|
Brothers,
This
month's newsletter highlights the various aspects of Indian Affairs
activities that go on in our Section. I would encourage you to
help preserve the traditions of our Order by becoming a dancer or
ceremonialist and to look to the Section as a resource for your IA
activities. Conclave will have an entire Indian Village that will
be full of classes, craftsmen and competitions for you to take part
in. Good luck in your IA endeavors this year and I'll see you
at Camp Boddie for Conclave in April!
Nick Ochsner
SR-7B
Section Chief |
Camp Bonner Name
Change
Section Webstore
Now Online!
Conclave
Pre-Ordeal Ceremonies Competition Changes
Growing Indian Affiars in the
Lodge
Why I Am a
Ceremonialist
| Effective January 1,
2010 Bonner Scout Reservation will undergo a name change. The
Pamlico River divides Bonner Scout Reservation. The property on the
south side of the river that we currently know as Camp Bonner will
become Camp Boddie. The name change honors the Boddie family whose
recent financial contribution funded many of the camp’s renovations.
Camp Boddie along with the Pamlico Sea Base will comprise the new
East Carolina Scout Reservation. The property on the north side of
the Pamlico River that includes the camporee site, the Bonner Farm,
and Camp Hannah Bonner will remain Bonner Scout
Reservation. |
 |
| Conclave
Webstore Now Online! |
 |
The best way to
remember Conclave is through memorabilia! Our section
has a variety of patches, t-shirts and other items available
made specifically for this event. Also available this
year is a special 100th anniversary patch and t-shirt.
Now you can purchase these items in the comfort of your own
house! Just log on-line to the Section Web Store and
stock up on all of your Conclave
items. | |
| Conclave
Pre-Ordeal Ceremonies Competition
Changes |
|
This
year's Pre-Ordeal Ceremony Competition will feature a different
structure aimed at providing ceremonialists throughout the Section
with the appropriate level of competition and feedback for
them. There will be two divisions: the Competition Division
and the Evaluation Division. The Competition Division will
allow teams to simply compete against each other with limited
feedback. The Evaluation Division, on the other hand, will
offer critiques and feedback from an experienced panel of
judges. This division is designed for more novice
ceremonialists who are looking for reliable feedback as they
continue to build ceremony team. With the implementation of
this new structures, lodges should be able to help new teams develop
into strong, healthy teams that will last and experience success for
years to come.
Also new this year is the inclusion of the
registration forms for all ceremonies competitions online.
Contingent leaders will be able to register the team without having
to mail in paperwork. |
| Growing
Indian Affairs in the Lodge |
 |
This
year's Council of
Chiefs featured a roundtable of Section and Lodge IA
representatives to discuss ways to improve Indian Affairs throughout
the section. The roundtable was called the Mawemin. A
consensus was reached that the two biggest hurdles to overcome when
creating successful IA programs was creating excitement about the
program and making sure Chapters receive the resources that the need
to be successful.
A successful IA program all starts with a
good IA representative. If you recruit an arrowmen who is
excited to be there, excited about the program and excited about
helping the Lodge and Chapters succeed his enthusiasm for the
program will rub off on others.
The next step in the process,
is to capitalize on that excitement and enthusiasm by making sure
the Chapters and interested individuals have the tools and resources
they need to succeed. When someone expresses interest in
creating a ceremony team, starting to dance or creating a drum team,
reply simply with "how can I help?" This simple question will
set a positive tone for the rest of the arrowman's experience.
Be sure to follow through on that commitment by reaching out to
other members of your lodge or to those in the section to make sure
your teams and dancers have help to build their outfits, make that
bustle or learn that song.
If you're not currently involved
in Indian Affairs in your Lodge and would like to be, ask your lodge
chief how you can join. Remember, it all starts with the Power
of One. Start working on that ceremony part or dance outfit
now and you'll be ready to show off your new skill at Conclave in
April! |
| When I was a
Webelos, I saw a guy, wearing horns on his head, and I determined
that it was awesome. So when I got into the OA and one of my
leaders wanted me to be on a ceremonies team, I couldn't wait.
Back then I wanted to be a ceremonialist because It looked
cool. And though that's still true, I have found that
ceremonies play a much larger role in our order than just being
cool. Though I haven't been around long, my experience in
ceremonies has shown me one thing. Good ceremonies make good
chapters, and good chapters make good lodges.
Having been a part of the system for about six years,
I know the value of ceremonies better than some.
Organizing summer
camp tap out ceremonies has taught me the importance of ceremonies
as a first impression. I have also seen how preparing boys to
be in these ceremonies develops them as young men, and how it
develops them as Arrowmen. So why am I a
ceremonialist? I am a ceremonialist because I see what
positive influence it has on all facets of this Order.
Ceremonies are great for showcasing the Order's beliefs and values
the the public. Ceremonies take inquisitive youths, and gives them a
way to get involved. Being a ceremonialist makes me feel like
I have given something back to an organization that has given me so
much.
Matt
Gardiner
SR-7B Indian
Affairs Chairman |
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