Tribe of Mic-O-Say
Encyclopedia
The Tribe of Mic-O-Say is an honor society used by two of the 303 local councils of the Boy Scouts of America
, The Heart of America Council and The Pony Express Council; it is not a program of the National Council of the BSA. Mic-O-Say's ceremonies, customs, and traditions are based on the folklore of the American Indian.
The Pony Express Council
uses the Tribe of Mic-O-Say as its only honor society, while the Heart of America Council
uses both the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and the Order of the Arrow
.
under the guidance of H. Roe Bartle, who was the Scout executive of the St. Joseph Council, now Pony Express Council. Bartle combined his experiences in Wyoming with the St. Joseph Council's existing honor organization called Manhawka.
Bartle was inspired to create the organization after serving as the Scout executive for the Central Wyoming Council, in 1922. Bartle became extremely interested in the heritage and culture of the many Indian reservations in Wyoming. He spent many hours listening to stories about the Indian tribes and soon began to incorporate Indian values and ideals into his Scouting program. Bartle was inducted into a local tribe of Arapaho
based on a reservation served by the Scout council, and according to traditional Mic-O-Say legend, was given the name Lone Bear by the Chief.
Bartle started as Scout Executive in St. Joseph, January 1925. The idea of Mic-O-Say was well formed from the moment he arrived. There already existed a camp society there called Manhawka, established by a previous executive. Bartle familiarized himself with the rudiments of it, and incorporated them into his central theme of an Indian-like society based on the principles of the Scout Oath. Bartle named the society "Micosay." A hyphenated version was used shortly after and remains popular today, though the non-hyphenated version can still be used.
Camp Geiger, which succeeded Camp Brinton in 1935, is considered the 'mother' Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Bartle was "The Chief," and conducted all the early ceremonies personally, placing an eagle claw around the neck of each new member and bestowing their Tribal Name upon them. He built up the tribe during the next few years.
In the fall of 1928, Bartle became the Scout executive of the Kansas City Area Council. Mic-O-Say had increased both Scouting and summer camp attendance in leaps and bounds, and he established another Mic-O-Say program at Camp Dan Sayre near Noel, Missouri
, in 1929, the first summer there. Another honor program known as the 4Ms existed there at the time. In 1930 Camp Osceola opened near Osceola, Missouri
, and remains open to this day, renamed the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, or commonly known as "Bartle."
The tribe flourished and expanded rapidly. The tribe in St. Joseph remained and grew. In 1947, ideas created at Camp Osceola returned to the tribe in St. Joseph to improve the program there.
The 75th anniversary celebration of the program at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation included thousands of members of the Tribe, including the current and previous Chief Scout Executive
s.
In the Pony Express Council, the Council of Chieftains and the Tribal Council lead the tribe. Their official publications are the Redbook and most recently Make Talk Now which is an electronic video version of the former "Make Talk" magazine and available for viewing on the Mic-O-Say website.
, Roy Williams
, has been inducted into the program. The current Chief Scout Executive
, Robert Mazzuca was inducted into the Tribe in July 2008. Two of the founders of Cerner
, an international health care IT company and the current CEO of J. E. Dunn Construction Group, one of the nation's largest construction companies, are members of the program. U.S. Congressman from Missouri's 4th congressional district
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton
is a Mic-O-Say member, and was made an honorary chieftain in 2007. Sam Graves
, U.S. Congressman from Missouri's 6th Congressional District, is also a member, having achieved the rank of Runner as a youth and elevated in 2009 to Sachem.
The Kansas City Chiefs
are named in honor of"Chief" H. Roe Bartle, who earned that nickname from his position as the Chief of Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He was instrumental in bringing the NFL to Kansas City during the time that he was Mayor.
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
, The Heart of America Council and The Pony Express Council; it is not a program of the National Council of the BSA. Mic-O-Say's ceremonies, customs, and traditions are based on the folklore of the American Indian.
The Pony Express Council
Scouting in Missouri
Scouting in Missouri has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :According to William D...
uses the Tribe of Mic-O-Say as its only honor society, while the Heart of America Council
Scouting in Missouri
Scouting in Missouri has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :According to William D...
uses both the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and the Order of the Arrow
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow is the national honor society of the Boy Scouts of America . It uses American Indian-styled traditions and ceremonies to bestow recognition on scouts selected by their peers as best exemplifying the ideals of Scouting. The society was created by E. Urner Goodman, with the...
.
History
Mic-O-Say was founded in 1925 at Camp Brinton near Agency, MissouriAgency, Missouri
Agency is a village in Buchanan County, Missouri in the United States. The population was 599 at the 2000 census. It is part of the St. Joseph, MO–KS Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Agency is located at ....
under the guidance of H. Roe Bartle, who was the Scout executive of the St. Joseph Council, now Pony Express Council. Bartle combined his experiences in Wyoming with the St. Joseph Council's existing honor organization called Manhawka.
Bartle was inspired to create the organization after serving as the Scout executive for the Central Wyoming Council, in 1922. Bartle became extremely interested in the heritage and culture of the many Indian reservations in Wyoming. He spent many hours listening to stories about the Indian tribes and soon began to incorporate Indian values and ideals into his Scouting program. Bartle was inducted into a local tribe of Arapaho
Arapaho
The Arapaho are a tribe of Native Americans historically living on the eastern plains of Colorado and Wyoming. They were close allies of the Cheyenne tribe and loosely aligned with the Sioux. Arapaho is an Algonquian language closely related to Gros Ventre, whose people are seen as an early...
based on a reservation served by the Scout council, and according to traditional Mic-O-Say legend, was given the name Lone Bear by the Chief.
