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| 08/21/2010 |
| Get to know…The Ceremonial Chief |
You could say that I’m the middle child in a three generation Scouting family. I have a father and son, both of whom are Eagle Scouts and Sachems in the Tribe. I’m quite proud of both of them.
I became a Boy Scout in 1965 with Troop 25, in St Joseph MO. I was tapped into the Tribe the summer of 1968 and later that year became an Eagle Scout. In 1969 I joined the Camp Geiger Staff and served four years, three of which, were on the Mic-O-Say staff.
I left the program for about five years, returning as an adult Runner in 1978. At that time I became very involved in the Robidoux dance team, serving as the assistant Dance Director and later as the Dance Director for fi... [view full article] |
| 08/05/2010 |
| Get to know... The Presiding Medicine Man |
My Scouting career began as a youth with Boy Scout Troop 110 out of Braymer, MO. I was tapped in 1977, and I am an Eagle Scout. As an adult, I served as an assistant district commissioner for the North Star District in Kansas City, MO, was the Scoutmaster of Troop 447 in N. Kansas City MO for 10 years, and founded the White Shield Dance team on behalf of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and served as the Dance Director for the District for nine years. I have served as the Presiding Sachem, and am now serving as the Presiding Medicine man. I am a member of the Pony Express Council Executive Board, and am the chairman of the Council Camping Committee.
I am married with two children, one of whom i... [view full article] |
| 07/27/2010 |
| Soak It All In - Ric Watson |
This past winter brought much ice and snow. It allowed me to collect some thoughts about some of my Mic-O-say brothers. I would like to tell you about three tribesmen I have known in Scouting & Mic-O-Say. They have a message to tell. But first I must tell you the rest of the story; otherwise the message will seem shallow and cliché.
The first two tribesmen are no longer with us—they walk with the Great Sprit. The first one had a booming presence with ceremonial parts. And he was one of the best. Yet in some respects he shunned the lime light, preferring to work behind the scenes. On a Friday night, most often you would find him sitting in the wings rather than the high bench. He d... [view full article] |
| 07/18/2010 |
| A Special Message from Chief Scout Executive Bob Mazzuca, Chief Eagle from the West |
Tribesmen,
It
was my great honor to attend ceremonies with the Mother Tribe of
Mic-O-Say at the Geiger Reservation on July 16th. Although I was
inducted into the Tribe and became an Honorary Chief in Kansas City, it
was awesome to see the original version conducted much as it has been
since its inception many years ago. There is a magic that is created on
the ridge that keeps young people and adult leaders engaged through all
the stations from Foxman to Chief. A magic that I wish I could
replicate for every council across America.
Just as I traveled to
your council... [view full article] |
| 07/13/2010 |
| The Impact of Mic-O-Say - Dirck Clark |
In June, I was at the Tribal Feast happily setting with my brother Firebuilder brothers when Directing Medicine Man Walks Tall called my name to serve as the 2010 Chieftain. Like the many Chieftains before me, my selection came as a very pleasant surprise – much like a scout standing around our tapping fire.
Having witnessed the new Chieftain ritual in the past, it was a completely different experience to participate in the ceremony. Even better was to have, then Brave Little Moon Watcher (Boone Clark) stand beside me. The tokens received from each paint station are items that have little value outside our Tribe, but are invaluable ... [view full article] |
| 06/20/2010 |
| A Night To Remember - Kirby Paulman |
Rock and roll, muscle cars, and Mic-O-Say. These are the things that really took off in the ‘60s and captured most of my attention during that time (Girls were on my mind a lot also). Prior to 1960 it seems to me that most of the hardway Tribesman would spend their high school years on staff and involved in Mic-O-Say and when college rolled around they were seen only occasionally at camp. There were some exceptions to this, but there were few young men in the upper paint stations. Runners and Keepers were very scarce and Sachems even more so.
Rick Lee, Jim Hower, and I were all on camp staff in the early to mid 60s and were almo... [view full article] |
| 06/06/2010 |
| My Life in (and because of) the Tribe of Mic-O-Say - Marc Stine |
Talk. Talk. Talk. Too much talk. (Note: My friends, brother Tribesmen, fellow staff members, and former students in St. Joe may now either groan or giggle.)
