DISTRICT CHAIRMAN: Buzz Eckelkamp
DISTRICT COMMISSIONER: Scott Waller
TSW444@yahoo.com
Welcome to the Osage District page!
A 2007 Centennial Quality District.
last update: 8/21/2008
SCHOOL NIGHT TO JOIN SCOUTING
The 2008 School Night to Join Scouting will be held on the first two Thursdays of September. The local School Night is determined by the school district one resids in. The nights will begin at 7 p.m.unless other arrangements have been made.
Thursday, Sept. 4
Meramec Valley School District
St. Clair School District
Lonedell School District
Sullivan School District
Bourbon School District
Cuba School District
Steelville School District
Private Schools within these school districts
Thursday, Sept. 11
Washington School District
Union School District
Gerald (Owensville) School District
New Haven School District
Spring Bluff School District
Strain-Japan School District
Private Schools within these school districts
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* * * BREAKING NEWS * * *
See Information below about Boy Scout Leader Training.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW
FOR THE OSAGE DISTRICT PROGRAM PREVIEW MEETING
The 2008-09 Program Preview meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug.12, at 7 p.m. at the St. Clair High School Auditorium (this is a different time and location than our nomal monthly Roundtable meetings). There will be no August Roundtable meeting on the first Tuesday of August.
ALL leaders, at all levels of the unit, are encouraged to attend this very valuable meeting. Come and find out about the wonderful and exciting experiences that Scouting has to offer for the upcoming year.
PLAN YOUR PROGRAM YEAR NOW!
Click here for the Osage District 2008-09 Calendar.
District Calendar 2007-08
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I WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SCOUTING.
WHO DO I CONTACT?
Contact District Executive Ken Etter.
Not receiving the Duffel Bag? Click below for a subscription form for the Greater St. Louis Area Council newspaper.
Duffle Bag Subscription Form
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OSAGE DISTRICT ROUNDTABLE
Boy Scout and Venturing Roundtable
First Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m.
St. Clair Jr. High School
Cub Scout Roundtable
First Tuesday of the month, 7:30 p.m.
St. Clair Jr. High School Cafeteria
The August Roundtable will be the PROGRAM PREVIEW. Please see above for further information.
All adult volunteers of the Osage District are encouraged to attend our monthly Roundtable to stay informed and trained in the exciting happenings of Scouting!
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UNIT LEADER E-MAIL LIST
The Osage District is attempting to compile a list of unit leaders (Cubmasters, Scoutmasters and Advisors) and committee chairmen for each unit as quick way to get the word out about date changes, friendly deadline reminders and general information. Now that rechartering is complete, please use the form linked below to fill out the needed information for your unit. When completed, please return the form at Roundtable or e-mail the form to to Ken Etter.
Osage District Unit Fact Sheet
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GET RECONNECTED TO SCOUTING
Are you a former Scout or Scout leader who would like to reconnect to Scouting? The Osage District welcomes the chance to help you reconnect with us. You may enter the district and serve on the district level (for example, unit commissioner) or we can connect you with a local Scouting unit. For more information, please contact Osage District Executive Ken Etter.
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SUMMERTIME PACK AWARD
Don't forget there is an award for packs who participate in events during the summer months. Please download the form below for information on how to apply for the award.
National Summertime Pack Award Application
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IT'S POPCORN TIME AGAIN -- LET'S GET POPPING!
Now's the time to begin planning for this year's popcorn sale! Most of you know just how good Camp Masters popcorn is, but do you know how good it is for your unit and the council? For more information or to sign up, click the "Popcorn" button above. Here's the skinny on why popcorn is such a great fundraiser for your Scouts to participate in:
- 70 percent return to Scouting on products sold.
- 40 percent commission returned to units on top three high-end items.
- No contracts or up-front money.
- Support network in place to assist units with their sale.
- Online ordering available.
- Scouts can sell in their uniform.
- Non-food items available in addition to popcorn products.
- Prizes are available as incentives for Scouts.
- Top sellers prizes available for any Scout who sells $1,500 or more of popcorn.
For more information, contact the Osage District Popcorn "Kernal" Mark Murray at mrmurray@yhti.net or 636-583-6170.
