, BSA PRESIDENT David Sprynczynatyk COMMISSIONER Mike Briggs Northern SCOUT EXECUTIVE Roger B. Hoyt HiLites Winter 2018-2019 THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR OUTDOOR FUN You know there are plenty of weeks for outdoor fun and adventure in the winter months that follow and lead up to Summer camp. Camp Wilderness can accommodate almost any need you have to support your unit’s program during these winter months as evidenced by the pictures below – check out page 9 of this issue for more info on Winter Camp, Wilderness ROMP (February 8-10) and Polar Cub Camp (March 1-3).

AND, NOW’S THE TIME TO THINK FUN IN THE SUN, PLAN YOUR UNIT’S SUMMER PROGRAM, AND RESERVE YOUR CAMP DATE AT WILDERNESS Summer Camp is the pinnacle of a Scout’s year, and Camp Wilderness is the place to be. Camp Wilderness’ top-notch facilities and programs draw Scouts from all over the country. Your Scouts will be engaged throughout their time at camp and exhausted each night. Camp Wilderness and Butler Wilderness Outpost allows Scouts of all ages to experience a summer camp adventure at the fullest – from earning merit badges, water sports, shooting sports, service projects, and much more! Register online today at www.nlcbsa.org to ensure your spot this summer at Camp Wilderness!

Table of Contents Council Calendar Page 2 Council Annual Meeting DECEMBER 2018 JANUARY 2019 FEBRUARY 2019 Silver Beaver 7-9 OA Indian Winter 1 BSA Offices Closed 1-3 Winter Camp Report to the Governor for Food 7-9 Winter Camp 4-6 Winter Camp 3 Scout Sunday 8-10 Staff Planning Conference 8-10 Winter Camp 8 Cub Winter Wonderland at Wilderness Page 3 Scout’s Honor 11-13 OA Winter Fellowship 9 Wilderness ROMP Commissioner Corner 14 Popcorn Payments Due Councilo Eagle Scouts 11-13 Winter Camp 13 Report to Governor (Tentative) 14 Executive Board Meeting 18 Executive Committee Meeting 15 Executive Board & Council Annual Meeting Page 4 Training 18 Council Commissioner Meeting (GTM) 18 Fargo Force Hockey 15-17 Winter Camp

Page 5 Membership 19 Council Staff Meeting 18-20 Winter Camp 18 President’s Day-BSA Offices Closed 24-25 BSA Offices & all Camps Closed 21 Martin Luther King Day-BSA Offices Closed 19 Council Advancement Meeting (GTM) Page 6 Endowment-How You Can Help 26-31 Boy Scout Winter Camp at Wilderness 22 Council Commissioner Meeting (GTM) 21 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) 24 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) 22-24 Winter Camp Page 7 Friends of Scouting 27 Council Camping Committee Meeting (GTM) 25-27 Winter Camp 26 Council Day Camp Meeting (GTM) Page 8-10 Program/Camping 31 Happy New Year! 29 Council Day Camp Meeting @ 6:30 pm (GTM) 26 Council Commissioner Meeting (GTM) Page 11-16 District News 27 Council Staff Meeting NORTHERN HILITES - 2 December 2018 - February 2019 Game and Fish SILVER BEAVER NOMINATION Department Honors Theodore Note: All nominations for the are confidential. GENERAL INFORMATION: The Silver Beaver Award is the Roosevelt Award highest award the Council bestow upon a volunteer Scouter in recognition of distinguished service to the Council and its youth In honor of Theodore Roosevelt, the North Dakota Game and Fish Nominations will not only be judged on their outstanding volunteer Department has developed the “TR Award”. This award is intended to service at the Council level, but their overall service to youth. recognize those North Dakota youth that have highly developed outdoor skills and are actively involved in Girl Scouts of the USA, , ELIGIBILITY: Any registered volunteer Scouter who resides within the or 4-H. The goal of this award is to promote: development of a healthy mind boundaries of Northern Lights Council, and who is at least 21 years of age, at the and body, good citizenship, a strong conservation ethic, an understanding of time of nomination. the states’ natural history, and the ability to handle oneself in the outdoors NOMINATING PROCEDURES: Any individual may submit a National BSA while enjoying a wide variety of outdoor recreational activities. Silver Beaver Nomination form (all other forms will not be accepted)! Each person nominating a Scouter must submit their own individual official nomination The existing programs developed by Girl Scouts of the USA, Boy Scouts form, rather than (1) with multiple signatures on the form, or (2) reproducing one of America, and the 4-H constitute nomination form with different nominating persons names, addresses; the purpose more than 80 percent of the award of this is to obtain as much information as possible about the nominee. No more requirements. The remaining 10 to 20 than 3 letters of recommendation will be accepted with the Nomination Form. percent of the award requirements are The BSA Silver Beaver Nomination Form must be received no later than Friday, composed of educational programs January 6, 2019. Send Nominations to Northern Lights Council, BSA, Attention: that the North Dakota Game and Fish Silver Beaver Selection Committee, 4200 19th Avenue South, Fargo, ND 58103. Department provides such as Hunter Nomination forms can be downloaded from the Council website at www.nlcbsa.org Education, and the National Archery The Silver Beaver Award will be presented at the Council Annual Recognition in the Schools Program. Luncheon on Saturday, April 6th in Bismarck, North Dakota. In addition to training our youth for a wide variety of outdoor adventures, it is hoped that this award program will assist in the retention and involvement of North Dakota youth in 4-H, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts.

Adult advisors wishing to obtain copies of the TR Award Workbook may down load and print them off the North Dakota Game and Fish Department Website (http://gf.nd.gov/education/theodore-roosevelt-award-workbook). If you have additional questions, contact Bill Jensen at 701-220-5031. COUNCIL ANNUAL RECOGNITION BANQUET Saturday, April 6, 2019 The Council’s Annual Recognition Luncheon is held to SCOUTING FOR FOOD recognize volunteers from across the Council. The March 16 – March 23, 2019 highlight of the banquet is the presentation of the Silver Beaver Awards, the highest recognition presented on the During the week of March 16 (SFF Info Drop) – March Council level. The 2019 Luncheon Banquet will be held 23 (SFF Food Collection), Scouts are encouraged to take on Saturday, April at the Jon L. Wanzek Center for part in our Council-wide community service project, Scouting in Fargo, ND. Watch for more details. Scouting for Food. Annually, the Northern Lights Council collects nearly 85,000 lbs of food for local food pantries. To see the difference that our Scouts can make in just one short week is truly astonishing. Plan now for your unit to participate! NOTICE OF COUNCIL ANNUAL MEETING The Annual Meeting of the Northern Lights Council, Boy Scouts of America, Inc., will be held at 8:00 AM, Friday, February 15, 2019 via Go to Meeting with locations in Fargo, ND; Grand Forks, ND; Bismarck, REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR ND; Dickinson, ND; Minot, ND; and Williston, ND. The purpose of the meeting is to elect Officers and Board Members for the 2018 Scouting FEBRUARY 2019 year, and to hear reports from the Operating Committees. Every February the Northern Lights Council has the privilege Nominations for board membership positions must be submitted to the to present the annual Report Council Nominating Committee in writing no later than January 6, to the Governor. To make this 2019. program a success we reach out to local Scout leaders from across the council to nominate Please send to: Ed Schafer, Council Nominating Committee Chairman their very best Cub Scouts, Northern Lights Council, BSA, Boy Scouts, Venture Scouts and 4200 19th Avenue South Explorers to lead the program, Fargo, ND 58103 that is sponsored by the 2018 Report to the Governor in Bismark Bismarck Rotary Club. This is a great opportunity for Scouts to gather in Those eligible to vote include: Chartered Organization Representatives the Capitol City of Bismarck and update our North Dakota Governor on everything that is happening in our Boy Scout Council. registered and currently representing a Chartered Organization within the Council’s geographical boundaries, and registered duly elected Council After the program; all Scouts, family members and leaders will have the Members-at-Large. No voting by proxy as indicated in the Council opportunity to take part in a special guided tour of the North Dakota state Bylaws. Capitol. Roger B. Hoyt More information and the nomination form can be found on our website Corporate Secretary/Scout Executive at www.nlcbsa.org. December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 3 EXECUTIVE THOUGHTS Commissioner Corner IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE ADULT VOLUNTEERS … HOW DO YOU RECRUIT AND RETAIN

One of the most common questions we get asked as Commissioners is how to recruit and During the holiday season, it can be easy to feel a little keep adult volunteers. That issue is rampant across many Scouting units and also in the like George Bailey in the first half of the movie “It’s a Commissioner Corps. The Scoutmaster/Cubmaster that stays in place for fifteen years is Wonderful Life”, cabin fever and the winter blues can becoming a rarity and there seems to be more rapid turnover in adult Scouting positions. easily team up to stifle our joy. George goes through a series of circumstances that brings him to the brink of What has changed? In remembering my time as a Scout in the 1970’s and an adult leader despair. After sacrificing so much to the benefit of the in the 1980’s, one of the biggest changes we’ve seen is that most of the boys (and now citizens of his little town, all seems for not when he girls) that join Scouts do not necessarily have a family history in the Scouting program. losses $8,000 in the deposits of his Savings & Loan Years ago, when a boy joined a Pack or Troop, he usually had a father/brother/uncle/ customers. cousin who was or had been in the Scouting program. This gave a sense of familiarity to the Scout and his parents. Nowadays that is not necessarily the case. Many families George Bailey finds hope and the will and resources to come into Scouting with little knowledge of how the program works or the meaning of the move forward, through an angel named Clarence who Scouting buzzwords – Cubmaster, Webelos, Patrol Leader . . . – that we so easily take for opens his eyes to the positive impact he has on the granted. people around him. Those same people respond to Next to public speaking, fear of the unknown is near the top of the list for people’s most George’s needs by supporting him financially and emotionally during his difficult time. common worries. Think about coming into a Pack meeting with little or no knowledge of One unique learning experience of those who become servant leaders through Scouting how the system works and being hit up right away to be a Den Leader – their first thought understand, is that through helping others, the giver receives back tenfold the amount of “What’s a Den?” We need to work to allay those fears and give the families a level of joy, understanding, care and compassion that they give. comfort with their unit and the Scouting program. Our Scouts have spent the year in service projects in order to “help other people at all Here are some suggestions: times” and make a positive impact on our Northern Lights Council communities. We • Educate the new parents and Scouts. Consider a new parent meeting to be held teach it, our leaders live by example to show the way, and our Scouts perform shortly after the family joins the unit and a new parent handbook distributed at numerous projects willingly and admirably as they earn their recognitions and develop their first meeting. Help them understand how the Scouting unit works and how into men and women of character. Many of our Scouts, leaders and parents have much fun they can have participating with their Scout. “earned their wings” this holiday season, as they became the hope and support for • Ask previous leaders to mentor their replacements. For example, have your Tiger those in need. Den Leader from the previous year work with the new Tiger Den Leader, maybe even run the first couple of meetings to demonstrate how it works. Thanks to all who reach out to help their fellow man. • Have the new parents fill out talent sheets. These can be a great source of information on where their strengths lie. For those looking for the next Council opportunity to support people in need in our • Provide opportunities to job shadow. This gives them a chance to “test drive” the community, put the week of March 16 through the 23rd 2019 on your calendars as the position before taking it on. days for our annual Scouting for Food campaign. Our goal is to collect 125,000 When you have identified someone that can take on the pounds of food for the shelters in our seventy-eight county area. More details will be position, don’t ask them in a large group setting. Talk to on our website in January. them one-on-one, or, even better, two-on-one. This makes it more personal and lets them know that you believe that they This is the time of year we should be thankful and grateful for many blessings, can do the job. particularly those that come in the form of family, friends, neighbors, community and country. May God bless each of you this holiday season. Keeping parents involved is vital to the success of the Scouting unit. It is also an opportunity for families to have Roger B. Hoyt great times together. Remember the saying that “if everyone Scout Executive does a little, then no one has to do a lot.” Mike Briggs Council Commissioner

