Author: Jeffrey Heck
Save the Date: Ideal Year in Scouting
At Council’s joint Commissioner and Membership Committee meeting, the Council Membership Chair announced some dates for the Ideal Year in Scouting presentation.
For North Star District, it will take place on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Scout Center. This will be in lieu of our regular roundtable meeting. We will have a North Star District-specific breakout session at the Scout Center when the general session is done.
The presentation will begin at 7:00 pm. A light dinner will be served at 6:30 pm.
If your unit cannot send a representative that night, the same general session presentation will be held again on THursday, May 19, 2016 at Camp Kikthawenund, near Anderson, Indiana also at 7:00 pm.
This presentation will touch on annual planning, including programming, fund-raising, unit administration, camp preparations. There will also be information tables about NYLT, Wood Badge, Voyageur.
Recruit your unit members to attend now. Early scheduling is the key to good attendance. We would like 100% attendance from the District’s units.
This is for all scouting programs (i.e., Cub, Scouts, and Venturing).
Scout Executive as American Ninja Warrior?
You may have heard that this small event called “American Ninja Warrior” wrapped up filming recently in downtown Indianapolis on the Circle.
In past years, a Eagle scout turned adult competed as the “Boy Scout Ninja Warrior.”
Now we have news that a Utah professional scouter is throwing his hat in the . . . uh . . . hang his hat on the door knob challenge.
When the show airs this summer, look for ideas for camporees and personal challenges to offer your scouts in a COPE spirit.
Presidential Service Award
While becoming an Eagle Scout is one of the highest honors a boy can obtain, there are others out there.
Recently a mother in our troop introduced me to the Presidential Service Award. I was not familiar with it. The award requires a non-profit sponsor the youth. I passed the question to Con, and he was able to confirm that the Crossroads of America Council is a sponsor of the award.
If you, as a Scoutmaster, have a scout who is interested in pursuing this award, please contact our District Executive Con Sullivan or your Unit Commissioner (if no unit commissioner is assigned to you, please contact District Commissioner Jeff Heck). They will each have the code that you need.
District Pinewood Derby Winners
On Saturday, April 16, 2016, the District held its annual district-wide Pinewood Derby.
Congratulations to the winners!
- Jacob Dennis, formerly of Pack 18, now Troop 18.
- Jackson Herbold, Pack 105.
- Jack Jent, Pack 35.
District Appreciation Dinner Thursday
Are you planning to attend the District Appreciation Dinner this Thursday at 6:30 pm?
You should.
It is at St Alphonsius Roman Catholic Church, Zionsville at 6:30 pm.
Make your reservations at www.crossroadsbsa.org.
See you there!
Journey to Excellence Patches
Since our District did so well on Journey to Excellence for 2015, we now get to celebrate our success.
Please make sure to order your JTE patches from the Scout Shop to give to your scouts and scouters. They can put it on their left sleeve (Cub, Scouts).
This is very important for the long-term success of your unit. As I often repeat, we wear patches of recognition for personal recognition but also — and I think more importantly — as an invitation to tell a story.
If you see a scout wearing a Philmont patch, you are more likely to ask about his adventure. If you have been to Philmont, too, you will share your story. This creates a personal bond between strangers.
If a new parent visiting your unit looks at your JTE patch on your sleeve, they may ask what that means. “Gold” or “silver” sounds impressive. It is an invitation for you to brag about the strength of your unit.
If you are at summer camp, other scouters may ask you questions about what your unit does. They may never acknowledge the patch, but they find your unit’s experience more powerful. This is a quiet way for us to support other units.
So, please, make sure that your unit has and wears their JTE patches.
Last note: if you also have 100% Boy’s Life subscriptions, that is a slightly different JTE patch.
Prototype Unit Handbook: Request for pack and troop forms
I am beginning a project that I want to complete by May 30th. I am looking to design a prototype of a new parent handbook.
I am asking for your help.
First I am asking each unit to email me a copy of their current handbook, annual calendar and handout on costs of membership by May 5th. We will use these as sources of best practices. Documents in a word processing file are preferred.
Second, I am looking for a panel of editors to assist in assessing the result and focusing on simplification and clarity.
Some of the concepts I will be building come from Scouting Magazine’s article last spring. They had to be more generic nationally. Ideally we as a district can put in more specifics in a prototype.
May 1st Firecrafters to Train Units in Flag Retirement
Spring Camporee Success. The Firecrafters of the North Star Ember would like to extend a warm thank you to all the troops who came out and participated in the Spring Camporee. One of the goals of our organization is to encourage continued participation by our youth in camping, outdoor activities, and Scouting. The activities and fellowship promoted at district camporees is a great opportunity that benefits these goals.
Importance of Scouts in Flag Retirement. At the evening campfire, we were excited to be given the opportunity to perform a flag retirement ceremony. The Boy Scouts is one of the largest organizations that gives communities opportunities to have worn American Flags properly retired. Organizations that also offer this service include the American Legion Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and other civic associations. Using flags donated by the Broad Ripple American Legion, one of our service projects for the year will be a flag retirement this Sunday, May 1st.
Invitation to Units and Scouts. We would like to invite Scouting members of the North Star District to attend. We will not just be retiring flags, but also answering any questions you have about proper flag retirement. This may be of great value to upcoming Firecrafter candidates, if they want to include a flag retirement as part of the candidate campfire. One of our goals in carrying out this service project is educating you in this area. We hope to improve your confidence so that in the future, you might consider conducting a retirement as a troop service project or include in your troop ceremonies.
Where: Second Presbyterian Church
7700 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260
(fire ring in picnic area at north end of the parking lot)
When: Sunday, May 1, 2016
Time: 1:00-2:00 PM
What: North Star Firecrafter Flag Retirement Seminar
The weather for Sunday is not predicted to be as beautiful as the camporee weather. In the event it is raining between 1:00 and 2:00, the meeting will be at the Broad Ripple American Legion Post #3 at 6379 N College Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220. We will still have a mock retirement and answer questions from an inside location.
Jacob Danek
North Star Ember Chief
Greg Hoyes
North Star Ember Advisor
Winners at Spring 2016 Camporee
Polaris Award:
Troop 586, Patrol Drumstick.
Willie Award:
Troop 269.
Stu Unveils the New Polaris Award
Tonight we start Spring Camporee 2016! While Stu Bowes, Camporee Chair, had a sudden business scheduling conflict, he is making his impact this Camporee.
As the troops agreed at the January Camporee planning meeting, Stu unveiled the new Polaris Award.
This new award was first earned at the Winter Camporee by Troop 56’s Elementals Patrol. This award goes to the patrol that wins the overall events competition by score.
As you can see the Polaris Award already has the Spring Camporee patch on it, ready to welcome the winners announced Saturday night.
Work hard boys! Your winning efforts will be remembered for years to come.
(Don’t worry the Willie Award for best campsite remains unchanged.)
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
You must be logged in to post a comment.