Senior District Executive: Nat Baker, (317) 925-1900 ext. 228
District Executive: Matt Sinsko, (317) 925-1900 ext. 227
Upcoming Events:
March 2008
1 Firestone Competition Applications Due
Pack Recharter Turn-in
6 Commissioner Meeting
Four Function Meeting
District Management Team Mtg.
7 Westfield Breakfast for Scouting
7-8 Merit Badge Workshop
8, 15 Scouting for Food (tentative)
13 District Dinner
Cub Scout Roundtable at District Dinner
Boy Scout Roundtable at District Dinner
Venturing Roundtable at District Dinner
Vigil Honor Nominations due in District
15 Adult Firecrafter Nominations due to Ember Advisor
20 Eagle Scout Boards of Review
28-30 Outdoor Leadership Skills Training (Camp K EAST)
29 District Pinewood Derby
March
1 – Cub Scout Leader Specific Training, including Fast Start, New Leader Essentials and Youth Protection
2 – OA Chapter Meeting
7-9 – Marlinspike Knots Skills Course
11 – District Committee Meeting
13 – District Commissioners Meeting
13 – Cub Scout and Boy Scout Rountable
13 – Pack Recharter Turn in
17 – Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
19 – District FOS Report Meeting
21 – Good Friday, Scout Offices and Shops Closed
23 – Happy Easter!
Family Friends of Scouting 2008!
Can you believe it is that time of year already? The annual Friends of Scouting Campaign is starting up now! The Family portion of the campaign plays a very vital part in the overall success of the campaign, and keeps Scouting alive and well in Golden Eagle! Please schedule a presentation as soon as possible. To get your presentation on the calendar please contact John Baker or Shannon Hunt. Thank you!
Webelos Transition
Cub Scout packs should be crossing over their second year Webelos into Boy Scout Troops. There are far too many Cub Scouts lost in this transition. Scoutmasters, make it a goal to talk personally to every Webelo and their parents to see just what their intentions are after Cub Scouting, and invite them to join your troop! Now is the time for Scoutmasters to be communicating with Cub Packs about crossover! Cub leaders can also play a role by encouraging their boys and parents to give Boy Scouting a try. The best relationship is one that lasts all year with joint activities over a long period of time to form a familiarity with the Boy Scout troop that the boys will move into. Earn the F.O. Belzer Award by crossing over 75 percent of the second year Webelos! If there are any questions concerning Webelos transition, call Christine Dudley at (765) 289-5661.
Day Camp and Summer Camp
Calling all packs, troops and crews in the district! It is time to start thinking about summer camp! All Cub Scouts are invited to attend Red Wing Day Camp June 16-20. The boys will have lots of fun shooting stuff, swimming and making crafts! All current Bears and Webelos 1 are invited to attend Webelos Adventure Camp at any point for a 3-day stay from June 8-July 16. They will also have lots of fun camping and exploring! All current Webelos 2 (who should be transitioning into Boy Scouts soon!) and all Boy Scouts are invited to attend either Camp Krietenstein or Ransburg all summer for one-week sessions from June 1-Aug. 9. The Scouts will get a chance to participate in more than 20 Merit Badge programs! All Venturers are invited to attend Ransburg for either 5-day or 3-day sessions July 27- Aug. 9. This is a custom program, so you get to decide what you want to do! We encourage and hope that all scouts will attend and enjoy a summer camping experience. Please register now as space fills up quickly for sessions and weeks during the summer. We hope you can all attend!
Senior District Executive: Jean Manka, (317) 925-1900 ext. 229
District Executive: Bryan Hughes, (317) 925-1900 ext. 227
District Dinner-March 8, 2008
The District Dinner will be held March 8 gathering at 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3425 W 30th St, Indianapolis. All Scouters and their families are welcome to attend. Cost is $5. The dinner will be followed by an awards ceremony to recognize the outstanding leaders in Hou Koda from 2007 and give out Quality Unit Awards. If you have any questions or comments about the dinner please call Tammy Knauer at (317) 272-5045.
District Vice-Chair: Paula McCain, (317) 326-3603
Calendar
District commissioner meeting: First Thursday of the month, Rushville Courthouse, 6 p.m.
District committee meeting: First Thursday of the month, Rushville Courthouse, 7 p.m.
Roundtable: Second Thursday of the month, Morristown Christian Church Annex Building, 7 p.m.
Friends of Scouting
Thank you to all units that have held a Family Friends of Scouting presentation. Your continued support makes the Scouting program more successful every year. If you have not scheduled a presentation yet, someone from the district will be contacting you for a 15-minute parents meeting at your next event. Don’t miss a chance for your group to get rank advancement patches for free.