EAGLE SCOUTS District 1 District 8 Jonathan Redfearn Troop 149 Jamestown Branch, Fargo ND Stake Valley City, ND Andrew Stayman Troop 013 Holy Family Catholic Church Grand Forks, ND Adam LePard Troop 056 American Legion Post 24 Roseau, MN District 3 Brayden Aasen Troop 325 Geo Bergam Post #489 Am Legion Underwood, MN District 10 Dylan Pearson Troop 346 Bethel Lutheran Church Breckenridge, MN Trystan Gregory Troop 1032 St John’s Lutheran Church - Dickinson Dickinson, ND Mason Eilts Troop 1032 St John’s Lutheran Church - Dickinson Dickinson, ND District 4 Jackson Murphy Troop 1046 Dickinson Branch, Bismarck ND Stake Dickinson, ND Noah Struck Troop 418 Friends of the Knights Of Columbus Council #4718 Alexandria, MN Jeremy Floding Troop 418 Friends of the Knights Of Columbus Council #4718 Alexandria, MN District 11 Nick Lundeen Troop 440 Evansville Fire Department Brandon, MN Connor Gieser Troop 1411 Moose Lodge #822 Minot, ND Alexander Perowitz Troop 467 Men Of First Lutheran Morris, MN Patrick Richardson Troop 1433 Christ Lutheran Men In Mission Minot, ND Cody Messner Troop 491 VFW Post 4582 Hancock, MN Joshua Glosenger Troop 1436 Minot 2nd Ward, Minot ND Stake Minot, ND Baleigh Rasmusen Troop 496 Trinity Lutheran Church - Carlos Alexandria, MN Jordan Robbins Troop 1436 Minot 2nd Ward, Minot ND Stake Minot, ND Caleb Jancouskas Troop 1437 American Legion Post 26 Minot, ND District 5 Devyn Bollinger Troop 425 Congregational United Church of Christ Minot, ND Ian Komorowski Troop 111 Sts. Anne & Joachim Catholic Church Fargo, ND Bruce Hills Troop 425 Congregational United Church of Christ Minot, ND Steven Eddy Troop 215 Olivet Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Grant Warren Troop 215 Olivet Lutheran Church Fargo, ND District 13 Matthew Landburg Troop 215 Olivet Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Jayden Porter Troop 1002 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Bismarck Bismarck, ND Matthew Fischer Troop 222 Nativity Church of Fargo Fargo, ND Aaron Sagsveen Troop 1002 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Bismarck Bismarck, ND Zachary Brusseau Troop 225 Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral Fargo, ND Daniel Johnson Troop 1002 Good Shepherd Lutheran Church - Bismarck Bismarck, ND Charles Graf Troop 225 Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral Fargo, ND Joshua Jans Troop 1011 Benevolent Protective Order Elks #1199 Bismarck, ND Lucas Johnson Troop 274 Horace Lutheran Church Horace, ND Caedmon Marx Troop 1054 Fraternal Order of the Eagles Mandan, ND Bradley Schiltz Troop 274 Horace Lutheran Church Horace, ND Braxtyn Schmaltz Troop 1073 Lord Of Life Lutheran Church Bismarck, ND William Hella Troop 276 Atonement Lutheran Church Fargo, ND Nathan Lund Troop 1111 Pioneer School Pto Bismarck, ND Alex Janssen Troop 279 Holy Cross Catholic Church Fargo, ND John Heilman Troop 1111 Pioneer School Pto Bismarck, ND Kenneth Kesselberg Troop 624 Grace Lutheran Church - Ada Ada, MN Noah Bitz Troop 1123 Faith Lutheran Church - Bismarck Bismarck, ND Brandon Nirschl Troop 624 Grace Lutheran Church - Ada Ada, MN Drake Solseng Troop 624 Grace Lutheran Church - Ada Ada, MN District 14 Nathanial Tollefson Troop 635 Valley Christian Church Moorhead, MN Noah Squillace-Begley Troop 1316 Cornerstone FBC Williston, ND Landon Johnson Troop 644 Christ The King Lutheran Church Moorhead, MN Skyler Levno Troop 1316 Cornerstone FBC Williston, ND Bailey Johnson Troop 654 Cormorant Lakes Sportsmen's Club Audubon, MN Xavier Gutierrez Troop 1316 Cornerstone FBC Williston, ND Brogan Ludwig Troop 656 Hawley Area Fire Department Hawley, MN Erick Bickler Troop 1368 Faith United Methodist Men’s Club Williston, ND NORTHERN HILITES - 4 December 2018 - February 2019 TRAINING/JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE The Green Dot Express • Winter 2018-2019 Blessings to all during the holiday season. With unit charters completed or nearly completed it is an excellent time to check inventory which adults and leaders need their training for the upcoming scouting activities. Updating or renewing your training is a must to keep your training current and informing the incoming adults (parents and leaders) of the BSA guidelines. “Culture of Training,” I was at a recent roundtable, there was a comment that the adults/leaders were commenting on “another hour” for training! Let’s compare this to a child playing on a new sport. You wouldn’t expect the child to know how to pass the ball, be on defense or run the offence without practice (training). The youth have multiple hours of training over mouths and years to be part of the team! Bring the example back to scouting, the first training required is Youth Protection (~1.5 hours), to protect your child, the children you are around and you. Second, leader specific training (~1-3 hours considering which position) helps you know the basics of the program to keep the scouts engaged, having fun, learning and improve their character, So you can be part of the scouting team. Studies have shown that training helps save time. [1 hour of training, the knowledge can save a minimum of 10 minutes of preparation time for meetings, since you will already know the information. Standard pack has 2 meetings a month = 24 per year, savings on preparation time 240 minutes (4 hours), you are ahead 3 hours!] New Youth Protection Training – Available now in both an online and a face-to-face syllabus version. All registered Scouters need to take the new course before their units re-charter. The council has appointed John Bisbee { [email protected] phone 701-770-6443} as the Council Youth Protection Champion. YPT Train-the-Trainer for District Facilitators. There has been many district and unit champions trained, if you need the training please check with you district for training events. All rechartering units are required to have leaders trained in the new YPT program. If you have not taken the new YPT training, you will not be able to re-charter with your unit. Youth Protection training for all adults (registered and non-registered, note the non-registered adults, after they are registered can then put their membership ID number in their training profile to activate credit for the unit). This training is a major security blanket for all! Hazardous Weather Training The requirement for Scouters to be trained in Hazardous Weather to be considered “Trained” are currently in effect. Currently there is no face-to-face training available only online at My.Scouting.org. More details at http://www.nlcbsa.org/Training/ Safety/ 2019 Training Focus for your scouts, adults, leaders, Unit, District, Council: • “TRAINING FOR YOU, TRAINING FOR ALL” • Are you trained? Are your fellow adults and leaders trained? The council is working with your district training chairs to help you and your leaders obtain the training that is needed to deliver the Scouting program. • The focus is to bring more Face to Face training to our leaders through district and council training, see the council training webpage http://www.nlcbsa.org/training including the training calendar. • Face to Face training is still the best learning environment and the soft skills, fellowship and interacting with other participants, a participant learns and retentions more. • But Online training at My.Scouting.org is a great place to start your introduction and/or review a variety of training opportunities. New Leader Training - Learn the basics for your position as Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, Advisor, or Troop Committee member. As a leader insure you invite the adults to join you at the training to help make all of the leadership work better. Check with your local districts to see scheduled training dates. See WHAT MAKES A TRAINED LEADER? at http://www.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/Trained_Leader_ Positions.pdf National, Regional, Area news: We need to instill the “Culture of Training,” as a way of life in the scouting community. • As a trained leader, you will know how to deliver the Scouting program, know the resources that are available and increase your confidence. The time you spend on training is returned back to you many times, each time you use the knowledge and the resources that you have learned, not only in your scouting activities but all of your activities. • You can’t put a value on your scouts’ safety or fun. Every scout deserves and expects a leader that is trained to keep them safe and engaged in the scouting program. Every scout deserves a trained leader! • As a parent, you want to ensure that your child is in a safe environment and is receiving the full scouting program. This can only be accomplished if you and your fellow parents, adult and leaders are trained. Have you asked your leaders – are they trained? • Some national training resources can be found at https://www.scouting.org/training/training-updates/ and information on the Training Manager at My.Scouting Tools These include national training at Philmont and Sea Base, training periodicals Wood Badge 2019 has been set for September 13-15 and 27-29, 2019 at Camp Grassick Dawson ND. Course Director, Mark Gaydos and Assistant Course Director Tina Anderson has working diligently at planning the course. More information and registration is available at https: https://scoutingevent.com/429-23944. This contemporary training program focuses on leadership and “people” skills, and not or outdoor skills. Participants will learn techniques to make them better leaders, and also how to lead groups to achieve objectives. Wood Badge incorporates the best of over a century of Scouting experience in addition to drawing upon the most current leadership models used by corporate America, academic circles, and successful outdoor leadership organizations throughout the country. Skills developed from Wood Badge training will help a volunteer leader do a better job in any BSA program or at any level of involvement. College of Commissioner Science (CCS) the next college on Saturday, April 13, 2019, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, 1515 5th Ave NW, East Grand Forks, MN 56721. Online training tidbits note the My.Scouting.org system is designed for short ~20 minute or less sessions. It is not advised to go through many sessions (hours plus of training) without saving or taking a break. My suggestion is to schedule short sessions. Also note that the Key 3 plus at unit/district/council levels have the capability of entering current and historical training records in My.Scouting Tools, more on this in future articles. Last thought are your direct contact leaders trained for their current position, I would only want my child to be led by a trained leader! Direct contact leaders for Cub Scout Packs include: Tiger Cub Den Leaders, Cub Scout Den Leaders, Webelos Leaders, and Assistant Cubmasters. Boy Scout Troops include: Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters. Venture Crews include: Venture Crew Advisors and Associate Crew Advisors. Around the Council December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 5 MEMBERSHIP CLARIFYING UNIT TAX-EXEMPT STATUS FAMILY OF SCOUTING

We would like to clarify the federal tax status of Boy Scout packs, The wait is over, and we know what we’ll call the program for 11- to 17-year-old youth when girls troops, and other units, in response to questions we have received. can begin joining at the scheduled launch on Feb. 1, 2019. Say hello to Scouts BSA! The IRS recognizes the Boy Scouts of America National Council as tax Boys and girls who are part of Scouts BSA will be exempt under IRC Section 501 (c)(3). This tax exempt status extends known as Scouts. Just as before, these Scouts will only to BSA local councils and their trust funds. It does not extend to earn merit badges, go camping and work toward or include Scout packs, troops or other units. Scout units are not the Eagle Scout Award. considered subordinate organizations of the BSA, they are not included The organization name, Boy Scouts of America, will not change. within the BSA group exemption, and they are not entitled to use the BSA's Group Exemption Number ("GEN"). This is an IRS rule. FAQs Units must either: 1) obtain their own employer identification number Q: Will Troops of girls be required to have female leaders? ("EIN") using IRS Form SS-4, or 2) use the EIN of their chartering A: Two registered adult leaders 21 years of age or over are required at all organization. Sometimes, the IRS correctly explains to a unit the Scouting activities, including meetings. There must be a registered female process for an organization to be considered a "subordinate" of a parent adult leader over 21 in every unit serving females. A registered female adult organization, and this explanation is interpreted as permission to do so. leader over 21 must be present for any activity involving female youth. But, again, the BSA National Council cannot, and never could, declare Notwithstanding the minimum leader requirements, age- and program- Scout units to be subordinates. appropriate supervision must always be provided.

