Orange County Register

 16 Comments

• asldfkj aslfjk says:

  August 22, 2008 at 7:59 am

  Hey, bozos. You have the photo of Bob Mazzuca, the current chief scout executive, labeled as Roy Williams. If you can’t get your information straight on identifying photos, why should we believe anything else you post?

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• Strongsidejedi says:

  August 22, 2008 at 11:44 am

  Message to the author of OC Watchdog:

  While you are busy pointing fingers at the BSA, could you please point a finger at the local hospital “non-profit” executives?

  These “executives” at CHOC are getting $1,000,000.00 a year in salary, benefits, etc.

  We’ve just started scrapping the surface of the Millionairess Execs at CHOC.

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• Waste says:

  August 22, 2008 at 5:17 pm

  And scouts are already getting pressured to get out and sell popcorn. In fact the Scout leaders are even putting quotas on current scouts for popcorn sales.

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• asd;flkj says:

  August 22, 2008 at 6:12 pm

  I would have these men paid twice as much if it would mean that more boys would be involved in and taught the principles of the BSA!! Take a look at your homepage and see what changes would be made in this world if our young men were taught and actually adopted these principles. People like you come around and disparage century-old establishments, geared toward elevating our society, all for a brief moment of sensationalistic gratification!

  As Strongsidejedi explains, there are bigger fish to fry! Of course, that doesn’t quite fit with your “progressive” agenda, now does it?

  Get a life!

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• gary says:

  August 22, 2008 at 8:30 pm

  nobody in a non profit deserves the kind of money. if they think they are so valuable then try getting a job in the private sector. no way would they be worth it. these non profits are like the churches that pay big bucks to people that earn it by getting hand outs. all just rip off artists. and yes I am jealous because I have a soul and dont try to take money from and abuse the position they have.

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• raicha says:

  August 22, 2008 at 8:50 pm

  While I agree that the annual salaries are shocking, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to me that someone with 30 or 40 years of service would have a million or more in a retirement plan - which is what the deferred compensation most likely represents.

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• David says:

  August 22, 2008 at 9:15 pm

  This article sure sheds a lot of light on how much they make but what about what there job responsibility is? With those titles I doubt they just sit around and collect the paycheck. I don’t favor either side because there are not enough facts.

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• ScoutMiser says:

  August 22, 2008 at 9:55 pm

  Reps from these leeches (OCBSC) are at meetings pretty much every month.
  I will never have the boy participate in fund raising for them again.
  Disgusting.

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• Alan says:

  August 22, 2008 at 11:34 pm

  The funds these local Scouts earn stay with their pack and local council. With a couple million members all paying $10.00 a year to be a member the National Council has to use $20M to pay for overall operations, including defending their rights through attorney’s (over $2M a year) and another million for accounting.

  Add another $5M for salaries that still leaves over $10M for them to use to help Scouting throughout the World.

  These salaries are actually below normal for such a large organization that is responsible for millions of people!

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• papahonk says:

  August 23, 2008 at 6:19 am

  not enough info yet.
  my wife always points out that the Girl Scouts have more Volunteers, yet on the flip side the Boy Scouts seem to have alot better camps and other activitys. so does having paid people who only do this not split their time between jobs and what they volunteer make it better? I dont know.
  The level we see with my son as a wolf is all volunteers. now I am not poo pooing the Girls Scouts. My wife is a Girl Scout Troop Leader. Its just as with our Pack, all volunteer work . Both Orgs at this level are made up of concerned parents who want our children to grow up with certain values, thats why we volunteer. to give our children more, so they can be better people in the end.
  I do not want my children to be like me, I want them to be better then me and im hoping that both scout orgs will help with this.
  Just a one dads view

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• Alan says:

  August 23, 2008 at 5:50 pm

  Ok I had to look into this matter a little bit in order to get pass the smear campaign being ran by the OC Register Writers.

  Here is the real facts:

  Both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use 10% of their revenues to pay for salaries and administration.

