About the Order of the Arrow - Allogagan Lodge #83
The Purpose of the Order of the Arrow is Fourfold:
- To recognize those Scout campers who best exemplify the Scout Oath and Law in their daily lives
- To develop and maintain camping traditions and spirit
- To promote Scout camping
- To crystallize the Scout habit of helpfulness into a life purpose of leadership in cheerful service to others
History:
The Order of the Arrow (OA) was founded by Dr. E. Urner Goodman and Carroll
A. Edson in 1915 at the Treasure Island Camp of the Philadelphia Council,
Boy Scouts of America. It became an official program experiment in 1922
and was approved as part of the Scouting program in 1934. In 1948 the
OA, recognized as the BSA's national brotherhood of honor campers, became
an official part of the national camping program of the Boy Scouts of
America.
Membership:
The OA has more than 181,000 members located in lodges affiliated with
more than 300 BSA local councils.
Eligibility:
To become a member, a youth must be a registered member of a Boy Scout
troop or Varsity Scout team and hold First Class rank. The youth must
have experienced 15 days and nights of camping during the two years before
his election. The 15 days and nights must include one, but no more than
one, long-term camp consisting of six consecutive days and five nights
of resident camping, approved and under the auspices and standards of
the Boy Scouts of America. The balance of the camping must be overnight,
weekend, or other short-term camps. Scouts are elected to the Order by
their fellow troop or Varsity team members, following approval by the
Scoutmaster or Varsity Scout Coach.
Induction:
The induction ceremony, called the Ordeal, is conducted at Scout camp
and is the first step toward full membership. During the experience, candidates
maintain complete silence, receive small amounts of food, work on camp
improvement projects, and are required to sleep alone, apart from other
campers, which teaches significant values.
Brotherhood
Membership:
After 10 months of service and fulfilling certain requirements, a member
may take part in the Brotherhood ceremony, which places further emphasis
on the ideals of Scouting and the Order. Completion of this ceremony signifies
full membership in the OA.
Vigil
Honor:
After two years of service as a Brotherhood member, and with the approval
of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, a Scout may be recognized
with the Vigil Honor for outstanding service to Scouting, his lodge, and
the community. This honor is bestowed by special selection and is limited
to one person for every 50 members registered with the lodge each year.
Lodges:
Each Order of the Arrow lodge is granted a charter from the National Council,
BSA, upon annual application by the local council. The OA lodge helps
the local council provide a quality Scouting program through recognition
of Scouting spirit and performance, development of youth leadership and
service, promotion of Scout camping and outdoor programs, and enhancement
of membership tenure.
Sections:
An Order of the Arrow section consists of lodges within a geographic area
of the region. Once every year, representatives of lodges in the section
come together for a conclave to share in fellowship, skills, and training.
All of the elected section chiefs form the conference committee for a
national Order of the Arrow event, which is held under the guidance of
the national Order of the Arrow Committee.
The regional chief is the youth leader of the region elected by the section chiefs for a term of office specified by the national Order of the Arrow Committee, which coincides with the term of national chief and vice chief. This election is held in conjunction with called meetings of the section chiefs to elect the national chief and vice chief, as well as to plan a national Order of the Arrow event.
The regional Order of the Arrow chairman is an adult appointed by the regional director. The professional adviser for the region is a staff member assigned to the position by the region director.
National
Chief and Vice Chief:
The national chief and vice chief are Arrowmen selected by the section
chiefs, who form the national Order of the Arrow conference committee.
They serve as members of the national Order of the Arrow Committee, representing
the youth on national OA policy. They also serve as the presiding officers
for the national OA event. Their term of office is specified by the national
committee. They are advised in their responsibilities by the national
committee chairman and director of the Order of the Arrow.
National
OA Committee Chairmen:
The national OA committee chairman is appointed by the chairman of the
national Boy Scout Committee. The professional adviser is the director
of the Order of the Arrow, a member of the national Boy Scout Division
staff.
Allogagan Lodge #83, Pioneer Valley Council
Lodge
Chief: Joseph Micucci
Lodge Treasurer: Sam Everett
Lodge Secretary: Mike Paterson
Links:
Section NE-1B, Order of the Arrow
Northeast Region- Order of the Arrow
OA National Website
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Boy
Scout Troop 359
Wilbraham, Massachusetts |
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