The Future of Colonial Virginia Council
A comprehensive review of the proposed merger before final decisions are made.
To: Colonial Virginia Council Members, Leaders, Families, and Community Supporters
CC: Colonial Virginia Council Executive Board
From: Hampton Roads Scouting Alliance
Subject: The Future of Colonial Virginia Council — Full Merger Review
Dear CVC Volunteers, Chartered Organization Representatives, Leaders, and Families,
On December 11, the Colonial Virginia Council Executive Board approved submission of a Draft Plan of Merger with Heart of Virginia Council, moving the process into its final stages. From this point forward, the decisions that remain are limited in number—but significant in consequence.
Since that vote, many across the CVC community—CORs, unit leaders, volunteers, and families—have expressed a shared concern: that the information presented publicly on December 12, and relied upon by the Board immediately prior to its December 11 meeting, did not fully reflect the scope, depth, or comparative context warranted by a decision of this magnitude.
A council merger permanently reshapes governance, identity, geography, and program delivery. It affects who holds voice, how decisions are made, and what Scouting will look like in Hampton Roads for decades. For that reason, meaningful participation requires access to complete, balanced, and decision-appropriate information.
To support that goal, a comprehensive merger review has been prepared. Rather than restating prior summaries, this report brings together publicly available data, council-provided materials, documents and communications shared with concerned volunteers, and established nonprofit governance standards to present a full, side-by-side evaluation of the options before CVC.
The report is designed to help readers:
- understand how the process reached its current stage,
- see where material information was limited or omitted,
- evaluate cultural, geographic, financial, and governance implications in context, and
- engage constructively and knowledgeably in the remaining steps of the process.
👉 Read the full report here:
Why this matters now:
- January town halls are informational; they do not reopen merger choices.
- Only the final Council Voting Member vote can still determine the outcome.
- How voting rights, thresholds, and governance rules are handled will shape whose voices count.
This document is not a critique of individuals, nor a challenge to goodwill. It is a good-faith effort to ensure that decisions of this scale reflect transparency, careful inquiry, and respect for the volunteers and families who sustain Scouting in southeastern Virginia.
We encourage all who care about the future of CVC—regardless of position or perspective—to review the report, share it thoughtfully, and come prepared to engage during the remaining stages of the process.
Thank you for your continued service to Scouting and to the youth we serve.
Respectfully,
Hampton Roads Scouting Alliance
A volunteer-led group focused on transparency, member voice, and the long-term strength of Scouting in Hampton Roads