  Both Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use 90% directly in their programs.

  The real decrease in the ratings for the Boy Scouts is related to the 9% decrease in revenue growth which places their programs at risk for cancellation. However, they are also reducing expenses!

  By reducing their expenses their capacity rating takes a huge hit and this affects the overall rating.

  Let us get the facts straight.

  Executives are paid for their responsibilities and this is the same for all organizations. Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts continue to create wonderful leaders in our society.

  Regarding papa’s comment I want to defend the Girl Scouts a little as their method of leadership delivery is different then the Boy Scouts. As a father I do see a lot of involvement in the Boy Scouts; however, my daughter is becoming a great leader using a method that I too think is a little slower - however it is working.

  Hopefully the next article in this “watchdog” or “doghunt” series will focus on the volunteers and the activities our young children are able to do through both of these wonderful and rewarding organizations.

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• Eagle Scout '97 says:

  August 25, 2008 at 11:08 am

  As an individual who went through the entire Boy Scout of America (BSA) program (from Cub Scouts to Boy Scout) and earning the rank of Eagle Scout (highest rank given to a boy in the program), the numbers do look alarming.
  However, as many individuals have pointed out, these numbers are on par - if not lower - when compared to other organizations of similar size. The BSA of today is not the BSA of yesterday or the organization I went through. Today’s BSA faces multiple challenges - legally and competitively that costs the organization millions of dollars. After spending these millions of dollars, the BSA still has money to pay staff that makes the organization obtain its goals and help millions of boys throughout the world.
  My experience in the BSA program was one that was very positive and rewarding. I had other siblings that went through the program as well. We were all recipients of the generosity of the BSA when it came to scholarships for participation in summer programs due to some of the hardships my family faced. I continue to support the BSA today – as it supported me in my days as a youth – and I look for my son to have the chance to participate in the program some day.
  Lastly, one of the points in the Scout Law is to be “trustworthy.” I believe the BSA can be “trustworthy” and will come forward with more to this whole story, hopefully shedding some light on some of the questions and concerns of many individuals on this post.

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• strongsidejedi says:

  August 26, 2008 at 10:54 pm

  OK I’ll wade into this fact filled discussion.

  Let’s compare the BSA executive salary to the salaries of another “kid” oriented OC organization… Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

  CHOC is a major advertiser in OC Register and their community papers too.

  So, they won’t post these things without having a phone call from their PR team.

  The top paid executives at CHOC consume $4,369,374 in tax payer funds. The top paid independent contractors consume another $28,180,343 in tax payer funds.

  Highest paid executives (consuming $4,369,374.00 in 2005)
  (Page 9 of 32 appears to list Kim Cripe and Kerri Ruppert salary as zero. This unusual statement is also reflected in a statement on the Board of Directors. However, if you look at the tax return for Children’s Healthcare of California (a related organization), you will find the pertinent information. It appears that Ms. Ruppert chooses to post her salary related to CHOC on the CHC return. It is also interesting that the Children’s Healthcare of California return lists that Kim Cripe spends 2 hours per week working on the non-profit.

  $1,101,159 - Kim Cripe - Chief Executive Officer - $846,394 in compensation, $215,965 in benefits, and $38,800 in expense accounts

  $679,794 - Kerri Ruppert - Chief Financial Officer - $517,989 in compensation, $136,561 in benefits, and $25,244 in expense accounts

  $630,424 - Maria Minon - Ex-officio Director - $441,664 in compensation, $168,489 in benefits, $20,271 expense account

  $400,223 - Mark Headland - VP & Chief Info Officer - $311,194 in compensation, $79,342 in benefits, $9,687 expense account

  $387,372 - Dana Bledsoe - VP Patient Services - $292,566 in compensation, $79,415 in benefits, $15,391 expense account

  $384,629 - Margaret Conk - VP Business Development - $277,699 in compensation, $87,209 in benefits, $19,721 expense account