Also, receiving an EIN does not imply tax exempt status; it is Q: Is Scouts BSA programs becoming coed? nothing more than a unit's "Social Security" number. If a troop's A: No. In Scouts BSA, troops will be all-boy or all-girl. A chartered chartering organization is a church (and tax exempt), the troop could be organization may also have “linked troops,” which means a shared troop considered tax exempt only if the church let the troop use the church's committee with separate troops for boys and for girls. EIN, or the troop's EIN was included within the church's group exemption by the church. "Unit" gifts would be tax deductible as gifts Q: The BSA offered an Early Adopter program for select packs and to the church, not to Scouting. councils that wanted to welcome girls into Cub Scouts early. Will there be a similar Early Adopter program for older girls in Scouts BSA? Gifts designated for a specific unit should not go to a local council with A: No the expectation that the gifts will pass through the council to the unit. This includes gifts from corporate charitable incentive plans and Q. Can chartered organizations choose whether to adopt the expanded employee matching grants programs. Councils may hold funds in a unit program? account for things such as camperships at the council's camp or A: Yes. Chartered organizations always have the option to select from the program-related items and awards. BSA’s numerous program offerings. They can select any or all of the BSA programs to meet the needs of their members and the communities around Remember also that Article XI of the BSA Charter and Bylaws states them. that "Contributions shall be solicited in the name of the Boy Scouts of America only through or by the authority of the Corporation and shall Q: Can linked troops share troop numbers? be limited to the National Council or chartered local councils...". A: Yes, they can share troop numbers. Similarly, the BSA Rules and Regulations gives each council the power to "control the raising and expenditure of all funds for local Scouting work in their jurisdiction." As such, attempting to incorporate a Scout unit as a separate tax exempt entity is strongly discouraged as a potential conflict with BSA rules and bylaws.

We hope this information is helpful. For more detailed information on all fiscal policies and procedures for BSA units go to other unit resources on our webpage at www.nlcbsa.org in the resources dropdown button.

Thank you for all you do for Scouting. NORTHERN HILITES - 6 December 2018 - February 2019 SCOUTING TODAY FOR TOMORROW'S YOUTH Development Director: Connie J. Koehmstedt (701) 293-5011 or Toll Free 1-877-293-5011 E-mail [email protected] Ways You Can Help the Endowment Grow 1. Become a James E. West Fellow with an outright gift or a monthly pledge for up to 2 years! 2. Add to your James E. West Fellow (cumulative) from Bronze to Silver, or Silver to Gold! 3. Leave Scouting in your will, then notify the Northern Lights Council, B.S.A! 4. Set up a Charitable Remainder Unitrust! 5. Endow a summer camp staff position, (like Camp Director or Ranger) at Camp Wilderness! 6. Endow a building or campsite at Camp Wilderness 7. Set up a restricted fund for Camperships or Scholarships! 8. Donate stocks or bonds to fund the endowment and provide tax benefits for you! 9. Contribute a Life Estate Gift of a home, vacation home or farm, use the property and save the tax! 10.Make the NLCBSA Council a beneficiary on a life insurance policy you no longer need!

James E. West Fellowship is in Reach Did you know that you can make a pledge to become a James E. West Fellow and NORTH DAKOTA TAX CREDIT make installment payments with a check or by using your MasterCard or Visa? FOR CHARITABLE GIVING Now the James E. West Fellowship Award is within every Scouter’s reach. Just complete the form below and return it to the TAX CREDITS BRING GREAT TAX INCENTIVE FOR INDIVIDUAL AND Jon L. Wanzek Center for Scouting, 4200 19th Ave. S., Fargo, ND 58103. BUSINESS GIFTS TO THE QUALIFIED NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL, Questions may be directed to Dale Musgrave toll free at 1-877-293-5011. BSA NORTH DAKOTA TAX CREDIT ENDOWMENT FUND

[] $1000 paid by cash or securities. Are you a North Dakota individual taxpayer or an owner of a North Make payable to the Northern Lights Council. Dakota business? A beneficiary of a trust or estate which derives income taxable in North Dakota? If so, you have been presented with [] PLEDGE. Please bill me $ ______per []month [] quarter an unprecedented tax credit if you make gifts that help secure the Until pledge is paid in full. Total Pledge Amount______. future of a qualified North Dakota nonprofit organization(s) through a [] Credit Card Authorization: gift to its qualified endowment fund(s). I authorize the Council to charge my credit card [] $1000 full payment Below is information concerning a law passed by the North Dakota [] $83.34 per month for 12 months Legislature. This law is quite advantageous for donors who give to ______[] $42.67 per month for 24 months the Northern Lights Council, BSA ND Tax Credit Endowment Fund, Print name as it appears on credit card [] Other______as it allows for generous tax credits. Please feel free to contact [] Visa []Master Card Connie Koehmstedt at 701-293-5011 for additional information. ______Credit Card Number ______HOW THE TAX CREDIT WORKS FOR INDIVIDUAL DONORS : A 40% tax credit for gifts by individuals to a qualified endowment fund ______Expiration Date Signature held by a qualifying North Dakota nonprofit organization. If an ______individual makes a gift(s) to an endowment fund, the aggregate of the Date year’s gifts to a particular fund must be $5,000 or more. The tax All contributions and bequests, which are made to the Northern credit is 40% of the charitable deduction allowed by the IRS up to a Lights Council Endowment Fund, along with gains from their investment maximum credit of $10,000 per year per taxpayer or $20,000 (50,000 transactions, will be permanently restricted and invested in perpetuity. in gifts) per year per couple filing jointly. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to three additional tax years.

MEMORIAL/TRIBUTE FUND HOW THE TAX CREDIT WORKS FOR BUSINESS GIFTS: An Recent Gifts to the Northern Lights Council income tax credit is far more valuable than a deduction since a credit Memorial/Tribute Fund to Benefit Scouting offsets the computed income tax. This particular tax credit is claimed In Memory of Shawn Eberl ������������������������� David Svingen on the North Dakota income tax return. The amount of the credit is In Memory of Ken Toso ������������������������������ Richard & Brooke Barsness 40% of the value of a gift made to a qualified (permanent, irrevocable) endowment fund of a ND nonprofit organization provided that the gift is deductible for Federal tax purposes. The tax credit allowed in any one year may not exceed the current year tax liability; unused credits may be carried forward for up to three additional tax years. The annual limitation on this tax credit is $10,000, determined at the entity level. Therefore, eligible gifts totaling up to $25,000 per year will bring about the maximum annual credit.

AN INVITATION TO GIVE THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING! Gifts to the Northern Lights Council, BSA ND Tax Credit Endowment Fund will enable us to look to the future with confidence as we continue to fulfill our vital mission. Please contact Dale Musgrave at 701-293-5011 for additional information.

Nothing in this article is intended to provide legal or tax advice. Please consult your professional tax advisor for specific information. December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 7 FINANCE NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL… FUNDING THE FUTURE OF SCOUTING 2019 Family Friends of Scouting Campaign Kicks Off! The goal of Northern Lights Council has always been to reach more youth with fun, quality programs that develop citizenship, character and physical fitness. Because of your financial support and the 3,114 registered adult volunteers, more than 10,100 registered youth are THANKS TO YOUR INVESTMENT WE participating in a quality Scouting program. CAN PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING SUPPORT Each year, we ask families of Scouts to participate in our Friends of • Resources and tools that are used to plan and coordinate local unit Scouting (FOS) campaign by making a financial contribution. programs, recruit new members and organize new units. Delivering quality Scouting programs and resources across the Council • Leader training courses for youth and adult leaders. comes at a cost. In fact, it costs $250 per scout per year to deliver, maintain, and improve our programs and resources. • Purchase audio-visual equipment and supplies to support training and programs. Becoming a Friend of Scouting is easy. Follow these six steps: • Underwrite the cost of the council newsletter, mailed regularly to 1. Appoint your Unit Friends of Scouting (FOS) Representative each registered leader, providing communication and information to Your unit FOS representative ensures each family in the pack, troop or local leaders as well as our E-news communication. crew has been asked to participate in the annual FOS campaign. This • Help to underwrite the cost of our council website and the district person will work with the unit committee to schedule an FOS websites. presentation and coordinate with your District’s Family Friends of • Support the Council Service Center, including telephone, postage, Scouting Chair or District Executive. office supplies and staff. 2. Schedule a Unit FOS Presentation • Professional staff to guide and support District Operations and Units agree to plan and conduct an FOS presentation. The unit Volunteer Unit Leaders. presentation will last no more than 7 to 10 minutes and should be • Assistance to individuals for camperships, membership scholarships, scheduled for a meeting you expect to have most parents and families at uniforms and books to assist families who do not have the financial (for Packs it may be the Blue & Gold Banquet and for a Troop a Court ability to pay the full cost of the Scouting program. of Honor is best). January and February are the best months for a Unit Friends of Scouting presentation. • Liability and Accident insurance for registered adult leaders, chartering partners, youth members and the Boy Scout Council. 3. Set a Goal • Community based Cub Scout Day Camp programs and activities Each unit has an FOS Goal. Units that achieve their FOS Goal will throughout the council. receive the Gold FOS recognition ribbon in addition to recognition in our Council newsletter and recognition on the website. Ask your • Support year-around camping programs across the Council. District’s Family Friends of Scouting Chair or District Executive for your • Support the maintenance and upkeep of camping facilities including, unit’s FOS Goal. If you have any questions or concerns, please visit Camp Wilderness, Heart Butte Scout Reservation, Big-4 camp and with them prior to your unit’s presentation. the Tom Branter Memorial camp. 4. Send a Letter—Inform the Parents One to two weeks prior to the unit FOS presentation the unit FOS representative or another unit leader should send a letter, email or both, to all the families. The letter should explain what FOS is and let families know at the upcoming meeting you will be having a presentation. A sample letter is available on our council website. 5. The Presentation A volunteer representing the District will be happy to come and conduct your scheduled presentation which will take 7 to 10 minutes. Your unit FOS representative should be there to assist. 6. Follow-up Some families will miss your presentation. After the presentation the unit FOS representative should call each family that was unable to attend and give them the opportunity to support FOS. All cards, even for those that do not give a gift, need to be turned in to your district’s Family Friends of Scouting Chair or District Executive. NORTHERN HILITES - 8 December 2018 - February 2019 CAMP WILDERNESS TIMBER MANAGEMENT UPDATE By Andy Kietzman, Camp Ranger, B.S. Forestry

