Programming
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.
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
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.
Carts and Horses by ScoutmasterCG
Clarke Green is back after taking a well-deserved mourning period for his late father, sounds like a man who was worth knowing. Our condolences to Clarke.
Clarke comes back with an important podcast entitled, “Carts and Horses.” Have a listen on how to prioritize different parts of the scouting program.
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.
In Person Training Dates
If you need Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Skills (IOLS) or Scoutmaster Specific Training (SMS), those must be done in person.
Those trainings are available as noted below:
- IOLS: This Saturday at Camp Kreinstein.
- SMS: We will schedule a session in November once we have determined who needs it. We will announce it the next week. We will likely offer one session but will seek input to maximize attendance.
Cub leader training is also available in person at the Scouter Service Center on November 9, 2016.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
You must be logged in to post a comment.