So here goes: I will not use this preciously short space to talk about my many adventures and experiences in MOS. The basic dates and stats are all on the MOS website. Instead, here is an abridged, personal, Mic-O-Say and life timeline. This is my absolute truth about what being a Tribesman did in my life, did to my life, and did for my life--so far:
1947 My story begins in Leavenworth KS.
1953 I... [view full article] |
| 05/27/2010 |
| 50 Years In Mic-O-Say- Jim Hower |
50 Years in Mic-O-Say
As I reflect on my 50 years in Mic-O-Say, it would be nearly impossible for me to name the ways it has influenced my life. Among them are lifelong friendships, leadership experiences, learning self confidence and responsibility. Mic-O-Say lessons are a thread that runs through my life, predates my career, my spouse, and my daughter. Many of my closest friends from camp staff are my close friends today.
If I have to select one gift from the tribe that has served me well thru 50 years it is the gift of self-denial. As a new brave, I was really into the tribe. During the winter of 1961 I built my costume and was anxious to attend my ... [view full article] |
| 05/23/2010 |
| Mic-O-Say Memories - Bob Hamman |
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I remember the icons of Mic-O-Say when I first entered the Tribe. Some of the names that come to memory are “Papa” Lloyd, MM Tree Hunter, Finley Fiske, Chief Swift Spear, Jerry Wake, MM Black Hawk, and the list goes on. I remember them as the “old guys” that you always saw at Tribal events. It is hard to believe that I am now on of those “old guys” with this being my Fiftieth Anniversary in the Tribe. I remember being there when H. Roe Bartle said at ceremonies, “It is as I remember it.” Now that, my fellow Tribesman, is truly “tradition.” Adding a combination of tradition, great friends found in the Tribe, the “magic” that happens on Tribal grounds and th... [view full article] |
| 05/09/2010 |
| Being a Tribesman of Mic-O-Say - Rick Lee |
“Many moons have come and gone…"
…and yet the love of Mic-O-Say that was kindled in my heart when I was a first year camper in 1958 remains strong.
When the third session of the 2010 camping season rolls around, I will have been a member of the tribe for 50 years. Although, I was away from St. Joseph, Camp Geiger and Mic-O-Say for nearly 20 of those years, I still feel a sense of pride in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of my induction into the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. I may regret the 20 years that I was away but I take some comfort in the fact that it was a career in professional Scouting that took me away initially.
After I left career Scouting, family... [view full article] |
| 05/01/2010 |
| Results For April 2010 Survey |
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| 04/24/2010 |
| Mic-O-Say Around the World - Scott Hodgin |
In 1968 I had the privilege of serving in the US Navy. Growing up in St. Joseph the only knowledge about the navy came from history books and stories from my Dad and Uncles. I had been a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and an Explorer. I had also had the one year of mandatory R.O.T.C. in high School. In my scouting career I achieved the rank of Eagle and was a Keeper of the Scared Bundle.
My scouting experience did pay off during my “Boot Camp” training. I was sent to Pensacola, Florida to become a teletype operator in the naval Security Group. When my training was completed I was sent to Oahu, Hawaii. I was part of a small communications base in the center ... [view full article] |
| 04/14/2010 |
| A Brave's Perspective - Andrew Donaldson |
My week at camp was one of subtle (and not so subtle) hints at what was to come. On the first day of camp, the Scoutmaster and an Assistant Scoutmaster (and Tribal Council member) gathered up all of the third years and told us we were being watched, we needed to exhibit good leadership, demonstrate maturity, and take responsibility for our actions. At dinner that night, they also reminded us again that we needed to exhibit maturity and leadership of younger scouts. The opening campfire’s customary “oooooo” while all of those scouts who had attended for three years stood up took on a slightly different meaning while I was being “oooooed.”
That brings us to Thursday; M... [view full article] |
| 04/02/2010 |
| Results For March 2010 Survey |
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| 04/01/2010 |
| April Fools 2010 - Camp Geiger Signs Casino Deal!!! |
It won’t be long before the sound of slot machine whistles and bells
begin ringing "…on the Hills above the River"!
The Pony Express
Council has inked a deal with the Missouri Gaming Commission to
immediately begin Riverboat gambling operations on the site of Camp
Geiger’s Old Swimming Pool. Because the Riverboat, "The Dillon Creek
Queen", sits on a site that "used to hold water", the Gaming Commission
ruled "eh…close enough," and issued the coveted gambling license.
The
150-Ton Riverboat was secretly towed to its current mooring up from
Dillon Creek with Foxman labor in t... [view full article] |
| 04/01/2010 |
| April Fools 2010 - Directing Medicine Man RESIGNS!!! |
In a shocking revelation, last night the Directing Medicine Man of the
Tribe of Mic-O-Say, Ed Stroud, resigned his position in favor of
fulfilling a life long dream, that of becoming a professional Jockey.
Ed
is currently in Louisville, KY attending Jockey School (see
photo) and hopes to be certified and licensed as a Jockey in time
to ride in this year’s Kentucky Derby.