Well, another busy year at Camp Wilderness is in the books! As we prepare for 2019, one of the seasonal priorities for me revolves around our annual timber sale. Just as we’ve done for the past several years, this year will see another timber sale taking place at the camp. This one will again be in the ‘highly visible’ category, and I wanted to let you know about it. This year’s harvest will be a three-pronged approach to our logging sale. Step one was discussed at length in the last edition of this publication, and revolved around the idea of removing timber near the main road into camp. That timber will be removed along the main road on one side or the other, and sometimes both, in an effort to create open space so we can get the road widened and create better drainage. Once these goals are achieved, the road will be safer for the Scouts, safer for traffic coming in and out of camp, and easier to maintain because we will have space for the snow, ice, and rain to be diverted off the of the road surface. This harvest will require a complete removal of all marketable timber to prepare for this work. I estimate this at about 2 acres in total size. Step two will be focused on our continued efforts to remove our over-mature aspen and birch stands. This year, we will be focusing on some of the old timber located between the Boy Scout Archery Range, the old Climbing Tower site, the Rifle Range, and back across the main driveway towards the Cub Scout Shooting Sports area. As with past harvests in similar stands of timber, our primary focus here is to remove the old aspen and birch before they fall down. As you may recall from past articles, the key to getting quality aspen regeneration is to remove these trees before they are totally dead. If the trees in these sites are still alive when we harvest them, the root systems of the trees we remove will sprout up new shoots that will create our next forest. What is an unhealthy stand of old aspen and birch will soon re-sprout into a new and thriving forest. Where one tree is removed, as many as 100 new sprouts will be growing, and in 3-5 years, these new trees will reach 15-20 feet in height. Also, as in previous harvests, we will reserve any existing hardwoods in these areas, such as oak, maple, and ironwood. We will also save the healthy pines and spruces in these areas, only taking those that are unlikely to survive due to crowding or other disease or deformity. This management area will amount to roughly 16 acres of timber harvest. The last part of our timber sale will involve the pine plantation on the southeast slope along the road going between the main driveway and the fishing area. Another way to imagine where this site is, is that it would include the slope where you can enjoy the Cub Scout Sledding Hill. This site is dominated by red pine trees (Norway pine) that were originally planted by Scouts in the 1960s. We are following the goals of these original plantings by removing some of the trees so that we can allow the trees that remain to grow stronger. This type of harvest is known as a thinning, and the purpose of a thinning is to allow more sunlight to reach each tree by removing some of the trees. Otherwise, the trees will all grow to be very tall and skinny as they fight to be the tallest tree and get the most sunlight, with not a lot of strength. When this happens, and a heavy windstorm occurs, the trees don’t have the strength to withstand the wind, and the entire stand is often blown down. By thinning the stand, the individual trees can focus more towards growing thick, strong trunks which can withstand these kind of weather events. Over time, this stand yields a beautiful forest loaded with massive, healthy strong pines. This is the second time this stand has been thinned since it was planted in the 60s. By the time these trees reach the end of their lifespan, at somewhere around 300 years old, this stand will likely see several more thinnings take place. The harvest taking place here this year will cover about 10 acres. In conclusion, this is obviously an area of camp that sees a lot of traffic annually. This is a 28 acre harvest that will get attention when you come to Camp Wilderness. I encourage you to check it out when you are here. See what we are doing and think about the reasons why we are so proactive in our forest management. Ask questions if you have them. This is a terrific opportunity for you and your Scouts to learn more about being good stewards of our resources. If you are here for winter camp this year, and if the loggers are working, please watch them! They are masters of their craft, and the equipment they operate is incredible. But please leave a safe distance while watching them in action. It keeps them comfortable, and more importantly, keeps you safe. And stay off the log piles! As always, please don’t hesitate to let me know if you have any questions or concerns about this harvest or any of the Forest Management that we do here at Camp Wilderness. You can reach me via phone at the camp at 218-732-4674, or via email at [email protected] , or just stop and see me when you are in camp! I look forward to seeing you here again soon!

Ranger Andy UPDATE ON CAMP WILDERNESS STORM SHELTERS

Scouts will be safer when they are camping at Wilderness next year. Construction continues and progress is going well on the storm shelters. Walls and roof panels are up on both the Boy Scout and Cub Scout sides and they are currently working on the interior. The timeline to be completed is January 31, 2019 with minor interior and landscape work after the spring thaw. Once that phase is completed a small capital campaign will begin to start raising funds to build the top program shelters. December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 9 WINTER AT CAMP WILDERNESS WILDERNESS ROMP Scouts can attend Camp Wilderness all winter long. On weekends February 9th, 2019 in January, February and early March we offer winter camping The 2019 Camp Wilderness ROMP Program is opportunities to Packs, Troops and Crews. Experiencing the on Saturday, February 9th and is $20 per person winter through these programs can come in a couple different for the day or $35/person plus cabin rental for forms. You can sleep outside in special below zero sleeping bags or sleep indoors in heated cabins. A variety of heated cabins with the weekend. Program runs from 10-6 and electricity are available to rent each weekend. All cabins have lunch and dinner is provided in the Dining Hall. mattresses to sleep in and shower and bathroom facilities are Cardboard Box Races, Ice Golf, Curling, Cross- centrally located for your convenience. Country Skiing, Snowshoeing, and ice fishing Throughout the day you'll learn how to stay warm while are just some of the program activities planned participating in fun activities at camp. Some examples are: for a fun winter day! sledding, tubing, and cross-country skiing, plus many more! Cabins and food are also available for

WHY GO WINTER CAMPING? theweekend and run for the same rates as No bugs, no lines, no problem. Winter Camping is an important winter camp. part of Scouting, especially if you live in North Dakota and . Packs, Troops and Crews should be camping every Registration will be online at: month, but that can be hard in those cold winter months. Having www.NLCBSA.org. the right gear can be expensive. It is hard to find someone who knows how to winter camp. We provide all the gear that you typically have to buy yourself to have fun and experience winter to the fullest. POLAR CUB DAY AT CAMP WILDERNESS

WHEN TO GO WINTER CAMPING? SATURDAY, MARCH 4, 2018 December Polar Cub Scouts Weekend March 1 – 3 is filled with fun 7-9 Cub Scout Winter Wonderland (See page 9 for more information) things to do! Join us for "sleigh" hay rides, broomball, ice 8 Winter Wonderland Day Only fishing, sledding hill races, and much more! Cabins and food 26–31 Boy Scout Week Long Camp are available for the weekend and run for the same rates as January winter camp. Every Weekend for all Scouts The fee for Winter Wonderland is $20 for the day or $35 per February person for the weekend, plus the cost of cabin(s) reserved. 1-3 The weekend participant fee covers the following: 8-10 Camp Wilderness ROMP (See page 9 for more information) • Event day programs & registration 9 Wilderness ROMP Day Only • Winter Camp Participant Fee 15-17 • Saturday Breakfast, Lunch, Supper & Sunday Breakfast 22-24 • Polar Cub Scouts Patch March • Equipment rentals 1-3 Polar Cub Camp Weekend (See page 9 for more information) • Download the flyer and register for this event online at 2 Polar Cub Day Only www.nlcbsa.org – Cub Scout camping. Dress for the weather, in layers, and bring a spare…

CAMPMASTERS WANTED Bring along small daypack with We are currently looking for Adult volunteers to be Campmasters extra water, some snacks, extra during winter camp weekends at Camp Wilderness. You would be mittens/gloves, extra socks, in charge of checking in the groups as they arrive on Friday, and warm boots. Bring along your checking in and out winter equipment such as skis, snow shoes, etc. own winter fishing equipment, and then checking out the groups on Sunday morning. sleds, tubes, skis, and snowshoes If you decided that the Boy Scout camp is where you would like to help out, you will stay in Silver Beaver Lodge for the weekend. The cabin has 4 bunks, a full kitchen, and 3/4 bathroom. There is also a T.V. and DVD player for your use. If you decided that the Cub Scout camp is where you would like to help out, you will stay in the Health Lodge in the Jones Tower. The Jones Tower has 6 bunks, a 3/4 bathroom, a microwave, fridge, T.V. and DVD player for your use. If you are interested in any weekend this winter, please contact Tom Barry at the Center for Scouting at 877-293-5011 or email Tom. [email protected]. 2018 BOY SCOUT WEEK-LONG WINTER CAMP Camp Wilderness is the place for Boy Scout Troops to be for a week-long winter camp experience! Check-in the evening of December 26th and check-out the morning of December 31st. This Boy Scout camping opportunity will prove to be a winter blast for your Scouts. Snow sports, snow shelter building and winter survival skills, just to name a few of the activities to keep Scouts moving and most importantly having fun! www.nlbsca.org/wintercamp NORTHERN HILITES - 10 December 2018 - February 2019 2019 Camp Wilderness-Northern 2019 BOY Tier Boundary Waters Canoe Trip SCOUT SUMMER We have once again partnered with Norther Tier to offer a 5-day Boundary Waters trip! This will allow older Scouts in your troop CAMP RESERVATIONS to go on a high adventure trip while your younger Scouts attend Camp Wilderness 2019 Boy Scout Summer Camp Wilderness. Registration will be online directly through Camp registration is open. Summer camp Northern Tier. Registration is per individual, if we do not have weeks run June 16-July 27. Make your the minimum number of participants registered by April 1st, your reservation online at: $100 deposit will be refunded. A minimum of 1 adult and 4 http://www.nlcbsa.org/Camping/BoyScoutPrograms/ youth is needed and can combine Scouts from multiple troops to BSSummerCamp/ reach this number Register today to ensure you get the week your want! The 2019 fee per person is $450: $100 due at registration $150 due April 1, 2019 $200 due May 1, 2019 CAMP WILDERNESS WANTS YOU! We are currently looking for fun loving and Fee includes transportation from Camp Wilderness to Northern energetic people who want to be a part of Tier on Sunday, a 5-day trip in the Boundary Waters, and something LARGER than life, CAMP STAFF! transportation back to Camp Wilderness. Staff get to be a part of something amazing and leave a lasting and positive impact on the lives of so many Scouts, adult leaders, and fellow ARE YOU ELIGIBLE? staff. To participate in the Camp Wilderness-Northern Tier canoe trip, Camp Wilderness is home to 55-75 seasonal you (Scout) must be: employees each summer who provide the 1) a registered Boy Scout, Varsity Scout or Venturer Scouting program and positive experiences to 2) must be 14 years old OR completed 8th Grade and the thousands of youth and adults who attend our programs. Paid staff live in cabins be 13 years old by the time of arrival throughout the summer, with volunteer Counselors in Training staying 3) be classified as a “swimmer” prior to arrival in tents. We have openings in each area for the summer of 2019. Whether you ADULT LEADERSHIP are 15 and want to help in or 21+ and want to be a A minimum of one registered adult leader (21+). There are no Program Area Director, we have something for you. Still want to be part of this amazing opportunity but teaching isn’t for you? Consider gender restrictions for leadership except that a co-ed roles in the kitchen, trading post, or as Quartermaster! crew must have both male and female leadership (21+). Each Paid staff must be at least 15 years of age to work at camp. Counselors crew must have at least one adult currently trained in CPR, in Training are Scouts who are at least 14 years old and want to gain Wilderness First Aid, Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, Weather experience working on the camp staff in the summer time for a two- Hazards and Youth Protection. All adults need not be trained and week period. the training may be shared among the adults. For more information visit www.nlcbsa.org/2243, contact the Center for Scouting at GET A PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AND PARENTAL PERMISSION 701-499-0643, or e-mail Tom Barry at [email protected]. All participants, youth and adult, MUST bring a completed Annual BSA Health and Medical Record form. Be sure to provide the doctor Parts A, B, C and the High Adventure Advisory SCUBA Merit Badge And statement when you go for your physical exam. PADI Certification Camp Wilderness has partnered with Requirements for Adults Attending Mick’s SCUBA to offer the SCUBA Merit Badge and PADI Certification to Boy Scout Summer Camps Scouts attending Camp Wilderness during Week 4 (July 7-13), Week 5 (July The Boy Scouts of America now requires all adults 14-20) and Week 6 (July 21-27). Scouts accompanying a Boy Scout troop to a summer resident camp, who participate in this program will be High Adventure Camp, or any event lasting 72 hours or more transported to Clear Lake, located near the north entrance of must be registered as a leader in a local unit, district, or Itasca State Park each day for this program. Cost includes council. This includes the completion of a background check on-line training from PADI, use of and having current Youth Protection training. diving equipment, oxygen tanks, diving instructor, and your week of attending Here are a few key things to remember: Camp Wilderness. The on-line training • This only applies to the Boy Scout program must be completed before arriving at Camp Wilderness. • This applies to all adults accompanying a Boy Scout troop to summer camp who is staying the night in camp. Who: Scouts must be 14 years of age by the start of class. Scouts will be given preference and interested adults will be • The adults must have completed the entire registration put on a waiting list until the sign-up deadline. process, including the background check. Please note that a background check takes at least 3 days to process. When: Weeks 4 (July 7-13), 5 (July 14-20), and 6 (July Please submit any adult registration forms to the council 21-27) office at least 2 weeks before your arrival at camp. Filling Cost: TBD. Cost includes PADI out an application on the first day of camp will not meet certification, dive expenses and this new requirement. camp fees for attending Camp Wilderness for the week. NORTHERN HILITES - 11 December 2018 - February 2019 FLICKERTAIL DISTRICT #1 promotion to Senior District Director. Shaun has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from North Dakota State University, and has previous experience in sales, customer service Serving Eddy, Foster, Griggs, Steele, Barnes, Stutsman, Lamoure, Ransom, Dickey and and in operating a small business. Sargent Counties. District Commissioner... Andrew Banks...... [email protected] Join us in congratulating Shaun as he works with the Northern Sky team to grow the District Executive...... Shawn Grover...... [email protected] Scouting programs from West Fargo to Jamestown! He joined the Northern Lights Sr. District Director...... Kevin Mehrer...... [email protected] Council on November 16, 2018.

