Author: Jeffrey Heck
Rechartering Report: Deadline +1 Day
Our District deadline for Rechartering passed yesterday November 20, 2016. Here is a report of how we are doing.
The following units have been approved by the registrar for 2017 rechartering with (1) 100% training, (2) all paperwork, and (3) all dues paid (total 6 units):
- Pack 35, and
- Troops 35, 56,73, 269, 514.
The following units have the same 3 criteria met but are awaiting the registrar’s ratification. The registrar handles these first-come, first-serve from across the council, so when ratification will come is unknowable. (Total 5 units.)
- Packs 105, 514, 586, and
- Troop 191, and 804.
The following units have completed all paperwork and paid all dues, they have training requirements yet to fulfill. When training is complete, these will be submitted to the registrar. (Total 12 units.)
- Packs 18, 64, 171, 174, 175, 179, 358 (almost all veteran tribes)
- Troop 18, 358, 586.
Three units have turned in paperwork but have defects in their submission and likely need training. (3 units)
- Packs 84 and 358-2.
- Crew 408.
The following units have submitted their rosters online but have submitted no paperwork. All have had extensive communications with the DE or the commissioners. Many are waiting for the Chartered Organization execute documents. Many of these have promised to do that by Tuesday, November 22, 2016. (5 units)
- Troops 69, 174, and 343 and
- Crews 69 and 358.
The remaining units have nothing turned in either on paper or online. That leaves us with 4 units to get paperwork wrapped up and finalized. All have had extensive communications. Many have extenuating circumstances involving family emergencies among the Key 3. Families in those units could be very helpful in offering to lift some of the burden off the current leaders to get their rechartering done.
Merit Badge Counselors: District Rechartering
Remember, North Star District has to re-charter each year just like our units. This means all volunteers listed as “District Staff” must be dropped, added, or retained at the district level as part of the rechartering process.
For Cub Scout Packs, this is not an issue. Ever.
For Scout Troops and Venturing Crews, this is important. Many scouters in troops and crews serve as Merit Badge Counselors (“MBCs”). MBCs are District Staff. They do not recharter as part of the unit. They recharter as part of the district.
That means we need every troop’s and crew’s immediate assistance. Each troop or crew needs to verify by email that the MBC list of their volunteers is accurate by November 30, 2016.
All it takes is a quick email to District Merit Badge Registrar Mike Yates at Mike-fpd@comcast.net, saying, “We wish to recharter all of our existing MBCs for 2017.” If those MBCs have their MBC training and YPT expiring after 3/1/17, they will be good to go.
If you have new MBCs or some veterans don’t meet the above criteria, they can do the MBC training online or find live seminars at http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/506. They will need to update their YPT training. New MBCs will also need to fill out an Adult Application on paper or online at https://my.bsa.us/160ns01mb (a dedicated website for District applications).
If a unit fails to report in to Mike Yates, all MBCs currently registered will expire on December 31, 2016 and be required to re-register. Any blue cards a deregistered MBC signs after January 1, 2017 will be invalid.
Please help us avoid that unpleasantness. All committee chairs for troops and crews (or their MBC designate) should check in with Mike Yates at their earliest convenience so that District can be rechartered on time.
Thank you for your assistance.
NOTE: for more about why these rules exist, see past posts on merit badge counselors.
November Eagle Board of Review Report
Congratulations to the following new Eagle Scouts in November 2017 by date of Board of Review and Troop number.
Farewell Message from Troop 191 Scoutmaster
It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Troop 191 will officially close at the end of 2016. Long time Scoutmaster Lawrence Smiley has written me the following letter. I found the letter to be heart-felt and impassioned, so it was worth sharing with you. Mr. Smiley’s list of activities was very creative and worth considering in your troop or crew.