In a telephone interview,
Ed was asked whether his, well…rather large frame might be a hindrance
in his quest to ride horses for a living. Ed replied:
"W... [view full article] |
| 04/01/2010 |
| April Fools 2010 - Mic-O-Say to be PIRATES!!! INDIAN THEME TO BE DROPPED IN FAVOR OF BUCCANEERS! |
After 85 years of an Indian themed Honor Camping Society, the Council of
Chieftains and the Pony Express Council have voted unanimously to
embrace a "Pirate" based program.
Beginning in the summer of
2010, the Tribe of Mic-O-Say will become the Crew of Blackbeard.
All current members of Mic-O-Say will be retroactively become members of
the Crew of Blackbeard and costuming must be retrofitted to the
Pirate theme in time for this summer’s ceremonies.
When asked
about the radical change, 2009 Chieftain (soon to be Pirate Captain) Ken
Siemens said "I think that the Indian theme finally played itself out.
The new Pirate theme is an... [view full article] |
| 04/01/2010 |
| April Fools 2010 - New Merit Badge at Camp Geiger |
Camp Director Larry Grantham announced today that the Pony Express
Council has purchased a mature male White Rhinoceros for the purpose of
offering the brand new Rhinoceros Awareness
Merit Badge at Camp Geiger beginning this summer.
Camp
Director Grantham said "Well, because Rhinoceros Awareness is also now a
required merit badge for Eagle, I thought that it was imperative that
it be offered at camp, and you can’t do that without a Rhinoceros. So
after searching high and low, I was quite fortunate to
find this
fine Rhino specimen on eBay (pictured here). We will be the first
long-term summer camp in the count... [view full article] |
| 03/28/2010 |
| The Importance of Inclusion - Ken Siemens |
The simple act of inclusion can change a life. That statement is perhaps never more true than within the Scouting movement and in particular the Tribe of Mic-O-Say.
When we tap a young man into the Tribe, it is a potentially life-changing act of inclusion. We have included a young man into our great honorary Scouting movement – a powerful movement that knows no equal within all of Scouting. However, that initial act of inclusion will inevitably fail to leave a lasting impression if it is not followed up by continued acts of inclusion by our older Tribesmen - inviting the new Brave to MOS events, dance practices, costume building sessions etc. It is durin... [view full article] |
| 03/15/2010 |
| Other People - Roger Miller |
A valuable part of the Scout Oath is helping other people. Many “other people” come to mind as I think of those who influenced my life in scouting and as a young man starting a career, family and businessman traveling around the world. Frank Mitchell, Bud Gossett, Jim Jones and Neal Paden were the men who provided me with many pleasant scouting memories and influenced the way I
live my life today.
Frank Mitchell was one of the scoutmasters at Troop 77 (Woodsen Chapel Church in St. Joseph) and a personal hero of mine. Mr. Mitchell was a quiet leader who led by example. At the end of one summer, he announced that our Troop would go camping the second weekend of eac... [view full article] |
| 02/28/2010 |
| Boehner Awarded For Lifetime Achievement |
Attendees of
Mic-O-Say Conclave on January 2nd at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS
saw the fifth presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Richard
H. Boehner, Chieftain Sees the Sun. Previous winners of this
prestigious award are Lonnie Edwards (Medicine Man Little Willing
Talker), Roger Thom (Chieftain Swimming Rock), Ken Paden (Medicine Man
Least Red Clock), and Ken Baker (Chieftain Little Pack Rock).
Dick
Boehner was honored for a lifetime of commitment and service to
Scouting and Mic-O-Say at an impressive ceremony during the Planet
Mic-O-Say program. The presentation ceremony includ... [view full article] |
| 02/28/2010 |
| 2010 Patrick L. Newman Mic-O-Say Scholarship Recipients |
Two Patrick L. Newman Mic-O-Say scholarships were awarded at the 2010
Winter Conclave at Benedictine College the evening of January 2, 2010.
Roger Denton, Committee Chairman and Daniel Gerhardt (2008 Newman
Scholarship recipient) awarded two scholarships selected by the
anonymous committee.
The first 2010 Scholarship recipient was
Eagle Scout Colton Zirkle, a member of Troop 216 in St Joseph, MO
and a Runner (Hunts Buffalo) in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Colton is in
the upper 5% of his class of 450 students at Central High School where
he will graduate in May 2010. He has a cumulative grade point average of
3.9 on a 4 point scale while taking a... [view full article] |
| 02/28/2010 |
| Great Ceremonies, Brothers All! - Bob Hamman |
How many
times have you heard the Directing Medicine Man at the close of a
ceremony say something like “Without the help of each and every
Tribesman here, these great ceremonies would not be possible”?
