Michigan State for 2012 NOAC?

Posted on August 2nd, 2009 in BSA Info,NOACs by ramore

Late Update 8/5/09: The OA Committee confirmed at the end of NOAC that the next NOAC is 2012 at MSU. MSU could provide up to 17,000 dorm rooms. The Committee is looking for an attendance of around 9,000 for this NOAC. MSU is also a candidate for the 2015 100th anniverasary NOAC where attendance could be 15,000.

Looks like Michigan State (MSU) is the likely site for the next National Order of the Arrow Conference. The original plans had been to go back to Iowa State but ISU is re-doing a number of dorms, including demolition of existing dorms, such that they could only host 4,200 participants. Clearly not enough.

In re-opening the site selection we heard that Penn State also has a proposal in for consideration. Some of the problems though with PSU is getting there is not easy. It would be a different venue which can be interesting but, having been on the staff side of these events, ease of logistics trumps a LOT of other considerations.

MSU appears to be getting quite aggressive in their bidding. They have a team visiting this conference. They toured the pre-NOAC TOR. The TOR was such a success that they are looking at central facilities on campus. The original thought had been a field house that was two miles away from the main residential halls but now they are trying to find alternatives, and have some, that are right in the heart of where we would have the NOAC.

It appears that MSU, which were ambivalent hosts for the 2006 NOAC, got a strong message from the local community of how great it was to have the Scouts in town. Also, there is new leadership at the university that has gotten more entreprenurial and inviting. Basically they are bending over backwards from what I hear to try and get the conference.

Some might wonder why these mid-west universities. Its because of their size. These campuses typically have 35,000 – 45,000 students and were built on wide open spaces. While I am located near the University of MIchigan it just does not have the extra dorm space nor the required facilities close in to the dorms to make it an easy site.

Unfortunately we’ll be back to a 3 year gap in conferences so as to not land on a jamboree year. There’s talk of another National Indian Seminar to be held in Asheville, NC for one of the intervening years.

The decision on MSU is not final. It probably won’t be made until the December planning conference given that there’s still plenty of lead time. We shall see.

3 Responses to 'Michigan State for 2012 NOAC?'

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  1. on August 3rd, 2009 at 8:02 am

    […] Michigan State for 2012 NOAC? […]

  2. MSU Eagle said,

    on August 22nd, 2009 at 9:14 am

    As an Eagle Scout, Brotherhood member, and MSU alumnus, I must say that I think Michigan State University would be a perfect host to an event like NOAC. I was unable to attend the 2006 NOAC at MSU, so would love to have it at my alma mater now. This is not to say that other schools might not be well suited to the Conference as well, but MSU, as stated in the post, has the perfect facilities, open spaces, and ideology to jive with the OA. They’ve already implemented an intense recycling program and work to keep the grounds clean. Like I tell all my friends, going to MSU is like going to school in a park. Many of my classes even take advantage of the setting and hold classes and even a lecture every now and then outside. I can’t vouch enough for this school that, if chosen, will not disappoint all in attendance.

  3. Gasper Danish said,

    on April 22nd, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    I attended the 2006 NOAC at Michigan State.
    I was very disappointed with that event and was surprised to see another event scheduled at that University. The scouts were treated like a burden, the transportation was terrible, and scouts were locked out of their dorms even though they could not get back on time because of the lack of bus transport.
    I am going again this year. I hope to see improvements!!!!! Otherwise, the University should NEVER again be considered.

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