It has been an honor and a privileged to serve Crossroads of America Council for over a quarter of a century as Troop 191’s founder and scoutmaster. So many great memories of Christ-protected and guided high adventures:
- Riding the narrow gauge train from Durango, CO to gain access to The Chicago Basis [twice]
- Climbing Mt. Harvard [twice] and Columbia [once]
- Canoeing a 50 mile loop in the Boundary Waters [once]
- Sailing a homemade tri-hull in the Florida Keys under the command of Captain DeTurk [once]
- White water rafting the Missouri River near Buena Vista, CO [twice] and the New and Upper Gulley Rivers in West Virginia [twice]
- Shotgun Shooting at private farms in Indiana [most every year]
- Rappelling in Red River Forest east of Lexington, KY [most every year]
- Snow skiing at Swiss Valley in S. Michigan [most every year]
- Hiking sand dunes and swimming at Michigan Dunes State Park
- Canoeing the Blue, the Tippecanoe, The Wabash rivers in Indiana [most every year]
- Caving Small-Dull Cave near Bloomington or Marengo Cave [most every year]
- Water skiing at Lake Lemon [once]
- Paint balling on private property [most every year]
- Ransburg Summer Camp [every year!]
- Hiking the Lincoln Trail from New Salem to Springfield, IL [once]
- Biking to Mounds State Park from Hamilton SE High School [once]
- Touring the Air Force Museum in Dayton [once]
- North Star District Camporees [a few]
- And many more adventures that have faded from the corners of my mind!
- Weekly Thursday night meetings, way too many too count, where life skills, servant-leadership and character were taught along with earning rank and merit badges and having a ton of fun.
As I’ve previously mentioned, I close down Troop 191 with both the pride of accomplishment of mentoring tons of boys along their trail to manhood and the sadness of closing out a huge chapter in my life as a part of the Boy Scouts of America – from the age of 7 as a Cub Scout to the age of pushing 70 (June 23[]).
* * *It has been a great ride and fantastic life adventure; and I depart with no regrets and many, many great memories!Thank you Jeff [Heck] (and Jerry [Simon]), for your service to the Boy Scouts. I wish you, The North Star District and the Crossroads of America Godspeed, as you continue serving the youth of Indianapolis.
Rechartering Report for week of November 17, 2016
Significant updates on 11/18/16 at 1:54 pm below.
At the Council Commissioner Staff meeting Tuesday night, North Star District was once again recognized for its successful efforts in moving the rechartering process forward.
Thank you to all of the Unit Commissioners and Assistant District Commissioners for those efforts. You deserve the recognition.
Even so, the work is not yet done.
At this time, three units have successfully posted as completed to the BSA rechartering system with all paperwork, dues, and training completed: Pack 35, Troop 56, and Troop 514.
Due to a technology glitch, three other units that should also have been posted to the national system have been stalled due to no fault of the units: Pack 586, Troop 35, and Troop 269. Those units have done all the requirements to recharter, but the BSA system has not allowed the Council Registrar to process their paperwork. The units have each been advised of the problem. We hope that no other units will have this problem in the future with the technology maintenance due Friday night.
We have seven units that have completed all paperwork and dues payments but are awaiting training completion. (See post on problems with Training Manager.) Of those seven units, five of them only have one or two persons in need of training. Those units are Pack 105, Pack 175, Pack 514, Troop 18, and Troop 804. Most of those trainings are available online (except for Scoutmasters or Assistant Scoutmasters) or in-person in the next several weeks.
Eleven units have submitted partial paperwork. Of those, one of them is only a dues payment issue. The rest have training issues, too.
Six units have submitted their rosters online but have submitted no paperwork.
Four units have started the online process but for various reasons are stuck. Most of those are due to staffing issues that need to be resolved, and not for lack of effort to recharter.
Remember that the deadline for completing rechartering is November 20th. All units needs to be working toward meeting that deadline. That being said, all units have had open lines of communications with the Commissioners and the DE, so we are aware of most problems in rechartering. We are ready, willing and able to make ourselves available for one-on-one meetings with units to help bridge remaining gaps. Please let the Commissioners know if you wish to exercise this opportunity.
UPDATED 11/18/16 at 1:54 pm: Thanks to the diligent effort of many units, we have had many improvements since the earlier report.