DECEMBER RECHARTER PARTY 13 District Committee Meeting @ 6:00pm (Atonement Lutheran Church Jamestown) 13 Roundtable/Recharter Turn-in Party @ 7:00pm (Atonement Lutheran Church Jamestown) On December 13th at 7:00pm at Atonement Lutheran Church in Jamestown this year we 14 Popcorn payments are Due will be hosting a recharter party! On that night you will be able to bring in your 19 Recharters Due completed charters to drop off and go over any questions you may have.

JANUARY SCOUTING FOR FOOD 2019 10 District Committee Meeting @ 6:00pm (Atonement Lutheran Church Jamestown) March is fast approaching! Which means it s time for this year’s annual Scouting for 10 Roundtable @ 7:00pm (Atonement Lutheran Church Jamestown) 31 Charters Expire Food Drive here in the Northern Lights Council. It is extremely exciting to have a full team of volunteers dedicated to helping us reach our 2019 goal. We will need everyone’s FEBRUARY help if we are to reach our goal, but I am confident that we can do it!! No matter when 3 Scout Sunday you do your units food drive, remember to weigh all items brought in and send your 7 District Committee Meeting @ 6:00pm results to the Council Office 7 Roundtable @ 7:00pm at Atonement Lutheran Church 15 Council Annual Meeting FRIENDS OF SCOUTING A new year and a new campaign! In the next 3 months most Packs will have a Blue and NEW DISTRICT EXECUTIVE Gold Banquet, and Troops will have a Court of Honor. During these occasions a district We are pleased to announce that Shaun Grover has been selected volunteer will offer a brief but important presentation to all parents regarding the annual as the District Executive in the Flickertail district. Friends of Scouting finance campaign. Please plan your banquet or court early in advance so we can arrange a speaker. Also, don’t forget to plan a few minutes for the Shaun’s primary responsibility will be the support of membership recruitment, new unit presentation in your agenda for the evening. Thanks to all the help from the speakers sales, fundraising, volunteer engagement and program support in the Flickertail District. last year, and we would appreciate your support again this year. You are encouraged to He will also support some level of district operations on the Western areas of the have a parent or leader help with presentations. Northern Sky District. Shaun will be reporting to Kevin Mehrer who has accepted a

OXCART TRAILS DISTRICT #3 Serving Grant, Otter Tail, Richland, and Wilkin counties in Minnesota and North Dakota. This year’s Klondike on January 19, 2019 promises to offer an enjoyable experience for District Chair...... Mark DeMartelaere...... 218-736-7226...... [email protected] Boy Scouts, Crews and adult Scouters alike! Test your skills and earn prizes! Lakes District is invited. Make sure your Klondike Sled is ready to GO! We will also be doing District Commissioner...... Mike Guck...... 218-849-2124...... [email protected] these exciting activities: Asst. Dist. Commissioner..... Teresa Pearson...... 701-640-7218...... [email protected] • Survival skills tests District Executive…...... Lindsay Aune...... 701.799.6753...... [email protected] • Troop building activities Check out and LIKE or District on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OxcartTrailsDistrict • A hike • Lots of other fun activities DECEMBER Pack your own lunch and dinner, or other snacks you might want to enjoy! We will once 1 District Charter Renewal System Opens Online again be at Moccasin Valley in Erhard. Cost will be $10 per person, which includes the 6 7:00 PM Round Table, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN program fee, a patch and some delicious hot chocolate! Arrow of Light Scouts are invited 6 7:00 PM Charter Renewal Help Session, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN to watch with a parent. Event registration on January 19th will start at 8:00AM. Be on 24-25 Office Closed the lookout for a list of what supplies to prepare to test your scout skills! 27 7:00 PM District Committee Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN 27 8:15 PM District Commissioners Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN DISTRICT RECOGNITION BANQUET We are delighted to have Mark DeMartelaere planning an amazing banquet at Grace JANUARY United Methodist Church on February 7th, 2019. It sure to be an amazing evening, as the 1 Happy New Year past two years with Mark at the helm have proven to be spectacular. Dave Iverson will 3 7:00 PM Round Table, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN serve a meal of smoked Pork. Please be sure to get your nomination forms from Mark 19 8 AM – 3:00 PM, Klondike Derby (Boy Scout), Moccasin Valley, MN DeMartelaere and returned to him no later than January 15th, 2019. Please do not be 23 5:00 PM-6:30 PM Charter Turn in Party, Augustana Lutheran Church, MN afraid to share your nomination with the person you are nominating! We want them to be 26 District Planning Conference, Glendalough State Park Visitors Center present to receive their award, as it is a great honor to be recognized for their years of service to Scouting, and to the District. FEBRUARY 2 Cub Scout Winter Fun Day, Runestone Park WEBELOS TO SCOUT TRANSITION 7 6:30 PM District Awards Banquet, Grace United Methodist Church, Fergus Falls, MN Now is the time to follow up with those Packs in your area to contact the Arrow of Light 28 7:00 PM District Committee Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN (AOL) Scouts and invite them to check out your Troop. This should be done early, so it 28 7:00 PM District Commissioners Meeting, Augustana Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, MN can be a part of the AOL Den’s plan and your Troops plan on incorporating them into a few meetings and activities. 98% of all Boy Scouts were Cub Scouts so work with your Cub Scout Pack in your area! Have Den Chiefs help and earn leadership for rank ADVANCEMENTS advancement. More Scouts will cross-over the more involved the Troop is with the Pack. Eagle Scouts Mark Sundberg, Oxcart Trails District’s new Webelos to Scout Transition Chair is a great resource to AOL Den’s and Troops plan these meetings. Caleb Boehm Lone Scout Benjamin Nuss Troop 302 Brayden Aasen Troop 325 SPRING RECRUITMENT FOR ALL SCOUTING Dylan Pearson Troop 346 Although we do most of our recruiting in the fall for our programs, it is never too late to Join Scouting! For Cub Scouts, we will focus on Current Kindergarteners, and any grades Other Ranks you are short on members. I want your Pack, if you have an ACTIVE summer program 8 Lion Rank 22 Scout Rank 65 Bobcat Badges that is being planned, (at least one active per month), to participate in this in the month of 25 Tenderfoot Rank 65 Tiger Rank 9 Second Class Rank April. May is getting too late to do spring Recruitment. For our Boy Scouts/Scouts BSA, 37 Wolf Rank 10 First Class Rank 46 Bear Rank we can focus on 5th grade and up in your community. The spring is a wonderful time to 10 Star Rank 50 Webelos Rank 7 Life Rank do this as we can get new Scouts involved before the end of the School year and into our 23 Arrow of Light Rank 4 Eagle Rank 393 Merit Badges great summer adventures. Please let Lindsay Aune know about your Spring Recruitment Plans! CHARTER RENEWAL Although recharter is not the most fun, it’s an essential process to record keeping, chartering organization relationships, and keeping your scouts/adults insured! Oxcart SCOUTING FOR FOOD Trails starts the charter process in December with an expiration date of February 28th. Throughout the year, there are many families that worry about how they are going to Here are some helpful tips for your unit to make it an easy process! make ends meet and keep food on their table. “Do a good turn Daily” is a THE slogan of the Boy Scouts of America, one that we install into each of our youth that participates in • Get your new scouts’ applications turned in and paid ASAP. This gets them on Scouting. We also teach them how they can make a difference in the lives of others. The the books before you start. If you don’t, you’ll need to enter in every bit of Northern Lights council’s annual Scouting for Food (SFF) drive is one way in which we information for them, lengthening the process. can make a larger impact on a very serious problem occurring in our local communities. • Confirm from each existing scout if they are returning for 2018-2019. Starting March 16th-23rd, all units and their Scouts are encouraged to take part in this year’s Scouting for Food campaign. We will have more information at the February and • Get each leader to take the new YPT immediately. Tip! Get everyone in a room March Roundtables. Please plan to have your unit be a part of this council-wide and watch it together. There are several Youth Protection Champions in the community service project. district who can help get your unit trained. Just ask Mike Guck or go to our District Website to find out how to get in touch with one of them. Every year, Oxcart Trails District Collects nearly 7,000 lbs. of food for local food pantries during our annual Scouting for Food Drive. To see the difference that Scouts can • Need help? Ask NOW. The longer you wait, the tougher it gets. make in just one short week is truly remarkable! • Incentive: Free Ranks require charter turned in no later than January 23rd. Important Dates! FAMILY FRIENDS OF SCOUTING PRESENTATION • December 1st: Charter Renewal system opens online. Many of you have already scheduled your unit presentation, but if you haven’t yet please • The December Roundtable will offer a course on charter walk through. do so. Friends of Scouting is important part of the year for the Northern Lights Council. If you want to complete your charter at this time, have additional With the money that is raised during the campaign we can continue to improve many of questions or need some assistance, come prepared with an up to date our camping opportunities and other programs that we as a Council have to offer. The roster and completion of YPT with adults who will register. funds also go to support our efforts to improve the health of all the units in our council. Please consider supporting Friends of Scouting this year. • January 23rd: 5-6:30pm: Charter turn in party. Free pizza! December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 12