Merit Badge Counselors
Remember to turn in your completed paperwork to be a registered MBC for the youth working towards their next Scout rank.
Training
Barb Blue has taken over the role as training chair for the district. Thank you, Barb!
Pinewood Derby
Start your engines! The District Derby is around the corner! The boys will love to watch their parents be involved in the open class race at out District Derby. Hubler is hosting the event again this year, and the trophies are big and bold. Pack 243 is the current holder of the “roving” trophy-- will they be unseated by faster cars this year?
Commissioners
The commissioner staff is in full swing so expect to have a new face show up each month to see how things are going for your unit. Recharter help is just a phone call away-- your commissioner is that go-to person to answer all your rechartering questions.
Scuffy
With the FOS season underway, the Shelby County United Fund has led the way again by supporting the Scouting cause in Shelby County. The Scuffy Board has again donated over $37,000 to help support the council camp workership program, direct upkeep of the camps, uniform assistance, as well as all the other programs offered by the council. Thank you to all in Shelby County who support Scuffy.
Chairman: Allan Sutherlin
Commissioner: Doug Walker
Calendar
March
1 Pack Recharter Turn-in
1 Swimoree at Lawrence Central HS Pool
2 Eagle Board of Review
5 District Committee Meeting
12 Roundtable, Commissioner Staff Meeting
20 Firecrafter & OA Meetings
April
12 District Pinewood Derby
District Dinner
The district would like to further congratulate several leaders who received special recognition at this year’s District Dinner. Held in February each year the dinner aims to recognize adult leaders for their outstanding service to youth. The district also recognized the 2007 class of Eagle Scouts in a terrific ceremony. A special thank you goes to Event Chair Jan Spence and her committee for a remarkable evening.
2008 Northeast District Awards
Golden Spikes
Larry Baile- District
Dee Baskerville- Troop 275
Kim Czachura - Troop 427
Brad Goad- Pack 335
Terry Prather- District
Ed Smith- District
Michael Smith- Pack 520
Catherine Spann- Troop 335
Jan Spence- District
Brian Zetzl- Troop 133
Cubmaster of the Year- Ian Parent, Pack 520
Pack of the Year- Pack 335
Scoutmaster of the Year- Steve Russo, Troop 910
Troop of the Year- Troop 133
Advisor of the Year- John Kopetsky, Crews 1024 & 1776
Crew of the Year- Crew 1776
Commissioner Spark Plug- Randy Baskerville, Sr.
Commissioner Green Jacket Award- Kim Wiggins
District Award of Merit
Joseph Carter
Donald Cushman
Steve Czachura
Silver Beaver
Ralph Dixon
Jack Phillips
District Chairman: Tim Craft
District Commissioner: Glenn Harkness
Calendar
March
13 District Roundtable
Pack re-charter turn-in
28 District Dinner
April
11-13 Spring Camporee
19 District Pinewood Derby
Webelos to Scout transition
Spring means Webelos to Scout transition time has arrived! Hopefully our fifth grade Webelos dens and families have had the opportunity to experience a little of what Boy Scouting has to offer and have chosen a troop in which to continue their Scouting journey. But the transition to a troop is more than merely crossing over a bridge; a Boy Scout application must be completed, a registration or transfer fee must be paid, and of course, there is an entirely new program with which each Scout and family must become acquainted. If you have questions (or anxieties) about Boy Scouting or the Webelos transition process, please visit with a local Scoutmaster or contact Keenan Fennimore for more information.
http://www.crossroadsbsa.org/oldtrail/
Upcoming District Events
March
March 1 – Charter Representative Training – Ivy Tech Community College – 8:30 a.m.
Do you have a charter organization rep that you would like to be more active in your unit? Are you a charter organization rep that would like to know how to do your job better? On March 1 at Ivy Tech Community College at 8:30 a.m., the Old Trail district will host a training specifically for charter organization reps. During this training we will be specifically zeroing in on the role and responsibilities these volunteers need to be filling in your unit and the Old Trail District. Did you know that the Charter Organization Rep is a voting member of the District Committee? These secrets and more will be revealed.
March 8 – Scouting for Food Bags Distributed – Bags available at Richmond Kroger, 3701 National Rd East
March 13 – Boy Scout and Cub Scout Roundtable – First Christian Church – 6:30 p.m.
March 13 – Order of the Arrow Chapter MTG – First Christian Church – 7 p.m.
