NOAC - Wednesday

Wednesday morning started out like most for the Comanche Lodge Contingent. Everyone woke up between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM and went and got some breakfast.

Tanek was used as a volunteer to demonstrate
fancy dance regalia for the class.

At 8:30 AM many of our members went to the various classes offered around campus. Tanek and I attended an overview of Fancy Dancing. The class was great. We stayed for the first two of three hours.

During the first hour we discussed the dance regalia. Several different pieces of regalia were shown and passed around the class. There was some brief discussion of the differences of Southern and Northern Fancy Dance Regalia.

The second hour of the class was even better than the first. We proceeded into the dance portion where we were explained how the drum and music go so that we might understand the basic premise of the dance and how it ties into the drum. Then we moved into actual dancing.

Fancy Dancer during completion.

One of the instructors showed the entire class some basic fancy dance steps. The entire class got up and danced, including myself although I had to stop early.  

Choctaw Chapter Chief Jacob Thompson said on Tuesday he attended a class, “How to Make a Dance Bustle.” Thompson said, “I loved that class. It was great!” During the class Thompson said the instructor was very detailed and went step by step to explain the bustle making process.

On Wednesday Thompson went to the Munson Ice Center and watched some of the Fancy Dancers. He said while he was there he also got to see a group of Eagle Dancers.

After watching the dancing he went to an American Indian Association Booth and put into practice his lessons from Tuesdays and built a bustle feather.

Comanche Lodge Members pose with the
National Vice Chief.

In the afternoon it was free time for everyone. Several Lodge Members went to the Trading Post, Rock Climbing, Patch Trading, Watching Indian Dancing, Boulder Climbing, Ice Climbing, and more.

The Wednesday Night Show was about reminding us about remembering the past and looking to the future. We were dared to do 100 good turns every day for 100 days and post it on social media.

The stage from the convention floor.

The only negative aspect of Wednesday’s event was our seating in the stadium. It was great on the first row of bleachers to have access to the floor but when the show started we really could not see the stage and the jumbotron was mostly not being used on our side and was in an inconvenient position.

Concerning the overall NOAC Event, Choctaw Chapter Member Thomas Strebeck said, “I did not believe it when people said NOAC was better than the National Jamboree, but it is!”

 More Photos below of the days activities!

In the bleachers. We were right next to the fog machine.

On the floor. The big cannon shoots shirts into the audience.

National Chief during the show on Wednesday.

In the bleachers near the floor. Next to fog machine!

Cameron with a Palm Tree on his head. Courtesy of Joseph.



NOAC Tuesday - Days Events and Evening Show

Tuesday morning saw the Comanche Lodge Contingent waking between 6 AM to around 8 AM depending on what activities various members had scheduled for the day.

Josh and Colin climb the rock wall at the hub

Breakfast was a wide variety with the main dish being scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and waffles. In addition cereal and fruit were also available.

At 8:30 AM classes started and many of our Lodge Arrowman traveled to various destinations across the campus for classes on Historical Team Dance, Pow Wow Team Dance, Ceremonial Time Machine,  Skills for Advisors, Before the Ordeal, Leave No Trace and more. Classes were three hours long. Some reported back that the classes were great and a few reported back that there class was not what they had hoped it would be.

Lunch was served from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM and consisted of Philly Cheese Steak (Scott said it did not have enough pepper), some kind of enchilada, steamed rice, steamed vegetables, fruit, cookies, and donuts.

Following lunch the Arrrowman were free to explore the many activities offered. I traveled over to the Hub with Josh and Colin. There were about 6 rock walls to climb and both Colin and Josh headed straight for them. I watched them for a while but it was soon obvious that they were staying at the rock walls for some time so I headed out on my own.

Juggling at the Tuesday Night Show

In the Hub there are a lot of different challenges and booths. I headed into a giant tent which housed 50 to 60 vendor booths. There were free pens, patches, sunglasses and more. One really cool part of the tent were all of the registrations for drawings. I registered to win a free backpack, tent, and three separate trips to BSA’s High Adventure Bases. (If I win a trip to the high adventure base I will have to give it away to a youth Arrowman.)

Charles Peachock juggling bowling balls

I met up with my son and then we boarded a bus to the Trading Post (It took about 15 minutes and then we  had to walk another 5 minutes to get to it. When we arrived the line was so long (at least 100 people in front of us waiting to get in) that we decided to try later.

Instead of the Trading Post we went to the Goodman, Edson Observatory where we watched a short video on the first Vigil Member. Following the video we went through the observatory which had a collection of all OA sashes, all OA Handbooks, and a lot of history.

Charles Peachock playing the keyboard with tennis balls

After the observatory it was back to the dorm rooms and putting on Class A Uniforms and then off to supper. The evening meal consisted of Baked Pork Chops, Lasagna, rice, chicken pot pie and more.

At 7:45 PM it was time for the Tuesday Evening Show. It was awesome!!!!

National Boy Scout President Robert Gates

The show started with a juggler whose name is Charles Peachock. I know you might be thinking a juggler? This guy was a top contender on America's got talent and he definitely has talent. He really fired the crowd up and received a standing ovation.

Former Defense Secretary and National Boy Scouts of America President Robert Gates followed the juggler. Gates received a standing ovation as he took the floor. He started his speech with a few light hearted jokes before turning to a more serious topic.