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FALL CAMPOREE
The 2008 Fall Camporee will be held on Sept. 26-28. Troop 449 will be the host troop for the weekend. More information will follow.
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SCOUTING FOR FOOD
The 2008 Scouting for Food drive will be held on Nov. 15 and 22. Please talk this up and have as many of your Scouts and their parents participate. With many hands the work will go fast and all of us can take part in such a worthy cause.
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2008 CUB SCOUT DAY CAMP
WOW, what great Cub Scout camps we had in the Osage District this summer. More than 215 Cub Scouts participated in our camps. THANK YOU to all the Scouts and their parents who came out for these camps.
We also have a number of Gold Medals of thanks to those who directed and put on the camps in our district. And the winners of the "thank you gold medals go to":
For the Washington Day Camp
Camp Director: Gwen Mauntel
Program Director: Ann Meyer
For the Sullivan Evening Camp
Camp Director: Wanda Reeves
Program Director: Myota Vancil
Medals all around for those who helped out at each camp as area directors, volunteers and parent walk-around leaders. It is because of you that we are able to put on such great programs.
You may like to know that this year, an evening camp was held in Gerald. This was a fully accredited camp that was put on by Cubmaster Travis Troyer and the leaders of Pack 448. It was a practice run this year in order for them to hold the camp for the entire district next year.
In 2009, The Osage District will have three camps for Cub Scouts during the Summer: Washington, Sullivan and Gerald.
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WE WANT YOU!! -- UNIT COMMISSIONERS
As you experienced with the Recharter process, Unit Commissioners are a vital part of a units success. Former and current Scout leaders and volunteers make the best unit commissioners. A unit commissioner helps his or her assigned units during the recharter process, school night and committee meetings and makes visits to the unit to ensure its success.
The Osage District is looking to provide the best service to all our units. With this in mind, we ask the help of units in finding unit commissioners. Many of our units share a chartering organization with another unit. We ask units that belong to a specific chartering organization to get together and identify someone who would act as a unit commissioner for those specific units. We ask all units to put forward individuals to be a unit commissioner. Training will be provided for the commissioner.
If you are interested in becoming a unit commissioner, please contact Ken Etter or Osage District Commissioner Scott Waller.
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All units in Osage who were chartered before Dec. 31, 2007, are elidgable and should be able to achieve this award, the parameters are very open. Unit commissioners will be available to help you with this form.
It is now time to start thinking about the 2008 Centennial Unit Award. Click on the above button for more information and forms. These forms should be turned in with your March recharter. Hopefully, even more units will receive the award next year. If you have any questions, click on the above link or contact Osage District Commissioner Scott Waller, TSW444@yahoo.com, for help or information.
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TRAINING
NEW LEADER ESSENTIALS
New Leader Essentials training, which takes place before Cub Scout or Boy Scout Leader Specific Training, will be offered on Saturday, Sept. 20, at St. Clair Jr. High School begining at 8:30 a.m. Check the calendar on the right of the web page for further information. There is no separate charge for this session when taken with Cub Scout , Boy Scout or Venturing Leader Training.
For more information, contact Ken Etter at 314-256-3106.
CUB SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
Cub Scout Leader Training will be offered on Saturday, Sept. 20, at St. Clair Jr. High School begining at 10:30 a.m. Check the Upcoming Events listing on the right of this web page for further information. The cost is $15 per participant, which includes handouts and a leader's handbook. There is no need to preregister -- simply show up at the door. You must attend New Leader Essentials before this training.
For more information, contact Betty Hrdlicka at 636-358-0749.
BOY SCOUT LEADER TRAINING
Boy Scout Leader Training will be offered in a two-part program. The first part is on Saturday, Sept. 20, at St. Clair Jr. High School begining at 10:30 a.m. The second part of the training is on Saturday, Sept. 27, at the district camporee; this class will begin at 9 a.m. These two sections enable the participants more time to take in all the important infomation and to work together as a patrol.
NOTE: This second part DOES NOT take the place of the leader overnight on Oct. 4-5. Check the Upcoming Events listing on the right of this web page for further information.
The cost is $15 per participant, which includes handouts and a leader's handbook. There is no need to preregister -- simply show up at the door. You must attend New Leader Essentials before this training.