Bartle started as Scout Executive in St. Joseph, January 1925. The idea of Mic-O-Say was well formed from the moment he arrived. There already existed a camp society there called Manhawka, established by a previous executive. Bartle familiarized himself with the rudiments of it, and incorporated them into his central theme of an Indian-like society based on the principles of the Scout Oath. Bartle named the society "Micosay." A hyphenated version was used shortly after and remains popular today, though the non-hyphenated version can still be used.
Camp Geiger, which succeeded Camp Brinton in 1935, is considered the 'mother' Tribe of Mic-O-Say. Bartle was "The Chief," and conducted all the early ceremonies personally, placing an eagle claw around the neck of each new member and bestowing their Tribal Name upon them. He built up the tribe during the next few years.
In the fall of 1928, Bartle became the Scout executive of the Kansas City Area Council. Mic-O-Say had increased both Scouting and summer camp attendance in leaps and bounds, and he established another Mic-O-Say program at Camp Dan Sayre near Noel, Missouri
Noel, Missouri
Noel is a city in McDonald County, Missouri, United States, along the Elk River. The population was 1,615 at the 2009 census. It is part of the Fayetteville–Springdale–Rogers Metropolitan Area....
, in 1929, the first summer there. Another honor program known as the 4Ms existed there at the time. In 1930 Camp Osceola opened near Osceola, Missouri
Osceola, Missouri
Osceola is a city in St. Clair County, Missouri, United States. The population was 835 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Clair County.-History:...
, and remains open to this day, renamed the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation, or commonly known as "Bartle."
The tribe flourished and expanded rapidly. The tribe in St. Joseph remained and grew. In 1947, ideas created at Camp Osceola returned to the tribe in St. Joseph to improve the program there.
The 75th anniversary celebration of the program at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation included thousands of members of the Tribe, including the current and previous Chief Scout Executive
Chief Scout Executive
The Chief Scout Executive is the top professional of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In most similar non-profit organizations, this is equivalent to the position of executive director....
s.
Purpose
The purpose of Mic-O-Say is to reinforce the principles of the Scout Oath and Law, and to encourage continued participation in Scouting. Mic-O-Say Membership is conferred upon Scouts who participate in long-term camping and who best exemplify progress in their leadership skills. Membership is also given adult Scouters who meet specified qualifications. To be eligible for Mic-O-Say membership, a Scout must be an Honor Camper. He must be a seasoned, experienced Camper. He must have proven his leadership ability by his work in his Scouting unit and his community. He must be mature in thought and deed and be capable of understanding obligations as a Tribesman.Organization
In the Heart of America Council, the Council of Chieftains, She-She-Be Council, and Tribal Council lead the tribe. Their official publications are the Customs and Traditions booklet, Cedar Smoke newsletter, and Inner Circle magazines.In the Pony Express Council, the Council of Chieftains and the Tribal Council lead the tribe. Their official publications are the Redbook and most recently Make Talk Now which is an electronic video version of the former "Make Talk" magazine and available for viewing on the Mic-O-Say website.
Legacy
Members of Mic-O-Say have spread nationally and internationally. The previous Chief Scout ExecutiveChief Scout Executive
The Chief Scout Executive is the top professional of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In most similar non-profit organizations, this is equivalent to the position of executive director....
, Roy Williams
Roy Williams (Scouting)
Roy Williams is the former Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America. He is the tenth person to hold that position, serving between 2000–2007.-Scouting career:...
, has been inducted into the program. The current Chief Scout Executive
Chief Scout Executive
The Chief Scout Executive is the top professional of the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America. In most similar non-profit organizations, this is equivalent to the position of executive director....
, Robert Mazzuca was inducted into the Tribe in July 2008. Two of the founders of Cerner
Cerner
Cerner Corporation is an international health care information technology corporation that specializes in providing complete systems for hospitals and other medical organizations to manage and integrate all electronic medical records, computerized physician order entry , and financial...
, an international health care IT company and the current CEO of J. E. Dunn Construction Group, one of the nation's largest construction companies, are members of the program. U.S. Congressman from Missouri's 4th congressional district
Missouri's 4th congressional district
Missouri's 4th Congressional District consists of west central Missouri. The district includes much of the state capital of Jefferson City in Cole County as well as the eastern Kansas City suburbs. The district is predominantly rural and relatively conservative; George W. Bush defeated John Kerry...
Chair of the House Armed Services Committee Ike Skelton
Ike Skelton
Isaac Newton "Ike" Skelton IV is the former U.S. Representative for . During his tenure, he has served as the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. He is a member for the Democratic Party...
is a Mic-O-Say member, and was made an honorary chieftain in 2007. Sam Graves
Sam Graves
Samuel B. Graves, Jr. is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2001. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district consists of Northwest Missouri and includes the portion of Kansas City north of the Missouri River and many northern suburbs.-Early life, education and career:Graves is a...
, U.S. Congressman from Missouri's 6th Congressional District, is also a member, having achieved the rank of Runner as a youth and elevated in 2009 to Sachem.
The Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
are named in honor of"Chief" H. Roe Bartle, who earned that nickname from his position as the Chief of Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He was instrumental in bringing the NFL to Kansas City during the time that he was Mayor.
See also
- Scouting in KansasScouting in KansasScouting in Kansas has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :...
- Scouting in MissouriScouting in MissouriScouting in Missouri has a long history, from the 1910s to the present day, serving thousands of youth in programs that suit the environment in which they live.-Early history :According to William D...
- Wolfeboro Pioneers
- Tribe of TahquitzTribe of TahquitzThe Tribe of Tahquitz is one of the few surviving local Boy Scout honor societies in the United States that have not been absorbed by the Order of the Arrow. The organization was created in 1925 and consisted of 15 honor Scouts who were chosen to start and maintain a perpetual volunteer summer...