Author: Jeffrey Heck

Congratulations on Awards

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From Council newsletter:

On June 13, Crossroads of America Council hosted the 33rd Annual Scouting Awards Dinner in downtown Indianapolis. Seven individuals were honored for their commitment to the community.

Merle H. Miller Eagle Scout Project of the Year Award
Alec J. Damer, [North Star] Troop 514, St Monica’s RCC

Judge John Price Outstanding Eagle Scout of the Year Award
Austin D. Damer, [North Star] Troop 514, St Monica’s RCC

Thomas W. Moses Good Scout Award
Daniel J. Elsener
Joseph W. Cardinal Tobin (immediate past boss for past North Star District Chair and Commissioner Steve James)

Whitney M. Young Jr. Service Award
Dennis E. Bland
Robert L. Bowen

Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Dr. Robert M. Einterz (Parishoner at St Monica’s RCC, North Star Chartered Organziation)

Congratulations to the North Star and Troop 514 Damer boys and Dr. Bob Einterz, graduate of North Central High School.

Next year, make sure to nominate your Eagle Scouts and adult leaders for this pretigious award!

This entry was posted in Adult Recognition, Awards, News.

Things seen at Ransburg: week 6

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This is courtesy of Del-Mi troop 132, Friends Church Carmel:


When I asked how the pastor would accept this, as the Society of Friends, one scout answered “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Maybe not scout like, but very funny.

This entry was posted in News.

Fire crafter report: week six

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This entry was posted in News.

Congratulations to 2016 NESA Scholarship winners

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The National Eagle Scout Association (“NESA”) has posted the winners of their 2016 scholarship winners for the Central Region. Congratulations to the three Crossroads of America Council recipients.Eagle pin

2016 NESA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
CENTRAL REGION

 

NAME COUNCIL NAME COUNCIL CITY/STATE

$25,000 Cooke Academic Scholarship
Alex Wolff Glaciers Edge Council Madison, WI

$3,000 NESA Academic Scholarships
Marc Berkowicz Three Fires Council St. Charles, IL
Chris Coraggio Crossroads of America Council Indianapolis, IN
Jacob Danek Crossroads of America Council Indianapolis, IN
Jack Gibfried Ozark Trails Council Springfield, MO
Nathaniel Helgeson Heart of America Council Kansas City, MO
Colm Kilcoin Great Lakes FSC Detroit, MI
Joseph Miller-Davis Erie Shores Council Toledo, OH
Jacob Quigley Rainbow Council Morris, IL
Michael Rushka Crossroads of America Council Indianapolis, IN
Gabriel Small Northeast Illinois Council Highland Park, IL
Adam Smith Bay-Lakes Council Appleton, WI
Zachary Utecht President Gerald R. Ford Council Grand Rapids, MI
Ryan Wagner Heart of America Council Kansas City, MO

$2,500 Cooke Academic Scholarships
Robert Agle Simon Kenton Council Columbus, OH
Benjamin Ashby Lewis & Clark Council Belleville, IL
Alexander Burroughs Heart of America Council Kansas City, MO
Renaud Chauret Sagamore Council Kokomo, IN
Kevin McMahon Gamehaven Council Rochester, MN
Connor Polodna Gamehaven Council Rochester, MN
Shane Redman Blackhawk Area Council Rockford, IL
Cameron Reed Greater Cleveland Council Cleveland, OH
Tevis Robinson Buckskin Council Charleston, WV
Evan Routhier Bay-Lakes Council Appleton, WI
Dylan Subrin Blackhawk Area Council Rockford, IL
Joseph Switala Water and Woods Council Flint, MI
Mathew Townsley Illowa Council Davenport, IA

$5,000 Hall/McElwain Merit Scholarships
Cole Branson Great Rivers Council Columbia, MO
Brian Coe Three Harbors Council Milwaukee, WI
Samuel Gentle Northern Star Council St. Paul, MN
Kenneth Kelley Dan Beard Council Cincinnati, OH
John Kloser Three Harbors Council Milwaukee, WI
Christopher Kreienkamp Gateway Area Council La Crosse, WI
John Rosher Heart of America Council Kansas City, MO
Brice Steiner Simon Kenton Council Columbus, OH
Eric Tabaka Glaciers Edge Council Madison, WI

$4,000 Bailey Merit Scholarship
Kyle Kolash Bay-Lakes Council Appleton, WI

$2,500 Palmer Merit Scholarship
Austin Arenz Bay Lakes Council Appleton, WI

$2,500 Michael S. Malone/Windrush Publishers Journalism Scholarship
Justin Curto Heart of America Council Kansas City, MO

© 2017 The National Eagle Scout Association | Boy Scouts of America | National Eagle Scout Association

 

This entry was posted in Benefits of Eagle Rank, News.

Recruitment Rally July 22nd

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From District Executive Con Sullivan:

North Star Scouters,

Please join us (and/or send your pack recruitment chair) for breakfast on Saturday, July 22nd between 9 am and 11 am at Luke’s Lodge (outbuilding on northeast corner of campus of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260). This will be an open house format, come when you can. I would like an RSVP so we can pack up once everyone has attended.

Packs will pick up their Registration Night boxes, Open House bags, and Community Yard Signs. Troops can sign up for which Packs/Schools their Troops can assist in the fall. Both can learn about our new Open House style and all about the theme “Catapult into Scouting!”  Some Troops may get catapults they will want to bring to schools to create additional interest in Scouting and their Troop.