March 14 – Cub Scout Pack Charters due to Hagerstown Scout Office – 5 p.m.
March 15 – Scouting for Food Bags collected – dropped off at your local food pantry
March 23 – EASTER
March 26 – Council FOS Rally
April
April 3 – District Committee MTG – First Christian Church – 6:30p.m.
April 10 – Boy Scout and Cub Scout Roundtable – First Christian Church – 6:30p.m.
April 10 – Order of the Arrow Chapter MTG – First Christian Church – 7:00p.m.
April 15 – Council Coordinated MTG – Camp Belzer
April 18 – 20 – Old Trail Spring Camp-O-Ree – Old Trails Gun Club – Straightline Pike, Richmond.
April 26 – Friends of Bear Creek Spring Work Day
Community Service (by definition) is a service that is performed for the benefit of the public or its institutions. Friends of Bear Creek Work Day and Scouting for Food are an excellent time to teach your Scouts the importance of helping others. As Scouts get older they can think back to the experiences that they had: helping an elderly woman across the street, getting camp ready for the summer, delivering meals to shut-ins, picking up trash on the side of the road. The joy of giving back may not be appreciated by Scouts today, but by the community, and their future selves, it is something that can be looked upon and say that was a good job, and I’m glad that it happened.
May
May 1 – District Committee MTG – First Christian Church – 6:30p.m.
May 8 – Boy Scout and Cub Scout Roundtable – First Christian Church – 6:30p.m.
May 8 – Order of the Arrow Chapter MTG – First Christian Church – 7:00p.m.
June
June 9 – 14 – Bear Creek Day Camp – 8:30 a.m. Monday – Thursday, 1 p.m. Friday
Back at the end of August and the Beginning of September there was a promise made, a promise that a boy joins the Cub Scout Pack at his school he would get to go camping, fishing, hiking, shoot BB guns and bow and arrows, and that they would get to go swimming. The time has now come to fulfill those promises to those new Scouts. It is time to take your Scouts that were recruited in the fall to Day Camp, or Webelos Adventure Camp. This opportunity for your Scouts will be the culmination of year’s worth of hard work. This is the time for your Scouts and you to have fun while improving your swim strokes, your sharp shooter aim in BB’s and archery, and to learn what a J-Stroke really is. So come to Bear Creek Day Camp, relax and get ready for a great 2008-2009 Scouting Year.
District Commissioner: Steve Mitchell, (317) 887-1091
District Vice Chair: Tom Lee, (317) 888-6633
District Vice Chair: Tom Jackson, (317) 784-7305
District Director: Jim Parton, (317) 925-1900 ext. 206
Get revved up for Recharter!
Pack charters are due in March. Be sure to get your paper in on-time. Contact Steve Mitchell, Jim Parton, or Kate Kegeris to arrange pick-up for your unit charter.
Summer Camp is here again!
You should already have your camp information. If you don’t, call your commissioner, Jim, or Kate. It is never to early to get set for Belzer, Ransburg, Webelos Adventure Camp or District Day Camp. The Pathfinder District Day Camp again will be held at the Johnson County Park Scout area. There will be BB guns, rafting, swimming, archery, crafts and more!
Friends of Scouting
FOS helps keep all of our great summer camps up and running! If you’ve already given, and your unit has had a presentation, thank you. If not, each unit should give your families the opportunity to donate. The Friends of Scouting campaign helps keep the cost of Scouting low by giving families the opportunity to donate money to the council to subsidize program costs. Please see Steve Sylce at Roundtable or contact Kate at the Scout office to schedule this fun presentation to see what FOS is all about.
March Calendar
1 Cub Scout pack recharter turn-in
5 Key 3 Meeting
11 Eagle Board of Review
13 Commissioner’s Meeting
Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing Roundtable
Firecrafter meeting
OA Chapter Meeting
26 Belzer Band Booster Club Meeting
April
2 Key 3 Meeting
7 Eagle Board of Review
10 Commissioner’s Meeting
Cub Scout, Boy Scout, Venturing Roundtable
Firecrafter meeting
OA Chapter Meeting
30 Belzer Band Booster Club Meeting
Recharter
Recharter packets are due March 1 for all Cub Scout packs. All recharters need to be turned in at Irvington Presbyterian Church. If you have any questions please contact Ron Heustis or Jonathan Benson.
