Tokala

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"I won't even get into the discussion of WHERE these upcoming NOAC may be. That's pretty much up in the air."

It was announced that Michigan State is the site of the 2012 NOAC and possibly 2015. Indiana is doing major overhauling of the dorms and has said that they will not have the housing for NOAC. Since NOAC, apparently discussions are still on concerning NOAC back at IU in 2015.

llwyn, mostly true. Shifting National Jamboree and NOAC around to fall on anniversaries has been happening since 1985 that I can recall.

Look for Indian Summer 2011 to fill in the 'gap'.

I received my letter of acceptance on August 18, 2009. I just received an email about my reporting date and departure this week.

Try logging in to myscouting.org and the elearning section. There's a Jamboree Staff training segment and I bet if you have a job, it'll show that you need to take the training.

National has requested that ALL medicals be filed by March 1. They need time to review them prior to arrival.

I am not aware how difficult it is to be selected for the OA Indian Village. I served on AIA staff at a couple of NOACs and probably had an easier path since I knew the National Committee member that was responsible. I was definitely qualified and knowledgeable to serve as well. I can state without any doubt that Arrowmen selected to serve will be knowledgeable and skilled.

I find BadenP's comment,

"Dressing up like Hollywood Indians, making cheap imitation costumes and making a mockery of the sacred dances of Native Americans is in no way qualifications for teaching ANYTHING about Indian culture, and is in fact defaming and insulting to these cultures."

insulting and a blanket statement without any backing. Sometimes people that are new and learning make mistakes and might do things disrespectful of American Indian culture. I doubt that it's intentional. I personal trained/taught/drilled our sing team and when we went to South Dakota (we're all Florida people), and sang at Lakota dances, the elders tape recorded our boys. The elders would talk to them and tell them how nice it was that some kids took the time to learn the language when their own youth wouldn't. Who do you think taught them?

Whitewashing the Order's desire to have Scouts learn American Indian culture as resulting in "hollywood" and a "mockery" is disrespectful to those people, and there are many, that educate themselves about the dances, clothes, traditions, and people.

Back on topic concerning Jamboree, I know that they are still looking for staff younger than 26 for the Service Corps. Arrowmen aged 16-26 get in for half price.

"Leading change to become more diverse is critical for Scouting to remain relevant."

I don't think they're encouraging the radical shift in the 80s, but are trying to help people look outside of there comfort zone. If recruiting only occurs where the potential new Scouts are predominantly one race/religion, than that's what the organization will reflect. If people start looking for other places to recruit, than the organization will reach a larger, more diverse pool of youth to recruit.

I see Hispanic churches in my area and yet I don't believe anyone has approached them about chartering a unit. We seem to stick to the Methodist/Presbyterian/Catholic churches and appear blind to the potential offer by the hispanic/Armenian/etc that are coming into the area.

I finally saw the training update. As stated, co-ed NYLT is optional for 2010 and becomes national standard in 2011. Kodiak training is the training that will be replaced by NYLT.

I too have thought that the generational differences in learning is garbage. According to their material, I'm supposed to be a Gen X since I was born in '64. I think this session will not survive long in the syllabus even though they've been shoving it down our throats at Course Director's Conferences for the last 3-4 years.

As for youth protection and sleeping arrangements. OA members that are 18-21, we call them tweeners, are typically bunked in separate areas from the youth and adults. I quizzed the man in charge of housing at NOAC why they do that and he didn't have an answer.

I well aware, and agree, with the differences between Venturing (crews), BSA (patrols) and that VLSC is set-up to be run by crews. Sometimes VLSC is a Council level event if Crews are too small to run it themselves.

Believe, as soon as I can get my hands on the syllabus, I'm going to check into this. As a previous JLTC and NYLT Scoutmaster, I can't imagine the issues this will create. I typically get recruited every few years to get NYLT back on track in my Council, so I suppose in a year or so, I'll have my chance.

My understanding was that VLSC would be removed from the training curriculum.

Council NYLT course director just returned from the Southern Region Course Director's Development Conference in Atlanta. He stated that NYLT will be offered to Venturers aged 14-18. Thus, the potential for co-ed courses. I have not seen the syllabus or received any training updates from the Region or National to verify the accuracy of his statement.

I did receive a 2 page document outlining all the changes to training that will begin in 2010 and be required in 2011.

