Author: Cheryl Bilsland - NS District Communications Chair
Reminder – Roundtable next Thursday, May 10
The roundtables topics next Thursday will be:
- Cub Scouts: “Recruiting… Boys AND Adults” ;
- Boy Scouts: “Ideal Year of Scouting / Supporting Cub Packs at Summer Camp.”
The Roundtables will take place next Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 7:00 pm at Luke’s Lodge, the outbuilding on the northeast corner of the campus of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th St, Indianapolis, IN 46260.
Please forward this information to your Den Leaders, Committee members, and Assistant Scoutmasters. They are an important part of the Roundtables’ target audience.
Remember, attending roundtables is a key requirement to earn the Scouter’s Key for both Cub Scout leaders and Boy Scout leaders.
Congratulations to new OA Brotherhood members!
Order of the Arrow – Lowaneu Allanque Chapter congratulates the following ten Scouts and Adults that earned the OA Brotherhood status at the 2018 Spring Camporee:
David Bradley, Troop 804
Michael (Alex) Bricker, Troop 358
Griffin Burke, Troop 358
Billy Busse, Troop 358
Bobby (Robert) Corridan, Troop 804
Jared Dennemann, Troop 804
David Gusman, Troop 358
Jack Keller, Troop 358
Ivan Miller, Troop 514
Peter Shrote, Troop 804
Need Service Hours? Volunteer Opportunity in Hendricks County!
This was passed along to us from Sarah Wolf, Park Naturalist and Volunteer Coordinator for Hendricks County Parks and Recreation:
[UPDATE as of April 26: The area of greatest need would be help with parking; this would be best to do with mature Scouts + parents.
The sign-up site is here: Sign-up Genius for McCloud Park Anniversary .
Thanks for considering!]
We have URGENT volunteer needs on Saturday, May 5 for McCloud Nature Park’s 15th Anniversary! Some of the opportunities would be perfect for scouts to do with their parents’ or Scout Leaders’ supervision. See the links below for more information and to sign up to volunteer.
McCloud Nature Park 15th Anniversary Celebration Announcement
Hendricks County Volunteer Sign-Up page
We appreciate any help in spreading the word on this – Thanks!!!!
Sarah Wolf
Park Naturalist and Volunteer Coordinator
765-676-5437 McCloud Nature Park (Tuesday-Saturday)
317-718-6188 Parks department office (Monday-Friday)
McCloud Nature Park Physical Address: 8518 Hughes Road, North Salem, IN 46165
Weather Hotline: 317-718-6111 for information on programs impacted by possible weather
Camping Scholarships (“Camperships”) available!
On behalf of North Star District Camping Chair Paul Kovach:
Cubmasters, Scoutmasters and Unit Committee Chairs:
Finances should never be a reason for a Scout not to attend camp. Crossroads of America Council offers a Campership program where recipients can be awarded up to 50% of the early summer camp fee in exchange for performing an age-appropriate service project.
Please encourage families in your units to take advantage of Camperships. Significant funds are still available to scouts that want to attend summer camp but whose families may have some financial hardship. Campership applications will be considered until funds are exhausted, on a first come first served basis.
The links below will bring you to the appropriate camp page and to the Campership application:
Thanks and Yours in Scouts,
Paul Kovach
North Star District Camping Chair
And the 2018 Spring Camporee “Best Campsite Award” goes to:
Troop 343! Congratulations Scouts, way to go!
Troop 358 Welcomes You to the 6th Annual Hog Roast & Silent Auction
Come one come all to the 6th annual Troop 358 Hog Roast and Silent Auction!
Date: Saturday May 5
Time: 5 – 8 pm
Location: St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church – Parish Hall, 1870 W. Oak Street, Zionsville IN
In addition to the amazing food and plethora of auction items, there will be a Pig Toss (Corn Hole) competition and District challenge for prizes. Fun for the whole family!
A $25 family ticket covers 6 family members; individual tickets are $10 per adult and $5 per child. For more information and to purchase tickets please use this link: Troop 358 Hog Roast Tickets . Tickets can also be purchased at the door. Keep the Hog Roast Flyer on the fridge as a reminder, and pass it along to family & friends as well.
You won’t want to miss it, hope to see you there!
Silver Beaver Nominations UPDATE (due July 25)
On behalf of Chuck Fippen, Crossroads of America Council Silver Beaver Nominating Committee Chair (email sent to Council / District leaders on April 12):
This year the Silver Beaver selection process is changing and I wanted to communicate some very important information that needs to be shared with your committee(s) in order to facilitate the new process.
- The nominations are now open and the updated application is on the Council’s home page (link included here).
- NOMINATIONS for 2018 ARE DUE JULY 25th…..yes its much earlier this year.
- The Silver Beavers for 2018 will be awarded in a special dinner held in November 2018 (no longer at the University of Scouting).
