Programming
REMINDER: Roundtable Thursday
This Thursday is round table. We will be meeting at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church outbuilding,Luke’s Lodge.
Cub Scouts topic: National Den Award. This is a powerful way to bring your den together and enhance retention.
Boy Scouts topic: using Junior Assistant Scoutmasters. This is a great use of your oldest scouts before they age out. Successful use of JASM’s will increase your rank advancement and participation of early teenagers.
How Do You Encourage Adult Involvement?
Some units struggle for adult volunteers. Some units struggle with adult hyperactivity (different from plentiful adults). Either struggle often reflects poor volunteer management and delegation.
New adult volunteers will always try to make scouting more like other volunteer organization or corporate situations — unless the unit leaders teach scouting philosophy first. How do I know? I have been that adult struggling to find my place in the unit and frustrated with the youth’s mayhem.
When there are too few volunteers or excessively hyperactive adults buzzing around, these are both symptoms of the same problem. The committee chair is not corralling the adults and letting the unit leader (e.g, Cubmaster or Scoutmaster) do the leader’s job.
The committee chair needs to know the scouting philosophy and be teaching the adults, “Don’t just do something! Stand there!”
We have the luxury of brand new Troop Leader Guidebooks having been issued in two volumes (ok, volume 2 is due later in July 2016; close enough). These volumes replace the Scoutmaster Handbook. These Guidebooks are meant for all leaders in a troop.
These guidebooks do a wonderful job teaching how an adult should participate in scouting at the boy scout level. Offering these guidebooks early to new troop parents allows them to see the program clearly, early. They can learn the power of standing and watching a scout struggle to light a fire. The new parent can learn the power of that silent adult presence in encouraging the scout to keep trying.
Once the new parent sees the philosophy of scouting they are easier to lead to the clearer common goal.
Now an adult who is tasked with teaching the scouts how to purify water on the hike can be directed to a ScoutmasterCG article and told to “help the scouts.” The adult is now better able to see, that does not sit the scouts in a classroom for a lecture. It means find a scout who can lead the class and the adult can sit in the back of the room as a resource. For a novice adult, this likely means reading the article, pulling out the equipment, experimenting with it, seeking coaching from the scoutmaster, putting the equipment away, then inviting the scouts in to learn the skills. Now the adult is ready to teach by sitting still.
How does the adult know when to intervene? The author of the new Scout Leader Guidebooks Mark Ray as a guest on ScoutmasterCG Podcast 317 (at the 37:00 minute mark) tells of a troop that has a catch-phrase for knowing when to intervene”CFD.” That stands for “Confused, Frustrated, Dangerous.” The Scoutmaster can just walk by and say to the hyperactive adult, “CFD,” and walk away. The hyperactive adult then knows that this situation did not constitute confusion, frustration, or danger, so the adult should be silently or courteously present but not interfere. In many situations, the adult should walk away silently.
So now our new adult who is assigned the role of helping with water purification can know when his role is most valuable. The teaching scout is in charge until CFD-boundaries are needed. The adult becomes a calming force to cut down confusion and frustration. The adult imposes limits on dangerous behavior. So scouting is not scouts left in a room by themselves or off in a corner of the campsite without adult interaction. The scouts are trusted players in the game of scouting with quiet coaching from the Scoutmaster Corps.
Many adults who avoid volunteering are afraid of too many demands being placed on them. Teaching them CFD-boundaries early can remove many of their fears about truly volunteering because the load is much lighter than they feared. (Yes, this is true for Cub Scouts, too, it just takes more study and preparation on how to carry it out.)
So the lessons here to recruit more volunteers and make them feel valuable:
- Ask them to read the Troop Leader Guidebooks (vol. 1 for all, especially novices; vol. 2 for adults having done some troop campouts already).
- Hold the adults accountable to CFD boundaries of involvement.
- Oh, and feed them well!
The will learn their place in scouting and enjoy it.