The following units have completed all three parts of rechartering: paperwork, dues payment, and training. Those units are:
- Pack 35, Pack 105, Pack 514, Pack 586 (4 packs); and
- Troop 35, Troop 56, Troop 73, Troop 191, Troop 269, Troop 514, and Troop 804 (7 troops).
The following units have completed all paperwork and dues payments. They only need to complete training:
- Pack 64, Pack 171, Pack 175, Pack 179, Pack 358-0 (Delaware Tribe), Pack 358-2 (Miami Tribe), Pack 358-3 (Munsee Tribe), and Pack 358-4 (Shawnee Tribe) (8 packs/tribes);
- Troop 18, and Troop 358 (2 troops); and
- Crew 408.
That leaves 4 packs, 3 troops, and 3 crews needing to turn in paperwork, dues and training certificates.
Don’t forget to sign up for training in-person to get credit as trained.
BSA Tech problems: Training Manager
UPDATED 11/18/16 at 2:oo pm: At last check the system seems to be working reliably.
Just as we are pushing to have our units 100% trained, the BSA is having a series of technology problems on my.scouting.org’s Training Manager.
First, unit training reports are running painfully slowly. This results in checking on scouters’ training results. If you have completed training, please contact a Commissioner to report your completion. This will allow us to note your rechartering file that training is no longer an issue for that scouter. Then we have technology problems, we do not harass those who believe they are done until we have success pulling up complete reports again.
Second, many scouters are reporting that the online training system is not giving them credit for training modules completed. The proposed resolution is to report this immediately to a commissioner to enter into your unit’s rechartering file, too.
BSA is promising to do maintenance Friday night on the training module. Plan your weekend training efforts accordingly. Hopefully this will result in some resolution of these problems.
Thank you for your patience in advance.
Camporee Committee Updates
From 2017 Winter Camporee Chair Curtis Shrote:
Please include the following topics in your preparation for this meeting:1) Patrol competition idea from your troop pertaining to the Shackleton based “Escape from Ice Island” theme.2) an indication concerning Fall Camporee date preference. Note Sept 22-24th conflicts with Firecrafter Frenzy so that weekend is not recommended.
3) Ideas for scoutmaster cookoff (theme based)4) Redwing logistics concerns that we can address early – I will be making a trip up to visit in early December.5) Signup for camp sites will be available starting at the meeting so please send your representative(s). For your consideration and planning, the following campsites are reserved for North Star Districta) Bears Denb) Butternut Hillc) Cricket Hollowd) Indian Jime) Lone Cherryf) Pheasant Nestg) Pinesh) Rabbit Runi) Riverviewj) Tepee RidgeWe also have reserved the following additional resources:Shelters –
a) Beverly Terhune
b) Cubc) Galliher FamilyMisc –a) Recreation Fieldb) Campfire Circlec) Chapeld) Eliades Shower housee) Kiwanis Dining, Kitchen, and 1st aid roomf) Kovel cabin and RIchard Burlison Bunkhouse (camporee & cook staff)
Regards/YIS,Curtis
Fall camporee review:
– thank you Brian!– general consensus was to remain at the Indiana School for the Blind and Visually Impaired for 2017 assuming the school will continue with their support– feedback to consider waving the $5 fee for patches for webelos that attend– feedback that District should support one event that webelos could participate– very happy with outside district judges for Willy award – way to go Con!! We want to do it again this winter. Comments from committee that they would support other districts should they need judges
– 200 patches would be enough– feedback that awards of special rounders for patrols were well received– camporee committee chair is needed. Troops – please nominate– also suggested that camporee committee chair be backed by 3 others to specialize in Fall, Winter, and Spring – need a nomination for Fall 2017
Need feedback from all troops on the preferred date for Fall Camporee 2017. Please rank your top 3 and label 1 to 3
- Sept 22-24
- Sept 29th-Oct 1
- Oct 6-8
- Oct 13-15
Please send feedback by Nov 20th.Winter camporee:
Theme “Escape from Ice Island”Evening movie: True story A&E movie/mini series “Shackleton” (Edited starting from when Shackleton and crew leave Buenos Aires for Antarctica – 2 hour run time) – Witness Sir Ernest Shackleton and crew aboard the ship Endurance travel to Antarctica, overwinter with the intent of crossing the Antarctic continent by land only to be ship wrecked in the spring. Will they get off the ice alive?We will continue with the rounders for troop awards 1st-5th placeNext meeting:
Will confirm meeting time and location for Sunday November 20th (yes this is the alternate date – sorry – other date was scrubbed due to family obligation)Objectives:
1) scoutmaster cookoff (need ideas – survival foods? shipboard food?) – Sorry seal and penguin meat are not allowed.2) camp ground assignments @ Camp Redwing – stake your claim on an iceberg …3) each troop’s activity – themed appropriatelyReminders:
April 21-23 Spring Camporee @ Ransburg – The Honorable Mark Pishon, presiding
District Pinewood Derby 2017 Track Sign Up Open
From North Star District Pinewood Derby Coordinator Bill Buchalter:
North Star Pack Leaders,
It’s almost that time of year again for Pinewood Derbies! I have begun putting together a schedule for the packs in the district who need help with a track, and wanted to reach out and let you all know what days are already spoken for and encourage you to send your requests in soon to make sure you get the date you want.