Packs, if you have not yet already, please tell me when your school’s “open house, ice cream social, etc.” is AND the date of your Registration Night ASAP!  Special orders on signs and flyers are due by July 22nd at the Open House. If you can get this information to me earlier, I can have them printed and ready for July 22nd.

Please register for this rally here:  http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F4FAEAC2AA7F49-fall

Thanks and I hope to see you there!

Con

Con Sullivan  |  District Executive – North Star 

This entry was posted in Back to School Night, Boy Scout, Cub Scouts, Lion Cubs Beta Program, News, Recruitment.

Last Minute Jambo Vacancies

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From Jay Soucy, Council Training Director, on July 7, 2017:

2017 National Jamboree last minute vacancy
The Council’s Jamboree Committee is reaching out to you at this time because there have been a few scouts that have recently needed to drop out of the National Jamboree council contingent. That leaves unexpected spots still available for interested scouts!
Anyone interested in attending the 2017 National Jamboree but you didn’t get signed up? You’re in luck but you had better hurry!
The Scouts:
·         MUST be at least a First Class Scout.
·         MUST be at least 12 years of age by the first day of the Jamboree or an 11 year old that has graduated the 6th grade, but has not reached their 18th birthday by the last day of the Jamboree.
They can start the on line registration at
http://www.summitbsa.org/events/jamboree/jamboree-registration/
Please contact Jay Soucy to secure their Jamboree space. At this time we will talk about an alternate payment plan for the Jamboree trip fee.
 
Jay Soucy  |  Training Director

This entry was posted in National Jamboree 2017, News.

Crew 56 holds Informational Meetings

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From Bill Cherry:
Are your interested in Venturing Crew 56 – the BSA Program for youth male & female – 14 to 20 years of age? Both parents and youth are invited.
Two information sessions are going to be held in the fireplace room of the Luke’s Lodge (the outbuilding on the northeast corner of the campus of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 W 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260).
These are information session – not class “A” type of dress – just your class “B” uniform.
Mark your calendar for:
Wednesday, July 12, 2017 (tonight) from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
OR
Wednesday,  August 2, 2017 (tonight) from 7:00 to 8:30 PM
Bill Cherry
Co-Advisor, Crew 56
Crew 56 is the only North Star District Crew in Indianapolis, east of Eagle Creek Reservoir. This crew is already a co-ed unit. It is looking to grow its membership and plan its adventures for the coming year.
Scouts working on their advancement to Eagle can do some of their advancement through a crew. However, they must maintain their primary registration with the scout troop and do some of the requirements in the troop. A dual-registered scout or scouter, only pays their annual BSA National Dues through their primary unit (i.e., $25).
Scouts in neighboring troops are invited to attend these meetings. Sisters and daughters are actively encouraged to attend. Girls who participate in Venturing, even after having been a Girl Scout, often report that Venturing offered them experiences that they have never had before. These girls also report a very high satisfaction level from Venturing.
NOTE TO OTHER CREWS: This solicitation is an example of how we can promote scouting through the district website. The link back to your home website your Google search pominence and broader audience can raise your profile and recruiting success. Send me your scheduled recruiting meetings and events to promote more widely.

This entry was posted in News, Recruitment, Venturing.

Updates for Unit Profiles

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As we are moving into heavy recruitment season, now is the time to make sure that your unit’s web presence is up to date.

First, start by visiting, BeAScout.org. Try to find your unit on the system. Check that the meeting time, location, and personnel are correct.

Visit the Our Units page on the District website. Click through to the appropriate section for your unit. Review the information that I have posted. Send me any updates or corrections. While this section does not get a large amount of traffic, the Scout Troop Page received 98 views in 2016 and has already received 90 views in 2017.

This update is especially important for units that are newer in age or in relationship to the North Star District.

I intended to hold edits for the 15th and 30th of each month, so please be patient if your corrections do not post immediately.

This entry was posted in News.

Website Tinkering

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If you have been following cacnorthstar.org, you will notice some changes in the right column of our webpage and the potential for some differences when you view the website on a mobile device.

In the right column, all of the old functions remain. A couple have been added. There is now a Facebook Feed for the CAC North Star Commissioner Page. This feed will include a mix of the articles posted to this website as well as less serious but hopefully interesting Facebook posts or third party websites. This is where Facebook updates from around the District and even the Council appear. For example, there were a couple of posts about Crew 408’s trek to Philmont or another crew out of district’s current trip to the International Scout Centre in Kundersteg, Switzerland.

Of the old functions, many of the links that used to take up so much space down the side of the page or at the bottom of the mobile view have been folded into drop down menus. The goal is to be able to speed your view of the page.

A new category for recent additions to the District Calendar has been added.

Hopefully these changes will be useful.

This entry was posted in News.

Follow CAC North Star Commissioner on Facebook

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The North Star District Website is designed to focus on articles that you might find useful or interesting.facebook-logo-png-2-0

These articles automatically post to Facebook as they go live. If you have followed the CAC North Star Facebook page, you can see these updates as they post. If you are like me, you may not use Facebook, except in spurts. It may not be helpful.

However, if you have a leader in your unit who loves Facebook, you can encourage them to follow the CAC North Star Commissioner page. When they like or post comments on our articles, many more of your unit’s parents are likely to see these artcles in casual perusal.

Our goal is to get 250 followers for the Facebook page in the next 90 days. You can help us by following us and sharing this page with your unit parents.

Always remember to keep in mind the BSA’s rules on social media when using Facebook or Twitter in your unit. If you want to learn more about how to use social media in scouting, download the the Social Media Playbook.

This entry was posted in News.