How
true that statement is. Think of Friday, for example. A significant
part of the focus is on the new Tribesman. These Foxmen receive an
initiation that rivals ones he may experience later in life, like a
fraternity, Masons, Elks, Knights of Columbus, etc. It is highly likely
the most impressive initiation (perhaps the only one as well) he has
experienced in his life thus far.&... [view full article] |
| 02/28/2010 |
| Results For February 2010 Survey |
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| 02/14/2010 |
| E. T. Seton’s role in American Scouting - Dennis Weiser |
E. T. Seton’s role in American Scouting
Ernest Thompson Seton started a scout like group for boys called the Woodcraft league in 1902. When he saved his ideas about Indian lore to a book called the Birchbark Roll of the Woodcraft Indians, his teachings about nature study, games, and camping skills became part of camp life at hundreds of YMCA and church camps across America. His songs and stories are still being told around Scout campfires to this very day. In 1905, he traveled to England to meet with General Baden-Powell, who was thinking about starting a new type of boys group based upon his experiences in South Africa. In later years, the founder of the British Boy Scouts f... [view full article] |
| 01/31/2010 |
| Results For January 2010 Survey |
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| 01/30/2010 |
| Leadership: Much More Than a Title - Greg Clevenger |
I know, I know, I know. You hear the term leadership every time you turn around. But I want you all to understand that titles are not nearly as important as actions.
I have been blessed in my service to Mic-O-Say. I have served as a District Dance Director, Committee Chairman, a member of various committees and special events, Presiding Sachem, and currently Presiding Medicine Man. But what about before that?
I do not wear Tapper Coup. I was never a member of the Camp Staff. I do not wear Silver Coup. I do not wear Lone Bear Coup. My Dance Coup is red, not blue, orange or green. So, was I not a leader back then?
Of course I was! We all are. The moment we put our claws ar... [view full article] |
| 01/16/2010 |
| Anticipation! - Ken Paden |
Here it is. The bad joke of the day. I just knew my daughter would think this bad enough to groan and then tell me that she would tell her history teacher, who loves to hear and tell bad jokes:
Secretary - "What's that?"
Boss - "It's a thermos. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold."
The next day…
Boss - "I see you brought a thermos to work today. What do you have in it?"
Secretary - "Two cups of coffee and a popsicle."
I know...the joke is too bad to even be in "Boys Life". However, I anticipated at the... [view full article] |
| 01/02/2010 |
| A Scout Is Courteous - George Wyatt |
Is courtesy a lost art form? As a customer of businesses I believe I deserve to hear “Thank you” after choosing to spend my money with a particular establishment. All too frequently there is no response or simply a “Have a nice day”. I challenge you as the customer to keep score. Rarely will you hear the words “thank you”.
Perhaps this is merely the “old guy” coming out in me, but I don’t think so. I believe that most people like me would like to hear those two little words – but have just resigned themselves to the fact that it’s not going to happen.
Last Saturday I stopped at a well-known chain fast food restaurant. A young man took my orde... [view full article] |
| 01/01/2010 |
| Results For December 2009 Survey |
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| 12/20/2009 |
| Year-End Message From The Chief - Alan Franks |
Year-End Message from the Chief
This past year has shown many exciting developments and successes for the Pony Express Council in the areas of program development, community involvement, and reconnecting many individuals to our Scouting story through marketing and good old fashion “meeting and greeting.”
Camp Geiger has been a real center of attention. The year started off with a vision from our council executive board leaders who saw the “trees through the forest” by building new and dynamic program opportunities for our Scouts. The vision was the new Shooting Sports Complex and COPE and Climbing program. The vision took shape when a member of the National BSA Office came to o... [view full article] |
| 12/06/2009 |
| Friday Nights - Rick Lee |
I have the great fortune to be with the Runners and Foxmen a large part of the evening every Friday night during summer camp. My assignment allows me the opportunity to not only assist each week’s group of Foxmen along the trail that leads to membership in our tribe but also to re-live my own journey which took place so many moons ago. Even though the sights and sounds were somewhat different in 1960, I know that the feeling is the same and the resulting bond is just as strong.
Many of us take the time to say to the Foxmen, “Watch everything – take mental snapshots of everything you see. Listen carefully to the ceremonies and try to remember the words and how they ar... [view full article] |
| 11/30/2009 |
| Results For November 2009 Survey |
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| 11/22/2009 |
| Every Single Day Is An Opportunity - Mike Parnell |
With all of those that we meet, go to school with or work beside, you and I have a chance to share a little of what others have shared with us. Scouting and Mic-O-Say have given all of us a “backpack” full of talents and tools which can be used at anytime. Did I open my backpack today and share a little with someone in need? Remember the verse, “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”? (Luke 6:38).