- Wednesday, Feb 22nd – Pack 179
- Saturday, Feb 25th – Pack 830
- Monday, March 6th – Pack 35
When you send your request please make sure to specify the date and time you’d like to run your race, and what time we can be there to set up. We prefer at least 30 minutes prior to race start for set up. Also, it helps to have a rough idea how many boys are participating in your pack so we have an idea how long it will be.
If you are no longer the leader in charge of organizing the derby for your pack, please let me know and forward me the contact information for your replacement.
Thanks, and I look forward to helping your boys have an awesome Pinewood Derby.
Bill Buchalter
Cub Master – Pack 830
wbbuch1@comcast.net
317-509-0767
Rechartering Update for Veteran’s Day
After last night’s final rechartering turn in night, I am pleased to announce that seven units have completed all requirements for rechartering: (1) 100% trained, (2) paid in full, and (3) all paperwork in order.
Those units are
- Pack and Troop 35 at St Joan of Arc RCC;
- Pack 586, LDS-Zionsville Stake;
- Troop 56, St Luke’s UMC;
- Troop 73, St Paul’s Episcopal;
- Troop 269, St Andrew’s Presbyterian; and
- Troop 514, St Monica’s RCC.
Units that have paid in full and have submitted all paperwork but still have training requirements to complete (see this post on how to expedite training solutions) are
- Pack 175, Christ the King RCC;
- Pack 179, Crooked Creek Elementary, MSD Washington Twp.;
- Pack 514, St Monica’s RCC;
- Troop 18, Second Presbyterian;
- Troop 358, St Alphonsius RCC; and
- Troop 804, Zionsville American Legion Post.
We have 12 units that submitted most of their paperwork and/or dues payments but still have rechartering issues that are more than training issues.
We have 6 units that have submitted their rechartering rosters online but from which we have received little, if any, paperwork.
We have 4 units that have started rechartering but have not finalized their rosters. One of those has scheduled a date with the commissioner service to finalize that early next week.
Thank you to all of you for your diligence in helping us move rechartering along expeditiously.
Scoutmaster Specific, Intro to Outdoor Leadership Skills, Committee Challenge, Den Leader, Cubmaster, MBC Classes
Many troops need Troop Committee Challenge, Scoutmaster Specific Training and Introduction to Outdoor Leadership (also covers Outdoor Webelos Leadership Skills) training to complete rechartering.
Packs need Den Leader and Cubmaster Position Specific Training.
Crews need Venture Advisor Training.
In order to facilitate rechartering expeditiously yet honor the training requirement going into the holiday season, we are going to offer a novel solution. We are going to allow untrained scouters to remain on the roster, if and only if they do one of the following:
- Complete online training and confirm their training is accurately posted to their unit’s Training Manager report on my.scouting.org before the Charter is sent to the Registrar; or
- Present a receipt demonstrating prior registration and payment for the class(es) listed below or similarly situated course out-of-council.
If you can serve as faculty, you can sign up here.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
You must be logged in to post a comment.