The selection committee will meet in August to determine our next class of Silver Beavers and hope to have many nominations submitted. Changes to our process and timing are for various reasons. The Silver Beaver is the highest and most prestigious award the a Council can bestow and we want to have a ceremony that is fitting for those selected. Our evening event in November is designed for this recognition and will be a formal event with a venue unto itself.
We have designed notes and training around our selection process this year. I will be updating you with this information very shortly, but in brief here’s a summary:
- We have revised our application to enable online completion. We have had a hard time deciphering hand written applications and we will ask that they be filled out with the PDF entry form that is now available.
- We have emphasized the written part as one of the first items in the application. This often is where we will see information about the nominee that isn’t already part of their Scouting history.
- Applications must be complete in order for consideration. It is highly recommended that multiple sources be used in the formation of the recommendation; people from the nominee’s place of employment, their church and their unit or committee that know them best should be involved.
- Nominations are open for all Scouters that are eligible under the criteria set forth by the BSA. At no time can a volunteer or professional deny or negatively influence the decision to submit a nomination. If anyone feels a nomination is worthy of submission then you are encouraged to make sure that nominee receives the full benefit of the selection process. It is up to the Silver Beaver nominating committee to select those who are to receive the award.
I welcome any questions you may have and look forward to a wonderful ceremony for some very deserving individuals. I hope you also find our process and information helpful and more seamless as we move forward.
Yours in Scouting,
Chuck Fippen
Silver Beaver Nominating Committee Chair
LET’S GET YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING DONE!
In case you haven’t already seen this reminder a few times… 🙂
Suggestion #1: Attend the in-person training at Eagle Creek Community Church on Saturday, May 5, hosted by Pack 830! (See this previous post for more details). Rumor has it that attendees that complete this training session will receive a “discount token” that can be used at the Troop 358 Hog Roast held later that same day – GREAT food, silent auction, lots of fun! See, how’s that for incentive.
Suggestion #2: Since the revised Youth Protection Training consists of three modules plus a test, consider doing one module at a time (the modules run about 20 minutes apiece). Maybe on the phone as you are on the treadmill, stationary bike, or “desk lunch”? Or with headphones on your PC or tablet at the back of the Scout / Pack / Venture / Webelos meeting if you can break away for a short while? Just a thought!
Attached here is a training environment tips and tricks sheet for navigating the environment. NOTE that this is not a BSA-sanctioned document, is based on one end-user’s experience, and is limited to the environment only – no content tips here. Assuming your connectivity is good and the platform is running smoothly but you are just stuck on how to get around, give this a shot – don’t let the environment be the show-stopper, in other words.
Thanks for all you do for Scouting!
Scouts at the 500 Festival / Mini-Marathon: Sign up by April 25!
On behalf of North Star District Mini-Marathon Chair, Greg Jacoby:
Dear Scouts:
Based on the success of our involvement last year, Troop 174 and all other scouts from the Crossroads Council have been asked to increase the presence of the Boy Scouts at the 500 Festival.
We have been asked to staff water station number 17 at the Mini-Marathon on May 6. It is the water station just before the end of the race, and is located on the IUPUI campus making it very easy to get to and park.
This activity is open to all Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Webelos and their Families.
Please consider volunteering – sign up by April 25!
We need 60 people (30 per shift) to come help, one early morning from 6:30 to 10:30 and one late morning 10:00 to 1:30. You can sign up for one or boththe shifts.
If you are interested in getting involved, please:
- Send an email to me (Greg Jacoby) at gjacoby@bdmd.com and let me know what shift you will be working and who will be attending.
- Go the Mini Marathon web site and sign up, using these instructions:
- Log onto our Pit Station Volunteer Website (<== link);
- Click on the Register Now button;
- Click on the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon Pit Station Volunteer (Select button);
- Look for the “Boy Scouts” box (if you see a plus sign, click on that to expand the box);
- Click in the small box next to where it tells you how many openings are left, it should show a check mark;
- The Next button should turn Green, now click on that;
- Create an Account (or sign in with a previous account if you are a returning volunteer);
- From there you can complete your volunteer registration. Please register all that will be attending.
Scouts must wear their CLASS A SHIRTS at the Water Station.
Thanks for your help and as always feel free to contact me [email gjacoby@bdmd.com / phone 317-828-6230] if you have any questions. You may also contact 500 Festival Volunteer Intern, Mannah Mace [email mmace@500festival.com / phone 317-614-6113]; or Program Manager, Erika Miller [email emiller@500festival.com ].
Yours in Scouting,
Greg Jacoby
Well-Wishes for a Great Spring Camporee 2018!
Best of luck to all attending and volunteering at the North Star District Spring Camporee this weekend. We know you will do Willie proud with your skills in Emergency Preparedness. Can’t wait to hear the tales of survival!
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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