Scout night at the Symphony
Scout Night at Marsh Symphony on the Prairie- Friday, June 17, 2016
Scouts and their families are invited to Marsh Symphony on the Prairie for Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on Friday, June 17, at 8 pm. Scouts (18 years of age and younger) in uniform who bring a 16 oz. package of pasta for Second Helpings will be admitted at no cost. Accompanying adults must purchase a ticket.
Memorial Day Participation
Our Packs and Troops made a mighty contribution to honor our deceased service members. Various units made their contributions at different times and different cemeteries. Here is a sampling of some of the stories and scenes that I have collected from this year’s efforts.
American Legion Post #3 in Broad Ripple hosted their annual breakfast this past Saturday morning. Representatives from Packs 18, 35, and 830 (and a recent graduate of Pack 179) and Troops 18, 35, 56, and 269 were present to my knowledge. The Post’s organizer of the event, long-time North Star Scouter Rees Morgan, emcee’d the breakfast. The scouts enjoyed a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and other nibbles. Scout parents (uniformed and non-uniformed) squeezed into the back dining room. The Post is looking forward to completing its remodel of the main meeting room, because they had hoped to have 80 scouts and scouters attend. Instead we packed in 101 scouts and scouters! They need the bigger room.
At the conclusion of the breakfast, Mr. Morgan assigned packs and troops to specific cemeteries. This post mostly covers Union Chapel Cemetery near Keystone at the Crossing and part of Crown Hill Cemetery near the Indianapolis Art Museum. The cemetery pictures above are from the Union Chapel group.
Some older scouts attended as part of our Firecrafter Ember’s contribution to the service project.
Traditionally our Zionsville scouts and scouters work in conjunction with the Zionsville American Legion Post. I do not have any details about their service this year. (Stories and pictures are welcome so that I can update this story.)
Troops 56 and 514 and Pack 514 participated in grave dressing in conjunction with other American Legion Posts. Some of the pictures that Troop 514 Scoutmaster Michael Rodriguez provided to me are below.
Troop 343 meets at Bethel United Methodist Church in Pike Township. Their Scoutmaster Ron Wells sent me the following story:
Troop 343, based out of the northwestside of Indianapolis, has once again placed American flags on the graves of veterans buried in the Bethel Cemetery located in the 5200 block of West 52nd St. Scoutmaster Ron Wells had been mulling over taking over the flag detail for some time and finally contacted the cemetery’s caretaker, Sandra Profant last year.
The Profant family has been maintaining the grounds and placing flags at the cemetery for several decades. Needless to say, Sandra was relieved to pass on her detailed maps, a box of flags, and her own self-assembled binder containing research she found on some of the true heroes of our country to the troop! Last November the troop assembled in darkness and less than favorable conditions to place the flags for Veteran’s Day.
Last Monday, the troop performed flawlessly under more inviting weather and lighting conditions and placed over 200 flags. Our troop has always placed a high value on patriotism, wearing the Scout uniform properly, and respecting those brave citizens who served our country.
Thank you to all the scouts, scouters, and scout families who participated this year to make this a wonderful and memorable event.
Cook out on the Circle
25th Annual Marsh Supermarkets Cookout on the Circle- June 16, 2016
Every Scout deserves the opportunity to attend summer camp. The Annual Marsh Supermarkets Cookout on the Circle raises awareness of Scouting and supports Scouting’s camp scholarship fund which enables hundreds of central Indiana Scouts to receive financial support they need to attend summer camp. For more information, contact Leslie Anderson by email or by phone at (317) 813-7113.
To sponsor the event or to purchase corporate ticket packages prior to the event, complete the Cookout on the Circle sponsorship form and return to Leslie Anderson no later than Friday, June 3, 2016.
The 25th Annual Marsh Supermarkets Cookout on the Circle, co-chaired by Bruce McCaw and Mike Semler, will be Thursday, June 16, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., on Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis. Thank you to our major event sponsors Marsh Supermarkets, WISH-TV, WFMS, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group and Weber Grill.
