Programming
Unit Planning Done?
At this time of year, it is time to do a status check.
Has your unit completed its calendar planning for the next 18 months? You should have a clear idea of what events and meetings you will participate in for the next 12 months. You should have a loose sketch of what your unit is considering for the Fall of 2017.
Has your unit your completed its formal budget? You should have an idea of what the cost of your program for the next 18 months will be. This is crucial information going into popcorn fundraising season. Your unit’s scouts and parents will be more highly motivated to sell if they have a clear idea of what they are planning to do with the proceeds of popcorn sales.
Both the calendar and the budget should already be approved by your unit committee. If your unit committee has not approved the calendar or the budget, you have no calendar or budget. Make sure these are approved. When those are done, please submit them to your Unit Commissioner so the UC can know when he or she can visit you.
Then make sure that the calendar and budget are reviewed each month at committee meetings to make sure you are on track. If your calendar and budget are well done, this review during the treasurer and secretary reports may only take two minutes out of your agenda. Even so, it will keep your unit focused and ahead of foreseeable problems.
If you do not have these done or are struggling, contact your unit commissioner or District Commissioner Jeff Heck for more help.
YPT Report
As of this morning, we have 50 volunteers whose YPT status is expired. We have a total of 183 volunteers who are expired or will be expired in the next 90 days.
We need this number to be dropping. All of these volunteers need to be renewed in the next 30 days.
Another 23 on the District Staff (including committee members, commissioners, and merit badge counselors) expire before March 1, 2017.
Anyone who has not completed their YPT before October 1, 2016 is at risk of having their membership dropped at rechartering.
Make sure that your unit is aware of its YPT status.
Cub Scout Leader Training Next Week
Next week, Tuesday through Friday, North Star District will be running training for new Cub Scout Leaders. Den Leader training will be offered each night. Cubmaster/Assistant Cubmaster Position Specific and Pack Trainer will be offered most nights. See the Council calendar for more details.
Most will be at the Scout Service Center. Wednesday night will be at Second Presbyterian Church (room number to be announced).
All are open to scouters across the Council.
Wood Badgers in the District (Willie Gillies) are especially asked to volunteer as faculty. Contact Jeff Heck or Steve James for more information. Volunteers can sign up here!
Update from Camporee Committee
Last Sunday the Camporee Committee met. Past Chair and Interim Chair Brian Crow presided. These are the documents that Brian sent out after the meeting:
- Willie Award Judging Criteria (note: decorating the campsite will not be part of the competition, but is optional for the troop)
- Gladiator Challenge Camporee (the source document from another council on which we are building our ideas).
Further notes from the meeting are forthcoming from Brian.
The patch is not done yet, but Brian gave a preview of Willie dressed as a Roman soldier. I was impressed.
The cost will be $10.00 per participant. For every 10 scouts, 1 adult will be free. Webelos who attend can get a patch for $5.00.
Troops are encouraged to register as soon as possible with estimated headcount. No payments are required online, but will be accepted. Payments are not due until arrival at the camporee with final headcount. (Registration will be online through the council’s website. As of this writing, the camporee is not yet posted on the district calendar.)
Events will be scored in the traditional manner of ranking each patrol from best score to least score and tallying the overall results. The top 10 finishers in each event will be announced to encourage participation and better information on competitiveness of the patrols. Medals will be awarded to the top 3 patrols (one medal given to the patrol medal for attachment to the patrol’s flag.)
The committee will meet again on Sunday, September 18, 2016.
All troops are asked to submit their event ideas to Brian Crow. In the case of duplication of ideas, the troop with the earliest date stamp on their email will have priority in using the idea. The troops can choose to score their event however they see fit, so long as the patrols are ranked by best to worst. Troops may award points for patrol building traits, such as patrol cheers and patrols flags that are not directly related to the event, if the troop so chooses.
Each patrol will be assigned a number. This will facilitate scoring and management of problems such as ever-changing patrol names. Winners will be announced by patrol names (as finally reported to Rick Aker).
Adult training for Introduction to Outdoor Leadership, BALOO, and OWL will be offered during the camporee. Members of the Willie Gillies (i.e., Wood Badge recipient in North Star District) are asked to volunteer to teach an hour-long segment of the course. Contact Jeff Heck to volunteer. (Del-Mi District Training Chair Ted Taylor has graciously offered to open their October 1st Scoutmaster Specific Training to North Star District.)