Participants in Boy Scout Leader Training should also plan to attend the Introduction to Outdoor Skills segment of training. This training experience takes place on Oct. 4-5 at Beaumont Scout Reservation. Participants must complete the sessions in St. Clair and at Beaumont to be completely trained.
For more information, contact Paul Henderson at 636-239-1779.
YOUTH PROTECTION TRAINING
Leaders can take this training online through the council website -- click the above button for the link. Upon completion of the online course, leaders can print a certificate. Adult leaders are recommended to take this training every three years. For more information about the training, click here: BSA Youth Protection Program
Youth Protection Training for Units Chartered to a Catholic Church, School or Organization
If your unit is chartered to a Catholic organization, your unit leaders must complete the Archdiocese of St. Louis Youth Protection Program, Protecting God's Children, in addition to the BSA Youth Protection. These classes are offered throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis. For locations and times, check out the archdiocese website, www.ArchStl.org, and look in the Education section.
TRAINING AND CAMPING PROGRAMS OFFERED BY COUNCIL
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DO YOU HAVE NEWS YOU WANT TO GET OUT?
Do you have news about your unit that you want to get in the newspapers? If so, contact Osage PR director Mary Beth Huxel for help. Please give her two weeks' notice of an event or a story you want to place in the newspapers. Contact Mary Beth at huxelmb@eastcentral.edu.
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|
ORDER OF THE ARROW
(click on lodge patch for Shawnee Lodge website) |
|
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OSAGE CHAPTER OF THE SHAWNEE LODGE OFFICERS
| Chapter Chief |
Paul Unger |
| 1st Vice Chief |
Cameron Mercer |
| 2nd Vice Chief |
Brandon McDowell |
| Secretary |
Kris Soltys |
| Chapter Adviser |
Greg Myers |
O.A. CHAPTER MEETING
The next Osage O.A. Chapter Meeting will be held on August 13, at 7:30 p.m., at St. Clair Jr. High School. All members of the Order of the Arrow are strongly encouraged to attend.
BROTHERHOOD RITUAL TEAM
Are you a Brotherhood member of the Order of the Arrow who would like to be a member of a ritual team? The Osage Chapter of the Order of the Arrow would like to put together a Brotherhood Ritual team. If you are interested in partaking of this service to the chapter, please contact Ben McDowell at 573-518-5141 or email Ben at benbfishin@charter.net.
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EAGLE SCOUTS |
LIFE-TO-EAGLE SEMINAR
Does your troop have Star or Life Scouts who aspire to be Eagle Scouts? Scouts, parents and leaders are invited to attend this free seminar on Wednesday, October 22, at 7 p.m., to learn all in the in's and out's of the Eagle Award process, including the Eagle project and processing the paperwork.
Click on the event link at right for more information about the Life-to-Eagle Seminar.
EAGLE BOARD OF REVIEW
After attending the Life to Eagle Seminar and choosing a project, you must then present the project to the Eagle Board of Review. An appointment is required to come before the Review Board. Contact Eagle Board of Review Chairman Peggy Swisher at 636-583-4663 for an appointment with the board.
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STARTING A NEW SCOUTING UNIT
It is the desire of the Boy Scouts of America to make Scouting available to every boy, and in the case of Venturing to every boy and girl ages 14 to 20. If you belong to a community organization or a faith-based organization and would like information about starting a unit, please contact Osage District Executive Ken Etter about the process of establishing a new unit.
The Family of Scouting
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Do you know that Scouting is available for boys from first grade through age 20? Scouting, in the Venturing program is even available for girls.
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Cub Scouting is available for boys in first through fifth grades.
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Boy Scouting is available for boys in sixth through 12th grades, until the age of 18.
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Venturing is available for BOTH boys and girls ages 14 to 20.
If you are interested in looking into how to integrate the full family of Scouting into your organization, feel free to contact District Executive Ken Etter for more information.
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The National Council of the BSA recently developed a new award for adult leaders who start a new unit in their district. Recipients will receive a certificate and a unique embroidered square knot award to be worn on the uniform with other square knot awards. One example of an easy way to earn the award is to organize a Venturing Crew from your church's teen youth ministry. Interested in learning more? Click on the button above or contact Ken Etter for more information.