Gates talked about the future of our country and how the scouts here today are the leaders of tomorrow. His speech was well received and also received a standing ovation.

Maddie and Tae

To close out the show the band Maddie and Tae performed several country songs including their # 1 hit "Girl in a Country Song."

Following the Tuesday Night Show our section held a pizza and ice cream party back in one of the dorm conference rooms.

Most of our contingents Arrowman attended.

P.S - Who in their right mind serves rice without brown gravy? Every day we have had rice with no gravy! It must be a Yankee dish, cause it sure ain't that way south of the Mason Dixon Line.

 

Below are more pictures from todays activities.

 

 

NOAC - Arrival and Opening Show

Waiting to be assigned our dorms!

Comanche Lodge Contingent has made it, registered, been assigned our dorms, attended orientation, had supper, and gone to the opening show.

We arrived on campus and at our dorms around 2:30 PM. We quickly unloaded and Eddie and Scott headed in to get us registered. This is where the rest of us get to stand around and wait. It was great as then temps were only in the upper 70's and we had a north wind around 10 MPH. we all found a good shade tree and enjoyed the cool weather.

Opening show.

When Eddie and Scott returned we were assigned our rooms, issued swiped cards, and room keys. I hope no one loses there key because there is a $75 charge if they do. I think everyone was reasonably impressed with the price of the keys. Of course I already misplaced mine but it was in my room.

Opening show.

Our rooms are all on the first floor. I don't like the first floor because we have to lock our windows when we leave. This is for security. If we were on the second or higher not so much of a concern. Also, everyone keeps walking by my window and waving at me. I am already tired of waving.

Each dorm room has two beds, a desk, dresser, coat rack, and a single bathroom/shower you share with another dorm room. In other words 4 people have to share the one toilet and shower.

After check in we went to orientation where we watched a short safety video and heard from the National Vice Chief. The orientation lasted about 20 minutes.

Opening show.

We returned to our dorms and then headed for supper. We dined in one of MSU campuses dining rooms. We were se meatloaf, steamed potatoes, pasta, bread, fried fish, cake, and cookies. They even head ice cream, fruit, salads, and more. Since I didn't eat it all I am sure I am missing something. Regardless, we were fed well.

At 7:30 PM we got into our full uniforms and headed over to the opening show. At the opening show we all put on our 100 year anniversary red OA sashes. We will wear these sashes for the rest of the week.

National Anthem at opening show.

The show was great! We opened with the obligation and then sang the National Anthem.

We were reminded to dedicate ourselves to the service of not only our lodge but to our troops as well. There was a speech by our National Vice Chief and our National Scout Executive Wayne Brock.

We were treated to pyrotechnics and several special affects. There was even some exploding fireworks.

More Photo's from the days activities are below!

Tanek at the opening show.

Add caption

Meeting people before orientation.

Meeting people before orientation.

Our contingent taking their seats for the opening show.

Cameron reading a map while we wait to check in to our dorms.

Cameron meeting people.
 





 

NOAC Day 1 - Back on the Road

The Comanche Lodge NOAC Contingent is back on the bus and headed to Michigan State University for the National Order of the Arrow Conference. I decided to post a few more pictures from yesterday and our group photo from this morning. More to come later today.

Outside at Lambert's on the Choo Choo train!
 

Waiting outside at Lambert's

Jacob looks thru the window of the train.

Eddie claps for someone's birthday! Seemed like there were
a lot of birthdays at Lambert's!

Food at Lambert's

Food at Lambert's

Crazy group photo!

Comanche Lodge NAOC Contingent

National Order of the Arrow Conference - Lambert's Cafe, Home of the Throwed Rolls

The Comanche Lodge NOAC Contingent left this morning from Camp T. L. James around 5 AM. Most of the days travel was the usual with not a lot to see and do except entertain ourselves in the bus.

Our first stop of the day was McDonald's for breakfast.

Other than breakfast, many of the scouts slept, slept, and slept but between sleeping there were stories, cards, and fellowship.

I also noted that we must have crossed the Mississippi River 8 times today. Not sure how we did that but we did as we traveled through Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee (I think) and finally Indiana. We are currently in Indianapolis, Indiana at the Comfort Suites.

One stop of note today was Lambert's Café, Home of the Throwed Rolls. You can visit their website at www.throwedrolls.com . If you have never been to Lambert's, lets just say it is an experience. Not only do you order form the menu but servers walk around with fired okra, black-eyed peas, fried/smothered potato slices and more.

The big event are the rolls. If you holler for a roll, a fresh hot roll will come your way quick. The roll is not handed to you but rather thrown across the restaurant. If you miss, another roll is right behind that one. Be sure to try the molasses with your roll.

All of our scouts seemed to enjoy rolls being thrown in a restaurant. I will say it is a good thing we are not a baseball team since many of the rolls were bobbled, drop, and one even ended up in someone's drink. Oh, and a chair are two were knocked over.

The food at Lambert's was great. I saw Chicken and Dumplings, Burgers, Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Apple Cobblers, Peaches, Cornbread, Bacon, and more.

Everyone ate till they were full and then ate some more.

We arrived at the Comfort Suites at 11:00 PM. We have gone through a time change and are currently on Eastern Standard Time where we will remain until we return. We lost an hour but according to Eddie (our contingent leader) we get to sleep in tomorrow. He said wake up is at 7 AM. Not sure how that is sleeping in but I guess we will just roll with it.