Youth Protection Training will be offered after the Scoutmaster/SPL meeting on Friday Night.
Congratulations to our August 2016 Eagle Scouts
Congratulations to our August Eagle Scouts.
| First Name | Last Name | Troop |
| William | Beyer | 73 |
| Calvin | Robinson | 804 |
| Alexander | Huffine | 343 |
| Lucas | Sadenwater | 343 |
District Rocket Launch Announced
As part of this fall’s recruitment campaign, the new Cubs are offered an opportunity to launch their very own rocket.
Thanks to the hospitality of Pack 358, our district rocket launch will be Saturday, September 24, 2016 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Zionsville United Methodist Church, 9644 Whitestown Rd, Zionsville, IN 46077.
Why be a Scout Leader?
I have written many times about the value of scouting to the youth.
Bobwhite Blather has a great article about the value of scouting to the adult leaders. It is worth your attention.
YPT Status: 175 expiring or expired in next 90 days
As rechartering approaches, we enter the season when many scouters have their YPT status expire. As we all know, no scouter can be renewed for membership unless their YPT status is current through March 1, 2017.
We have 31 expired scouters.
We have 144 scouters who will expire their YPT status in the next 90 days.
We have 50 of those in the next 30 days.
Please log in to your my.scouting.org account today and review your training status under “My Dashboard.”
Review your unit’s training status under the “Training Manager.” Access is limited to Unit Key 3 and training authorized personnel. (Please note persons authorized for access in 2015 will need to be renewed by the Unit Key 3 through the “Organization Security Manager” in 2016.)
Upcoming Cub Leader Trainings
Part of Journey to Excellence emphasizes that Cub leaders are trained. North Star District requires that all leaders with greater than 90-days tenure be trained in their position by November 30, 2016 in order to be renewed in that position. In order to serve that requirement, the District making sure that training is widely available and publicized to facilitate leaders meeting this requirement.
To qualify for Bronze level of training (the 20th to 50th percentile of units), one person, whether Cubmaster, Den Leader, or Pack Trainer, needs to be trained in position specific training.
To qualify for Silver level of training (the 51st to 80th percentile of units nationwide), all scouters leading youth, whether Cubmaster or Den Leader, needs to be trained.
To qualify for Gold level of training (the 81st to 100th percentile of units nationwide), all scouters leading youth and 2/3rds of the committee members need to be trained for their positions.
While BSA’s e-training makes getting the de minimis training easier, the best training in scouting is face-to-face. The trainer may not be as articulate as the paid actors on the BSA’s website, live trainers are able to adapt the message for local needs and to reflect more information about local scouting. They are able to answer specific questions or direct to local council or district resources.
Because North Star District strongly prefers face-to-face training, the District is offering the most important Cub Scout training repeatedly the week of Labor Day. Each night from Tuesday, September 6, 2016 through Friday, September 9, 2016 a combination of these course are being offered. Currently these trainings are scheduled to be held at St Luke’s United Methodist Church, 100 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46260 (Meridian St and 86th St).
We are asking each pack committee chair to emphasize the importance for all pack leaders to have their respective training done by September 9th.
If this creates scheduling conflicts for the leader, other districts are offering these trainings in the following 45 days. Del-Mi (Carmel/Fishers’ District) will be offering these trainings on October 1, 2016. Other trainings at the various scout service centers in the Council are being offered throughout September and October. A link to the council calendar is here.
If your unit has more than 3 adults who can participate in a class, district will send a trainer to your unit to provide the training. You just need to give us 14 days notice, beginning after August 26, 2016. 
Voyageur: new format for fall
Voyageur Canoe Training is unique in the BSA. Our council has been teaching how to lead canoe trips of all types for over 40 years. Our safety record is impeccable.
Traditionally the course has been taught over two intense weekends. This has created many scheduling problems.
This fall Voyageur will be offered in a 3-day, one-weekend format for the first time.
Come be a part of this compact and efficient Voyageur offering so that you are ready to lead your scouts next fall. Make your reservation and payment here.
Voyageur flyer for more information.
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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