This year’s theme for History is “Our future wouldn’t be BEARable without our history.” It is so important to record all the events and highlights of each Unit, District, Division, and our Department.

I will be making contact with Division historians, District historians, and Unit historians, as well as their Presidents, in an effort to obtain information about the wonderful things happening throughout the entire Department this year. Our history should be a history filled with activities of every level in our Department. As the National rules state: Be sure the department annual history truly represents a historical account of the department – what the department accomplished. A department history lists those who served as leaders and mentions notable awards or individual achievements. It is not a travelogue or diary of any officer or individual’s itineraries. The content is about the department and its collective members mission achievements.

Unit histories (both for Juniors and Seniors) will be due to the Districts by June 5th. The Unit winners and the District and Division histories need to be submitted to me by June 12th.

Since there are once again three Junior Conferences, I will be awarded the Junior history awards at Department Convention.

The following Awards will be presented:

DEPARTMENT PLAQUES:

Name of Plaque: Pro-Bowlers Plaque
Basis: Best Unit History

Name of Plaque: Ramona’s Indians Plaque
Basis Best District History

Name of Plaque: Basketball Shooters Plaque
Basis Best Division History


Name of Plaque: Irene Lofton’s Eaglettes Plaque *
Basis Best Junior History

Name of Plaque: Dot’s Apple Dumpling Gang Plaque
Basis Best District Junior History *

* These have been awarded at the Junior Conference in the past. As there will be three separate conferences held throughout the Department, these will be awarded at Department Convention in July


PERSONAL AWARDS:

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: Runner Up – Pro Bowlers Plaque

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: Runner Up – Ramona’s Indian Plaque

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: Runner Up – Basketball Shooters Plaque

Type: Citation Any Unit, District or Division submitting history (Junior or Senior) submitted to Historian for competition

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: To the Unit Historian who submits to
Department Historian the most Unit information throughout the year

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: To the District Historian who submits to Department Historian the most District information throughout the year

Type: $10 and Certificate Basis: To the Division Historian who submits to
Department Historian the most Division information throughout the year

So do not ‘paws’ in sending me information for our Department History.

Please tag me in your Facebook posts about the incredible things your Unit is doing! I want to include all these wonderful events and stories in our history about the great Department of Illinois!!!

Also, there will be a Historian End of the Year Report Form which help all historians provide the information I will need for my Department end-of-the-year report.