News
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.
Adult Education at Central Indiana MBU
For those needing adult education, Greenfield’s Central Indiana MBU will be offering Scoutmaster Specific and Venturing Advisor Training.
While the classes are marked as sales closed, look at the opportunities. Maybe there is a way to attend.
Roundtable: Open Forum
Tomorrow night from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm we will have an open forum roundtable. This is because of the rechartering turn in next door.
Bring questions or topics that you want answers for. Our scouters are a great resource.
Commissioners will be available for unit issues, too.
Rechartering Update
Tomorrow night is the last Recharter Turn In Night. We will be first come, first serve at St Luke’s UMC’s Luke’s Lodge (a lot of apostrophes) from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (We often start slow and get busier through the night, so word to the wise.)
Congratulations to Troop 514 and Troop 56, in order of submission, to be the first units to (a) turn in all paperwork and all dues payments, and (b) certify all of their adult leaders as Trained!
We also have 22 (updated: 11/9, 12:20 pm 20) Gold Journey to Excellence units and 1 Bronze.
At this time we have only 5 units that have not submitted their rosters online. Of these, we already have plans in place on how to proceed.
The great news is that 7 units that have submitted all of their paperwork but are working on completing their training.
In addition we have 11 units that have submitted some of their paperwork but have technical problems. Many of these also have training needed.
All units have open lines of communication with the District staff. Thank you for that.
We look forward to seeing you tomorrow to wrap this up! (Please come no matter what stage your paperwork is in.)
The Other Troop Library
Bobwhite Blather has a great post on the library that troops should maintain for adult leaders. Take a look.
Camporee Planning Meeting 11/20
The Camporee planning meeting is Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 6:00 pm. It is scheduled for St Luke’s United Methodist Church again. Room is to be announced. (Trying for Luke’s Lodge.)
Winter camporee 2017 planning will be first topic.
Outline of spring camporee 2017 will be second topic.
Selecting dates and location for Fall Camporee 2017.
All scoutmasters are asked to make sure that their troop is represented. SPLs or their representative are especially welcome.
Popcorn Wrap up
Just a few quick thoughts with popcorn ending:
- Make sure all your scouts turned in the forms for sales. Marilyn Lopez, Field Director for Western Section of CAC, reports that every year 50-60 scouts fail to turn theirs in.
- After all product return, we are $17,000 in hole. This means that we have inventory yet to sell.
- If your unit still has product orders that are not covered, there will be product Cash n’ Carry sales at Belzer on the following dates:
| November 11 | Last Day to Transfer Popcorn |
| November 16-19 | Sort/Distribute at Warehouses |
| November 29 | Cash ‘n Carry at Camp Belzer |
| December 2 | Final Payment Due |
| December 6 | Cash ‘n Carry at Camp Belzer |
| December 13 | Cash ‘n Carry at Camp Belzer |
| December 20 | Cash ‘n Carry at Camp Belzer |
So please help us sell this excess inventory by participating in these Cash ‘n Carry dates.
For more information see http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/BSA160page157.php.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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