Friends of Scouting
There is still time to sign up your pack, troop or crew for a Family Friends of Scouting presentation! A great time for the presentation is your Blue and Gold or Green and Gold banquet. This presentation explains to parents how our council is financed and educates them on our wonderful facilities as well as how Scouting benefits so many people in our community. This is an important opportunity for the families of Scouts to show their support for Scouting. There is an incentive plan to encourage each family to participate! Please contact Dick Coffin at 359-2503 with questions or to schedule a presentation. Our district has a unique group of people known as Pioneer 100. Pioneer 100 is over 21 years old and provides a special opportunity for individuals to give that no other district in our council offers. Please contact Jim Scott at 897-8828 or Jonathan Benson with questions or donations.
District Pinewood Derby
Our District Pinewood Derby will be Saturday, March 8 at Cumberland UMC. This derby is open to ALL CUB SCOUTS! There will be food, prizes and LOTS OF FUN! Registration is just $6 and each participant will receive a patch. Please contact Doug Trumpey for more information at dougtrumpey@yahoo.com. We hope to see everyone there. Good luck with your racing!
Summer Camp, Day Camp, and Webelos Adventure Camp
If you have not already made plans for Boy Scout Summer Camp, Cub Scout Day Camp, Webelos Adventure Camp, or Baden Powell and Dan Beard Camp there is no time like the present. Spaces fill up quickly so make plans now and turn in your reservation to ensure you are able to go. For additional information please visit www.crossroadsbsa.org for more information.
Calendar
March 6 Scout Roundtable, Park Place Church of God
March 8 Cub Scout Pinewood Derby, Mounds Mall
March 11 Advancement Committee Meeting, Bethany Christian Church
March 13 District Management Meeting, Anderson Scout Shop
March 14 Cub Scout Recharter Packets Due, Anderson Scout Shop
March 19 Commissioner Staff Meeting, Anderson Scout Shop
April 3 Scout Roundtable, Park Place Church of God
April 8 Advancement Committee Meeting, Bethany Christian Church
April 10 District Management Meeting, Anderson Scout Shop
April 16 Commissioner Staff Meeting, Anderson Scout Shop
April 20 New Leader Essentials and Cub Scout Specifics Training, Anderson Scout Shop
Kikthawenund Day Camp help needed!
Most elementary-aged boys join Cub Scouts for two primary reasons: Pinewood Derby and day camp. Without a tremendous experience at day camp, our Cubs are missing out on one of the most important and fun pieces of our program. Sakima is asking for volunteers that could work in various activities during July 21 – July 25. We could use behind-the-scenes help, ideas for “quiet time” presenters, and several director positions. If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining an awesome group of people for an exciting summertime experience please contact Tom James at (317) 695-6224 or the Anderson Scout Office at (765) 644-6687.
Roundtable
Whether you are a Cubmaster, Den Leader, Scoutmaster, or Scout parent, Roundtable is an important part of your youth’s ongoing Scouting program. You find out all the latest news and information at these meetings. As a Den Leader or Cubmaster, you learn valuable songs, skits, games, and crafts you can take back to your pack or den. As a Scoutmaster you learn new ideas, upcoming events, get questions answered, and receive valuable training.
Sakima District Roundtables are the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Park Place Church of God, located next to Anderson University.
See you there!
Friends of Scouting
FOS helps keep all of our great camps up and Anderson Scout Shop up and running! If you’ve already given, and your unit has had a presentation, THANK YOU. If not, each unit should give your families the opportunity to donate to your youth’s Scouting program. The Friends of Scouting campaign helps keep the cost of Scouting low by giving families the opportunity to donate money to the council to subsidize program costs. Please contact Dan Joyce at (765) 778-3747 or Matt Bender at the Anderson Office to schedule this fun presentation to see what FOS is all about.
March
6 District Committee meeting*
12 Clinton County Breakfast for Scouting (Frankfort Country Club)**
13 Roundtable*
29 Scoutmaster Specific training (First Christian Church, Crawfordsville)
*St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 319 E. South St, Lebanon
**if you would like more information on either of these events please contact Carolyn Small
Friends of Scouting
This year’s annual Friends of Scouting campaign is off to a great start! Sugar Creek District is having community fundraising breakfasts in Crawfordsville, Frankfort and Lebanon. The purpose of the breakfasts is not only to raise money but to build awareness of Scouting in the community. If you would like to be involved with the program, preparation or prospecting please contact Carolyn Small.
In addition to the community events, your unit can support Scouting by hosting a Friends of Scouting presentation. Most units schedule these at a time when a meeting is well attended, for example at a Court of Honor, pack meeting or Blue and Gold banquet. Please contact either John Hawkins or Carolyn Small to schedule your presentation.