FREE RANK INSIGNIA IN 2019 JOURNEY TO EXCELLENCE (JTE) The Northern Lights Council is pleased to offer Packs and Troops the opportunity to earn Volunteer leaders, Scouts, and their families have fun together as they participate in the free rank insignia throughout 2019. Qualifying units will receive free rank insignia each Scouting movement and help shape a stronger, brighter future for our communities and time a Scout advances in rank. This offer is made possible by the annual Friends of our country. The Boy Scouts of America recognizes those Scouting units where Scouts, Scouting campaign and council product sale. To qualify for free rank insignias a unit their families and their leaders make the program stronger and more fun for everyone. must meet each of the following requirements: Units can achieve one of three levels of the Journey to Excellence Recognition Award; 1. Participate in Popcorn Sale – the unit must participate in the council sponsored 2018 Bronze, Silver, or Gold. If you would like to see a copy of the JTE scorecards, please go Trail’s End Popcorn sale with a minimum of $500 in total sales. to https://www.scouting.org/awards/journey-to-excellence/ to find the most relevant one for your program unit. 2. Journey to Excellence – Units must achieve at least “Bronze” level recognition in Scouting's Journey to Excellence in 2018. • The Journey to Excellence unit scorecard must be completed, signed and submitted. 3. On-time Charter Renewal – To be considered “on-time” the charter renewal paperwork must: • Be received by a district representative by the district due date (see below) • Be complete, with fees, error-free and ready to process by the final deadline (no missing signatures, required applications, Youth Protection training certificates, etc.) • Be Turned in on or before January 23rd, 2019 4. Friends of Scouting – Unit must attain 2019 Friends of Scouting goal. • Presentations should be held between November 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 • The minimum goal is determined by: (Number of registered youths listed on charter renewal paperwork x $40)

LAKES DISTRICT #4 FAMILY FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 2019 Serving the Minnesota counties of Douglas, Grant, Pope, Stevens, Swift, and Traverse. It is that time of year again: time for your Pack, Troop or Crew to set your Family District Chairman...... Adrian Panther...... 720-308-4567 ...... [email protected] Friends of Scouting Date. We would like to do this at a Pack’s Blue and Gold Banquet or District Commissioner...... Mike Denke…...... 320-491-8381……...... [email protected] a Troop’s Court of Honor. The presentation will take no longer than 10 minutes. Friends District Executive...... Michael Schatz...... 320-429-8440...... [email protected] of Scouting gives each family the opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to the Check out and LIKE or District on Facebook: www.facebook.com/lakesbsa Northern Lights Council to help support all the great programs we provide to your units. These include Camps (Summer and Fall Day Camps, Resident Camp for both Cub and Boy Scouts), Trainings, Scholarships for families that cannot afford scouting, and it DECEMBER 4 District Committee meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) keeps the costs of all activities and events low, so all can afford out great programs. 4 OA Chapter meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) Please email District Executive Michael Schatz your Date, Time and Location so we can 4 Roundtable, Calvary Lutheran Church (7:30 pm) get your presentation scheduled. 11 FOAM (Fun OA Meeting), Location TBA (6:30 pm) 17 Commissioner meeting, via GTM (8:00 pm) SPRING RECRUITMENTS FOR ALL SCOUTING UNITS 18 Unit Charters turn in Party (Dairy Queen South, Alexandria 4-7 pm) We do most of our recruiting in the Fall for our Programs, but we can recruit in the 18 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) Spring. Now is the time to start thinking about Spring Recruitment. For Packs we can 19 Unit Charters Due to the Council focus on any grades that you are short on members. I want your Pack, if you have an active summer program being planned (at least one activity a month), to participate in JANUARY Spring Recruitment. Troops we can focus on 5th-8th graders in your community and 1 District Committee meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) show them the fun they can have at Summer Camp. Crews can focus on 8th-10th graders. 1 OA Chapter meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) The spring is a great time to do this and get them involved before the end of the school 1 Roundtable, Calvary Lutheran Church (7:30 pm) year and into our great summer adventures! 8 FOAM (Fun OA Meeting), Location TBA (6:30 pm) 15 Commissioner meeting, via GTM (8:00 pm) WEBELOS TO SCOUT TRANSITION 19 Klondike Derby with Oxcart Trails We learned of a great idea that has worked for many Troops to have a significant amount 22 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) of Webelos Cross-over into their Troops. Work with your Cub Scout Packs to have the Webelos Den Meetings at your Troop meetings. This is for 4th and 5th graders. You can FEBRUARY incorporate them into the opening and then they start their meeting. This will show them 2 Cub Scout Winter Adventure Day (Runestone Park) that they have some much to look forward to as Boy Scouts after Cub Scouts. The 5 District Annual meeting & Committee meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) Webelos would still do Cub Scout Pack meetings and events, but this would be another 5 OA Chapter meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) way to keep more boys from dropping out. Give it a try and let me know if you are 5 Roundtable, Calvary Lutheran Church (7:30 pm) going to be trying it to see if it ends up working. 98% of all Boy Scouts were Cub 12 FOAM (Fun OA Meeting), Location TBA (6:30 pm) Scouts so work with your Cub Scout Pack in your area! Have Den Chiefs help out and 19 Commissioner meeting, via GTM (8:00 pm) earn leadership for rank advancement. More boys will cross-over the more involved the 26 OA Ceremony/Regalia meeting, Calvary Lutheran Church (6:30 pm) Troop is with the Pack. BOY SCOUT KLONDIKE DERBY Join us as we test your skills at Moccasin Valley near Fergus Falls, MN at our annual RECHARTERING Klondike Derby with Oxcart Trails! Make sure your Klondike Sleds are ready to GO! Each year, scouting units (Packs, Troops, and Crews) are required to renew their charters We will be doing activities. Pack your own lunch and dinner or other snacks you might with the Northern Lights Council. The charter is the official agreement between the want to enjoy! Event details will be online by the time you read this. Registration will council and your local chartered organization to provide a program under the auspices of begin at 8:00am. The event run from 9am until about 3pm. the BSA. The process of renewing a unit's charter reinforces this agreement year-to-year and provides an opportunity to update registration records and qualify for Journey to Excellence recognition. Questions feel free to ask District Commissioner Mike Denke. CUB SCOUT WINTER ADVENTURE DAY On Saturday, February 2nd all Cub Scouts and any Youth in grades K-5 are invited out to Cub Scout Winter Adventure Day at Kensington Runestone Park. This event is put on by DO YOU WANT YOUR UNIT FEATURED? the members in our District and promises to be a lot of fun. Please Do you have something news worthy happening in your pack, troop, or crew? The Lakes bring a sled and helmet for the awesome sledding hill, as well as plenty of warm clothes District would like to encourage all units to share specific items of interest with the and dress in layers! Fun games will be played along with other activities. Registration district. This can be related to unit activities, outings, or just good ideas. This information starts at 8:30am and the event runs from 9am-3pm. will allow us to spread good program ideas to other units throughout our district. If you have photos of your Scouts doing something fun, please e-mail them to Michael:([email protected]) and you might find them on our Website or our LAKES DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE Facebook page! This will be held on Tuesday February 5th at 6:30 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Alexandria. The District slate of officers and members-at-large will be voted on. Voting members are the registered District Members-at-large and any registered Chartered Organization Representatives.

NORTHERN SKY DISTRICT #5 Successfully serving youth through community organizations in Cass, Trail, Clay, Becker, Mahnomen and Norman counties in North Dakota and Minnesota. JANUARY 2019 District Chairman...... Trent Gerads 3 Roundtable 4 Scouter of the Year Nominations Due District Commissioner...... Jefri Jones 10 Eagle Board of Reviews Sr. District Director...... Kevin Mehrer...... [email protected]...... 701-499-0645 17 Commissioner Meeting District Executive...... Brett Drevlow...... [email protected]...... 701-499-0659 17 OA Chapter Meeting District Executive...... Shaun Grover...... [email protected]...... 701-293-5011 19 Klondike Derby

DECEMBER 2018 6 Roundtable FEBRUARY 2019 13 Eagle Board of Reviews 7 Roundtable 20 OA Chapter Meeting 14 Eagle Board of Reviews 20 Commissioner Meeting 21 Commissioner Meeting 24-25 Offices Closed (Holiday) 21 OA Chapter Meeting 31 Report to the Governor Nominations Due 24 District Recognition Dinner NORTHERN HILITES - 13 December 2018 - February 2019

ROUNDTABLE! PUTTING THE “OUTING” IN SCOUTING! Join us on the 1st Thursday of each month at the Center for Scouting for our monthly Why are youth joining scouts?! For Adventure! Make sure your Pack or Troop is schedul- training sessions! Learn best practices tips on the trade of being a scouting leader! ing regular outings! What could that be?! For Boy Scouts, visit a weekend event at Camp Connect with other leaders from different units and share ideas the lead to better, Wildnerss this winter. Ask your SPL to investigate National High Adventure Bases. Don’t stronger scouting! Roundtables begin at 7pm with announcements, and then break forget that great outings go a long way in keeping our Boys interested in Scouting. If your shortly after for specific cub scout and boy scout leader sessions. pack or troop is having retention issues, your unit is likely not scheduling enough outing. EAGLE BOARD OF REVIEWS Further, our volunteer district team does an incredible job of creating opportunities for If your scout is looking to set up their Eagle Scout Board of Reviews or has questions you to bridge the gap. Sign up for day camps, camporees, and scout night with the Fargo about the Eagle Scout process, please email [email protected]. Force!

REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING Every year our council organizes an incredible opportunity to meet the Governor of At this point, you’re a little behind the ball – but – we can still help you get there before North Dakota and share all the good things going on in scouting! If you are interested in year end! The National Council is mandating every Adult Leader Registered with the submitting an application for a scout, please visit the Center for Scouting or email Brett Boy Scouts of America needs to re-take their Youth Protection Training. You can take or Kevin to receive a form. this training at www.my.scouting.org – you will need to create a profile, if you have not done so yet. Then, You will need to click on the Youth Protection Training emblem, watch the video, and turn in the certificate to the Center for Scouting. If you do not get SCOUTER OF THE YEAR / DISTRICT DINNER the training done, your membership with the BSA will lapse and you will not be able to Are there leaders in your unit worthy recognition? EVERY pack and troop have a great volunteer with the BSA. If you need help getting the training done – please contact number of leaders deserving of “scouter of the year” awards. If you are interested in Kevin or Brett. nominating your fellow leaders, please pick up a nomination form at the Center for Scouting, or email Brett. Following your nominations, please put February 24th on your calendar for the district recognition dinner. There is absolutely no way scouting could SPRING CAMPOREE Get April 26th-28th on your calendar for our annual Spring Camporee! As we are in the function without the quality leaders serving each pack and troop. This is the district’s final stages of planning, tune in to future announcements via email and roundtable for time to thank you for all you do in addition to announcing and awarding scouter of the our program! Is your troop having issues bringing younger scouts in? Call up a nearby year awards. pack and invite the webelos den to join you for the outing. The best part of the Spring Camporee: all you need to do is show up! DO A “GOOD TURN” DAILY A Scout doing his “Good Turn” is what helped bring the Scouting Movement from England to America. Scouts – never underestimate the power of your good deeds! If we’re not serving our communities, why are we scouts? Need some ideas? Ask your chartered organization what they need help with (also a great way to build relationships), go to your school and do a clean up there, maybe there is an area where you community needs to some – volunteer your Pack or Troop to pitch in! Make sure you are also logging in each Community Service Project you are doing! Need help or direction, contact Kevin or Brett at 701-293-5011.

LAKE AGASSIZ DISTRICT #8 NEW DISTRICT EXECUTIVE Serving youth in Towner, Cavalier, Pembina, Ramsey, Walsh, Nelson, Grand Forks, and We are pleased to announce that Mark Landa has joined the council staff and will Traill Counties in Northeast North Dakota and Serving the Minnesota Counties of Polk, Marshall, Red be serving at the District Executive for Voyageur Trails area of the Lake Agassiz Lake, Pennington, Kittson, and Roseau. District. District Chairman...... Mark Nelson Mark joins us with experience from Farmers Insurance in Sales and Marketing; District Commissioner...... Tom Henderson with the North Dakota Division of Vocation Rehab in Public Relations & Admin- istration; and as an Executive Director of the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks. Assistant District Commissioner (East)...... Cameron Carlson His community involvement is extensive, and includes active volunteerism in 4-H, Assistant District Commissioner (West)...... Steve Shark the Chamber of Commerce and the Grand Forks Fair and Exhibition. Mark is a District Director...... Thomas D. Huether.....(406)780-0690...... [email protected] product of UND with a degree in Business Administration. District Executive...... Mark Landa...... [email protected] Mark’s first day with the council was November 16. Please welcome Mark to the Northern Lights Council team! DECEMBER 6 District Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM 7-8 Winter Camp at Camp Wilderness ROUNDTABLES TO SUPPORT THE DISTRICT 8 Camp Wilderness Winter Wonderland The District will be trying out a new Roundtable format starting in August 2018. 13 Den Leader Training @ 6:00 pm Holy Family Church 13 Den Leader Training @ 6:00 pm Zion Lutheran Church via To better serve our scouting families in the Lake Agassiz District, we will be of- 13 Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting @ 6:00 pm Holy Family fering 3 locations to check in to on Roundtable nights. These locations are Devil’s 13 Roundtable @ 7:00 pm Holy Family Church Lake (Lake Region Community College), Grand Forks (Holy Family Church) and 13 Roundtable @ 7:00 pm Zion Lutheran Church via GTM Thief River Falls (Zion Lutheran Church). No matter which location you check 14 Popcorn Payments Due in to for the Round table night you will be able to view the same roundtable as 19 Cub Scout Specific Training via Go To Webinar @ 7:00 pm everyone else while experiencing the fellowship of scouting. This is a great way to 24 Christmas Eve, Offices Closed bring new families together and support the vast Lake Agassiz District. 24 Christmas Day, Offices Closed Unable to make it to one of the roundtable locations? Have no fear you can still 26-31 Boy Scout Winter Camp join in on the fun by logging in on your own personal computer to see the excite- ment and share in the scouting program! JANUARY 1 New Year’s Day (BSA Offices Closed) 3 District Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM VOLUNTEER POSITIONS IN THE DISTRICT! 4-6 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness The Lake Agassiz District is always looking for new individuals to assist in vari- 13 Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting @ 6:00 pm Holy Family ous programs and positions in the District. The District is here to support the units 10 Roundtable @ 7:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM by providing programs, resources, training, and the fundraising capabilities to 11 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness ensure that the units have the programs, resources, and training to look forward 16 Friends of Scouting Kick-off to. If you are looking for something new to do, we want to talk to you! Positions 18-20 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness available are Unit Commissioners, Members-At-Large, members of the member- 21 Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday ship team, members of the training team and more! Contact the Grand Forks Field 25-27 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness Office for more information. 29 Day Camp Committee Meeting @ 6:30 pm GTM 31 District Commissioner Meeting @ 7:00 pm GF Field Office PLEASE WELCOME ALICIA! It is my pleasure to announce that Alicia Haar has been hired as the part-time FEBRUARY 1-3 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness Grand Forks Office Assistant in Grand Forks, North Dakota, effective October 23, 5 Friends of Scouting, District Kick-Off 7:00 am Ramada Inn 2018. Alicia will be working twenty hours per week. 7 District Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM 8-10 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness—Romp Weekend Alicia is originally from , and lived in Grand Rapids, MN before 14 Valentine’s Day (No Roundtable on the 14th) relocating to Grand Forks in July 2017 for her husband’s job. Alicia has worked 15-17 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness in many retail positions over the years with Kmart, Home Depot, Target, Hibbett 18 Presidents Day Sports, Crossmark and is also currently working at the Holiday Station Store in 21 Committee Member Training @ 6:00 pm Holy Family Church 21 Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting @ 6:00 pm Holy Family Grand Forks. 21 Roundtable @ 7:00 pm Holy Family Church & via GTM 22-24 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness Alicia is married to her husband Justin who works as Cyber Security for Minnko- 28 District Commissioner Meeting @ 7:00 pm GF Field Office ta Power and is Cubmaster of Discovery Pack 34. They have three children, Ve- ronica, age 16 who is active in her high school Art Club and JROTC, Alex, age 11 MARCH who enjoys playing the trumpet and is a Cub Scout in Pack 34 and Bella, who is 1-3 Winter Camp @ Camp Wilderness—Polar Cub Weekend age 9 enjoys singing and dancing. They also have Sofie, who is a Labany which 7 District Committee Meeting, 6:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM is a mix of a Black Lab and a Brittany who loves spending time at the dog park 14 Order of the Arrow Chapter Meeting @ 6:00 pm Holy Family any chance she gets. Alicia enjoys target shooting, fishing, attending car shows 14 Charter Organization Rep Training @ 6:00 pm Holy Family Church and spending time with family and friends in her spare time. 14 Roundtable @ 7:00 pm Holy Family Church & GTM 19 District Dinner @ 6:00 pm 28 District Commissioner Meeting @ 7:00 pm GF Field Office Please join me in congratulating Alicia as she starts her new role with the North- TBD Scouting for Food ern Lights Council, Boy Scouts of America. December 2018 - February 2019 NORTHERN HILITES - 14

ROUGHRIDER DISTRICT #10 DISTRICT ADVANCEMENT District Commissioner...... Paula Kleinsasser All Scout units need to complete the BSA Advancement Form to order District Chair...... Jeremy Berger Advancements from the Fargo Center for Scouting. This insures a record of District Executive...... Beth Ann Pulley ������������������������������������� [email protected] youth Advancements can be maintained. Advancement forms are avail- able at www.nlcbsa.org Brian Shock is the District Advancement Chair. DECEMBER Advancement includes the “Life to Eagle Scout” Process, Troop, Pack and TBD District Committee Christmas Venture Advancement, Requirements, and Recognition. 11 Roundtable 24-25 Christmas Offices Closed DISTRICT RECOGNITION NOMINATIONS 29 BSA – Roughrider Gala Our District Recognition dinner will be held on March 2nd in Dickinson. Every unit should consider nominating their leaders for the numerous JANUARY awards that are given. A family of the year should also be nominated from 1 New Year’s Day office Closed EVERY UNIT. There will be several nominating forms sent to you the TBD District Committee Meeting month of December. The nomination forms should be emailed or mailed 8 Roundtable to Beth Ann Pulley by January 21st. The voting will take place on Febru- 19 Winter Fun Day ary 5th at the District Committee Meeting at the Chambers of Commerce in Dickinson at 7:00 PM. This is a fun event and it is a great opportunity FEBRUARY to recognize all the adults who work so hard to make Scouting possible. 5 District Committee Meeting Please pass this information around your unit and encourage everyone to 12 Roundtable attend. WEBELOS CROSSOVER New Boy Scouts are essential to maintaining the troop’s health. New WELCOME TO ALL THE NEW CUB SCOUTS Scouts bring energy and enthusiasm to the Troop program. The first step This has been an exciting few months for Cub Scouts as we added new to insure your Troop has new Scouts every year is to appoint an assistant Scouts to the program in the Roughrider District. A special welcome to Scoutmaster or Troop committee member to serve as the Troop member- all the new families who have joined Scouts over the last few months. We ship chair. This person will develop and implement a year-round growth hope that your experience with your child is enjoyable and you get to see plan that includes all the methods of recruitment. the benefits that Scouting has to offer to your child. A Big Thank You for all the Packs and their hard work in making this year’s recruitment a huge There are three methods of recruiting new Scouts into troops: success in the Roughrider District. • Graduate Webelo’s Scouts into a Boy Scout troop. • Host a troop open house. POPCORN SALE 2018 • Encourage boy-to-boy recruiting. We hope all the units enjoyed selling Popcorn and making lots of money to spend on the great adventures of Scouting like; Summer Camp, Day Camp, Getting boys to cross over into Boy Scouts is not an easy task. However, it Webelo’s Camp, Boy’s Life, Field Trips and much more. The District would is much easier if the Webelo’s have had a chance to meet some of the Boy like to thank all the businesses, giving permission to the Scouts for sell- Scouts, attend activities with the Troop, and understand the program. Also, ing popcorn at their business. A Huge thank you goes out to Family Fare the Boy Scouts of America National office has provided each Troop with A in Dickinson, allowing the district to store popcorn for a couple months Year-Round Guide to Boy Scout Recruiting. This guide explains the steps at their facility. If you saw Scouts selling popcorn at a business make sure necessary for both Troops and Packs to ensure a great Webelo’s transition. you tell the business thank you and you appreciate what they do for the Please contact your local Pack(s) this month and invite Webelo’s II to a Boy Scouts of America. Troop meeting or activity. ANNUAL FRIENDS OF SCOUTING CAMPAIGN UNDERWAY Scouting doesn’t just happen by chance it takes a lot of volunteers who are WHERE DO YOU GET HELP, SUPPORT AND CONTACT INFORMATION? recruited trained and supported. Friends of Scouting pays for services to The District Web Page of course! Go to www.nlcbsa.org, then click on volunteers, units and youth. It also provides scholarships and maintenance districts, then Roughrider and you will have the information you need. To of four Council camps, supplies and materials to units, and much more. post news items, accomplishments, activities, or any other information you Each unit should set a date, typically in conjunction with a Cub Pack Blue would like to share with the District, send them to Beth Ann Pulley at bpul- and Gold Banquet or a Boy Scout Court of Honor for a Friends of Scouting [email protected] presentation at your unit. Your unit Friends of Scouting presentation should take place prior to March 1, 2019 Units should also recruit a unit Friends Our district website is the place where you will find all the latest informa- of Scouting Chair. Please provide the date of your Friends of Scouting pre- tion and flyers. Make it a regular destination. sentation to Amelia Dustin 701-260-6769 or by email at ameliascoutelia@ gmail.com IMPORTANT LINKS Northern Lights Council Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/ ROUGHRIDER GALA The Roughrider District is hosting a Gala for the Boy Scouts of America Roughrider District Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/2156 special event. This is to help support local Scouting while recognizing Roughrider District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nlcbsaroughrider businesses and community leaders. The Gala will be on December 29th Fargo Scout Shop (The Scout Store): http://www.nlcbsa.org/fargoscoutshop 6:00 PM – 11:00 PM at Lady J’s in Dickinson, North Dakota. There will Boys Life (Great Site): http://www.boyslife.org/ be a dinner, dancing, live and silent auction, and a wine pull. There are options to sponsor tables and donate items to be in the auction. This is an adult only event. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, sponsoring a DISTRICT EXECUTIVE INFORMATION table, donating an auction item, contact Beth Ann Pulley at 219-765-8162. Beth Ann Pulley Northern Lights Council, BSA WINTER FUN DAY P.O. Box 1061 All District Cub Scouts are invited to attend the Annual Winter Fun Day Dickinson, ND 58602 on Saturday, January 19th, 2019 from 10 to 12PM at the LDS Church. The [email protected] Scouts will be learning about Safety. This event costs $5 entry for each child.