This isn’t about money. It is about our gifts, our training, and our beliefs. I often finish the day with a ques... [view full article] |
| 11/09/2009 |
| Blessed To Be A Tribesman - Lon E. Edwards |
We are approaching Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday that inspires us to count our many blessings. Our family, our liberty, our health are all things for which we should be extremely thankful. In addition to these, I look at Mic-O-Say as another blessing. Because of Mic-O-Say I have gained the greatest, most lasting friendships one could ever have. It is through Mic-O-Say that I “grew” and that I formulated values that at times must seem foreign to those who have not “trod the trail”.
I was blessed to be a member of a very strong Scouting unit (Troop 12 in St Joseph) that had a plethora of outstanding adult and youth leaders who understood the value of Mic-O-Say. Several of the lea... [view full article] |
| 11/01/2009 |
| Results For October 2009 Survey |
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| 10/25/2009 |
| Wear Your Claws Proudly, but Wear Them Correctly! - Ken Baker |
This article may put a few smiles on some of my friends faces, based on a time in the Tribe when there wasn’t a RED BOOK (and I was a much younger and over “creative” tribesman).
I believe that it is always good for each of us to review some of the most basic traditions in our Tribe from time to time. One of our Tribes most important traditions, which every tribesman should be dedicated to, is the preservation of the Geiger style Lanyard and claws.
I know that for over forty years the Tribal Council has been very careful not to change the basic look of our Lanyard and Claws for one very good reason. All Geiger Tribesmen should have a very uniform look while at the same ti... [view full article] |
| 10/11/2009 |
| Your Job As A Tribesman - Ed Stroud |
Many people consider elevation to the Tribal Council an honor. But more importantly, and more accurately stated, it is a great commitment and challenge.
The Tribal Council is certainly not a place where deserving Tribesmen go to be honored and adored. We are not Mount Rushmore after all.
The Tribal Council is a working group of dedicated Tribesmen who have proven their ability to lead. The Council is a team of men who have committed a great deal of their time, effort, and resources to make the Tribe of Mic-O-Say successful. Its members are those individuals who continued commitment and involvement to serve the Tribe in the future is expected.
Ever... [view full article] |
| 10/01/2009 |
| Results For September 2009 Survey |
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| 09/27/2009 |
| Youth versus Experience - Richard Boehner |
As a young Tribesman, I often did not particularly value the opinions of my elders or the expression of their experience. With ten or twenty years experience in Mic-O-Say, I felt that I didn’t need it.
As I became more and more involved in putting the history of the Tribe to paper, I became intensely interested in how it began, how it evolved—why it is what it is. At that time, no one had assembled a written record of any depth. There was no historical archive to consult, no single place where one might find the bits and pieces of Mic-O-Say’s story. It could be found in a thousand news articles, but I would later have to find them. It would be found in old photograph... [view full article] |
| 09/15/2009 |
| A Scout is Reverent - Darrell Jones |
As the summer winds down and we see the beauty of autumn I’m reminded by the changing colors that death is a consistent part of life; but faith teaches that the human soul never dies!
One of the key points of what it means to be a Scout is reverence, with an acknowledgement of duty to God. We reference these principles at every Boy Scout gathering, but how do we live them out from day to day? What does it mean to practice reverence?
For me, reverence and duty to God imply seeking to live my life in a way that glorifies God, and not in rebellion to His instruction. It also means receiving God’s forgiveness for those times when I have knowingly rebelled, ... [view full article] |
| 09/01/2009 |
| Support Scouting 100% - Bill McMurray |
SUPPORT SCOUTING 100%
We support Mic-O-Say by volunteering our time, talent, and treasure. But Mic-O-Say is a part of something much larger that deserves our support – Scouting.
Our time and talent can serve Scouting at the unit, district, and council levels. In my own Scouting career, I’ve enjoyed jobs as diverse as Cubmaster, Camp Staff , Jamboree Leader, Merit Badge Counselor, Day Camp Director, Catholic Committee Chair, Training Chair, Capital Campaign Chair, and Council President. Currently I am Council FOS Chair, and a member of the Executive Board and Endowment Committee.
Our treasure can serve Scouting in three campaigns: Friends of Scout... [view full article] |
| 08/31/2009 |
| Results For August 2009 Survey |
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Pony Express Council, Boy Scouts of America 2010 |
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