Calendar
March
8 District Pinewood Derby, 9 a.m. (St. Richards)
11 District Mtg (Tabernacle Pres.)
14 Pack Recharters DUE (Scout office)
April
8 District Mtg, 6:30 p.m. (Tabernacle)
15 CAC Coordinated Mtg 6:30 p.m. (Camp Belzer)
May
13 District Mtg, 6:30 p.m. (Tabernacle)
June
10 District Mtg, 6:30 p.m. (Tabernacle)
District Dinner
A big thanks goes out to all who participated in the annual T-Sun-Ga-Ni District Dinner. Bob Treadwell, who emceed the event, would like to congratulate all Scouters who received honors and awards. Special congratulations to District Award of Merit honoree Kelly Cook.
Friends of Scouting
T-Sun-Ga-Ni is closing in on our financial goal of $29,500.On behalf of the more than 1,600 youth we serve, many thanks to all those who have contributed or asked others to contribute! If you have not had an opportunity to give, please contact Diane, John or Daunteé.
Hoosiers in the Forrest
On the first full weekend in May, Scouts from T-Sun-Ga-Ni District will descend upon Hoosier National Forrest to engage in a weekend full of fun hiking, camping and mountain biking. Thanks to Crew 180 (St. Richards) for providing leadership to the program and conducting the activities such as cooking and fire building.
District Executive: Ethan Rayburn, (812) 232-9496 ext. 15
Senior District Executive: Jason Milner, (812) 232-9496 ext. 17
Roundtables
Roundtables are a great resource for all leaders in a unit, not just Cubmasters or Scoutmasters. If you have not been to Roundtables in a while, come and see what you are missing. To be the most effective leader possible, please join us on the first Thursday of every month at Camp Wildwood at 7 p.m.
“Monster” Training Set
Are you a Tiger Den Leader who will be working with the Wolf Den next year? Are you a Bear Den Leader moving on to Webelos? Are you a Cub leader ready to make the leap to Boy Scouting? Wabash Valley District will be conducting another “monster” training session on March 15 (Site TBD in Terre Haute). The training will feature a New Leader Essentials component from 8 – 9:30 a.m., and from 9:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m., a Cub Leader Specific (Tigers/Wolves & Bears/Webelos Den Leaders, Cubmaster/Assistant Cubmaster, and Pack Committee). From 9:45 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. we will also host a Scoutmaster Specific (Scoutmasters/Assistant Scoutmasters). Look for more details to follow or call Ethan at (812)232-9496.
Venturing Membership and Program Committees
The Council Venturing Program Committee meets on a regular basis. If you are interested in becoming involved on either the Program or Membership committee or are just curious about Venturing, please contact:
(317)925-1900 ext. 234
Exploring and Venturing Officers Association
This youth council will begin meeting by the end of the first quarter 2008. All Exploring and Venturing youth are encouraged to apply to participate. The purpose of the EVOA is that all Exploring and Venturing activities are youth led and planned on a council level. It is a forum to give youth a voice on a council level regarding both programs and a way for them to take ownership of the opportunities available for their posts and crews. If you would like more information about the EVOA please contact Doug Brown at (317) 925-1900 ext. 225.
Venturing Program Consultants
A Venturing Program Consultant is a resource for crews to go to when they are interested in pursuing a certain activity. When approached, consultants teach crews the skills they need to pursue a certain activity and then assist crews in planning to accomplish their goal. With an expected increase in Venturing membership, we are looking for individuals who are experienced in a program area such as backpacking, caving or horseback riding who would be interested in working with Venturing crews. Please contact any of the Council Service Centers to inquire about becoming a Venturing program consultant. You may also contact Carolyn Small at (317) 925-1900 ext. 234.
Venturing Summer Camp
Location: Ransburg Reservation, Adventure Point
Session dates: July 27-Aug. 2 or Aug. 3-9
Costs: $180 early bird, $190 regular (4 day/3 night fee $100 and $110)
Out of council - $205 early bird, $215 regular (4 day/3 night fee $110 and $120)
Program: Crews will develop a schedule of activities and programs including:
Mountain biking
Hand gun shooting
Rifle shooting
Sailing
COPE
Backpacking
Day long or overnight canoe trip
Board sailing
Cave exploring
Water skiing
Horseback riding
Black powder shooting
Skeet shooting
Archery
Climbing
Land navigation/GPS
Rock climbing
Kayaking
Leave No Trace
Fishing
Wave board
*Program schedules must be worked on in advance of camp to provide adequate time to coordinate schedules with over all camp program (30 days in advance or arriving is recommended).