The merger activity between councils has tapered off recently. There seems to have been certain generational waves, i.e., ever 25 years or so a flurry of mergers. There was a big wave in the early 1970s, then another in the early to mid-1990s. Of late though there has not been much. But I have now heard of two possible mergers here in Michigan.

Since this past winter, Clinton Valley Council (Pontiac, MI) and Detroit Area Council have been having exploratory discussions. There was a merger attempt between these two councils about 8 years ago that was roundly rejected particularly by the Clinton Valley side but talks appear to be more amiable this time. Because of business activity and flows this consolidation makes sense and will probably happen.

The new one I heard about last night was the need to merge off Chief Okemos Council (Lansing, MI). They’ve been an underperforming council for a while most of it due, based upon my observation, from entrenched volunteers and wasteful spending on their camp. Michigan’s economy hasn’t helped but that just exposes structural weaknesses more quickly. There is building some pressure to merge them into Great Sauk Trail (Ann Arbor) but we are resisting. We’ve worked hard to make a high performing council. Fortunately some volunteer leaders from a preceeding council, Land O’Lakes, participated in merger discussions with Lansing fifteen years ago and remember the warning signs that lead them to approach Wolverine Council. Basically an amiable merger between Jackson and Ann Arbor happened but it has still taken nearly two decades to work through certain animosities. I hate to think what would happen in a contested merger. I’m sure some of my readers know.

The current speculation is that they will be folded into Flint. That council is coming back under new professional and volunteer leadership. But putting two weak councils together does not necessarily make for a strong one. The Area Director has to deal with a council that is operating under a conditional charter, Lansing, and so for his promotibility will try to make something happen. Its a shame that merging is the solution rather than doing basic “blocking and tackling” execution in delivering a high-quality, cost-effective Scouting program. My guess is Chief Okemos is gone within a year.