The Big Forest Nation The M. E. Lyons YMCA February 2001 - Smoke Signal Warm greetings again to all Princesses, Guides, and Braves of the Big Forest Nation! Yet another moon has passed and more frozen water from the sky has fallen on the earth as we pass through the still of winter. Breaking the stillness the Mighty Shawnee called the Nation together this past month for our annual Roller Skating event! Being the great tradition that it is many members attended and enjoyed music, motion, and merriment as fun was the order of the day. This included games and prizes as well. The Shawnee tribe must have done well because even Chief Cloud Dancing declared an approving WHOOP! at the last chief's meeting (and you know how hard he is to please). Also, we'd like to thank the many local establishments for donating prizes that made it all the more worthwhile: Dairy Queen Perkins Jersey Mikes Pizza Hut Old Country Buffet Sizzling Wok Penn Station Lee's Famous Recipe Gold Star Chili Papa John's Pizza Graeter's Ice Cream Chick - Fil - A Special Tee Golf By the way if you attended and didn't receive a patch for the Skating Event they will be available at the next Nation event. When is that? Saturday February 17 at 2:00 p.m. the Nation meets in another test of skill: the Bowling Event. Try your luck at knocking down ten standing sticks in a cave with a large stone. Expect a lot of high scores this year as well since all lanes will have bumpers! How can you go wrong? Hope to see you there at the longhouse of King Pin. See the flyer for more details. A little farther out on the horizon is the Pinewood Derby. In order to give those future Princess and Guide car designers plenty of time (as well as the Braves) plan on picking up your car at the Y as early as February 1st. The cost per car is $5.00 for any member who wishes to race including the dads who will have their own competition. Instructions and Y-Guide car criteria come with the official car kit so be sure to get your car there. Race day is Saturday March 17th. Be there! There are numerous ways for Y-Guides to keep abreast of activities and information. One, of course, is this newsletter and event flyers mailed to you monthly. For the cyberspace traveler the home of the Big Forest Nation resides at www.bigforest.org which can provide you with the same information as well as Y-Guide contact names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. Also, we send e-mail of event flyers and Smoke Signals for those of you who have provided your address. One quick note about e-mail. If you haven't been receiving information and want to please provide your e-mail address to our Medicine Man who is the bearer of the distribution list. There are some incorrect addresses as well that we have so you may want to send us it again if you haven't seen anything from us lately. And if you need assistance, have questions, or if you just like to talk to a person feel free to contact your tribal chief, the YMCA at 474-1400 or any member of the High Council below: Who to Contact - High Council May the Great Spirit be with you till we meet again!  Jim Farmer - Nation Talleykeeper