Photos of the 24th Annual Marsh Supermarkets Cookout on the Circle- Thursday, June 18, 2015
Memorial Day Grave Dressing & Breakfast this Saturday
Each May, the Boy Scouts and the American Legion have joined in placing flags on the final resting place of our nation’s veterans. Post #3 is hosting their annual breakfast for scouts participating in the grave dressing on Saturday, May 28th, at 7:30 AM at Broad Ripple Post 3 on the southeast corner of 64th and College Avenue.
This event is open to scouts whose troops may have a later scheduled time that day to do the grave dressing as a unit.
If there are Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts (especially Firecrafters and Arrowmen), or those from your troops wishing to have breakfast, please sign up here so a headcount is available for the cook staff. RSVPs for breakfast are due Thursday at 7:00 pm.
For individual Cubs and Scouts, dens, patrols, packs, troops, or crews who plan to assist with the grave dressing. We will have an organizational meeting immediately following the breakfast at 8:00 am (attendance at the breakfast is not mandatory). We will have some opportunities to participate throughout the morning, so if you have a scheduling conflict with the organizational meeting, contact District Commissioner Jeff Heck directly by Friday evening to customize plans. Please sign up with an RSVP for the grave dressing regardless of your ability to attend the organizational meeting.
Please note that the breakfast and the grave dressing have two separate sign ups! Please sign up with both, if you plan to do both.
We value this opportunity to join scouts, scouters, and legionnaires together for this meaningful event.
Last Pre-Camp Swim Test this Sunday
The last Pre-Camp Swim Test is May 22nd at Carmel High School. Information is available here.
Remember your unit is responsible for YPT compliance and record keeping. The council provides the water safety and qualified instructors to approve the swims. That means you need to have sufficient adults present.
These pre-camp swim checks are very important for many boys. Some boys are not strong swimmers. Some boys have never swum in dirty lake water before, even if they are the swim team. I have seen good swimmers and bad swimmers fail the swim test on the first Sunday of camp simply because they don’t like lake water.
By having them qualify for their swimmer rating for the year at a pre-camp swim test, you give them the opportunity to adapt to the lake water as part of their merit badge classes rather than at swim test. Less pressure. Greater likelihood of success.
Most importantly, your arrival at camp on Sunday is far less hectic. You don’t need to rush the boys down to the waterfront then back up to camp to get set up. They can focus on set up then orientation.
If you would like to run your own pre-camp swim test, visit the council summer camp website for more information. You will need to fill out the linked form and meet the Safe Swim Defense rules during your pre-camp swim check. Camp Ransburg encourages you to send your swim records in early with your health records to make sure all is in order.
Summer Camp Learning not Just for Youth
Summer camp is all about making scouting memorable for the youth. This is the culmination of everything we are trying to achieve in scouting of the rest of the year. The living together in a community of peers. The exposure to the elements and adapting. The planning. The frustrations. The joys of success.
But summer camp is not just an opportunity for youth to learn.
Adults can take training. At Ransburg scouters can take many of the position specific classes. When the scouter comes home, the scouter will be “Trained.”
Make sure all of your new parents take as many classes as possible. You should set an expectation that adults are going to learn. This improves your volunteer corps but also sets a good example for the scouts.
When a scout wonders in to camp when he is supposed to be in class, looking for his parent, he will ask for his parent. If he is told that his parent is in class, what is the scout going to say?
Congratulations to our new OA Members
I just got home from our OA induction ceremony. We had a great spring 2016 class.
They will all have stories to tell and mysteries to uphold.
Remember candidates who missed this weekend can other chapter ordeals next week or the Lodge ordeal later this fall.
May Eagle Scout Report
Congratulations to our May 2016 Eagles. As always these Eagles need to await ratification of the board of review’s actions before they hold their Eagle Courts of Honor. Even so, their dates-in-rank will be retroactively effective to last night when the ratification occurs.
|
First Name |
Last Name |
Troop # |
| Thomas | Catalano |
174 |
| Ross | McBride |
269 |
| Joshua | Pishon |
358 |
| Andrew | Williams |
174 |
CAC North Star Unofficial Website 
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