TOMAHAWK DISTRICT #11 NEW DISTRICT EXECUTIVE District Chairman...... Jared Lundeen We are pleased to announce that Lacy Britt has been selected as the District Commissioner...... Mike Kelly Executive for the Tomahawk district. Asst. Director of Field Service...... Rob Gilkerson �������������������������������������������������� 701-223-7204 Lacy’s primary responsibility will be fulfilling the mission of Scouting through District Executive...... Lacy Britt leadership and guidance of all district operations, including; volunteer engagement, membership recruitment, community and family fundraising, new DECEMBER 6 Commissioner’s Meeting @ Christ Lutheran Church- 6pm unit sales, fiscal management of activity budgets and program support in the 6 Roundtables @ Christ Lutheran Church- 7pm Tomahawk District. Lacy is a veteran of the United States Air Force, with 21 years of leadership experience in nuclear maintenance. He has experience in training, scheduling, JANUARY human relations, budgeting and program management. 3 Commissioner’s Meeting @Christ Lutheran Church-6pm Lacy has an Associates Degree in Munition 3 Roundtables @Christ Lutheran Church-7pm Maintenance Systems Technology, and a Bachelor of 31 District Committee Meeting @Town and Country Credit Union- 4:30pm General Studies from American Military University. Lacy is an Eagle Scout from the Minot area, and has served as an Assistant Scoutmaster for a local troop. FEBRUARY Join us in congratulating Lacy as he works with Rob 2 The Klondike Derby @Big 4 Gilkerson, and the Tomahawk District team to grow 7 Commissioner’s Meeting @Christ Lutheran Church-6pm the Scouting programs across the area. Lacy joined 7 Roundtables @Christ Lutheran Church- 7pm the Northern Lights Council on November 16, 2018. 28 District Committee Meeting @Town and Country Credit Union@4:30pm NORTHERN HILITES - 15 December 2018 - February 2019

FRIENDS OF SCOUTING CAMPAIGN 2019 Communication- Be sure to keep parents informed on upcoming events within The Friends of Scouting Campaign is right around the corner. This is a the pack. Use differents channels of communication- email, text, and Facebook. wonderful way to invest back into the Scouting program. There are three Organization- Have a detailed calendar for the entire year, so families can plan methods of registering for an FOS presentation. One is via online on NLC.org far ahead. under Invest in Finance, filling out the Friends of Scouting sheet in your recharter packet or calling your local representative to schedule a presentation at 701-839-2260. THE KLONDIKE DERBY!!!! This is a great event for all Boy Scouts in the Tomahawk district. It gives the Boy KEEPING NEWER FAMILIES INVOLVED IN CUB SCOUTS Scouts an opportunity to refine or build different skills such as starting a fire. It Here are some key tips for keeping new families involved beyond the first will be at the Big 4 Scout Camp again on February 2. You will not want to miss couple of months: this opportunity. Asking for help- Be sure to ask new parents for help. Please start off with a small ask that can lead to a major ask down the road.

FRONTIER TRAILS DISTRICT #13 troop with Webelos and Arrow of Light Scouts that are looking for their next **Serving Bismarck-Mandan and 12 surrounding counties Scouting adventure. Families, Scouts and leaders are invited to come learn District Chairman...... Kelvin Hullet and ask questions of Troops in attendance. We will be hosting the meet and District Commissioner...... Colette Perkins greet during our December Roundtable on December 6th, 7-8:30pm at the District Executive...... Marie Mott...... [email protected] Capital Credit Union Scout Center. DECEMBER 6 Roundtable /Meet and Greet 15 Silver Beaver Nominations Due FRIENDS OF SCOUTING 26-31 Boy Scout Week Long Winter Camp Scouting does not just happen; it takes the support of volunteers, parents and 31 Report to the Governor Nominations Due the community to offer the best Scouting program for our youth. We are in the midst of the annual Friends of Scouting (FOS) Campaign. During this JANUARY time, we ask the community, families and volunteers to give a financial gift 1 Office Closed to support Scouting. These funds provide for a professional staff, volunteer 3 Roundtable training, camps and scholarships for camping and uniforms. Each unit will 8 District Committee Meeting be hosting a short presentation to ask their Scouting families for this support; 24 Commissioner Meeting typically, at a Blue and Gold or a Court of Honor. Your unit Friends of Scouting presentation should take place prior to March 1, 2019. Every dollar FEBRUARY helps in our mission to develop tomorrow’s leaders. For more information 3 Scout Sunday and to schedule your unit FOS program please contact the Bismarck Scout 5 District Committee Meeting Office at 223-7204 7 Roundtable 21 District Recognition Banquet FRONTIER TRAILS DISTRICT VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION BANQUET 28 Commissioner Meeting Join us on Thursday February 21th for our annual volunteer appreciation Banquet. We have had a very exciting year in Scouting and we have a LOT to celebrate. We will have a dinner and an awards program to recognize NEW DISTRICT EXECUTIVE those that have helped to provide the best Scouting program possible to as We are pleased to announce that Marie Mott has been many youth as possible. To get details and to register check out our District selected as the District Executive in the Frontier Trails Calendar at: http://www.nlcbsa.org/2168 district. Marie’s primary responsibility will be fulfilling the mission of Scouting RECOGNIZING THOSE WHO MAKE SCOUTING POSSIBLE through leadership and guidance of all district operations, including; Scouting would not be possible without those who give up countless hours volunteer engagement, membership recruitment, community and family for the betterment of the movement. Those parents who constantly help out fundraising, new unit sales, fiscal management of activity budgets and at Pack meetings, the leaders that put together the Scouting program that program support in the Frontier Trails District. your family enjoys, the school that allows us to come in and disrupt the Marie is an experienced leader in business, non-profits and marketing with a school day in order to do Boy Talks. There are lots of folks within our proven ability to lead and motivate others. Her most recent leadership role district that deserve some recognition!! If there is someone you know or an was that of Executive Director of Bridging the Gap Dental in Bismarck. She organization or business in the community that you feel needs to be has also worked with the North Dakota Department of Health in the areas of recognized for their contributions, please fill out an award nomination form! Emergency Preparedness and Response. Marie has a Bachelor of Science in Please submit your nominations by January 18th to ensure we can make the Organizational Leadership from Middle Tennessee State University. selections and be prepared for the Volunteer Appreciation Banquet. You can find our nomination forms at http://www.nlcbsa.org/2158 or by visiting the Join us in congratulating Marie as she works with Rob Gilkerson, and the Bismarck Scout Office. Frontier Trails District team to grow the Scouting programs across the area. She joined the Northern Lights Council on November 16, 2018. IMPORTANT LINKS Northern Light Council Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/ TROOP AND WEBELOS MEET AND GREET This annual event provides a great opportunity for all 4th and 5th graders to Frontier Trails District Website: http://www.nlcbsa.org/2158 learn about Troops they want to visit and join all in one night. Troops from Frontier District Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frontier-Trails- the Frontier Trails District will setup a table to share information about their District-Northern-Lights-Council-444356885699403/

GREAT PLAINS DISTRICT #14 CUB SCOUT WATER CARNIVAL District Chairman………...... Pete Isom...... 701.580.9604...... [email protected] One of the most anticipated Cub Scout events of the year is right around the District Commissioner...... Vacant corner! Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 19th for our annual Cub District Executive...... Vacant Scout Water Carnival at the Williston ARC. Last year we had nearly 100 Cub Assistant Director of Field Service...... Rob Gilkerson...... 701-557-3920 Scouts in attendance and was a sure highlight of their scouting year. This year we will be bringing back all the fun activities from last year, with a few DECEMBER additions as well. Keep an eye out for registration information that will be 4 District Committee Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM coming your way shortly. 11 District Roundtable Meeting (Faith United Methodist Church-Williston)

JANUARY FINAL THOUGHTS 8 District Committee Meeting (Faith United Methodist Church-Williston) After three years of being in Williston, I will be moving on in December to 15 District Roundtable Meeting (Faith United Methodist Church-Williston) Albuquerque, New Mexico where I will be serving as a Senior District 19 Cub Scout Water Carnival @ Williston ARC Executive on the city’s eastside. I would like to thank each and every one of you that has helped grow the scouting program in our district. Our district has had FEBRUARY quite a few major accomplishments met because of your dedication to the 5 District Committee Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM program. One of the biggest being in 2017, when our District had one of the 8&9 Klondike Derby @ Williston Spring Lake Park largest membership increases in the entire country. This year has been another 12 District Roundtable Meeting, Faith United Methodist Church, Williston, 7:30PM successful one thanks to all the work done by our volunteers. I leave our District knowing that it is in the best of hands with a group of passionate volunteers and leaders. You all truly embody the spirit of the scout oath and law, and it has been FALL RECRUITING RESULTS a pleasure to work with everyone. Thank you. The Great Plains District boasted another year of Fall Recruiting in 2018, seeing ~ Ethan Crisp a huge influx of Kindergarten boys from across the District eager to sign up for the Lions program. While we had very tough shoes to fill with our amazing results from last year, each Pack hosted a solid recruitment night and our District has a real chance to have membership growth again by years end. NORTHERN HILITES - 16 December 2018 - February 2019 PAID ORG . Fargo, ND Fargo, NON-PROFIT POSTAGE U . S 684 NO . PERMIT To a valued volunteer: a valued To

FARGO, ND 58103 FARGO, NORTHERN LIGHTS COUNCIL NORTHERN LIGHTS AMERICA SCOUTS OF BOY South Avenue 4200 19th