  $280,331 - Theresa E. Gianfortune - VP Human Resources - $220,109 in compensation, $70,254 in benefits, $9,968 expense account

  $271,990 - David R. Schinderle - VP Finance - $196,870 in compensation, $61,107 in benefits, $14,013 expense account

  $233,452 - Steve O’Kane - Ex-officio director - $213,000 in compensation, 0 in benefits, $20,452 in expense account

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• Marla Fisher says:

  October 7, 2008 at 8:50 pm

  As the proud mom of a Boy Scout who is paying for his activities, I can’t even believe you people are defending those grotesquely high salaries. I don’t care if every other nonprofit executive in America makes that much, it is still grotesque especially considering the Boy Scout credo. And I assure you, not every other nonprofit executive in America DOES make that much money. We have to sell the popcorn and pay for the costs that these people make. It’s just wrong. And by the way everyone who gets written about in these columns gets a chance to respond and it has nothing to do with whether or not they are advertisers so this guy better get his facts straight.

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• Edward says:

  October 27, 2008 at 8:59 pm

  $3480.00 in popcorn sales by a young boy scout of 10 years old..

  $974.00 based on 28 percent of the sales..Which goes to the local council for his efforts.

  $700.00 based on 20 percent goes to his local troop.
  The troop makes the next level of money and helps with the expenses relative to direct cost associated with supporting the troop efforts such as fuel expenses for troop transportation as it is an all volunteer group.

  $418.00 based on 12 percent goes to the scouts personal account..
  Mom and dad pay for all the fuel and other expenses relative to the sale of popcorn including taking financial responsibility for the sales.
  Including anyone who writes the scout a bad check..

  The council has zero risk and gains most of the money..

  In all reality it is a child labor law violation to profit from the effort of a child.. I cant see why the council makes the most without any risk or expense.
  The scout makes peanuts for his efforts, mom and dad lose money for his efforts. even the prizes earned are given by the popcorn company, not the council..

  The only one winning with no effort at all, is the local council of the boy scouts who have to share there bounty with the national council.. Who also have no risk and only a profit to gain..
  They are making most of the profit and they do have a payroll. As they are not volunteers. They are employees of a non profit organization designed to make money.
  They just spend it ALL to maintain a non profit profile. On what ?
  I have not seen the council do anything for free myself.

  Some large amounts of that are paid to its highest level execs..
  Off the efforts and labors of a child.
  Bottom line.

  I know this is true.
  The scout was my son .. Based on his popcorn sales of this year.
  This years popcorn sales. in 2008
  We do support him in his efforts, although it would be cheaper for us to just deposit 418.00 to his account in cash. The efforts and responsibility and liability weigh heavy against that 418.00 payload..
  :}

  That is just my opinion and 2 cents worth and the figures are approximate but close enough.

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• Alan says:

  November 29, 2008 at 11:12 am

  “The council has zero risk and gains most of the money..”

  The Orange County Council has all the risk. That is why there are cut backs. OC Council has to maintain and pay for staff at the new OEC along with borrow money in order to build the new facility.

  Is that not a risk? They have staff, equipment, supplies among other things to keep OSO Lake running along with Newport Sea Base.

  No risk?

  The sale of the popcorn helps the local troops, packs and units.

  Is it cheaper to just deposit $400.00 in your own savings account to help pay for the program? Of course.

  Such action would prevent funds from being spent on programs and services subsidized by Council and Scouts would actually have to pay $400 or $500 to go to Day Camp. Along with paying $40.00 a night/camper in camping fees, instead of a mere $10.00.

  This year with their investments tanking (as highlighted recently by the OC Register) fees will likely go up. With decrease revenues from popcorn sales (that are likely given the negative campaign against the Boy Scouts by the Orange County Register) that money is recouped by cutting services, prohibiting pay raises to match cost of living among other things.

  I did notice that my final response was deleted by the OC Register as it stated too many facts that countered the ten (10) articles written about the organization.

  You have to question why the OC Register does not want someone to actually present information that presents the facts in detail?

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