I have heard January 1, 2010 as the date for closing the Region offices. I've heard that some of the Region level employess will lose their jobs at that time. It's a little more than shuttering buildings.(This message has been edited by Tokala)

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Tokala, I still plan on attending your WB course next spring. I sent in my deposit last month.

Yep. You're on the list! Still have to recruit 15 more by January 27 forthe course to be a "go".

Nothing wrong with being a commissioner. Heck, I don't have any kids and I've got 27 years in as an adult volunteer.

Congratulations!

Narraticong said:

"By the way, how many native Lenape speakers are around? In all the years I lived in New Jersey, I can not think of having heard of any."

Check in Oklahoma. I spent 2 NOACs as the "chief of staff" for Curtis Zunigha, the elected chief of the Delaware. They're still very much culturally intact in Oklahoma. Matter of fact, he even taught me some inappropriate Lenape words that could not be used for vigil names or in Scouting conversations!

My guess is that the lobbyists haven't finished handing off the plan to their legislative representatives (not party specific mind you). Once the lobbyists finish writing legislation and stashing cash in the partys' bank accounts, then we'll hear specifics.

You get what they pay for.

The two party system seems fine when there's debate and communication. The extreme partisanship we see in our government and home towns has seriously damaged the ability of people to rationally discuss and issue and determine a resolution that benefits most people. Too many are in lock step with party rhetoric to generate any real and meaningful solutions to current problems.Neither seem willing to relax their grip on their beliefs to reach a compromise.

We have politicians these days and few, if any, statesmen.

Hmmm...I thought it boiled down to one word: greed.

Some mistake greed for capitalism.

"If National doesn't hold the SE's accountable for their actions then who will?"

Strange. Seems to me that's the Council Executive Board and Council President's responsibility. They have the right, although it's limited by National, to hire and fire.

Section 4 in the great Southern Region will be the first Section in the U.S. to host it's own version of ArrowCorps5. The week of service in the Ocala National Forest is scheduled for June 13-19, 2010 and will use Camp La-No-Che as a base camp. Attendance is open to ALL Arrowmen and at this time is limited to 300 participants. Check the S-4 website for additonal info and to sign-up.

http://www.sections-4.org/(This message has been edited by Tokala)

I've known the National Commissioner for years. This is not an attempt to defend him, but shake his hand. He's a big guy and wouldn't meet the height-weight criteria, but he'll crush your hand. Out of the Key 3, he was the only one that helped us load/unload program materials/trading post stuff/tables& chairs at NOAC. He is definitely not out of shape. He busted his butt for the logistics guys at NOAC.

I took the old Boy Scout wood badge back in the 80s. No such thing as a coin then. When I served on staff for a 21st Century course, we were asked if we would like a coin. I accepted because I thought it was a nice gesture. BTW, all the participants received a coin.

Geographic size is not nearly as critical as leadership to have a functioning chapter or lodge. My lodge is geographically very small, about 10 miles wide and 50 miles long. We are divided into 4 chapters which aligns with the Council's districts. We typically only have 2 chapters that actually function. The other two just don't seem to have the membership and leadership to draw from to function as a independent entity. It always the same two chapters that are dysfunctional. I'm a member of one of these dysfunctional chapters and have encouraged them to have activities that are fun or service oriented. Skip the boring meetings and plan something like a cookout or a shoreline clean up to get people interested. They just haven't managed to get anything going other than an occasional chapter meeting. I think the last one consisted of the chapter chief, chapter adviser, and the chapter chief's father.

Anyone that saw the Budget Rental truck, that was me. I spent 10 days hauling gear all over the campus for the various programs and committee. My daily schedule was 8am-midnight. I'd do it all over again, and will...

In one 24-hour period we set up 200 tables and 400 chairs for the Hodag, at 11pm when it was over, we loaded it all in the truck for Founder's Day. Wednesday morning we unloaded it all and then loaded it again after Founder's Day. Then we unloaded by the tennis complex so everything could be palleted and loaded on the semis. The Hodag guys did a great job! They were set up ready to go by lunch time on Tuesday. That storm that blew through destroyed most of the Hodag. In just a few hours, they manage to get everything set up and ready to go again.

NOAC has so much to offer that age can be irrelevant.

Since you'll be 20 yo in 2012 when it rolls in to Michigan State University, I'd encourage you to get your lodge involved in everything they can possibly do at NOAC. Sign up for basketball, volleyball, lodgeball, ceremonies, dancing and singing competition, etc. Going to NOAC and not doing everything that's available is worse than not going at all.