members who are eligible to renew and then simply clicks Renew in the header bar.
  • There will be a summary page showing totals and directs the unit to pay. Please note: there is an ACH Payment fee of $1.00 or a Credit Card fee of 3%.

 2. To renew and pay at the council office via check or cash only:

  • The unit leadership selects members who are eligible to renew and then simply clicks Print in the header bar and the clicks Unit Payment of Membership Renewal. Here you can download a report and submit payment at your nearest Buckeye Council office or via the mail to 2301 13th St NW, Canton, OH 44708.

Important Info:

  • Units can only renew members beginning two months before their expiration date through the two months “lapsed” period after their expiration date.
  • Units can renew any number of eligible members during their renewal window. This means you don’t have to wait for your entire list to renew select individuals.
  • Units can also Opt-Out a member from renewing if they have left the unit. This will remove them from the roster.
  • You can also see a person’s multiple registrations by clicking Show Multiple Registrations. To continue with the renewal, click Create Renewal Orders.
  • Remember, all renewals are for 12 months and begin the day after the expiration date of the current registration.

Can Individuals Renew Their Own Registration? YES!

To renew this way, individuals can either renew online or manually with the Buckeye Council. See below for instructions.

  • Renew online at my.scouting.org
  • Click on the link in the email that will direct individuals to my.scouting.org to renew the registration. You can also go to my.scouting.org to and click the red notification button on the top right-hand corner.
  • This will direct individuals to pay online and renew their registration in a few clicks.
  • Manually renew at the Buckeye Council
  • Fill out the Individual Registration Renewal Form and submit payment and the form to the Buckeye Council in person or via the mail.
  • Respond to the letter that will be mailed to each household and submitting payment.
  • Calling the Buckeye Council and submitting payment of $86* over the phone with a credit card. A credit card processing fee will be added to all transactions.

Renewal Resources

Make sure to download the Scouting Ahead Guidebook. This document has all of the resources you may need. Below you will find additional forms that will be helpful during this process.

Scouting Adventures